Emily Alice Goldsmith

Who was Mrs Emily Alice Goldsmith?

Mrs Emily Alice Goldsmith was a 31-year-old (thirty-one) English passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born Emily Alice Brown on August 26, 1880, in Milton Regis, Kent, she embarked on the ill-fated voyage with her husband and young son, ultimately escaping the disaster aboard Collapsible C and later remarrying in the United States.

Early Life and Family

A Kent Childhood

Emily Alice Brown was born into a working-class family in Milton Regis, Kent. Her father, Henry Edward Brown, worked as a brickfield labourer, while her mother was Harriett Richards Cannon. Emily was one of eleven children, growing up in a bustling household typical of late Victorian England.

Siblings and Family Life

Emily’s siblings included:

Eliza (b. 1882)
Emma Jane (b. 1884)
Henry Edward (b. 1886)
Edward (1888-1970)
Richard (1890-1935)
William John (b. 1892)
Frances (b. 1894)
John (1896-1943)
Albert Edward (1898-1946)
Kate (b. 1900)

The family’s early years were spent at 14 Grovehurst Row in Milton, as recorded in the 1881 census. By 1891, they had moved to another address within Milton, reflecting the often transient nature of working-class life during this period.

Marriage and Early Family Life

Union with Frank John Goldsmith

In late 1901, at the age of 21 (twenty-one), Emily married Frank John Goldsmith, an engineer’s turner from Hadlow, Kent. This marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter in Emily’s life, transitioning from daughter to wife and soon-to-be mother.

Children and Tragedy

The Goldsmiths welcomed two sons into their family:

Frank John William (born 1902)
Albert John (born 1905)

Tragically, their younger son Albert died from diphtheria in 1911, aged just 6 (six). This loss would profoundly impact the family’s future decisions.

Life in Strood

By 1911, the Goldsmith family had settled in Strood, Kent, residing at 22 Hone Street. This period was one of both joy and sorrow for Emily, as she experienced the happiness of motherhood and the devastating loss of her youngest child.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Decision to Emigrate

Following the loss of their son Albert, and with Emily’s parents and several siblings having already emigrated to Detroit, Michigan around 1910, the Goldsmiths decided to start anew in America. This decision led them to book passage on the RMS Titanic, embarking on what they hoped would be a journey to a brighter future.

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Emily, her husband Frank, and their son Frankie boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket, number 363291, cost £20 10s 6d, a significant sum for a working-class family of the time.

Shipboard Acquaintances

During the voyage, the Goldsmiths befriended several other British passengers, including:

May Howard
Emily Badman
Rhoda Abbott
Edward Lockyer
Edward Dorking

These connections would prove crucial during the chaotic events that followed.

The Night of the Sinking

A Rude Awakening

On the night of April 14, 1912, Emily was asleep in the family’s cabin when the Titanic struck the iceberg. Remarkably, she slept through the initial impact, and it was her husband who woke her to the unfolding emergency.

The Desperate Escape

The family, along with their acquaintances Thomas Theobald and Alfred Rush, made their way to the starboard boat deck. In a heart-wrenching moment, Frank Goldsmith bid farewell to his wife and son as they were ushered into Collapsible C.

“Frank bade farewell to his wife and son and saw them off in collapsible C.”

In a poignant gesture, Thomas Theobald, sensing the gravity of the situation, gave his wedding ring to Emily to send to his wife in England.

Survival and Aftermath

Aboard the Carpathia

Emily and Frankie survived the sinking, but Frank Goldsmith was among the lost. During the rescue voyage on the Carpathia, Emily demonstrated remarkable resilience by organizing a sewing circle to make and mend clothes for fellow survivors.

New Beginnings in America

Upon arriving in New York, Emily and Frankie were cared for by the Salvation Army before traveling to Detroit to reunite with her family. This marked the beginning of their new life in America, albeit under circumstances far different from what they had initially envisioned.

Life After the Titanic

Second Marriage

On May 2, 1914, Emily remarried to Harry Illman, a fellow English immigrant from Strood who had come to America in 1913. The couple settled in Detroit, living at 6190 Vermont Avenue, though they had no children together.

Final Years

Emily Goldsmith Illman led a long life after her Titanic ordeal. She passed away on September 22, 1955, at the age of 75 (seventy-five), while traveling on a train in Ohio. Her husband Harry died on January 25, 1963, and they are buried together in Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, Ohio.

Emily Goldsmith’s story is a testament to human resilience in the face of tragedy. From the loss of a child to the harrowing experience aboard the Titanic and the death of her first husband, Emily persevered, rebuilt her life in a new country, and carried with her the memories of that fateful night in April 1912.