Mr Joannes Joseph Van de Velde was born on 4 August 1876
He was an independent weaver, but have been unemployed owing to competition from new textile mills in Ninove and Aalst.
He married in 1898 to Marie Baudar, who worked as a seamstress in Denderhoutem. The couple had four children.
Van de Velde intended to travel to America to work as a farmhand. It was speculated that it was Van de Velde who convinced the others from the Denderhoutem area to come with him to America since he had already been to America twice before. Marie Van de Velde accompanied her husband on foot to the train station to see him and the others off.
He boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger (ticket number 345780, £9 10s).
Van de Velde died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
Shortly after the sinking, survivor Theodor De Mulder paid a visit to Marie Van de Velde and her family. According to the Van de Velde descendants, De Mulder comforted Marie relaying the last days he spent with her husband.
That was my great Uncle. His brother William Van De Velde is my Grandfather. My name is Anthony Van de Velde Sr.
I was given a "boarding pass" with his name on it when I went to the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada in 2007. Strangely enough, I've always felt a connection to Belgium because of that! My condolences to the Van de Velde family.
My name is Anthony too, and I got your great-uncle on the card I was given as part of a Titanic museum exhibit I went to see. Everyone is given a card with the name of a real Titanic passenger, and your great uncle was the one on my card. Best regards, from Canada.
I believe he was my great grandfather's brother.
Hello Anthony