Emily Richards

Who was Mrs Emily Richards?

Mrs Emily Richards was a 24-year-old English woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was traveling as a second-class passenger with her two young sons, intending to join her husband in Akron, Ohio. Emily’s remarkable story of survival and resilience made her a notable figure among Titanic survivors.

Early Life and Family

Emily Richards (née Hocking) was born on April 22, 1887, in Penzance, Cornwall, England. She was the daughter of William Rowe Hocking, a baker and confectioner, and Eliza Needs. Emily came from a large family, being one of five surviving children out of seven. Her siblings included:

• William James (b. 1881)
• Sidney (b. 1884)
• Richard George (b. 1889)
• Ellen (b. 1891)

She also had a half-sister, Dorothy (b. 1899), from her mother’s second marriage to William Guy.

Marriage and Children

In 1908, at the age of 21, Emily married James Sibley Richards, a general laborer from Newlyn, Cornwall. The couple started their family quickly, having two sons while still in England:

1. William Rowe (b. 1909)
2. Sibley George (b. 1911)

The family lived at ‘The Meadow’ in Newlyn, but Emily’s husband and brother George soon emigrated to Akron, Ohio, in search of better opportunities.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Emily on the Titanic?

Emily boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, with the intention of joining her husband in Akron, Ohio. She was traveling with:

• Her two young sons (William, age 3, and Sibley, age 1)
• Her mother, Eliza Hocking
• Her sister, Ellen Hocking
• Her brother, George Hocking (who had returned from Akron to accompany them)
• Her aunt, Ellen Wilkes

Ticket and Accommodation Details

• Class: Second Class
• Ticket Number: 29106
• Ticket Cost: £18 15s (equivalent to about £2,200 or $2,800 in 2021)
• Cabin: Unknown

Emily and her family had originally been booked on the Oceanic but were transferred to the Titanic.

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, Emily had just put her children to bed when the Titanic struck an iceberg. Her experience that night was harrowing:

1. Her mother rushed into her room, alerting her to the danger.
2. The family quickly dressed and made their way to the deck in their nightgowns.
3. They were instructed to put on life preservers.
4. After some confusion, they were directed to pass through the dining room to a rope ladder.
5. Emily, her two sons, mother, and sister were pushed through a window into a lifeboat.

In the Lifeboat

Emily’s account of their time in the lifeboat is particularly vivid:

“Some of these men were already mad with exposure and kept trying to get up and turn the boat over. The other men had to sit on them to hold them down. Two of the men were so overcome with the cold and exposure that they died before we reached the Carpathia and their bodies were taken aboard.”

The boat had a foot of water in it before they were rescued by the Carpathia.

After the Rescue

Following their rescue by the Carpathia, Emily and her family faced several challenges:

1. They hoped her brother George had been rescued by another ship, but he was tragically lost in the disaster.
2. The family stayed at Blake’s Star Hotel at 57 Clarkson’s Street in New York City.
3. Emily was reunited with her husband, Sibley Richards, who had traveled from Akron to meet them.

American Red Cross Assistance

The American Red Cross provided significant support to Emily and her children:

• They lost clothing and household goods valued at $500 and $200 in cash.
• While Emily was uninjured, her children suffered severely from exposure.
• She received clothing, transportation, and $50 from other relief sources.
• The Red Cross assisted her in establishing a home in Ohio.

Life After the Titanic

Emily’s life after the Titanic was marked by both joys and sorrows:

1. The family initially settled in Akron, Ohio.
2. In April 1914, Emily lost her mother, which may have prompted their return to England.
3. Back in England, Emily gave birth to a daughter, Emily Needs, on September 29, 1914.
4. Her husband, who later worked as a fish worker, died on July 3, 1939, at the age of 51.
5. Emily continued to live in Paul, near Penzance, Cornwall.

Legacy and Final Years

Emily Richards lived a long life after surviving the Titanic disaster:

• She passed away on November 10, 1972, at the age of 85 (eighty-five).
• She is interred in the Paul Cemetery, Cornwall.
• Both her sons married and raised families.
• Her daughter Emily married twice and lived until 2003.

Emily Richards’ story of survival, resilience, and family devotion serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind the Titanic tragedy. Her experiences offer valuable insights into the impact of the disaster on individual lives and families, extending far beyond the night of April 14-15, 1912.