Bridget Mary O'Sullivan

Who was Miss Bridget Mary O’Sullivan?

Miss Bridget Mary O’Sullivan was a 21 (twenty-one) year-old Irish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on May 18, 1890, in Dromdeveen, Glenduff, Co Limerick, Ireland, she was a third-class passenger traveling to Manhattan, New York, with dreams of a new life in America. Tragically, Bridget lost her life in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Irish Roots and Family Background

Bridget was born into a Roman Catholic family, the daughter of John O’Sullivan, a labourer born around 1848, and Mary Barry, born circa 1852. Her parents married on February 28, 1876, and Bridget was one of seven children:

• John (born July 4, 1878)
• William (born December 1, 1879)
• Robert (born November 25, 1884)
• Johanna (born May 20, 1887)
• Ellen (born September 1, 1888)
• Bridget Mary (born May 18, 1890)
• Mary (born September 9, 1893)

Childhood and Loss

Bridget’s early life was marked by tragedy when her father passed away sometime before 1901, possibly around 1896. The 1901 census records show young Bridget living with her widowed mother and four siblings in house 14, Dromdeveen.

Working Life and the Path to America

What was Bridget’s occupation before boarding the Titanic?

While the 1911 census doesn’t provide a definitive record of Bridget, it’s possible that she was working as a servant in Colooney Street, Limerick City. This aligns with a record of a 20-year-old Bridget O’Sullivan in domestic service at that time.

Family Connections in America

Bridget’s journey to America was part of a larger family migration:

• Her brother Robert “Bob” O’Sullivan had left Ireland in the early 1900s, settling in Manhattan where he worked as a subway guard.
• Sisters Ellen “Nellie” and Johanna “Hanna” followed around 1908, establishing careers in domestic service.
• It was reportedly Johanna who sent Bridget the money for her Titanic passage, paving the way for her younger sister to join them in New York.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Embarking on a New Life

On April 11, 1912, Bridget boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland. Her ticket details were as follows:

• Ticket Number: 330909
• Ticket Cost: £7, 12s, 7d
• Class: Third Class
• Destination: Manhattan, New York

A Romantic Connection

Bridget wasn’t traveling alone. She was accompanied by her sweetheart, Joseph Foley, from nearby Mountplummer. Joseph was heading to an uncle in Larchmont, New York, adding a poignant layer of romance to their ill-fated journey.

The Tragic End

What happened to Bridget O’Sullivan on the night of April 15, 1912?

Bridget O’Sullivan, like many third-class passengers, did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. The chaos and confusion of that fateful night, combined with the limited lifeboats and the disadvantaged position of third-class passengers, likely contributed to her tragic fate.

Recovery Efforts

Bridget’s body, if recovered from the icy Atlantic waters, was never identified. This lack of closure was a common and heartbreaking reality for many families of Titanic victims.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The loss of Bridget had a lasting impact on her family, who continued their lives in America:

• Ellen, Bridget’s sister, married John Finn on April 4, 1915. They had a daughter named Mary. Ellen passed away in Manhattan on March 23, 1922, and was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.
• Johanna, another sister, married a man named John Ryan. She died in Manhattan on January 31, 1932.
• Robert, Bridget’s brother who had paved the way for his sisters in America, died in Manhattan on December 23, 1933.

Bridget Mary O’Sullivan’s story is a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. Her journey, filled with hope for a new beginning in America, became part of one of history’s most tragic maritime events, leaving behind a family to mourn her loss and wonder about the life she might have led.