Thomas Mullin was born on 26 August 1891 in Maxwelltown, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was the son of Charles Mullin (b. 1863) and his wife Mary Jane Gunyon (b. 1864).
His father was native to Dumfriesshire and his mother to Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire, and he was apparently their eldest child. He had four known siblings: John (b. 1894), Ellen Jane (b. 1897), Annie (b. 1899) and Eva (b. 1901). Thomas was educated at St Michael's School in Dumfries and may have been acquainted with bandsman John Law Hume, also a pupil.
Thomas appears on the 1901 census of Scotland living at 149 St Michaels Street, Dumfries and his father is described as a turner (in a mill). Thomas later became a pattern weaver in the same mill as his father.
When Thomas appeared on the next census, taken in 1911, he was by now living in Itchen, Hampshire at 12 Onslow Road, the home of his aunt Margaret Beattie, and he was described as an apprentice pattern maker in the shipbuilding industry. His parents had died within a short period of one another and his younger siblings remained in Dumfriesshire in the care of his maternal grandmother Ellen Gunyon. Later, Thomas apparently left the weaving industry due to failing eyesight.
When he signed-on to the Titanic in Southampton on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 12 Onslow Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the St. Louis. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. Reportedly, before leaving, he sent £1 to his hard-pressed family back home, the last of several.
Mullin died in the sinking. His body was later recovered by the Minia (#323) and he was buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10 May 1912.
© Bob Knuckle, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
An impressive 16' Obelisk was erected to the memory of Thomas and his Dumfriesshire shipmate John Law Hume in Dumfries. The inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN LAW HUME, A MEMBER OF THE BAND
AND THOMAS MULLIN, STEWARD,
NATIVES OF THESE TOWNS
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE WRECK OF
THE WHITE STAR LINER "TITANIC"
WHICH SANK IN MID-ATLANTIC
ON THE 14TH DAY OF APRIL 1912.
THEY DIED AT THE POST OF DUTY
Comment and discuss
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I have recently acquired a number of Items of Titanic Memorabilia relating to Thomas Mullen or Mullin, a Dumfries Man who was a Third Class Steward on the Titanic and who perished in the Disaster. His body was later recovered by the Minia and I have recently taken possession of his personal effects which were recovered from his body after the sinking namely 1) Whitestar Line Stewards Cap Badge (No 32)???? made of bronze with White Star Pennant impressed on reverse.? I wonder what the 32 refers to?? 2) His broken silver pocketwatch 3) His Leather notepad Cover.(Is this a Whitestar item/ Standard Issue, It is unmarked as far as I can see ? 4) Post sinking Titanic Postcard sent to his family on the 20th April 1912 at 7 Observatory Terrace, Dumfries (Postally used only 6 Days after the sinking) 5) Rememberance Card with Titanic Poem on Reverse 6) 1912 Titanic Poem (very ragged held together with tape, one section missing.) I wonder if you can give me any further information on...
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Dear David, What a wonderful acquisition. If you have full provenance then you have a unique and very very valuable little collection. My advice is 'not to lend it to ''anyone''- get it valued then insured - but don't let it out of your possession'. My printout on Mr Mullen is: Mullen, (Mullin) Thomas. Lived at 12 Onslow Road, Woolston, (road name later changed), Southampton, also of: 7 Observatory Terrace, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, Scotland. Occupation - Saloon Steward. Body number 323. Interred at Fairview Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Number 511. Mullen, John, brother. Nellie; Annie and Eva sisters. All class F dependants. (From the Dumfries local paper). In many cases reference was made to the disaster in the sermons, and the Dead March in ''Saul'' or another of the classic funeral marches was played. Memorial services were conducted in Maxwelltown Parish Church, of which Mr. Thomas Mullins, one of...
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Dear Brian, Thankyou for this wonderful information which fills in a lot of blanks. Re the Badge , do you know what the number 32 would stand for ( is it Steward 32 ?) I will also check out the Local Dumfries and Galloway Newspapers as a result of your helpful information (I think a visit to the Dock Park and a photo of the memorial will also be a must.) Ill post it once I have taken the photo Thanks and Kindest Regards David.
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David, Yes the badge was his Stewards badge the Chief Steward issued them and kept a record of the numbers so that if anyone made a complaint they would know who it was etc. Cheers Brian
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Hello David, What a terrific collection! Thank you very much for posting the photos of the items. I have always wondered what the steward's badges looked like. If I may venture a guess, I would say that the number 32 was a designation, much like a name tag, for passengers to keep up with their steward. It is also a guess that they corresponded somewhat to the sign-on articles and the order that the man registered for the voyage. Am I wrong? Congratulations on a wonderful acquisition and thanks for sharing your part of history with us. Kind Regards, Brian M
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Dear Brian Ticehurst and Brian Meister. Thanks so much for your help thus far. I would be keen to tie down the number 32 to some kind of record? Do you know if what you suggest exists anywhere ? I have taken some better photos and would value opinions regarding the "Stewards Pocketbook" or the Watch (Did WSL issue watches to their Stewards ? - Intrigued that there is only a number on the face which corresponds to a number on the case. On the case is the makers Initials F.P. and Fine Silver rather then hallmarks which would suggest it is not British (American ?),
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Thanks for posting the additional pictures. They're quite interesting. In regards to the badge, several stewards whose bodies were recovered had these numbered badges among their effects. The numbers do not correspond exactly with the numbered fields in which the men signed the ship's documents, however they do appear to have been issued in the same order that they signed. Mr. Mullin's badge being no. 32 fits in with this order scheme when compared with known badges. Steward George Talbot was no. 20, his signature appears several spaces above Mullin's; William Cox wore no. 9 and signed well above Talbot. I imagine that the cheif steward of each class had some form of written list to keep track of which badge was given to which man. If so those notes were probably lost in the sinking.
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Visited Dock Park, Dumfries today and got photos of the Monument as shown below. The bottom photograph is of Bronze Sheet Music with the words "Nearer thy God to Thee" Regards David.
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Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time. Footprints that perhaps another Sailing o¹er life¹s solemn main A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Longfellow
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"Collect It Magazine" are doing a feature on this collection in their May Edition (On sale about 10th April) Encyclopedia Titanica and Brian Ticehurst both get acknowledgements. Hopefully this will direct a few more people to this wonderful website. Thanks For All Your Help David.
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I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the pictures and your article. It's always fascinating to read about the person behind the face. Life before or after Titanic. Thanks for sharing Mullin's story with us!
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My daughter, who is compiling a family tree, has discovered that we are related to Thomas Mullen. We have always lived in Southampton but my maternal grandfather came from Dumfries, and Thomas was quite closely related to him. If we get any more information I will post it here.
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Hi John I still have a few items from the archive, and would be happy to share what info I have with you, if you care to get in touch with me. I am currently writing another article re Thomas Mullen for a local magazine and would enjoy speaking to you Thanks David R Howard
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My father Mr N Wilson 89, told me a story of Mr Thomas Mullins steward on titanic 1912 he was a relation of ours. Lorraine Cole uk.
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