John Henry Perkin

Who was Mr John Henry Perkin?

Mr John Henry Perkin was a 23-year-old English farmer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Holsworthy, Devon, in late 1888, Perkin was embarking on a journey to start a new life in Canada when he became one of the many victims of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” ship.

Early Life and Family

John Henry Perkin was born into a family deeply rooted in Devonshire, England. His parents, William Perkin (born 1853) and Elizabeth Hooper (born 1852), were both natives of the region and had married in 1878. John was the youngest of five surviving children out of a total of eight. His siblings were:

Elizabeth Jane (1880-1950, later Mrs Francis Chubb Hatch)
Mary Ann (1881-1963)
Richard (1882-1950)
William Hooper (1886-1916)

Growing Up in Holsworthy

A Butcher’s Son

The Perkin family was well-established in Holsworthy, with William Perkin running a butcher’s shop that had reportedly been in business since 1873. The 1891 census reveals that young John, then just two years old, lived with his family at Lower Square in Holsworthy, above his father’s shop.

A Change in Career Path

While most of his siblings followed in their father’s footsteps and became butchers, John took a different route. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to 17, The Square in Holsworthy. At this point, John, now 22 years old, was listed as an unmarried labourer, setting him apart from the family trade.

The Dream of a New Life

What inspired John Henry Perkin to leave England?

In 1912, at the age of 23 (twenty-three), John was encouraged to embark on a life-changing journey. His relative, Lewis Braund, who had been farming in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada for several years, inspired John to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic.

A Family Affair

John’s decision to emigrate was not a solitary one. He joined a group of relatives and friends on this ambitious venture:

Lewis Braund (his relative)
Owen Harris Braund (Lewis’s brother)
Samuel and William Dennis (second cousins)
John Hall Lovell
Susan Webber (a family friend from North Tamerton)

The group’s journey began with a train ride from Holsworthy to Southampton, where they would board the Titanic.

The Fateful Voyage

Titanic Passage Details

Class: 3rd Class
Ticket Number: 21174
Ticket Cost: £7, 5s (7 pounds, 5 shillings)
Embarkation Point: Southampton

John and his companions, except for Susan Webber who traveled in second class, boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers. Little did they know that this journey, meant to be the beginning of a new chapter, would tragically be their last.

The Tragic End

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. In the chaos that ensued, John Henry Perkin and his five companions all perished in the sinking. If John’s body was recovered, it was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

Remembering John Henry Perkin

A Memorial in Stone

In the churchyard of the Methodist Church on Bodmin Street, Holsworthy, Devon, stands a poignant memorial to John Henry Perkin and his brother William Hooper Perkin. The gravestone inscription reads:

William Hooper Perkin died at Silvercrooks, October 6th 1916 aged 28 years also of John Henry Perkin who was lost at sea when the SS Titanic went down in mid-Atlantic Ocean April 14th 1912 aged 21 years dearly loved sons of William & Elizabeth Perkin Peace, Perfect Peace. ‘With loved ones far away in Jesus keeping we are safe and they.’

Family Legacy

The Perkin family remained largely in the Holsworthy area following the tragedy. John’s mother, Elizabeth, passed away in 1915, while his father William lived on until May 9, 1939. The last of John’s siblings to survive was his sister Mary Ann, who died on January 29, 1963, having never married.

John Henry Perkin’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey, from a small town in Devon to the ill-fated decks of the world’s most famous ship, encapsulates the hope, tragedy, and lasting impact of that fateful night in April 1912.