John Simmons

Who was Mr John Simmons?

Mr John Simmons was a 40-year-old (forty-year-old) English cricket ball maker and general labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in Leigh, Kent, in 1872, Simmons was a third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated vessel, embarking on a journey to America with hopes of joining his uncle, a prosperous farmer.

Early Life and Family Roots in Leigh, Kent

A Cricket Ball Maker’s Son

John Simmons was born in early 1872 in the quaint village of Leigh, Kent, England. He was baptized on March 10, 1872, marking the beginning of his life in this picturesque corner of the English countryside. John was one of eight children born to George Simmons (b. 1835) and Mary Ann Evans (b. 1833), who had married in 1857.

The Simmons family was deeply rooted in the local community, with John’s father working as a cricket ball maker. This traditional craft would later shape John’s own career path. The family’s ties to Leigh were strong, as evidenced by their consistent presence in the village throughout John’s life.

Siblings and Family Life

John grew up in a large family, surrounded by seven siblings:

• Emily (b. 1858)
• Alice Ann (b. 1859)
• Eliza (b. 1862)
• Florence (b. 1863)
• Mary Ann (b. 1866)
• Joseph (b. 1869)
• Fanny Olive (b. 1878)

The Simmons household was undoubtedly a lively one, with eight children spanning two decades. This large family unit likely instilled in John the values of hard work and familial bonds that would shape his character in later years.

Following in His Father’s Footsteps

The Cricket Ball Making Trade

As John came of age, he followed in his father’s footsteps, entering the specialized trade of cricket ball making. This craft, deeply tied to England’s national sport, required skill, precision, and an understanding of the game itself. John found employment with Messrs Duke & Son of Penshurst, Kent, a respected name in the cricket equipment industry.

Life on The Green

The 1881 census provides our first glimpse of John, living with his family at an unspecified address in Leigh. By the time of the 1891 census, and continuing through to 1911, the Simmons family had settled at The Green in Leigh. This location, near the Old Oak Tree, became their long-term home and a central part of their identity within the village.

A Bachelor’s Life and Career

Unmarried at Forty

As the years passed, John remained a bachelor, focusing on his trade and life in Leigh. The 1911 census, taken just a year before the Titanic disaster, described him as an unmarried cricket ball maker at the age of 39 (thirty-nine). This detail provides insight into John’s personal life and the priorities that shaped his decisions leading up to his fateful journey.

A Change in Profession?

Interestingly, when John boarded the Titanic, he described himself as an “unmarried general labourer” rather than a cricket ball maker. This change in profession, whether temporary or permanent, may have been related to his decision to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Embarking on a New Adventure

On April 10, 1912, John Simmons boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket, number 392082, cost £8 1s, a significant sum for a working-class man of the time. This investment in his future speaks volumes about John’s aspirations and the hopes he held for a new life in America.

Destination Unknown

While John’s exact destination in the United States remains a mystery, contemporary press reports shed light on his intentions. According to these accounts, he was travelling to join an uncle who was described as a “well-to-do farmer” in America. This familial connection offers a glimpse into the network of support John hoped to rely on in his new life abroad.

The Tragic Loss

A Village in Mourning

The news of the Titanic’s sinking sent shockwaves through the village of Leigh. A poignant article in the Kent & Sussex Courier, dated April 19, 1912, captured the community’s reaction:

“Amongst the steerage passengers on board the ill-fated Titanic was Mr John Simmons, a native of this village, son of Mr George Simmons, residing on the Green, near Old Oak Tree. Mr Simmons was formerly in the employ of Messrs Duke and Sons, cricket ball makers, and was leaving home to join his uncle, a well-to-do farmer, in the United States. It is greatly to be feared he is amongst the missing, and much sympathy is felt for his aged parents, who naturally are in great distress of mind.”

This heartfelt report not only confirms details of John’s life and journey but also illustrates the impact of his loss on the tight-knit community of Leigh.

A Body Never Recovered

John Simmons was indeed among those who perished when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. His body was never recovered from the icy waters of the North Atlantic, leaving his family without the closure of a proper burial.

Legacy and Remembrance

A Family’s Grief

John’s parents, George and Mary Ann Simmons, continued to live in Leigh after the tragedy. They carried the weight of their loss for the remainder of their lives. George passed away on October 31, 1920, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven), followed by Mary Ann on March 7, 1921, at 88 (eighty-eight) years old.

A Permanent Memorial

Today, visitors to Leigh Churchyard can find a touching tribute to John Simmons. His name is inscribed on his parents’ headstone, ensuring that his memory lives on in the village he called home:

In Loving Memory Of George Simmons Died 31st October 1920 Aged 87 Also Mary Ann Simmons Died 7th March 1921 Aged 88 Also Jack, Son of the above Drowned on the Titanic

This simple yet poignant epitaph