Joseph Charles Nicholls

Who was Mr Joseph Charles Nicholls?

Mr Joseph Charles Nicholls was a 19-year-old (nineteen) English miner and second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in Nancledra, Cornwall, on July 24, 1892, Nicholls was embarking on a journey to America with his family when tragedy struck. His story is a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family

A Cornish Upbringing

Joseph Charles Nicholls was born into a working-class family in the picturesque village of Nancledra, Cornwall. His parents, Richard Henry Nicholls and Agnes Friggens, were both Cornwall natives who had married in 1886. Joseph grew up alongside two siblings:

• Mary Ethel (born 1886)
• Richard Henry (born 1890)

The Nicholls family’s life was typical of many Cornish families of the time. Joseph’s father worked as a stonemason at the quarry at Trenowith Downs, providing a modest living for his family.

Tragedy and New Beginnings

Life took an unexpected turn for young Joseph when his father passed away, leaving Agnes a widow. The 1901 census shows the family residing in Corbis Bay, Uny Lelant, Cornwall, with Agnes listed as a widow. However, fate had more changes in store for the Nicholls family.

In early 1903, Agnes remarried in Penzance to Robert Davies, an insurance agent from St Ives, Cornwall. This union brought a new stepbrother into Joseph’s life - John Morgan Davies, born in 1903. Sadly, this newfound family stability was short-lived, as Robert Davies passed away in 1910.

The Path to America

A Family’s Decision

By 1911, the census records show Joseph, his mother, and brothers living at the Stennack in St Ives, Cornwall. It was around this time that a significant decision was made that would alter the course of their lives forever.

Joseph’s elder brother, Richard Nicholls, and his wife had emigrated to Kearsarge near New Allouez, Houghton, Michigan. Inspired by this move and likely seeking better opportunities, Agnes decided to take her remaining family to join them in America.

Preparations for the Journey

The decision to emigrate was not one taken lightly. To finance their transatlantic voyage, the family made the difficult choice to sell all their belongings in St Ives. This sacrifice underscores the hope and determination that drove many families to seek new lives across the ocean.

With the funds secured, they purchased their ticket (number 33112) from William Cogar, the White Star Line agent in St Ives. The ticket, costing £36 15s, represented not just a significant financial investment but also the family’s dreams and aspirations.

The Fateful Voyage

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Joseph Charles Nicholls, along with his mother and younger brother, embarked on their journey, boarding the RMS Titanic at Southampton. They were accompanied by a family friend, Maud Sincock of Halsetown.

While his mother and younger brother shared a cabin with Maud Sincock and Alice Phillips of Ilfracombe, Devon, Joseph had separate accommodation. It’s believed he may have shared a cabin with William Carbines, another passenger from their hometown.

The Tragedy Unfolds

As we now know, the Titanic’s maiden voyage ended in tragedy. On the night of April 14-15, 1912, the ship struck an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15. Joseph Charles Nicholls, like many others, did not survive the disaster.

Recovery and Identification

In the aftermath of the sinking, recovery ships were sent to search for bodies. On April 23, 1912, the Mackay Bennett recovered Joseph’s body from the sea. He was designated as Body No. 101.

The description of his recovered remains provides a poignant glimpse into the life of this young man:

NO. 101. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE. 20. - HAIR, DARK

CLOTHING - Grey overcoat; blue suit; blue socks; black boots; Boy’s Brigade belt.

EFFECTS - Field glasses; one wrist watch, gold; two silver watches; silver chain; pipe; comb; padlock; account book; £2 19s. 5½d.; £5 in gold.

NO MARKS ON BODY OR CLOTHING.

The presence of multiple watches and the Boy’s Brigade belt paint a picture of a young man perhaps eager to start a new life, carrying with him cherished possessions and a sense of duty.

Legacy and Remembrance

Due to difficulties in immediate identification, Joseph’s body was buried at sea. However, his possessions were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they were later identified as belonging to Joseph Nicholls by the brothers of William Carbines.

Today, a memorial to Joseph Charles Nicholls stands in the Calumet Cemetery, Houghton County, Michigan, where his mother is also buried. This memorial serves as a lasting tribute to a young life cut short, and a reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster.

Joseph Charles Nicholls’ story, while tragically brief, offers us a window into the hopes, dreams, and sacrifices of the many individuals and families who embarked on the Titanic’s ill-fated voyage. His legacy, like that of so many others, continues to resonate more than a century after that fateful night in April 1912.