Frederick Ware

Who was Mr Frederick Ware?

Mr Frederick Ware was a 35 (thirty-five) year-old English motor fitter and third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in Deptford, Greenwich, London in 1877, Ware’s life was tragically cut short when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. His story is one of transatlantic migration, a brief taste of the American dream, and an untimely demise that left behind a young widow.

Early Life and Family

Frederick Ware was born into a working-class family in Deptford, London. His parents were:

• Father: William Ware (born 1835), a carman by profession
• Mother: Jane Ware (born 1840)

Both of his parents hailed from Sussex, bringing with them the values of rural England to the bustling streets of London. Frederick grew up alongside two known siblings:

• Emily (born 1871)
• James (born 1879)

Childhood and Youth in Deptford

The Ware family’s life in Deptford provides a glimpse into late 19th-century working-class London. Census records paint a picture of their living situation:

• 1881: The family resided at 40 Stanhope Street, Deptford
• 1891: They had moved to 5 Stanhope Street, Deptford

These addresses, likely modest dwellings, were situated in the heart of a neighborhood that would have been teeming with the sights, sounds, and smells of industrial London.

Marriage and Migration

A Greenwich Wedding

In December 1904, at the age of 27, Frederick Ware took a significant step in his personal life. He married Cecilia Susan Elizabeth Still (born August 19, 1881) at St Peter’s Church, Greenwich. Cecilia, a native of Shadwell, London, was 23 years old at the time of their marriage.

The American Dream

Five years after their wedding, in 1909, Frederick and Cecilia made a life-changing decision. They embarked on a journey that many British citizens of their time dreamed of – emigration to the United States. The couple settled in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan, joining the wave of European immigrants seeking new opportunities in America.

Life in Lansing

The 1910 U.S. Census provides us with a snapshot of the Wares’ life in Lansing:

• Frederick found employment as an assembler in an automobile factory
• This job likely utilized his skills as a motor fitter
• The couple appeared to be childless at this time

Frederick’s work in the burgeoning automobile industry of Michigan places him at the heart of America’s industrial revolution. Lansing, home to Ransom E. Olds’ REO Motor Car Company, would have offered exciting prospects for a skilled motor fitter like Ware.

The Fateful Journey

Return to England

Intriguingly, it appears that both Frederick and Cecilia may have returned to England sometime in 1911. The reasons for this return journey are not clear from the available records. It’s possible they were visiting family or attending to personal matters.

Boarding the Titanic

In April 1912, Frederick Ware prepared to return to Michigan, this time traveling alone. He booked passage on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, arguably the most luxurious and technologically advanced ship of its time. Details of his journey include:

• Ticket Number: 359309
• Ticket Cost: £8, 1s (equivalent to approximately £1,000 in 2023)
• Class: Third Class
• Embarkation: Southampton on April 10, 1912

What happened to Frederick Ware on the Titanic?

Frederick Ware, like many third-class passengers, likely never stood a chance when the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. He perished in the early hours of April 15, 1912, as the “unsinkable” ship slipped beneath the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his final moments a mystery lost to the sea.

Legacy and Aftermath

Cecilia’s Return and Remarriage

Frederick’s widow, Cecilia, faced the daunting task of rebuilding her life after the tragedy. Her actions in the following years provide insight into her resilience:

• She likely returned to Lansing aboard the Olympic (Titanic’s sister ship) in late 1913
• In 1915, she remarried to James Collins Vincent (1886-1964), a native of Lincolnshire, England

A New Family

Cecilia’s marriage to James Vincent resulted in five children:

1. Charles (born 1915)
2. Francis (born 1916)
3. Cecilia (born 1918)
4. Dorothy (born 1920)
5. James (born 1923)

Cecilia lived out the remainder of her days in Lansing, passing away on July 4, 1966, at the age of 84.

Frederick Ware’s story, while tragically cut short, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. His journey from the streets of Deptford to the factories of Michigan, and his fateful decision to board the Titanic, encapsulates the dreams, ambitions, and ultimately the risks faced by many immigrants of his era. Though his life ended in tragedy, his memory lives on as part of the enduring narrative of the Titanic and the era it represented.