Charlotte Appleton

Who was Mrs Charlotte Appleton?

Mrs Charlotte Appleton was a 53-year-old (fifty-three-year-old) American first-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born into a prominent New York family with ties to the shipping industry, she was one of three sisters who experienced the tragic sinking and lived to tell the tale.

Early Life and Family

Charlotte Lamson was born on December 12, 1858, in New York City. She came from a distinguished lineage:

Father: Charles Lamson, a former dry goods importer
Mother: Elizabeth Robertson Marshall

Her father later became the senior partner of Charles H. Marshall & Co., a shipping house that owned the renowned Black Ball Line of Liverpool packet-ships. This background would unknowingly prepare Charlotte for her future maritime ordeal.

Marriage and Personal Life

A Union of Notable Families

In 1894, at the age of 35 (thirty-five), Charlotte married Edward Dale Appleton. Her husband came from an equally prestigious background:

Son of John Adams Appleton and Serena Parker Dale
A noted book publisher from Massachusetts

The couple settled into married life, residing first in New York City before moving to Bayside, New York (now part of Queens). Interestingly, the Appletons did not have any children, which would later play a role in the dramatic events aboard the Titanic.

The Fateful Journey

A Sorrowful Departure

In 1912, Mrs. Appleton embarked on a poignant journey to England. She was accompanied by her sisters:

Mrs. John Murray Brown (a widow)
Mrs. Robert C. Cornell

The purpose of their trip was to attend the funeral of their fourth sister, Lady Victor Drummond, who had passed away in England. Little did they know that this somber journey would lead them into one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Boarding the Titanic

After laying their sister to rest, the three sisters booked passage on the RMS Titanic for their return journey. Key details of their travel include:

Embarkation Point: Southampton
Cabin: C-101
Ticket Number: 11769
Class: First Class

The Night of the Disaster

A Familiar Face Onboard

Colonel Archibald Gracie IV, a fellow passenger on the Titanic, was well-acquainted with the sisters. In his book, “The Truth About the Titanic,” he wrote:

“These three sisters were returning home from a sad mission abroad, where they had laid to rest the remains of a fourth sister, Lady Victor Drummond, of whose death I had read accounts in the London papers, and all the sad details connected therewith were told me by the sisters themselves. That they would have to pass through a still greater ordeal seemed impossible…”

Survival Against the Odds

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, the sisters found themselves in a desperate situation:

Mrs. Appleton and Mrs. Cornell became separated from Mrs. Brown and their friend, Miss Edith Evans.
Charlotte and her sister managed to reach Lifeboat 2, one of the last to leave the sinking ship, at approximately 1:45 AM.
In a testament to their strength and determination, both Mrs. Appleton and Mrs. Cornell were observed rowing throughout the night.

Rescue and Aftermath

Reunion aboard the Carpathia

By a stroke of luck, all three sisters survived the sinking and were reunited aboard the rescue ship Carpathia. In an extraordinary coincidence, they discovered that their uncle, Charles H. Marshall, was also a passenger on the Carpathia.

Return to New York

The sisters’ return to New York was marked by both relief and tragedy:

Their families had been frantic with worry, especially concerning Mrs. Cornell’s fate.
The three women disembarked together, greeted by their loved ones.
However, their friend Miss Edith Evans did not survive, having sacrificed her spot in a lifeboat for Mrs. Brown, stating, “You go first. You have children waiting at home.”

Later Life and Legacy

Following the Titanic disaster, Charlotte Appleton returned to her life in Bayside, New York. She passed away on June 25, 1924, at the age of 65 (sixty-five). Her husband, Edward Dale Appleton, outlived her by nearly two decades, dying on January 29, 1942.

Charlotte Appleton’s story serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Her experience on the Titanic, along with those of her sisters, provides a unique perspective on one of history’s most famous maritime disasters, highlighting the personal stories behind the headlines and statistics.