Edith Peacock

Who was Mrs Edith Peacock?

Mrs Edith Peacock was a 26 (twenty-six) year-old English passenger who tragically lost her life aboard the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born Edith Nile on January 20, 1886, in Carnkie, Cornwall, she was traveling with her two young children to reunite with her husband in America when disaster struck.

Early Life and Family

Edith was born into a mining family in Cornwall, England. Her parents were:

Father: Richard Nile (born 1845), a tin miner from Illogan
Mother: Mary Ann Wilkinson (born 1847), originally from Gloucestershire

Edith was one of ten children, growing up in a large family that included:

William James (born 1870)
Sarah Jane (born 1872)
Richard (born 1873)
Samuel Charles (born 1876)
Philip (born 1879)
Alfred (born 1881)
Beatrice (born 1883)
Frederick (born 1886)
Harry Foster (born 1890)

Tragedy struck the family early when Edith’s father passed away in 1895, leaving her mother a widow.

What was Edith’s occupation before marriage?

The 1901 census provides insight into Edith’s early working life. At that time, she was described as a “tin dresser,” a common occupation in the mining communities of Cornwall. This job involved sorting and cleaning tin ore, a crucial step in the mining process.

Marriage and Family Life

Around 1907, Edith married Benjamin Peacock, an engineer born on July 17, 1886, in Dulwich, London. The couple settled in Southampton, Hampshire, where they started their family:

Treasteall (daughter, born 1908)
Albert Edward (son, born 1911)
An unnamed child who died in infancy

The Journey to America

In 1911, Benjamin Peacock left England for Newark, New Jersey, where he found work at the power house of the Public Service Corporation. Having never met his son Albert, Benjamin was eager to reunite with his family and sent funds for their passage to America.

Titanic Voyage Details

Embarkation: Southampton
Class: 3rd Class
Ticket Number: 3101315
Ticket Cost: £13 15s 6d (equivalent to about £1,600 or $2,000 in 2023)

Edith and her two children boarded the Titanic on April 10, 1912, filled with hope for a new life in America.

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic was sinking, a heartbreaking scene unfolded. John Collins, a young Belfast crewman, encountered a steward trying to assist a woman with two small children. This woman, believed to be Edith Peacock, was described as crying while holding one child, with the steward carrying the other.

“Just as they were turning around and making for the stern, a wave washed them off the deck and the child that Collins was carrying was washed from his arms.”

This harrowing account provides a glimpse into the final moments of the Peacock family aboard the Titanic.

Aftermath and Legacy

Tragically, Mrs. Edith Peacock and her two children, Treasteall and Albert Edward, were lost in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

Edith’s mother, Mrs. Nile, and aunt, Mrs. Goldsworthy, were quoted in the press, saying:

“It seemed uncertain if they died in their berths or if she preferred to remain on board rather than risking her children in the frail lifeboats.”

This statement reflects the agonizing uncertainty faced by families of Titanic victims and the difficult choices passengers had to make in the face of disaster.

How did the tragedy affect Benjamin Peacock?

Benjamin Peacock was devastated by the loss of his family. In his grief, he traveled to New York, hoping against hope to find them or at least speak with someone who had met them during the voyage. Initially, he mistakenly believed that two of his brothers had also been aboard the Titanic, adding to his distress. He later learned they had postponed their journey.

Benjamin’s Life After the Tragedy

Despite the profound loss, Benjamin eventually rebuilt his life:

Remarried to Freda (born 1884), a German woman
Had three more children:
1. Emelia (born 1916)
2. Benjamin (twin, born 1918)
3. Elsie (twin, born 1918)
Lived in New Jersey for many years before moving to Richmond, New York
Continued working as an engineer in the shipyards

Benjamin Peacock was known to be alive in the early 1940s, though his final fate remains unclear.

The story of Edith Peacock and her family serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster, illustrating how a single voyage could irrevocably alter the course of multiple lives and generations.