Joan Wells

Who was Joan Wells?

Miss Joan Wells was a young Titanic survivor who later became a stenographer in Akron, Ohio. Born on February 26, 1908, in Newlyn, Cornwall, England, she was just 4 (four) years old when she boarded the ill-fated RMS Titanic with her mother and younger brother. Joan’s remarkable journey from a child survivor of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters to a working professional in America exemplifies the resilience of Titanic survivors.

Early Life and Family

A Cornish Beginning

Joan Wells was born into a working-class family in the picturesque fishing village of Newlyn, Cornwall. Her father, Arthur Henry Wells, was a railway conductor originally from London, while her mother, Addie Dart Trevaskis, worked as a dressmaker. Joan had one younger sibling, Ralph Lester, born in 1909.

Transatlantic Separation

In 1910, Joan’s father made the bold decision to emigrate to Akron, Ohio, seeking better opportunities in America. He traveled with Joan’s maternal uncle, Adednego Trevaskis, and they settled at 279 Arch Street in Akron. This transatlantic separation would set the stage for the family’s fateful journey on the Titanic two years later.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Ship of Dreams

In April 1912, Joan, her mother Addie, and brother Ralph prepared to reunite with their father in America. They boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers, holding ticket number 29103, which cost £23. Interestingly, the family had originally been booked to travel on the Oceanic but were transferred to the Titanic due to coal strikes.

A Child’s Perspective on the Disaster

While we don’t have direct accounts from Joan about her experience on the Titanic, we can imagine the confusion and fear a 4-year-old might have felt during that fateful night. Her mother, Addie, later recounted the harrowing experience:

“Dress quickly: there’s some trouble I believe, but I don’t know what it is.”

These words, spoken by a friend, jolted the Wells family awake as the ship struck the iceberg. Addie dressed herself and her children hurriedly, facing locked passages as they made their way to the upper decks.

Survival in Lifeboat 14

The Wells family was fortunate to be guided to Lifeboat 14. Addie described the overcrowded conditions:

“The boat was so crowded that I could only stand and hold my children in my skirts to keep them dry.”

This vivid detail paints a picture of a mother’s desperate attempt to protect her young children amidst chaos and uncertainty.

Life After the Titanic

A New Beginning in Akron

Upon arriving in New York, the Wells family was reunited with Joan’s father and uncle. They spent a night at the Star Hotel before making their way to Akron, Ohio, where Joan would spend the rest of her life.

Education and Career

Joan’s resilience shone through as she adapted to life in America. She graduated from West High School around 1924 and began working as a stenographer at the B. F. Goodrich Co. in 1925. A yearbook photo from 1924 described her aptly:

“A very studious girl indeed, She’s noted for her typing speed.”

Personal Life and Health Struggles

Despite her professional success, Joan faced significant health challenges in her adulthood. By 1933, she had undergone two major operations and received two blood transfusions. Tragically, her life was cut short on July 10, 1933, at the young age of 25 (twenty-five).

Joan’s Legacy

Joan Wells’ life, though brief, tells a compelling story of survival, resilience, and the immigrant experience in early 20th century America. Her journey from a child Titanic survivor to a working professional in Akron exemplifies the strength of those who lived through one of history’s most famous disasters.

Her gravestone in Mount Peace Cemetery, Akron, poignantly reads:

IN MEMORY OF JOAN BELOVED ONLY DAUGHTER OF ARTHUR H. AND ADDIE D. WELLS FEB. 26 1908 - JULY 10 1933

Joan Wells’ story serves as a reminder of the many lives touched by the Titanic disaster and the diverse paths survivors took in its aftermath. Her legacy lives on as part of the broader tapestry of Titanic history and early 20th-century American immigrant experiences.