Encyclopedia Titanica

Thomas Peter O'Connor

First Class Bedroom Steward

Thomas Peter O'Connor
Thomas Peter O'Connor

Mr Thomas Peter O'Connor was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England around 1868, the son of Peter O'Connor and his wife Sarah (?) McDade (?). His parents are believed to have been Irish immigrants (possibly from Co Donegal) but no further information about Thomas' early life is available.

He was married on 12 February 1892 in St Anne's Church, Liverpool to Emily Alice Woods (b. 1869 in St Helens, Lancashire). At the time their residence was listed as 74 Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. The couple had a total of eight children, with four living past infancy: Edith (b. 1895), Eleanor Elizabeth (1896-1974), John Joseph (b. 1898), Thomas Edward (1900-2004), Christopher (b. 1901), Daniel Peter (b. 1906) and Emily Edith (1911-1916).

Thomas was absent from the 1901 census when his wife, described as a greengrocer, and his two children Eleanor and Thomas were living at 1 March Road, West Derby, Lancashire. They would move to 12 Linacre Lane, Bootle by the time of the 1911 census and Thomas was described as a ship's steward. Although not stated on the census, it is likely his wife was still working in the greengrocer's trade and his eldest daughter Eleanor was described as a greengrocer's assistant.

Thomas was on board the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. When he signed-on again, in Southampton, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 12 Linacre Lane, Liverpool. His previous ship had been the Celtic and as a bedroom steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Thomas O'Connor died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Number 538. O'Connor, E. E., widow and two daughters and three sons. All class B dependants. - Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund

His family placed the following memorial in the Liverpool Echo on 15 April 1939:

O'CONNOR--In sad but loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas O'Connor (Tom), who lost his life in the Titanic disaster, April 15, 1912. R.I.P. (Sadly missed by his sorrowing wife and children)--49, Linacre-lane, Bootle.

His widow Emily never remarried and continued to live in Liverpool, later living at 49 Caldwell Road, Allerton where she died on 28 October 1962 aged 93.

Thomas Peter O'Connor is remembered on his wife's headstone in Yew Tree Catholic cemetery, West Derby, Liverpool, Section 4B, Plot 123.

Documents and Certificates

Agreement and Account of Crew, National Archives, London; BT100/259
Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklets and Minute Books, London Metropolitan Archives (COL/MH/AD/06/009)
Titanic Crew Particulars of Engagement (Belfast), Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (TRANS 2A/45 381)

Comment and discuss

  1. Jenny Moser

    Jenny Moser

    would like to contact Nick Regan. we are related have been working on the same problem . My Gt.grandmother was Thomas Peters elder sister. I have been looking into this for quite a few years and have collected the same amount of info. However it would be wonderful to contact a decendant . jenlaw
  2. Brian Cook

    Brian Cook

    Jenlaw and I are cousins, both descendants of Tom's oldest sister. We have been co-operating in investigating our great uncle's family. The correct address is 12 Linacre Lane. That is the address given on the birth certificate of Tom's youngest child born on August 24, 1911. Gore's street directory for 1911 records that 12 was a fruiterer's the proprietor of which was James O'Malley. I think he had at least one other shop and maybe Edith managed number 12 for him. I have photocopies of documents concerning her from the Titanic Relief Fund. By January, 1914 the family had moved across the road to 49 Linacre Lane. That property was destroyed in WWll. Emily had asked in January 1914 that she be supported to send Eleanor to Skerry's College to train as a shorthand-typist. She said her income from boarders was not reliable enough for her to support Eleanor at College. At that time Eleanor was an assistant in Reid's chemist's shop on Linacre Road earning 5/- per week. It seems that... Read full post
  3. Margaret17

    Margaret17

    Hi, I had just been doing another general search under the name of Thomas P O'Connor when I saw this new thread, I can't believe my luck at finding this! He was my father's great-uncle. Apparently there had been a photograph of him but no-one knows where it is now. My father knows almost nothing about him, and was puzzled when I showed him the information I had already got from the website stating that he had been born in England. My family are all Irish... I would be really grateful to find out any more information. Thank you in anticipation!!
  4. Nick Regan

    Nick Regan

    Thanks Dave, that's reassuring!
  5. Brian Cook

    Brian Cook

    Hi Margaret, We have details of Tom's siblings and parents. We know about his wife and children, but nothing after about 1916. Please get in touch. I have sent you a private message.
  6. Nick Regan

    Nick Regan

    Hi Margaret, I've sent you a private message. Do get in touch!

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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Thomas Peter O'Connor
Age: 44 years (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Emily Alice Woods
Last Ship: Celtic
Embarked: Belfast on Monday 1st April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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