Percy Wake was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 29 August 1874.
He was the son of Alexander Henry Wake (1839-1899), a bricklayer, and Emma Blundell (1839-1921), both South Stoneham, Hampshire-natives who had married in 1864. He had four siblings: Walter Henry (b. 1865), Alexander Wilfred (b. 1868), Mary Hunt (b. 1878) and Jessy Emma (b. 1881).
Percy first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were living at Chapel Street, South Stoneham, Southampton. When the 1891 census was conducted the family were living at 1 Rose Cottage, Sholing, Southampton and Percy, aged 16, was described as a baker.
Percy was married in Southampton in late 1900 to May Alice Legge (b. 1876 at Northwood, Isle of Wight, Hampshire). The freshly married couple appear on the 1901 census living at 4 Oriental Street, Shirley and Percy is described as a baker and bread-maker. They went on to have a total of four children with only one surviving infancy, Charles (b. 1907). Their other known children were: Percy Alexander (1903-1909) and Matilda Ellen (1904-1904).
Percy would be absent from the 1911 census, likely at sea, but his wife and son would be listed s living at 2 Gloucester Passage, Holy Rood, Southampton.
When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Percy gave his address as 2 Gloucester Passage, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Oceanic. As an assistant baker he received monthly wages of £4, 10.
Percy Wake died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
His widow May never remarried and remained in Southampton where she died in 1923. What became of his son Charles is unknown.
Percy Wake is remembered on a family headstone in Old Common Cemetery, Southampton (section A156, plot 27).
Comment and discuss
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Percy Wake was related to my husband, I have been unable to find details of his widow May's death, death certificate or where she is buried. I wondered if you can offer any help as it is stated she never remarried and she died in Southampton 1923. I understand the son Charles also went to sea as a baker but again I have not been able to find out much information.
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Hello I’m also related to Percy so Charles Alexander wake was his uncle who happens to be my great great grandfather so Charles’s daughter Florence was my great grandmother from England she used to tell my mom stories when she was little how they grew up
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There are no details available online for May Wake (nee Legge) but there are details of a small memorial in Southampton Old Cemetery for Percy Wake himself on Find-a-Grave UK. Perhaps you could try e-mailing one of the site managers on that page.
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I am wondering if you have any further information you can offer about Percy Wake and his widow May Alice Wake also their son Charles Benjamin Wake who I understand followed Percy as a breadmaker. Do you have any photos of Percy that you can share? Any information would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Thank you. I have visited the small memorial to Percy Wake in Southampton Old Cemetery, the memorial stone also includes Percy's two children that died very young. Percy's widow I cannot find out what happened to her, only that she received payments from the Titanic relief fund, records are kept at Southampton Archives.
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