George Frederick Sweet

Who was George Frederick Sweet?

George Frederick Sweet was a young English farm labourer who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic at the tender age of 14 (fourteen). Born in Castle Cary, Somerset, Sweet was travelling to America with his employer’s family when the disaster struck, cutting short a life full of promise just one day before his 15th birthday.

Early Life and Family

A Somerset Upbringing

George Frederick Sweet was born on April 16, 1897, in Castle Cary, Somerset, England. He was the son of Joseph Sweet, a flax worker born in 1860, and Anne Chamberlain, born in 1862. Both parents were natives of Castle Cary and had married in 1880.

A Large Family

The Sweet family was quite large, with George being one of ten children:

• Alfred (born 1880)
• William Henry (born 1884)
• Herbert (born 1887)
• Emily (1890-1898)
• Elsie (born 1892)
• Beatrice Eliza (1894-1982, later Mrs Frank Mead)
• George Frederick (1897-1912)
• Frank (1900-1962)
• Emily Agnes (1902-1934)
• Alexander Joseph (1905-1987)

Sadly, the family lost one child in their youth, the first Emily, who passed away in 1898 at the age of eight.

Early Career and Life in Castle Cary

From Twine Factory to Farm Labour

The 1901 census shows young George living with his family at 1 Mill Lane in Castle Cary. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Tor Bay, also in Castle Cary. At this time, the 13-year-old George was described as a twine factory hand, showcasing the industrious nature of the young lad.

Working for the Herman Family

Shortly after the 1911 census, George’s life took a significant turn. He became employed by Samuel Herman, a farmer and proprietor of the Britannia Hotel in Castle Cary. This job change would prove fateful for young George.

George soon became more than just an employee to the Hermans; he became part of their family, which consisted of Samuel, his wife Jane, and their twin daughters Alice and Kate.

The Fateful Journey

Decision to Emigrate

Despite being a financially comfortable family, the Hermans had experienced a downturn in fortunes in the year leading up to 1912. This led to their decision to emigrate to America, where Samuel’s brother-in-law, Arthur Laver, was living in Bernardsville, New Jersey, working as a steward at the Somerset Hill Country Club.

Boarding the Titanic

The Herman family, along with George Sweet, had originally booked passage on a different ship. However, they cancelled this booking to allow more time for preparation. Eventually, they boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers. Their ticket, number 220845, cost £65, a significant sum at the time.

Titanic Journey Details:

The Night of the Sinking

A Tragic End

On the night of April 14, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, young George, alongside Samuel Herman, saw Mrs. Herman and her daughters off in one of the lifeboats. Despite being just shy of his 15th birthday, George was likely deterred from entering a lifeboat due to his age and gender.

In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, George Frederick Sweet and Samuel Herman perished together in the frigid North Atlantic waters, just one day before George would have turned 15.

Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified, leaving their families without closure.

Legacy and Remembrance

A Family’s Loss

The loss of young George Sweet was undoubtedly devastating for his large family back in Somerset. His father, Joseph Sweet, lived until 1925, but the fate of his mother, Anne, remains uncertain.

The Last of the Siblings

As the years passed, George’s siblings lived out their lives, carrying the memory of their brother who never returned from his journey to America. The last known surviving sibling, Alexander Joseph (known as Alec), died in Yeovil, Somerset in 1987, 75 years after the Titanic disaster.

George Frederick Sweet’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic tragedy. His tale, intertwined with that of the Herman family, illustrates the deep personal connections and individual stories behind the stark statistics of the disaster. Though his life was brief, George’s memory lives on as part of the enduring narrative of the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage.