Who was Mr Arthur Ford?

Mr Arthur Ford was a 23-year-old (twenty-three-year-old) English carpenter and third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in 1889 in Bridgwater, Somerset, Ford was embarking on a journey to start a new life in Elmira, New York, when he tragically lost his life in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Arthur Ford was born in the early months of 1889 at West Street in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. He was baptized on April 17, 1889, in the local parish church. His parents were:

• Father: Arthur Ford (b. 1857), a plasterer
• Mother: Sarah Lewis (b. 1861), originally from Plymouth, Devon

Arthur was one of eight children born to the couple, with six surviving infancy. His siblings included:

• Willie (b. December 12, 1880)
• Arthur (1883-1884)
• Florence Kate (b. 1885)
• Rose (b. August 28, 1886)
• Ernest (1891-1891)
• Lena (b. November 17, 1894)
• Beatrice (b. July 2, 1897)

Education and Early Career

While specific details about Arthur’s education are not provided, we know that by the age of 22, he had followed in his father’s footsteps and become a skilled tradesman. The 1911 census described Arthur as an unmarried carpenter, suggesting he had completed an apprenticeship or training in this field.

Why did Arthur Ford decide to travel to America?

Arthur Ford’s decision to travel to America was influenced by his older brother Willie’s success. Willie had emigrated to Elmira, New York in April 1902, aboard the Majestic, which was coincidentally commanded by Captain Edward Smith, who would later captain the Titanic. Willie, a graduate of the London Polytechnic, had established himself as a carpenter for a large contracting firm in Elmira and lived at 464 Lyon Street with his American wife, Ethel.

Encouraged by his brother’s success, Arthur decided to make the journey to Elmira to seek his fortune. However, the decision was not an easy one. Arthur had deep misgivings about leaving his mother, who was growing old, but was eventually persuaded to make the trip.

The Titanic Journey

Arthur boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a third-class passenger. His ticket, number 1478, cost £8 1s (8 pounds and 1 shilling). This journey was to be Arthur’s first trip to America, filled with hopes and dreams of a new life.

The Tragic Sinking and Its Aftermath

Sadly, Arthur Ford did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The tragedy was felt deeply on both sides of the Atlantic, as evidenced by newspaper reports in both England and America.

A particularly poignant aspect of this story is the confusion caused by the presence of two Arthur Fords associated with the Titanic. As reported in the Elmira Star Gazette on April 17, 1912:

“By a most remarkable coincidence two Elmira families are watching with terse strain news from the ill-fated Titanic and information from the rescue ship Carpathia—both anxiously awaiting to learn whether an Arthur Ford was on board the ship and, if he was, whether he was rescued.”

This confusion led to a period of agonizing uncertainty for the families involved. It was later clarified that the other Arthur Ford, who was employed by the White Star Line, had not sailed on the Titanic and arrived in the USA later aboard the Oceanic.

How did Arthur Ford’s death impact his family?

The loss of Arthur Ford had a profound impact on his family:

1. His parents remained at 9 Victoria Road, Bridgwater for the rest of their lives. His mother Sarah died in 1926 at the age of 67, while his father passed away on October 20, 1932.

2. His sister Florence married Henry Duddridge in July 1912, just months after the tragedy. Sadly, Duddridge was killed in action during World War I on September 30, 1918, while serving in the Royal Tank Corps. Florence never remarried and returned to live with her parents.

3. Arthur’s sisters Lena and Rose remained unmarried and continued to live at the family home in Bridgwater for the rest of their lives. They were later joined by their widowed sister Florence.

4. His younger sister Beatrice married Henry Glover-Rawlings in 1923 and moved to Guildford, Surrey, where they raised a family. Beatrice died on April 21, 1943.

5. Arthur’s brother Willie, who had encouraged him to come to America, continued to live in Elmira, New York. He was recorded in the 1940 census and later in his 1942 US military draft registration. However, his fate after this point remains uncertain.

Legacy

Arthur Ford’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey represents the hopes and dreams of countless immigrants seeking a better life in America, only to have those dreams tragically extinguished. Today, Arthur Ford is remembered as one of the many victims of this historic maritime disaster, his story a testament to the human cost of the Titanic’s sinking.