Charles Richard Fardon

Who was Mr Charles Richard Fardon?

Mr Charles Richard Fardon was a 46 (forty-six) year-old English carpenter and joiner who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic. Born in 1866 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, Fardon was a third-class passenger on the ill-fated ship, traveling under the pseudonym Charles Franklin. His journey on the Titanic marked a desperate attempt to seek better fortunes in Canada, leaving behind a blind wife and a struggling business in Wellingborough.

Early Life and Family

Childhood in Northamptonshire

Charles Richard Fardon was born in 1866 to Thomas Richard Fardon (1844-1924) and Elizabeth Gossage (1847-1946). He was baptized on September 28, 1866, in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Charles was the eldest of eleven children, though sadly, five of his siblings did not survive infancy.

His known siblings included:

• William (born 1867)
• Elizabeth Sarah (born 1869)
• Mary Anne (born 1870)
• Thomas (born 1873)
• Edward (born 1875)
• Robert (born 1878)

Family Trade and Early Career

Charles followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a carpenter and joiner. This trade would shape his entire professional life and ultimately lead to his fateful journey on the Titanic. The 1881 census reveals that at just 14 years old, Charles had already left school and was working as a joiner, demonstrating his early entry into the family trade.

Marriage and Family Life

Union with Sophia Turnell

In 1896, Charles married Sophia Turnell in Daventry. Sophia, born in 1865 in Wellingborough, would become a significant figure in Charles’s life story. The couple settled in Wellingborough, where Charles continued his work as a carpenter.

A Growing Family

Charles and Sophia had one child together:

• Dorothy Kate, born on January 21, 1899

By 1911, the family was living at 2 Baker Street, Wellingborough, sharing a home with Sophia’s parents, George and Sarah Turnell. This census provides a poignant detail about their family life: Sophia was described as “totally blind,” having lost her sight at the age of 40.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why Did Charles Board the Titanic?

Charles boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a third-class passenger. His ticket (number 3101314) cost £7 5s. But why did he embark on this journey?

1. Financial Struggles: Reports suggest that Charles’s business affairs were not successful, prompting him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
2. Caring for a Blind Wife: It’s been speculated that Charles was struggling to care for his blind wife, and the journey to Canada was an attempt to alleviate himself from these responsibilities.
3. A Fresh Start: Like many passengers, Charles may have seen Canada as a land of opportunity, hoping to establish a better life for himself and potentially his family.

The Mystery of Charles Franklin

Intriguingly, Charles boarded the Titanic under the pseudonym “Charles Franklin.” The Northampton Independent (April 20, 1912) reported that he had informed his friends of his intention to travel under this alias. This detail adds an element of mystery to Charles’s story, leaving historians to speculate about his motivations for concealing his true identity.

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Loss on the Titanic

Charles Fardon did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The loss of the Titanic became not just a maritime disaster but a personal tragedy for the Fardon family and countless others.

Impact on the Family

The aftermath of Charles’s death was devastating for his family:

• Sophia Fardon: Left destitute and blind, Sophia never remarried. She remained in Wellingborough until her death in 1938.
• Dorothy Kate: Charles’s daughter married Charles Stone Platnauer in 1923 and had three children. She passed away in Wellingborough in 1983.

Legacy and Remembrance

Charles Fardon’s story, while tragic, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. His decision to travel under an assumed name, his struggle with a failing business, and the blind wife he left behind all paint a picture of a man desperately seeking a better life, only to meet a tragic end.

Today, Charles Richard Fardon is remembered not just as a statistic in the Titanic’s casualty list, but as a hardworking carpenter from Wellingborough who represented the hopes and dreams of many third-class passengers seeking a new life across the Atlantic. His story continues to resonate, offering a personal dimension to one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.