Hannah Riordan

Who was Hannah Riordan?

Hannah Riordan was a 21-year-old Irish immigrant and Titanic survivor who embarked on a journey that would shape the course of her life. Born in rural County Cork, Ireland, Hannah survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and went on to build a new life in America, carrying with her the weight of that fateful night for decades to come.

Early Life and Family

Hannah Riordan was born on January 27, 1891, in Glenalougha, Kilmeen, County Cork, Ireland. She was the daughter of Peter Riordan, a farmer born in 1857, and Mary O’Connor, born on July 23, 1868. Hannah came from a large family, with six known siblings:

Ellen (born August 4, 1887)
Julia (born April 27, 1889)
Maria (born May 17, 1892)
Hanora Mary (born May 18, 1894)
James (born March 27, 1896)
Eugene (born December 3, 1897)

Tragedy struck the Riordan family early when Hannah’s mother fell ill with pneumonia and passed away on June 24, 1899, at the young age of 30. This loss would have a profound impact on the family dynamic.

How did Hannah’s family cope after her mother’s death?

Following the death of Hannah’s mother, her father Peter never remarried. The 1901 census shows the remaining family living at 7 Glenalougha, Kilmeen, Co Cork. In this challenging time, Hannah’s maternal grandmother, Julia O’Connor (born circa 1827), stepped in to help care for the family, demonstrating the close-knit support system common in Irish communities of the time.

By the time of the 1911 census, Hannah, then 20 years old, was described as a single domestic servant. She was still living with her widowed father and siblings, though they had moved to 9 Shanavoher in Kilmeen, Co Cork. This period of Hannah’s life likely prepared her for the domestic work she would later pursue in America.

The Titanic Journey

Embarking on a New Life

In April 1912, Hannah boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger. Her ticket (number 334915) cost £7, 14s, 5d, a significant sum for a young woman of her background. Hannah’s destination was 319 Lexington Avenue, New York City, where her sister Ellen Riordan Lenihan lived and had secured a position for Hannah as a domestic worker.

Companions on the Voyage

Hannah wasn’t alone on her journey. She traveled with several others from the Kingwilliamstown (now Ballydesmond) area of Cork, including:

Her cousin Patrick O’Connor
Daniel Buckley
Bridget Bradley
Patrick Denis O’Connell
Nora O’Leary
Michael Linehan

It’s likely that Hannah shared a cabin with her fellow Cork girls, forming a small community within the vast ship. During the voyage, she also became acquainted with other Irish passengers, including John Meehan from Sligo.

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Hannah’s life changed forever. She later recalled her friend John Meehan escorting her to a lifeboat, assuring her not to worry about him as he was a strong swimmer. Tragically, both her cousin Patrick O’Connor and friend John Meehan were among the 1,500 souls lost in the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in New York

After being rescued by the Carpathia, Hannah arrived in New York. Initially, it was stated that she was headed to her sister Ellen at 119 Washington Street, New York City, slightly different from her original destination.

Building a New Life

Hannah remained in New York for the rest of her life, only returning to Ireland once for a visit in the 1920s. She continued working as a domestic maid, and on May 10, 1928, she was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in Manhattan. Her naturalization application provides a vivid description of Hannah at that time:

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 150 lbs
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Grey
Complexion: Fair
Address: 109 East 72nd Street, New York City

Marriage and Later Life

On St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 1936, Hannah married John “Jack” Spollen in St. Anselm’s Church in the Bronx. John, born on September 11, 1899, was also an Irish immigrant from Kings County (now County Offaly). The couple initially moved to Utica, New York, but later returned to the Bronx, where they spent the rest of their lives.

Hannah and John had no children. The 1940 census shows them living at 134 Hoe Avenue in the Bronx, with John working as a houseman in a hotel.

Hannah’s Legacy and Character

Hannah rarely spoke about the Titanic disaster in later life, refusing to grant interviews or discuss it even with family and friends. This silence was common among survivors, many of whom found the memories too painful to revisit.

Despite the trauma she experienced, Hannah was remembered as a kind and loving figure, embodying the stereotype of an Irish matriarch. She dressed modestly and, remarkably, retained both her dark hair and native Cork accent well into her later years, maintaining a strong connection to her Irish roots.

A devout Roman Catholic throughout her life, Hannah’s faith likely provided comfort and stability in the wake of the tragedy she had experienced.

Hannah Riordan Spollen passed away in the Bronx on September 29, 1982, at the age of 91 (ninety-one). Her husband John followed less than a year later, dying on April 4, 1983. They are buried together in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, their final resting place a testament to the life they built together in their adopted homeland.

Hannah Riordan’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. From the green fields of Cork to the bustling streets of New York, her journey encompassed both tragedy and triumph, leaving behind a legacy of quiet strength and en