Florence Louise Ware

Who was Mrs Florence Louise Ware?

Mrs Florence Louise Ware was a 32 (thirty-two) year-old English passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born as Florence Louisa Long in Bristol, Gloucestershire, she embarked on the ill-fated voyage with her husband, John James Ware, as second-class passengers. Her survival and subsequent long life made her a notable figure among Titanic survivors.

Early Life and Family

Florence Louise Long was born on October 29, 1879, in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. She came from a working-class family, with her father John Long working as a coppersmith and her mother Martha Lucy Ley as a laundress. Florence was one of eight children, growing up in a bustling household typical of late Victorian England.

Childhood Homes

Florence’s early years were spent in various locations around Bristol:

1881: 17 Conduit Place, Bristol
1891: 5 Brighton Street, Bristol
1901: 9 Brighton Street, Bristol

This movement within a small area suggests a family of modest means, likely relocating as circumstances changed or better accommodations became available.

Marriage and Life Before the Titanic

In 1906, at the age of 27, Florence married John James Ware, a carpenter from Somerset. John was a widower with a teenage son named Fred. The marriage brought Florence into a ready-made family, and by 1911, the couple was living at 53 Grosvenor Road, Bristol.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding and Ticket Details

Embarkation Point: Southampton
Ticket Number: 31352
Ticket Price: £21
Passenger Class: Second Class

Florence and John boarded the Titanic with hopes of starting a new life in America. Their original travel plans had been altered due to coal strikes, leading to their fateful booking on the Titanic.

Destination and Plans

The Wares were bound for New Britain, Connecticut, where John’s brother Charles was already established. John carried with him:

Carpentry tools
Household effects
$1,250 in cash (a substantial sum at the time)

Their intention was for John to set up a carpentry business in their new home.

The Night of the Disaster

Florence’s account of the Titanic’s sinking provides a vivid glimpse into the chaos and tragedy of that fateful night. She recalled:

“I heard the noise when the steamer hit the iceberg, but did not pay any attention to it. The next I knew a man was pounding on the door of our state-room and saying, ‘Men and women put on life-belts and get upon deck’.”

A Hurried Goodbye

In the rush to evacuate, Florence and John made a critical error:

They did not put on their lifebelts
They ran directly to the deck

On deck, Florence was ushered towards a lifeboat against her wishes. Her last interaction with her husband was brief and poignant:

“My husband just shook my hand and said I should go and that he would see me soon.”

Survival and Rescue

Lifeboat 10

Florence was rescued in lifeboat 10, while her husband, tragically, did not survive. Her experience in the lifeboat was harrowing:

The boat was filled mostly with women
Only one steward and one fireman were present
None of the men knew how to manage the small boat
Some women took charge of rowing
Florence, clad only in a nightgown, worked hard at an oar despite the cold
There was no food or water in the boat

Life After the Titanic

Immediate Aftermath

After being rescued by the Carpathia, Florence attempted to send a Marconigram to her mother, which was never transmitted due to the operators’ workload. The message read:

“Long 13 Salthrop Road Bishopston Bristol Safe uncert but uncertain Jack Florrie”

Return to England and Later Life

Florence initially stayed with her brother-in-law in America
She later returned to England, where her stepson Fred was living
Fred emigrated to Connecticut the following year
Florence never remarried
She settled in Plymouth, Devon

Legacy and Final Years

Florence Louise Ware lived a long life after her Titanic ordeal. She passed away on August 24, 1973, in Plymouth, Devon, just shy of her 94th birthday. Her final resting place reflects the peace she found after her tumultuous experience:

Cremated at Weston Mill cemetery and crematorium, Plymouth, England on August 30, 1973
Her ashes were scattered in the garden of remembrance

Florence’s survival and longevity made her one of the last living links to the Titanic tragedy, her story a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.