Jane Herman

Who was Mrs Jane Herman?

Mrs Jane Herman was a 50-year-old (fifty-year-old) English woman born in India who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was a second-class passenger traveling with her family to start a new life in America when tragedy struck, forever changing the course of her life.

Early Life and Family

A Childhood Spanning Continents

Jane Herman (née Laver) was born in July 1861 in Madras (modern-day Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. Her father, James Laver, was an English soldier from Somerset serving in the British Army in India. Her mother, Margaret Simpson, hailed from Benholm, Kincardineshire in Scotland. This international heritage would shape Jane’s early years.

Jane’s siblings included:

• Susan (b. 1860 in Burma)
• Ellen (b. 1864)
• Louise (b. 1866)
• Charles James (b. 1869)
• Arthur (b. 1872)
• May (b. 1877)

Return to England

Before 1864, the Laver family returned to Britain from India. They lived a somewhat nomadic life, settling first in Hampshire, then Guernsey, before finally putting down roots in Somerset by the late 1860s. The 1871 census records show the family residing at The Cottage in North Cadbury, Somerset.

Marriage and Family Life

Who did Jane marry?

In early 1887, at the age of 25 (twenty-five), Jane married Samuel Herman, a childhood acquaintance born in 1862. Samuel worked as an agricultural laborer and later as a butcher. For a time, he even owned the Britannia Hotel in Castle Cary.

Growing Family

On December 6, 1887, Jane gave birth to twin daughters, Kate and Alice. The 1891 and 1901 censuses show the family living at 4 Abbey Cottages, Castle Cary, Somerset. By 1911, they had moved to Smallways, Galhampton, Castle Cary. In addition to their own children, Jane and Samuel cared for a local boy, George Frederick Sweet, who worked for Samuel.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why did the Hermans decide to emigrate?

Despite being financially comfortable for years, the Hermans experienced a downturn in their fortunes in England. This economic setback prompted their decision to emigrate to America, seeking new opportunities.

Booking Passage on the Titanic

Originally, the family had booked passage on a different ship. However, they canceled this booking to allow more time for preparation. Eventually, Mrs. Herman, her husband, their twin daughters, and George Sweet boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers.

Key Details:

• Ticket number: 220845
• Cost: £65
• Destination: Bernardsville, New Jersey (to join Jane’s brother Arthur Laver)

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, Jane and her daughters were in bed when the Titanic struck the iceberg. Her account of the event provides a chilling glimpse into the confusion and fear of that fateful night:

1. Jane reported feeling only a slight shock from the collision.
2. Her husband, who had been on deck, initially told her to stay in bed due to the cold.
3. After investigating, Samuel returned and urgently told his wife and daughters to dress.
4. Not realizing the severity of the situation, Jane only put on light clothing.

Survival and Loss

Jane and her daughters were placed in what she described as the second lifeboat launched. Tragically, her husband Samuel and George Sweet did not survive the sinking. The cold Atlantic waters proved a harsh environment for Jane, who suffered from exposure due to her light clothing.

Life After the Titanic

Arrival in New York

Upon reaching New York on the rescue ship Carpathia, Jane sent a telegram to her brother Arthur:

A LAVER Somerset Hills Country Club Bernardsville New Jersey Arriving this evening Herman

Coping with Loss

In an interview with The Bernardsville News, Jane expressed her grief and shock:

• She lamented that her husband and George Sweet hadn’t accompanied them in the lifeboat.
• Jane believed the lifeboat could have easily accommodated at least a dozen more people.
• She initially expressed a desire to return to England but feared crossing the ocean again.

How did Jane rebuild her life?

Despite her initial fears, Jane remained in Bernardsville for the rest of her life. She found employment as a caretaker on a farm and never remarried. Years after the disaster, she overcame her fears and returned to England for a visit.

Jane Herman’s Legacy

Jane Herman passed away on January 16, 1937, at the age of 75 (seventy-five), following a long illness. She spent her final years living with her daughter Alice and her family in Bedminster, New Jersey. Jane was laid to rest in the St Bernard’s Episcopal Church Cemetery in Bernardsville, her story a testament to survival, resilience, and the enduring impact of the Titanic disaster on its survivors.