Charles Henry John Barrow

Charles Henry John Barrow, known as Harry, was born in Shirley, Hampshire, England in the closing months of 1876.

He was the eldest child of Charles Henry Barrow (b. 1855), an agricultural labourer, and Emma Groves (b. 1852). Both his parents hailed from Hampshire, his father from Christchurch and his mother from Millbrook and they had married in 1875.

Charles had six known siblings: Albert Edward (b. 1878), Edith Emma (b. 1881), William Edwin (b. 1884), Florence Annie (b. 1887), Rosina Alma (b. 1890) and Arthur Alexander (b. 1893).

Charles appears on the 1881 census with his family when they were living at 7 Newman Street, Millbrook, Southampton; they would move several doors down and are listed at 13 Newman Street on 1891 census and would still be present here at the time of the 1901 census. On the latter record, Charles is described as a ship's butcher. His mother passed away in 1909 and his relocated to 18 Newman Street and appeared there on the 1911 census. What became of him is not certain but there is some suggestion that he may have remarried and moved back to his native Christchurch.

Charles was married in the latter months of 1904 to Kate Sarah Dunnings (b. 1878 in Shirley) and together they had one son, Charles Henry (b. 1 November 1909). The small family appear on the 1911 census living at 17 Derby Road, St Mary, Southampton and Charles is still described as a ship's butcher. Also lodging with them was an Alfred Redford (b. 1855 in Norwood, Surrey), described as an uncle.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Charles gave his address as 17 Derby Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As assistant butcher he received monthly wages of £4, 10s. Also serving aboard, as a fireman, was his brother-in-law Joseph Thomas, the husband of his youngest sister Rosina Alma.

Charles Barrow died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in an unidentified newspaper:

BARROW--April 15th, on s.s. Titanic, Harry, the beloved husband of Kate Barrow, 17, Derby Road, Southampton, aged 35. Gone from our sights, but to memory ever dear.

His widow Kate was remarried in 1915 to Alfred Redford (their lodger on the 1911 census) but was widowed within months when her husband died aged 63. She gave birth to another child, Alfred, the following year. Kate died just short of her 46th birthday in 1924.

Charles' son, Charles Jr, remained in Southampton for the rest of his life and died in 1989.