Mrs Agnes Davies: A Titanic Survivor’s Tale of Tragedy and Resilience

Mrs Agnes Davies was a 48-year-old (forty-eight-year-old) English widow who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Her harrowing experience aboard the ill-fated ship and her subsequent journey to build a new life in America exemplify the resilience of Titanic survivors.

Early Life and Family

Agnes Davies was born Agnes Friggens on November 23, 1863, in Ludgvan, Cornwall, England. Her early life was marked by unconventional family circumstances:

• Her mother, Grace Friggens, was unmarried at the time of Agnes’ birth
• Grace later married a man named Thomas Victor and emigrated to the USA, leaving Agnes behind
• Agnes was raised by Henry and Dinah White, a couple from Ludgvan with a large family of their own

Marriages and Children

Agnes’ personal life was characterized by multiple marriages and a growing family:

1. First marriage: Richard Henry Nicholls (May 31, 1886)
   • Children: Mary Ethel, Richard Henry, and Joseph Charles
2. Second marriage: Robert Davies (early 1903)
   • Child: John Morgan Davies (born July 31, 1903)
3. Third marriage: Richard Edwards (1921)

Tragically, Agnes was widowed twice before boarding the Titanic, losing both Richard Nicholls and Robert Davies.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why was Agnes on the Titanic?

After her eldest son, Richard Nicholls, emigrated to Michigan, Agnes decided to join him with her remaining family. To fund the journey, she sold all her belongings in St Ives.

Titanic Ticket Details

• Ticket number: 33112
• Cost: £36 15s (36 pounds, 15 shillings)
• Class: 2nd Class
• Purchased from: William Cogar, White Star Line agent in St Ives

Companions on the Journey

Agnes boarded the Titanic at Southampton with:

• Her son John Davies (9 years old)
• Her son Joseph Nicholls (19 years old)
• Family friend Maud Sincock

They shared a cabin with Alice Phillips from Ilfracombe, Devon.

The Night of the Sinking

Agnes provided a vivid account of the night the Titanic struck the iceberg:

“We were in our berths when the steamer struck the iceberg at 11.50 the night of Sunday. We felt the jar but did not imagine that anything serious had occurred.”

Key events from her testimony:

1. Initially reassured by stewards that there was no danger
2. Alerted to the severity by Miss Phillips’ father
3. Her son Joseph helped them put on lifebelts
4. Agnes and John were placed in the third lifeboat (likely Lifeboat 14)
5. Joseph was tragically not allowed to board the lifeboat

Survival and Aftermath

Agnes and her young son John survived the sinking, spending about 5 hours in the lifeboat before being rescued by the Carpathia. However, her 19-year-old son Joseph perished in the disaster.

Journey to Michigan

Upon arrival in New York, Agnes received:

• Overnight accommodation
• A train ticket to Michigan
• $5 in cash
• A lunch box

During her train journey to Michigan, fellow passengers, recognizing her plight, raised money to help her.

Life After the Titanic

Agnes settled in Hancock, Michigan, where she:

• Recounted her Titanic experiences at the Calumet Opera House
• Remarried in 1921 to Richard Edwards, a fireman of English birth
• Lived at 949 Railroad Avenue in Hancock

Legacy and Final Years

Agnes Davies passed away on August 4, 1933, at the age of 69 (sixty-nine) in St Joseph’s Hospital, Hancock, Michigan. She was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Calumet, Michigan, where a memorial to her son Joseph Nicholls also stands.

Agnes Davies’ story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure unimaginable tragedy and build a new life. Her experiences provide a personal lens through which we can understand the broader impact of the Titanic disaster on individual lives and families.