James Lester

Who was Mr James Lester?

Mr James Lester was a 41 (forty-one) year-old English ironworker and Titanic passenger who tragically lost his life in the disaster. Born in Sedgley, Staffordshire, in the summer of 1871, Lester worked as an iron sheet packer and was traveling to Pontiac, Michigan, with hopes of establishing a better life for his family.

Early Life and Family

A Staffordshire Upbringing

James Lester was born into a working-class family in Sedgley, Staffordshire. His parents, Joseph Lester, an iron forge man, and Julia Burden Guest, were both natives of Sedgley who had married in 1866. James was one of seven known siblings:

• Rose (b. 1860)
• Joseph (b. 1864)
• William (b. 1869)
• Mary (b. 1875)
• John Thomas (b. 1878)
• Samuel (b. 1881)

The 1881 census places young James at 9 Johnsons Row in Sedgley. Tragically, his mother passed away in 1884 at the age of 44, leaving the family to face hardship together.

From Schoolboy to Iron Worker

By the time of the 1891 census, the Lester family had moved to 15 Johnsons Row, Sedgley. At this point, James had already left school and begun his career in the iron industry. His first job was as a galvanizer in the local iron works, foreshadowing his lifelong connection to the metal trade.

Marriage and Family Life

A Sedgley Romance

In 1900, James Lester married Alice Cox, a fellow Sedgley native born in 1874. The newlyweds initially lived with Alice’s parents, William and Betsy Cox, at 35 Woodcross Street in Sedgley. By this time, James had progressed in his career and was working as an iron sheet packer.

Fatherhood and Settling Down

On September 18, 1902, James and Alice welcomed their only child, a son named James Dennis. The 1911 census shows the family residing at 82 Bath Street, Bath Road, Cinder Hill, Sedgley. James continued his work as an iron sheet packer, employed at the ironworks of Messrs Adams in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton.

The American Dream and the Titanic

A Family’s Hope for a Better Life

James Lester’s journey to America was inspired by the success of his nephews. William Davies, his wife’s nephew, had settled in the USA around 1905, followed by another nephew in late 1911. Both were thriving in Pontiac, Michigan, which sparked hope in James and his relatives.

The Fateful Decision

Driven by the promise of a better life, James Lester and three of his nephews—Alfred, Joseph, and John Davies—decided to make the journey to America. Their plan was to save enough money to bring the rest of their families over later. In preparation for this life-changing move, James:

• Sold his belongings
• Gave up his house
• Moved his wife and son into the Davies’ home in West Bromwich

The Journey Begins

On April 9, 1912, the group left West Bromwich for Southampton. In a twist of fate, they mistimed their train and had to make a hasty departure by tram to Birmingham to catch an alternative train.

Boarding the Titanic

The four men boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their joint ticket, number 48871, cost £24 3s. In letters home from Southampton and Queenstown, they described their journey as “comfortable” and “enjoyable,” unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead.

The Titanic Disaster and Legacy

A Tragic End

Sadly, all four men—James Lester and his three nephews—lost their lives in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. James was 41 (forty-one) years old at the time of his death.

The Family Left Behind

James’s widow, Alice, received financial assistance from the Mansion House Relief Fund following the disaster. She is not believed to have remarried and possibly passed away in the late 1930s. Their son, James Dennis Lester, remained in Staffordshire and lived until December 21, 1972.

Remembering James Lester

Today, James Lester is remembered on his wife’s headstone in All Saints Churchyard Extension, Sedgley, Dudley, West Midlands, England. The memorial can be found in Section F, Row 9, Grave 1, serving as a poignant reminder of a life cut short and dreams unfulfilled.

James Lester’s story is a testament to the aspirations of countless immigrants who boarded the Titanic in search of a better life, only to meet a tragic fate in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.