John Bourke

Who was Mr John Bourke?

Mr John Bourke was a 42 (forty-two) year-old Irish farmer and third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in Carrowskeheen, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland, on May 23, 1869, John’s tragic journey on the Titanic would mark the end of his life and that of his wife and sister, as they refused to be separated during the ship’s sinking.

Early Life and Family

A Mayo Childhood

John Bourke’s roots were deeply embedded in the soil of County Mayo, Ireland. Born to William Bourke, a farmer, and Mary O’Boyle, John grew up in a rural setting that would shape his future occupation. His parents had married on March 5, 1867, and John had only one known sibling, a sister named Mary, born in 1871.

Tragedy and New Beginnings

Tragedy struck the Bourke family early when John’s mother passed away at a young age. His father, William, remarried to Margaret, another Mayo woman born in 1837. This new family dynamic would persist until John’s adulthood, with his stepmother outliving both him and his father.

Life as a Farmer

The 1901 census of Ireland paints a picture of John’s early adult life:

• Residence: House 11 in Carrowskeheen
• Occupation: Farmer
• Living with: His sister Mary and stepmother Margaret

John continued the family tradition of farming, working the land as his father had done before him. This connection to the earth would remain a constant in his life until his fateful decision to emigrate.

Marriage and Plans for a New Life

A Union of Childhood Acquaintances

On January 17, 1911, John married Catherine McHugh, a native of Tawnagh, Co Mayo. Catherine was no stranger to adventure, having previously emigrated to the United States and spent time in Chicago before returning to Ireland in 1910. Their marriage represented not just a union of two people, but a blending of Irish roots and American dreams.

The Decision to Emigrate

What prompted John Bourke to leave his ancestral home for the shores of America? Several factors converged:

1. His wife’s previous experience in Chicago
2. The return of Catherine McGowan, his wife’s close friend, to Mayo in late 1911
3. Plans to join Catherine McHugh’s sister Ellen in Chicago

These influences culminated in a decision that would alter the course of the Bourke family forever. John, along with his wife and sister Mary, made plans to journey to Chicago, where they hoped to start a new chapter in their lives.

The Titanic Journey

Embarking on a Dream

John Bourke’s Titanic experience began at Queenstown on April 11, 1912. He was part of a larger group of over a dozen people from his locality, all traveling third class on the majestic ship. The details of their passage were as follows:

• Ticket number: 364849
• Cost: £15, 10s
• Class: Third

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Bourkes’ American dream turned into a nightmare. As the Titanic struck the iceberg:

1. John, his wife, and sister were asleep
2. A steward awakened them, urging them to dress
3. They made their way to the upper decks
4. Catherine and Mary had opportunities to escape

In a heart-wrenching display of loyalty and love, both Catherine and Mary refused to leave John’s side, adhering to the “women and children first” protocol. This decision sealed their fate, and all three were lost in the sinking.

Legacy and Remembrance

John Bourke’s body, if recovered, was never identified. However, his memory lives on:

• He and Catherine are remembered on her family’s headstone in Addergoole, Knockmaria, County Mayo, Ireland (Section A, Plot 394)
• Their story is part of the larger narrative of the “Addergoole Fourteen,” a group from their locality who perished on the Titanic

What Can We Learn from John Bourke’s Story?

John Bourke’s tale is one of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of a better life. It reminds us of the human cost of the Titanic disaster and the deep bonds of family that persisted even in the face of death. As we remember John Bourke, we are reminded of the countless stories of ordinary people whose lives were extraordinarily intertwined with one of history’s most infamous maritime tragedies.