Mr Alfred G. Rowe: A Transatlantic Life Cut Short by the Titanic

Who was Alfred G. Rowe?

Mr Alfred G. Rowe was a 59-year-old (fifty-nine) Peruvian-born English landowner who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Lima, Peru, on February 24, 1853, Rowe led a life that spanned continents, from South America to England and Texas, before his untimely demise on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic.

Early Life and Family

A Merchant’s Son in Peru

Alfred was born into a family with strong British ties. His father, John James Rowe (1817-1875), was a merchant born in Manchester, Jamaica, to British parents. His mother, Agnes Graham (born 1817), hailed from Glasgow, Scotland. The couple married in Liverpool in 1845 before settling in Peru, where Alfred and his four eldest siblings were born.

The Rowe Siblings

Alfred was one of eight children, including:

• John James (born 1849)
• Charles Graham (born 1851)
• Herbert William (born 1852)
• Agnes Graham (born 1853, Alfred’s twin sister)
• Henry Vincent (born 1857)
• Bernard Douglas (born 1858)
• Lydia Margaret (born 1859)

Return to England and Education

From Peru to Cheshire

In 1856, when Alfred was just three years old, the Rowe family returned to England. They settled in Crabwall, Great Broughton, Cheshire, where the 1861 census records them living at Crabwall Hall. This move likely provided young Alfred with access to British education and set the stage for his future endeavors.

Relocation to Liverpool

The family later moved to Dinglefield in Toxteth, Liverpool, appearing there in the 1871 census. It was here that Alfred’s father, John James Rowe, passed away on October 13, 1875. Following her husband’s death, Alfred’s mother, Agnes, relocated to Bournemouth, Hampshire, where she lived until her death on December 20, 1888.

A Transatlantic Life

Establishing Roots in Texas

In a bold move that would shape the rest of his life, Alfred left Britain before the end of the 1870s and settled in Clarendon, Donley County, Texas. Here, he established and operated a ranch, appearing in both the 1880 and 1900 U.S. censuses. Despite his new American home, Alfred maintained strong ties with Britain, making frequent trips across the Atlantic.

Marriage and Family

At the age of 48 (forty-eight), Alfred married Constance Ethel Kingsley (born 1865) in London in late 1901. Constance, a native of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, came from a distinguished family. Her father, Henry Kingsley, was an Irish-born physician, magistrate, and former mayor of Stratford-on-Avon (1867-1869).

The couple had four children, though one sadly died in infancy:

1. Charles Alfred Kingsley (born 1904)
2. Herbert Henry Kingsley (born 1905)
3. Ethel Margaret Kingsley (born 1910)

Life in England and Continued Business in Texas

By 1910, the Rowe family had permanently settled in England, residing at 6 Petersham Terrace, Gloucester Road, Kensington, London, as recorded in the 1911 census. However, Alfred continued to make regular trips to Texas to oversee his ranch operations, bridging his life between two continents.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Alfred boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger. His ticket, number 113790, cost £26 11s, equivalent to about £3,000 in today’s currency. This voyage was one of his routine trips to Texas to manage his ranch affairs.

The Sinking and Aftermath

Tragically, Alfred Rowe did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Initial accounts suggested he had swum to a piece of ice where he was later found frozen to death. However, this dramatic tale was dispelled when his body was recovered by the cable ship Mackay-Bennett, like many other victims of the disaster.

Recovery and Burial

Body Identification

Alfred Rowe’s body was recovered and assigned number 109. The description provided paints a poignant picture of his final moments:

NO. 109. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 50. - HAIR, FAIR. CLOTHING- Brown suit; grey suit pyjamas; “R. F.” on singlet. EFFECTS- Gold ring; £15 in bank notes. FIRST CLASS. NAME - ALFRED ROWE. 6 Peterson Terrace, London, S. W.

Final Journey Home

Alfred’s body was forwarded from Halifax on May 4, 1912, to Liverpool aboard the Empress of Britain. On Tuesday, May 14, 1912, he was laid to rest at Toxteth Park Cemetery, Smithdown Road, Liverpool, bringing his transcontinental life full circle.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

Estate and Personal Effects

Alfred’s eldest brother, Charles Graham Rowe, received his effects on May 30, 1912. These included:

• One gold signet ring
• A card case containing two photos, cards, and a certificate of posting of a registered postal packet
• Three Bank of England £5 notes
• Newspaper cuttings and memos in pencil

His estate, valued at £7,973 16s 2d (equivalent to about £900,000 today), was administered on August 9, 1912, to his brothers Charles and Henry, and his widow Constance.

A Posthumous Child

In a bittersweet turn of events, Constance Rowe was pregnant at the time of the Titanic’s sinking. She gave birth to their son, Alfred Kingsley Rowe, before the end of 1912. Constance never remarried and later settled in Wales at Glandwr Hall