Thomas Henry Blake

Mr Thomas Henry Blake was born in St Tessell, Cornwall, England over the summer months of 1875.

He was the son of Guy Blake (1839-1912), a gardener, and Harriet Henwood (1839-1904). Both his parents were Cornish and had married in Tywardreath on 20 October 1866. 

He had three known siblings: Charles Guy (b. 1867), Frederick (b. 1869) and Beatrice Ann (b. 1873).

Thomas first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were residing at Clutton in High Littleton, Somerset. The 1891 census shows Thomas, listed as an assistant to his gardener father, then living at an address in Clifton, Bristol. He went to sea in the following years and appears on the 1901 census as a boarder at 19 Church Street, Woolwich, London and he was described as an unmarried ship's fireman.

Thomas was married in Southampton in mid-1904 to Alice Finch Smith (b. 8 March 1876 in Reading, Berkshire) and the couple had three children: Gladys Marjorie Phyllis (b. 2 August 1905), Frank Reginald (b. 3 January 1908) and David Henry (b. 26 April 1911). The family appears on the 1911 census living at 35 Peel Street, St Mary, Southampton and Thomas was described as a ship's fireman for the White Star Line.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 Blake gave his address as 35 Peel Street, Northam, Southampton. He was transferred from the Oceanic and as a fireman he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6.

Thomas Blake died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, has never been identified. He is mentioned on the St. Augustine's Church Memorial, Northam, Southampton. His death came only weeks after the death of his father, Guy, earlier in the year.

Thomas' widow Alice never remarried and remained living in Southampton for many years before she resettled in Wallisdown, Dorset, later living at 84 Bryant Road where she died on 19 February 1950. 

Both his daughter Gladys and son Frank never married and both remained in Southampton. Gladys died in 1992 and Frank, who later became a weaver and pattern maker, died in 1996. 

Thomas' youngest son David later worked as an ordnance surveyor and was married and raised a family. He died in Surrey in 1995.