John James Ware

Who was Mr John James Ware?

Mr John James Ware was a 46 (forty-six) year-old English carpenter and joiner who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was a second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated vessel, traveling with his wife Florence Louisa Ware to start a new life in America.

Early Life and Family

A Somerset Upbringing

John James Ware was born in the summer of 1865 in Axbridge, Somerset, England. He was the son of Charles Ware (1839-1923), a shoemaker who later became a gas manager, and Charlotte Anne Coomer (1839-1914). Both of his parents were Axbridge natives who had married in 1859.

John grew up in a large family, with eight known siblings:

Elizabeth Ann (b. 1860)
Iona (b. 1868)
Ann Coomer (b. 1870)
Charles (b. 1872)
Selina (b. 1874)
Arthur George (b. 1875)
George Coomer (b. 1877)
James (b. 1879)

Childhood and Early Career

The 1871 census shows young John living with his family on Cheddar Street in Axbridge. By the time of the 1881 census, the family had moved to Moore Lane, Axbridge. Interestingly, John was not listed with his immediate family at this time. Instead, he was recorded as a visitor at the home of his maternal grandmother, Charlotte Coomer, back on Cheddar Street.

It was during this period that John began his career path. The 1881 census described him as an apprentice carpenter, laying the foundation for his future profession.

Marriage and Family Life

First Marriage to Clara Ann Organ

John James Ware married his first wife, Clara Ann Organ (b. 1865), in Bristol in 1890. Clara was a native of Bristol, and the newlyweds set up their home in the city. The 1891 census recorded them living at 12 London Road, Bristol, with John’s occupation listed as a carpenter.

The couple had only one child:

Fred Ware (b. 1892)

By 1901, the small family had moved to 53 Grosvenor Road, Bristol, an address that would remain John’s home for the rest of his life. Tragically, John became a widower in 1904 when Clara passed away at the young age of 39.

Second Marriage to Florence Louisa Long

In 1906, John remarried. His second wife was Florence Louisa Long (b. 1879). The 1911 census shows the couple still living at 53 Grosvenor Road, Bristol. By this time, John’s career had progressed, and he was described as a builder and decorator. His son Fred, now 19 (nineteen) years old, was following in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why were the Wares on the Titanic?

John and Florence boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers. Their ticket number was 31352, and they paid £21 for their passage. Interestingly, they were not originally meant to sail on the Titanic. The couple had been transferred to the ship due to coal strikes affecting their original travel plans.

What was their destination?

The Wares were bound for New Britain, Connecticut, where John’s younger brother Charles was already living at 186 South Main Street. John had ambitious plans for their new life in America:

Start up in the carpentry trade
Use his skills as a builder and decorator
Establish a new home with his wife Florence

What did John bring with him?

John Ware was well-prepared for his new start in America. He brought:

His carpentry tools
Household effects
$1,250 in cash (a significant sum in 1912)

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

What happened to John James Ware?

Tragically, Mr. Ware did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was 46 (forty-six) years old at the time of his death. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

How did the tragedy affect his family?

Florence Ware: John’s wife Florence survived the disaster and later returned to England.
Fred Ware: John’s son Fred, determined to fulfill his father’s dream, crossed the Atlantic on May 3, 1913. He departed from Liverpool aboard the Campania and joined his uncle Charles in Connecticut.

Legacy

Despite the tragic loss of his father, Fred Ware carried on the family tradition:

He worked as a painter and decorator in America
Settled in Hartford, Connecticut
Married Clara Bell (b. 1887)
Later retired to Florida, where he passed away in 1979

John James Ware’s story is a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations cut short by the Titanic disaster. His legacy lived on through his son, who realized the American dream that John himself never had the chance to pursue.