Miss Julia Smyth: Titanic Survivor and Irish Immigrant

Julia Smyth was an 18 (eighteen) year-old Irish woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on August 3, 1893, in Pottlebawn, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, Ireland, Julia’s journey from a rural Irish farm to the decks of the ill-fated Titanic and her subsequent life in America is a testament to the resilience and determination of early 20th-century immigrants.

Early Life and Irish Roots

What was Julia Smyth’s family background?

Julia Smyth was born into a large Irish Catholic family. Her parents were:

Father: Henry Smyth (born 1839), a farmer
Mother: Mary Cunningham Smyth (born 1863)

Julia was one of seven surviving children out of nine. Her siblings included:

Mary Anne (born circa 1882)
Henry (born June 4, 1884)
James (born December 13, 1886)
Agnes (born February 28, 1889)
Delia (born August 8, 1890)
Margaret (born March 17, 1900)

The Smyth family was bilingual, speaking both Irish and English, which was common in rural Ireland at the time.

Where did Julia grow up?

Julia spent her childhood in Pottlebawn, a small townland in County Cavan. Census records show:

1901: Living at house 8, Pottlebawn
1911: Residing at house 9, Pottlebawn

This suggests the family either moved or the house numbers were reassigned during this period.

The Journey to America

Why did Julia decide to leave Ireland?

Like many young Irish people of her time, Julia decided to seek better opportunities in America. She was following in the footsteps of her brother Henry, who had recently emigrated to New York.

How did Julia’s Titanic journey begin?

Julia boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger. Her ticket details were:

Ticket number: 335432
Cost: £7 14s 8d

Her final destination was 462 West 20th Street, Manhattan, where she was to stay with a person named Faulkner.

The Fateful Night

Who were Julia’s companions on the Titanic?

Julia shared a cabin with three other young women:

Mary McGovern (from Cavan)
Kate Connolly (from Cavan)
Mary Agatha Glynn (from Clare)

How did Julia survive the Titanic disaster?

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Julia and her roommates managed to survive. They were among the fortunate third-class passengers who made it to the lifeboats. Julia credited her long legs for helping her leap from the deck into Lifeboat 13, following her cabinmate Kate Connolly.

Life After the Titanic

What challenges did Julia face upon arriving in America?

Upon arrival in New York, Julia faced immediate health issues. While aboard the rescue ship Carpathia, she began feeling ill, which later developed into scarlet fever shortly after landing. After recovering, Julia found work as a domestic servant.

Did Julia marry and have a family?

Julia’s personal life after the Titanic included:

First marriage: On November 30, 1917, she married William Harper Glover, a US Army Officer, in Manhattan. The couple remained childless and lived on West 95th Street.
Divorce: The marriage to Glover ended in divorce. By 1930, Julia was working as a live-in servant for Ella Baker Weir in Manhattan.
Second marriage: Julia later remarried to Thomas White, an Englishman born on June 12, 1894.

How did Julia commemorate her Titanic experience?

Julia maintained a connection to her Titanic experience throughout her life:

In 1958, she attended the New York premiere of “A Night to Remember,” a film about the Titanic disaster.
She was photographed with other Titanic survivors at the event.
In the 1960s, Julia returned to Ireland for a visit, likely reflecting on her journey and life changes since leaving as a young woman.

Julia Smyth’s Legacy

Julia Smyth’s life spanned major historical events and social changes. From rural Ireland to the Titanic’s decks, and through the transformations of 20th-century America, her story embodies the immigrant experience of her era.

Julia White (née Smyth, formerly Glover) passed away in Manhattan on April 27, 1977, at the age of 83 (eighty-three). She was laid to rest in St Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx, New York, leaving behind a legacy as a survivor of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters and as a woman who built a new life in America against considerable odds.