Who was Mrs Alice Frances Christy?

Mrs Alice Frances Christy was a 52-year-old (fifty-two) English second-class passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born as Frances Alice Jones in 1860 in Woolwich, Kent, she led a life marked by personal hardships, multiple marriages, and a remarkable family legacy that extended far beyond her own experiences on the ill-fated ship.

Early Life and Family

Alice was born into a large family with Welsh and English roots. Her father, William Charles Jones (1824-1898), was a Welsh tailor from Wrexham, while her mother, Elizabeth Fanny O’Neill (1832-1894), hailed from Woolwich, Kent. Alice was one of eleven children, growing up in a bustling household in Bexley, Kent.

A Young Working Woman

Alice’s early years were marked by a strong work ethic. At a remarkably young age, she entered the workforce:

In 1871, at just 11 years old, she worked as a servant for a doctor’s family in Plumstead, Kent.
By 1881, she had advanced her career in the medical field, working as an attendant at Peckham House Lunatic Asylum in Camberwell, London.

This early exposure to the medical profession would later serve her well in her nursing career.

Marriages and Motherhood

Alice’s personal life was characterized by two marriages and the challenges of single motherhood:

First Marriage: In 1885, at the age of 25, Alice married Moreno Cohen in London. They had three children:
- Jaques Moise (born 1885)
- Juli Rachel (born 1887)
- Amy Frances (born 1888)
Tragically, Moreno Cohen passed away on February 8, 1890, leaving Alice a young widow with three small children.
Second Marriage: On September 27, 1902, Alice remarried to Frederick Alexander Christy at St Barnabas Church, Dulwich. Frederick, born as Alexander Frederick Christ in 1846, was a widower and an importer of textile spinning machines. Sadly, this marriage was short-lived as Frederick died on September 6, 1903, less than a year after their wedding.

Struggles and Resilience

The periods between and after her marriages were marked by financial hardship:

After Moreno Cohen’s death, Alice worked as a grocer to support her family.
Later, she became a nurse, likely drawing on her earlier experiences in the medical field.
At one point, her daughters were listed as inmates at an infant orphan asylum in Wanstead, Essex, suggesting severe financial difficulties.

The Titanic Journey

Alice’s connection to the Titanic tragedy is a significant part of her life story:

She boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger, accompanied by her daughters Juli and Amy, and Amy’s husband, Sydney Jacobsohn.
Their ticket (number 237789) cost £30, a considerable sum at the time.
The family was traveling to Montréal, Québec.

Survival and Aftermath

Alice and her daughters survived the sinking, though they were separated from Sydney Jacobsohn, who perished in the disaster.
They were rescued by the Carpathia, though the specific lifeboat they used is unknown.
On the Carpathia, Alice sent a poignant telegram to France: “Sydney missing not definite news yet”
The surviving family members returned to England aboard the Megantic on May 11, 1912.

Later Life and Legacy

After the Titanic disaster, Alice’s life took several turns:

She outlived her son Moise and daughter Juli.
Her later years were spent in Bournemouth, Dorset, where she lived at 55 Bath Hill Court.
Alice passed away on July 7, 1939, at the age of 79 (seventy-nine).

A Remarkable Family Legacy

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Alice’s story is the legacy of her grandson, Robert Christy:

Robert, son of Alice’s son Moise, became a prominent theoretical physicist and astrophysicist.
During World War II, he became an American citizen and was one of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, contributing to the development of the first atomic weapons.
Robert Christy passed away in Pasadena, California on October 3, 2012, at the age of 96 (ninety-six).

Mrs Alice Frances Christy’s life story is a testament to resilience in the face of personal tragedy and historical upheaval. From her early years as a young working woman to her survival of one of the most famous maritime disasters in history, and finally to her grandson’s role in shaping 20th-century physics, Alice’s life intersected with many significant moments in history. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the many untold tales behind the famous Titanic tragedy and the far-reaching impacts of those who survived.