David John Barton

Who was Mr David John Barton?

Mr David John Barton was a 22 (twenty-two) year-old English general labourer who tragically lost his life in the Titanic disaster. Born in Wicken, Cambridgeshire, on January 18, 1890, Barton was embarking on a journey to start a new life in America when he boarded the ill-fated ship as a third-class passenger.

Early Life and Family

David John Barton grew up in the small village of Wicken in eastern Cambridgeshire, England. He was born into a working-class family, the son of Shaw Barton (1858-1941), an agricultural labourer, and Mary Bassett (1858-1928). His parents, both Cambridgeshire natives, had married in 1883.

David was one of seven surviving children out of nine born to the Barton family. His known siblings were:

• Ellen Mary (1884-?)
• Sidney Shaw (1886-1967)
• Stephen William (1887-1972)
• Enos (b. 1893)
• George Benstead (1895-1979)
• Gladys May (1900-1984, later Mrs Percy Bailey)

Childhood and Early Adulthood

What was David Barton’s early life like?

David’s early life was typical of a rural working-class family in late Victorian and Edwardian England. The 1891 census records show the one-year-old David living with his family as lodgers in the home of an elderly farmer named Richard Rowlison in Wicken. By 1901, the family had moved to High Street in the same village.

As David grew older, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a farm labourer. The 1911 census describes the 21-year-old David as an unmarried farm labourer, living with his family at Belle Vue cottage on North Street, Wicken.

The Journey to America

Why did David Barton decide to emigrate?

Like many young men of his time, David Barton saw opportunity in America. He planned to emigrate to the United States with two of his friends, Arthur Taylor and Sidney Day. The trio had secured positions with the Kodak Company in Rochester, New York, promising them a fresh start and potentially better prospects than their agricultural work in England.

What challenges did Barton face before boarding the Titanic?

David’s journey to America was not without obstacles. In a twist of fate that would ultimately seal his destiny, Barton faced repeated rejections during medical inspections:

1. First attempt: Barton failed the medical inspection due to a facial blemish, which inspectors deemed a potential contagion risk. His friends sailed without him.
2. Second attempt: Barton was rejected again.
3. Final attempt: After multiple tries, Barton was finally accepted to sail on the Titanic.

Throughout this process, the Kodak Company showed remarkable patience, holding his position until he could make the journey.

The Titanic Voyage

What were the details of Barton’s Titanic ticket?

David John Barton boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket details were as follows:

Fate and Legacy

Tragically, David John Barton did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was just 22 (twenty-two) years old when he lost his life in one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

While David’s life was cut short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives full of hope and ambition that were lost on that fateful night. The Barton family, like many others affected by the tragedy, largely remained in the Newmarket area of Cambridgeshire, carrying with them the memory of their lost son and brother.

David John Barton’s tale is one of perseverance in the face of setbacks, and of the cruel twists of fate that can alter the course of a life. His determination to reach America, despite multiple rejections, ultimately led him to the Titanic – a ship whose name would forever be etched in history, along with the stories of those who sailed on her.