Encyclopedia Titanica

Richard George Hocking

Second Class Passenger

Richard George Hocking

Mr Richard George Hocking, 22, was born 26 July 1889 at 39 Adelaide Street, Penzance, Cornwall, the youngest son of Mr William Hocking (Confectioner and Baker) and Mrs Eliza Hocking (née Neads). He was named after both his grandfathers Richard Hocking and George Neads. He was brother to William, Sidney, Emily and Ellen (Nellie). After the death of his father in South Africa the family moved to 6 St Mary's Street, Penzance.

Richard, like his father was a baker. When living in Penzance he became a member of the YMCA choir. He emigrated to Akron, Ohio in the early 1900's and lived at 457 Rhodes Avenue where he worked as a watchman at the Diamond Rubber Company. He travelled back to Cornwall in early 1912 to bring his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Hocking, his two sisters, Miss Nellie Hocking, Mrs Emily Richards and his two nephews, George and William Richards out to Akron. For the journey to America they all travelled second class on Titanic. George's ticket was numbered 29104 and cost £11 10s. The journey was due to have been on the Oceanic but they were switched to the Titanic. He shared a cabin with two of his friends from Penzance Percy Andrew Bailey and Harry Cotterill (a one-time neighbour in Adelaide Street).

George perished in the disaster, his body, if recovered, was never identified. His mother had asked him to enter her lifeboat but he replied, 'No, these men are good to stand back for you, and I must stay back and let their wives and mothers go'.

A brass plaque in memory of George Hocking and his friend Harry Cotterill was placed in St John's School, St Michaels's Street, Penzance shortly after the tragedy. Following the closure of the school in the late 1950's the plaque was re-sited within the nearby St John the Baptist Church in Trewartha Terrace. The inscription reads:

In Memory of
George Hocking and Harry Cotterill
pupils of this school for 7 years who lost their lives
in the foundering of the 'Titanic'
635 miles from New York on April 14 1912
"Quit ye like men"

 

References and Sources

West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 18 April 1912
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio), 20 April 1912
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio), 19 April 1912
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio), 21 April 1912
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port Of Arrival (Date: 18th-19th June 1912, Ship: Carpathia) - National Archives, NWCTB 85 T715 Vol 4183

Newspaper Articles

Was member of the Young Men’s Christian Association Choir
West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser (18 April 1912) Penzance Party On Titanic Bound For Akron
Seven adults and four young children from Penzance all bound to Akron.
Cleveland Plain Dealer (18 April 1912) Sixteen Ohioans Are Still Missing
No news received as to the fate of Mrs Ellen Wilkes...
Families sat in water a foot deep
Schenectady Gazette (20 April 1912) Hocking Family News
Women and children all safe but men in the party were drowned

Comment and discuss

  1. Broderick Nicholls

    Broderick Nicholls

    I wonder if it was Richard George Hocking who sang worship and led the choristers passion for Jesus.Well done to the commerce of Akron Ohio.Amen.
  2. Broderick Nicholls

    Broderick Nicholls

    Was it possible that Richard George sang St.Mathews passion from the bridge and had the loaves of christ blessed.Good Baker of Akron.Well Done Akron Ohio.Broderick James Nicholls; e-mail;
Open Thread Leave a Reply

Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr Richard George Hocking
Age: 23 years 8 months and 20 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Single
Last Residence: in Penzance, Cornwall, England
Occupation: Baker
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 29104, £11 10s
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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