Charlotte Caroline Collyer

Who was Mrs Charlotte Caroline Collyer?

Mrs Charlotte Caroline Collyer was a 30-year-old (thirty-year-old) English woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was traveling with her husband Harvey and young daughter Marjorie, embarking on a new life in America before tragedy struck. Charlotte’s story is one of survival, resilience, and ultimately heartbreak in the aftermath of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family

Charlotte Caroline Tate was born on June 17, 1881, in The Tilth, Cobham, Surrey, England. She was baptized on October 2, 1881, at St Andrew’s Church in Cobham. Charlotte came from a working-class family, with her father Allen Tate working as a coachman and her mother Louisa Anne Townsend managing the household.

As the eldest of seven children, Charlotte likely had responsibilities helping to care for her younger siblings:

• Louise Alice (b. 1883)
• Nellie (b. 1885)
• Lily Maud (b. 1886)
• Allen (b. 1888)
• Gladys Florence (b. 1891)
• Eva Elsie (b. 1893)

Early Career and Marriage

By the time Charlotte reached her late teens, she had left home to pursue employment. The 1901 census records show her working as a domestic cook for the Reverend Sydney Sedgwick, a Church of England clergyman residing at Fanfield Hill, Leatherhead.

It was through her connection with the church that Charlotte met her future husband, Harvey Collyer. Harvey, born in 1880, served as the church sexton and verger. The couple married on May 5, 1903, at St Mary and St Nicholas’ Church in Leatherhead. At the time of their marriage, Harvey was described as a warehouseman.

Life in Bishopstoke and Plans for America

The Collyers welcomed their only child, daughter Marjorie Lottie, in 1904. Shortly after, the family relocated to Bishopstoke, Hampshire, following Reverend Sedgwick to his new parish at St Mary’s Church. In Bishopstoke, Harvey continued his work for the church as verger, council member, and bell ringer. He also operated a grocery store in town.

By 1911, the Collyer family was well-established in their community, living at 82 Church Road in Bishopstoke. However, Charlotte’s health began to decline as she developed tuberculosis. Seeking a better climate for her condition, the family made the fateful decision to emigrate to America.

The Titanic Journey

Why did the Collyers decide to sail on the Titanic?

Friends of the Collyers had previously settled in Payette, Idaho, and wrote glowing accounts of the climate and opportunities there. With Charlotte’s health in mind, the family decided to buy a fruit farm in the same area, hoping the change would be beneficial.

The day before their departure was filled with emotional goodbyes. In a poignant moment, the church members surprised Harvey by ringing all the chimes they knew in his honor – a bittersweet farewell that lasted over an hour.

What were the Collyers’ travel arrangements on the Titanic?

The Collyers boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as second-class passengers. Their ticket number was 31921, which cost £26 5s (26 pounds, 5 shillings). Tragically, the family’s entire life savings and possessions were with them on the ship, including cash that Harvey carried in the inside pocket of his coat.

The Sinking and Survival

When the Titanic struck the iceberg on April 14, Charlotte was in bed, feeling ill from the rich food served earlier. Harvey went to investigate and returned with what seemed like reassuring news: they had hit an iceberg, but an officer had said there was no danger.

As the situation worsened, Charlotte and Marjorie were placed in Lifeboat 14 and rescued. Harvey, however, did not survive the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Life After the Titanic

Following their rescue, Charlotte wrote a heart-wrenching letter to her mother from New York, describing the trauma of that night and the kindness of strangers who helped them in the aftermath. The letter provides a vivid, first-hand account of the disaster’s impact on survivors.

Charlotte and Marjorie received financial assistance from both the Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund and the American Relief Fund. Despite initial plans to continue to Idaho, they ultimately returned to England in June 1912.

Charlotte’s Final Years

In late 1914, Charlotte remarried to James Ashbrook Holme, a licensed victualler from Liverpool. The couple lived at The Fox and Pelican in Greyshott, Haslemere, Surrey. However, Charlotte’s health continued to decline, and she succumbed to tuberculosis on November 28, 1916, at the young age of 35 (thirty-five).

Legacy

Charlotte Collyer’s story represents the human toll of the Titanic disaster. Her survival, followed by her struggle with illness and early death, illustrates the long-lasting impact of that fateful night in April 1912. Today, Charlotte is buried in St Mary’s churchyard in Eastleigh, Bishopstoke, Southampton, not far from where she once lived. A plaque on their former residence serves as a memorial to her husband Harvey, ensuring that the Collyer family’s connection to this historic event is not forgotten.