Benjamin Howard

Who was Mr Benjamin Howard?

Mr Benjamin Howard was a 63 (sixty-three) year old retired bolt maker from Swindon, Wiltshire, England, who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born on May 10, 1848, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Howard’s life journey took him from a farmer’s boy to a respected foreman at Swindon’s Great Western Railway (GWR) Works before his fateful voyage on the Titanic.

Early Life and Family

Benjamin Howard’s early years were marked by family transitions and relocations. Born to Joseph Howard, a cotton mill spinner, and his wife Ann, Benjamin was the youngest of four children from his father’s second marriage. His childhood was spent in Lancashire, but tragedy struck early:

• His mother passed away around May 1851
• His father died in May 1858

Following these losses, young Benjamin’s life took a rural turn:

1. He moved to the remote moors of Saddleworth, western Yorkshire
2. Lived with his married sister Mary Ann and her husband Samuel Kenworthy
3. At age 13, he was described as a “farmer’s boy” in the 1861 census

Career and Marriage

Benjamin’s professional life evolved from his rural beginnings to skilled industrial work:

1. By 1871, at age 22, he was working as a bolt maker in Saddleworth
2. He later became a foreman bolt maker at Swindon’s GWR Works
3. Retired from this position sometime before 1911

On May 16, 1872, Benjamin married Ellen Truelove Arman, a native of Wiltshire. Their union produced five children, four of whom survived infancy:

• William Henry (born 1873)
• Frederick Charles (born 1878)
• Ethel Louise (1879-1957)
• Herbert Benjamin (born 1887)

The Howard family settled in Swindon, eventually residing at 85 Cheltenham Street, where they would spend the rest of their lives.

Why did the Howards board the Titanic?

Benjamin Howard’s health had been declining, and it was believed that a sea voyage to the United States might improve his condition. The Howards planned to visit their sons Frederick and Herbert, who had settled in Buhl, Idaho. This decision led them to embark on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

• Departure: Left Swindon on April 9, 1912, at 2:15 PM by train to Southampton
• Embarkation: Boarded the Titanic on April 10, 1912
• Ticket: Second class, number 24065, costing £26
• Destination: Buhl, Idaho, USA

In a poignant detail, the Howards posted a letter to their daughter, Mrs. Opie Smith, from Cherbourg. This letter, sent from the Titanic’s first stop after Southampton, would be one of the last communications from the couple.

The Tragic End

Benjamin Howard, aged 63 (sixty-three), and his wife Ellen perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified, adding to the tragedy of their loss.

Legacy and Estate

The impact of Benjamin Howard’s life and tragic death can be seen in the following:

1. Estate Value: £902, 3s, 6d (approximately £105,000 in 2023 currency)
2. Administration: Granted to his eldest son William on August 30, 1912
3. Probate Details:

   HOWARD Benjamin of 85 Cheltenham-street, Swindon, Wiltshire retired bolt maker, died 15 April 1912 at sea on board s.s. Titanic, Administration Salisbury 30 August to William Henry Howard piano tuner. Effects £902 3s 6d. Resworn £697 10s.

Herbert Howard: A Son’s Journey

The story of Benjamin Howard’s son Herbert provides a glimpse into the family’s life after the Titanic disaster:

• Continued living in Idaho, settling in Caldwell, Canyon County
• Married Sarah Lydia Tannehill (1898-1934) and had several children
• After his wife’s death, moved to Los Angeles
• Remarried in 1946 to Laura Adelaide Mosher, née Harris (born 1887)
• Widowed again after less than a year of marriage
• Passed away in Los Angeles on August 19, 1963

Benjamin Howard’s life, from his humble beginnings in Lancashire to his tragic end on the Titanic, encapsulates a story of Victorian-era industrial progress, family bonds, and the unforeseen twists of fate that can change everything in an instant.