George Green

Who was Mr George Green?

Mr George Green was a 41 (forty-one) year old English farrier who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born in 1871 in Falmer, Sussex, Green was embarking on a journey to start a new life in America when he became one of the many victims of the infamous maritime disaster.

Early Life and Family

George Green was born in mid-1871 to Ned Green (1825-1908) and Mary Ranger (1833-1904). His early years were spent in Sussex, but he later moved to Gunnislake, Cornwall, before finally settling in Dorking, Surrey.

On December 25, 1901, George married Theresa Jane Morris (1869-1962), originally from Coventry, Warwickshire. The couple went on to have three daughters:

• Hilda (1902-1985)
• Kathleen (1905-2006)
• Olive Janet (1907-1993)

The Green family made their home at 1 Lyons Terrace in Dorking, where George worked as a farrier at the local forge.

The Decision to Emigrate

What prompted George Green to leave England?

In early 1912, after working as a farrier in Dorking for over a decade, George Green made the life-changing decision to emigrate to America with his family. His destination was the mining center of Lead City, Dakota, where he hoped to build a better future for his wife and children.

However, the family’s journey was to be a staggered one. George planned to travel ahead alone on the Titanic, with Theresa and their three young daughters intending to follow on the ship’s second voyage. This fateful decision would ultimately separate the family forever.

The Titanic Journey

As George prepared for his voyage, his wife and children temporarily moved to stay with Theresa’s parents, Nathaniel and Martha Morris, at Spon Street, Coventry.

George boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket number was 21440, and he paid £8 1s for his passage. During the voyage, he sent letters to his family, and even shared a photograph of the magnificent ship with his brother-in-law, E.A. Morris, accompanied by the message “Lovely Sailing.”

What were George’s last known actions?

On the evening of April 14, 1912, as the Titanic struck the iceberg that would seal its fate, one of George’s daughters was reportedly writing a note to her “Daddy.” This poignant detail underscores the tragic separation of the Green family.

The Aftermath

George Green did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The loss of George had profound implications for his family:

• Theresa and her children were awarded a weekly pension from the Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund.
• George left an estate valued at £45 16s 8d to his widow.
• Administration of his estate was granted to Theresa on November 16, 1912.

Legacy and Family’s Fate

The tragedy of the Titanic forever altered the course of the Green family’s lives. Despite the immense loss, Theresa never remarried. She lived a long life, passing away on her 93rd birthday in Surrey, England.

The story of George Green serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger disaster of the Titanic. His journey, cut short by fate, represents the dreams and aspirations of countless immigrants who sought a better life across the Atlantic, only to have their hopes dashed by one of history’s most infamous maritime catastrophes.