Mrs Lilian Carter

Who was Lilian Carter?

Mrs Lilian Carter was a 45 (forty-five) year old English passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on March 3, 1867, in St George’s, London, she was the daughter of Thomas Hughes, a prominent lawyer and author, and Ann Frances Ford. Lilian’s tragic fate on the Titanic, where she chose to remain with her husband rather than accept a place in a lifeboat, has become a poignant example of love and sacrifice during the disaster.

Early Life and Distinguished Family Background

What was Lilian Carter’s family background?

Lilian Carter came from a notable family with a rich history:

• Her father, Thomas Hughes, was a:

  • Lawyer called to the bar in 1848
  • Queen’s Counsel in 1869
  • County court judge
  • Christian socialist reformer
  • Member of Parliament for two terms
  • Novelist, best known for “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” (1857)

• Her mother, Ann Frances Ford, was the daughter of a minister from Northampton

Siblings and Childhood

Lilian was one of nine children, though several were lost in childhood. Her surviving siblings included:

1. Walter Maurice (b. 1850)
2. Margaret Evelyn (b. 1851)
3. James Ford (b. 1853)
4. Caroline Mary Henrietta (b. 1854)
5. John (b. 1856)
6. Mary (b. 1860)
7. Arthur (b. 1863)
8. George (b. 1865)

The family resided at 80 Park Street in St George’s, London, as evidenced by the 1871 and 1881 census records.

Marriage and Life Before the Titanic

When did Lilian marry, and who was her husband?

Lilian married Ernest Courtenay Carter, a clergyman from Berkshire, in Chester in 1890. Their union would last for 22 years until their tragic end on the Titanic.

Where did the Carters live?

The couple’s residences included:

1. The Vicarage in Chieveley, Berkshire (1891)
2. St Jude’s Vicarage, 26 Commercial Street, Whitechapel, London (1901-1912)

Lilian and Ernest did not have any children during their marriage.

The Titanic Journey

How did the Carters come to be on the Titanic?

Lilian and her husband Ernest Courtenay Carter boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers. They purchased ticket number 244252 for £26.

What were the details of their voyage?

• Class: 2nd Class
• Port of Embarkation: Southampton
• Ticket Number: 244252
• Fare: £26

The Fateful Night

What happened to the Carters during the sinking?

On the night of April 15, 1912, as the Titanic was sinking, the Carters made their way to the boat deck during the evacuation. Eyewitness accounts suggest that they were offered a place together in a lifeboat. However, in a profound display of devotion and solidarity, they chose to remain on the ship.

“SHE REFUSED TO LEAVE HIM WHEN OFFERED A PLACE IN A BOAT”

This poignant quote, later inscribed on their memorial, encapsulates Lilian’s decision to stay with her husband in their final moments.

What was the outcome for Lilian and Ernest?

Tragically, both Lilian and Ernest Carter perished in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified. They became two of the many victims of the Titanic disaster.

Legacy and Remembrance

How were the Carters memorialized?

A brass memorial tablet was unveiled in St Jude’s Church, Whitechapel, to honor the Carters’ memory. The inscription read:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ERNEST COURTENAY CARTER
BORN 17TH FEBRUARY 1858 AND VICAR OF ST JUDE'S,
WHITECHAPEL FROM NOVEMBER 1898 TO APRIL 1912
AND OF LILLIAN HIS WIFE
DAUGHTER OF THOMAS HUGHES THE AUTHOR OF TOM
BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS. BORN 3rd MARCH 1867
WHO AFTER 14 YEARS OF SELF SACRIFICE IN THE
CAUSE OF RELIGION AND HUMANITY IN THIS PARISH
MET DEATH WHEN THE TITANIC FOUNDERED IN
THE ATLANTIC AFTER COLLISION WITH AN ICEBERG
ON THE 15TH OF APRIL 1912.
"LOVELY AND PLEASANT IN THEIR LIVES
IN DEATH THEY WERE NOT DIVIDED"

Where is the memorial now?

Following the demolition of St Jude’s Church, the memorial tablet was relocated to St Mary’s village church in Longcot, Faringdon, Oxfordshire. This location was chosen due to its connection to Lilian’s family; her uncle John Hughes had previously served as vicar there.

Financial Legacy

What was the value of Lilian Carter’s estate?

Lilian Carter left an estate valued at £12,212, which in today’s terms would be approximately £1.5 million. This substantial sum indicates the Carter family’s comfortable financial status at the time of their deaths.

Lilian Carter’s story remains a touching testament to marital devotion in the face of disaster. Her decision to remain with her husband on the sinking Titanic, forsaking the chance of survival, continues to resonate as one of the many poignant human stories from that tragic night in April 1912.