Henry Samuel Morley

Who was Henry Samuel Morley?

Henry Samuel Morley was a 38-year-old English confectioner who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1873, Morley was a successful businessman who operated a sweet shop in Worcester, England. His life took a dramatic turn when he embarked on the ill-fated Titanic voyage, leaving behind a complex legacy that intertwines personal scandal with one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family

A London Upbringing

Henry Samuel Morley entered the world on May 3, 1873, in Marylebone, Middlesex, England. Born into a working-class family, he was one of nine children, with six surviving to adulthood. His father, William Morley, hailed from Hertfordshire and worked as a tailor, while his mother, Emily Mace, came from Norfolk. The Morleys married in London in 1871, two years before Henry’s birth.

Siblings and Childhood Home

Henry grew up alongside his siblings:

Arthur William (b. 1872)
Ernest (b. 1875)
Louis Joseph (b. 1879)
Reginald James (b. 1882)
Laura Caroline (b. 1883)
Jane (b. 1886)

The 1881 census places the Morley family at 4 Elizabeth Cottages, Robert Street South in Plumstead, London. This modest dwelling would have been a bustling household with so many young children.

Tragedy Strikes

On January 30, 1889, when Henry was just 15 years old, his father William passed away. This loss undoubtedly had a profound impact on the family’s dynamics and finances. By the time of the 1891 census, the Morleys had relocated to 21 Joseph Street, Woolwich, Kent. In this record, Emily is listed as a tailoress, likely carrying on her late husband’s trade, while young Henry, at 17, had begun working as a grocer’s clerk.

Career and Marriage

From Clerk to Confectioner

Henry’s early career as a grocer’s clerk laid the foundation for his future in the food industry. His ambition and business acumen would eventually lead him to become a successful confectioner.

A Sweet Union

In 1899, at the age of 26, Henry married Louisa Price in Worcester, Worcestershire. Louisa, born in 1868, was five years his senior. The 1901 census shows the couple living at Tiernon Park, Bedwardine, Worcester, with Henry now described as a grocer’s manager, indicating his rapid career progression.

Family and Business Growth

Henry and Louisa welcomed their only child, Doris Louisa, in 1903. As their family grew, so did their business aspirations. The Morleys became proprietors of a sweet shop in Worcester, operating under the name L. Morley Confectioners. Henry’s role as a senior partner in this firm established him as a respected businessman in the community.

The Fateful Affair

A Clandestine Relationship

By 1911, the Morleys were living at 22 Foregate Street in Worcester, with Henry’s mother Emily, aunt Alice Mace, and nephew Vincent Morley sharing their home. It was during this time that a young woman named Kate Florence Phillips entered their lives as an employee in their confectionery business.

A Scandalous Decision

Despite being 38 years old, married, and a father, Henry began a clandestine affair with 19-year-old Kate. This relationship would lead to a decision that would alter the course of multiple lives forever.

The Titanic Journey

Abandoning Everything

In a shocking turn of events, Henry chose to abandon his family and business to embark on a new life with Kate. The pair boarded the RMS Titanic in Southampton, traveling under the pseudonym “Marshall” to conceal their true identities.

Ticket Details

Class: 2nd Class
Ticket Number: 250655
Cost: £26

A Cover Story

To explain his sudden departure, Henry told family and friends that he was traveling to Los Angeles, California, to recuperate from a recent illness. This fabrication masked his true intentions of starting a new life with his young lover.

The Tragic Sinking

A Life Cut Short

On April 15, 1912, Henry Samuel Morley’s life came to a premature end as the Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic. At 38 (thirty-eight) years old, he became one of the many victims of this historic tragedy. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his final moments a mystery.

The Aftermath

While Henry perished, Kate Phillips survived the disaster and returned to Worcester. On January 11, 1913, she gave birth to a daughter, Ellen Mary, whom she claimed was Henry’s child. This claim remained unproven for over a century, adding a layer of intrigue to Henry’s already complex legacy.

Legacy and Remembrance

Financial Matters

Henry’s estate, valued at £1,136, 5 shillings, and 10 pence, was administered to his brother Arthur on September 28, 1912. This substantial sum, equivalent to over £130,000 in today’s currency, speaks to the success of his confectionery business.

Family’s Fate

Louisa Morley, Henry’s widow, never remarried. She lived out her days in Malvern, Worcestershire, passing away on September 1, 1930. Their daughter Doris married Reverend Arthur Sidwell Johnson and lived a long life, dying in Warwickshire in 2000.

A Stone of Remembrance

Today, Henry Samuel Morley is remembered on his widow Louisa’s headstone in Rose Hill cemetery, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, section B1, grave 285. This silent marker stands as a testament to a life cut short and the enduring impact of the Titanic disaster on countless families.

Henry Samuel Morley’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human dramas that played out aboard the Titanic. His tale of ambition, infidelity, and ultimately tragedy, continues to captivate those who study the personal stories behind one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.