Who was Miss Annie Moore Ward?

Miss Annie Moore Ward was a 37-year-old (thirty-seven) Scottish-American first-class passenger and Titanic survivor who worked as a personal maid for the wealthy Cardeza family. Born on August 1, 1874, in Calderhead, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Annie’s life would be forever changed by her experience on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

Early Life and Family

Annie was born to Hugh Ward and Ann Dennis, one of four children in the family. Her known siblings included:

Catherine (born 1872)
James Moore (1876-1940)

The Ward family relocated to Pennsylvania around 1880, possibly even earlier in the late 1870s. While the fate of Annie’s father remains unknown, her mother remarried in 1890 to John H. Craig, an Irish house painter born in 1851.

Life in Philadelphia

By 1900, Annie, her mother, brother, and stepfather were living at 2416 Evergreen Avenue in Philadelphia. At this time, Annie had no stated profession. The 1910 census still showed the family home on Evergreen Avenue, but Annie was no longer listed as residing there.

Employment with the Cardeza Family

Annie’s life took a significant turn when she entered the employ of the wealthy Cardeza family. She became the personal maid to Charlotte Drake Cardeza, a wealthy widow. This position would lead to extraordinary experiences and, ultimately, her presence on the Titanic.

African and European Adventure

In late 1911 or early 1912, Annie accompanied Mrs. Cardeza on a trip to Africa and Europe. During this journey, they joined Mrs. Cardeza’s son, Thomas, who, along with his mother, was known for being a big-game hunter.

The Titanic Journey

How did Annie Moore Ward come to be on the Titanic?

Annie boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912, as part of the Cardeza entourage. The group included:

Charlotte Drake Cardeza (employer)
Thomas Cardeza (Mrs. Cardeza’s son)
Gustave Lesueur (Thomas’s manservant)

Their journey was booked under ticket number 17755, which cost an astonishing £512, 6s, 7d - a testament to the Cardeza family’s wealth and status.

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Annie’s quick thinking and resourcefulness came to the fore. As the ship began to sink:

Annie didn’t take time to dress properly
She threw a fur coat over her nightgown
She stuffed various items from a table into her pockets, including:
- Salt and pepper cellars
- Some jewelry

When Annie offered these hastily gathered items to Mrs. Cardeza, her employer generously told her to keep them.

Rescue and Survival

The Cardeza group, including Annie, was rescued in lifeboat 3. This experience would remain with Annie for the rest of her life, as evidenced by her keeping the items she had grabbed during the evacuation.

Life After the Titanic

Annie continued to work for Mrs. Cardeza until the latter’s death in 1939. Following this, she worked as a housekeeper and was recorded living on Norton Street, Philadelphia in the 1940 census.

Marriage and Personal Life

Annie married William S. Moynahan, who was born in February 1871 and worked as Mrs. Cardeza’s gardener. William was a Pennsylvania native of Irish descent. Sadly, the couple had no children, and William passed away in 1936.

Legacy and Final Years

Annie Moore Ward died on December 25, 1955, at the age of 81 (eighty-one). She and her husband are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. Family members remember her as an eccentric but interesting lady.

What became of Annie’s Titanic mementos?

Upon her death, Annie left behind the jewelry and salt and pepper cellars she had rescued from the Titanic, tangible reminders of her extraordinary experience.

Family Connections

Annie’s brother James married a German woman named Frieda Lobs (1876-1954), and they raised a family in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Interestingly:

One of their daughters, born in 1907, was named after Annie
Another child, James (born 1909), lived with Annie on Norton Street, Pennsylvania in the early 1940s

James Moore Ward passed away in Pennsylvania in 1940.

Annie Moore Ward’s life, from her Scottish roots to her survival of the Titanic disaster and her years of service to the Cardeza family, paints a picture of a resilient and intriguing woman whose experiences spanned two continents and one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.