John Adams

Who was John Adams?

John Adams, born Richard May in 1885, was a 26-year-old English farm laborer who tragically lost his life aboard the RMS Titanic. He embarked on the ill-fated voyage under an assumed name, possibly fleeing a failed relationship, with hopes of starting a new life in America.

Early Life and Family

Richard May was born in the closing months of 1885 in Pancrasweek, Bradworthy, Devon, England. He was the son of John May, a farm laborer, and Mary Elizabeth Slee. Growing up in a rural setting, Richard was one of six children:

• John Henry (b. 1883)
• Ethel Mary Elizabeth (b. 1891)
• Elsie Rebecca (b. 1896)
• Sarah Jane (b. 1897)
• Mabel Grace (b. 1900)

A Life of Labor

As a young man, Richard followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a farm hand. His early years were spent in Devon, with census records showing the family’s movements:

• 1891: Living at Week Hill Cottage, Pancrasweek
• 1901: Residing at Burmard House, Holsworthy (Richard described as a carter on a farm)

By 1911, Richard had moved away from his family home, adopting the alias “John Adams.” He found lodging with the family of Wyndham Burden, a fruit and vegetable dealer, in Kinson, Walls Down, Dorset.

A Fateful Journey: Why America?

The decision to travel to America was not a sudden one for Richard. According to a report in The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) on April 26, 1912:

Mr. Adams was coming to work for Ed. Haring on the C. B. Gingrich farm south of La Porte. Mr. Haring had met him in England two years before the disaster and Mr. Adams had expressed a desire to come to the USA to work.

This connection proved crucial, as Mr. Haring provided financial assistance for Richard’s journey, covering both the Atlantic passage and railway fare from New York to La Porte, Indiana.

The Titanic Voyage

What were the details of John Adams’ Titanic ticket?

John Adams boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket details were as follows:

• Ticket Number: 341826
• Cost: £8 1s (8 pounds, 1 shilling)
• Destination: La Porte, Indiana

Was there a mystery surrounding his identity?

Indeed, the use of an alias adds an intriguing layer to John Adams’ story. Speculation suggests he might have been fleeing a failed relationship, choosing to start anew in America under a different name.

The Tragic End

Richard May, known to his fellow passengers as John Adams, perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. His body was recovered by the cable ship Mackay Bennett on April 23, 1912, and was buried at sea the following day.

What personal effects were found on his body?

The recovery report provides a poignant glimpse into the possessions John Adams carried with him:

• Clothing: Grey suit, soft striped shirt, brown boots
• Personal Items:
  • One silver watch
  • One nickel watch
  • Two coin chains
  • Pouch
  • Two knives
• Money: $15.00 in gold, $3.00 in bills and coins

Legacy and Remembrance

The Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund paid £20 to “Mrs Adams,” listed as John’s mother, at Heath Cottage, Alum Chine Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire. This detail adds to the complexity of his story, as other sources place his mother in Dorchester or Bournemouth.

Richard May’s memory lives on through a touching memorial on his parents’ gravestone. Located in the churchyard of the Methodist Chapel in Lana near Pancrasweek, Devon, the inscription reads:

In Loving Memory of John Beloved husband of Mary May of Week Park, Black Torrington died January 8th 1918 aged 56 years. Also of Richard, beloved son of the above who lost his life on the Titanic April 15th 1912 aged 28 years. Thy Will Be Done.

The age discrepancy on the gravestone (28 instead of 26) serves as a reminder of the confusion and misinformation that often surrounded Titanic victims in the aftermath of the disaster.

Richard May’s story, hidden behind the name John Adams, exemplifies the dreams and aspirations of many third-class passengers aboard the Titanic. His journey, cut tragically short, remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of the disaster and the lives forever changed by that fateful night in April 1912.