Henry Sadowitz

Mr Henry "Harry" Sadowitz was born in Whitechapel, London, England, on 29 July 1895.

Coming from an Ashkenazi Jewish family, his parents were Solomon Sadowitz (b. 1870), a metal plate worker, and his wife Julia (b. circa 1871), both migrants to Britain from the Russian Empire. His father hailed from Rīga in modern-day Latvia¹, whilst his mother likely had a corresponding background. 

He had three siblings: Alexander (b. 9 December 1893), Fanny (b. 7 August 1897) and Hyman (b. 1899), all born in London.

Harry appears on the 1901 census living with his family at Old Montague Street, Whitechapel, London. In 1904, whilst a pupil at Ratcliff School, he lived with his family at 528 Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets.

By the time of the 1911 census, Harry and his family are listed as living at 57 Nicholas Street, Globe Road, Mile End and he was described as an apprentice fur cutter. His elder brother Alexander was described as an accountancy clerk. 

In June 1911, Harry’s father migrated to the USA aboard the Olympic, initially to friends in Philadelphia before relocating to Providence, Rhode Island, where he gained employment with the Providence Cornice Company. After almost twelve months away, Solomon sent money back to England for Harry to join him in the USA, with the young man also expected to travel aboard the Olympic.

Travelling alone, Sadowitz switched his fare and instead boarded the Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 as a third class passenger (ticket number 1855, which cost £7, 11s, 10d), describing himself as a fur cutter; he was bound for 78 Lippitt Street in Providence, the home of his father.

Henry Sadowitz died in the sinking; if recovered, his body was never identified.

What became of Harry’s family in later years remains unknown; no records indicate that they remained in the UK.