Miss Margaret Bedelia Devaney

Who was Margaret Bedelia Devaney?

Margaret Bedelia Devaney was a 20 (twenty) year-old Irish woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on June 4, 1891, in Kilmacowen, County Sligo, Ireland, she embarked on a journey to America that would forever change her life and make her a part of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Early Life and Background

A Large Irish Family

Margaret came from a large Roman Catholic family in rural Ireland:

Parents: James Devaney (farmer) and Margaret McDonagh
Siblings: 8 in total, including Michael, Patrick, James, Andrew, John, Mary Ellen, and Thomas William
Occupation: Milliner (hat maker)

Growing up in Kilmacowen, Margaret lived a typical life for a young Irish woman of her time. The 1901 and 1911 censuses show her family’s progression, with Margaret eventually taking up the trade of millinery.

The Journey to America

Why did Margaret decide to leave Ireland?

Margaret’s decision to leave Ireland was influenced by her family connections in America. Several of her siblings had already made the journey across the Atlantic, establishing themselves in the New World. Her brother Michael, working as a stable groom in New York, sent her the fare for her passage.

Titanic Boarding Details

Class: Third Class
Ticket Number: 330958
Fare: £7 17s 7d
Port of Embarkation: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland

Margaret boarded the Titanic at Queenstown on April 11, 1912, joining the ranks of hopeful immigrants seeking a new life in America.

The Fateful Night

Who were Margaret’s companions on the Titanic?

During the voyage, Margaret shared a cabin with two other young women from Sligo:

These three friends would face the terror of the Titanic’s sinking together, but only Margaret would survive to tell their tale.

The Sinking and Survival

On the night of April 14, 1912, Margaret and her friends were alerted to the danger by fellow Sligo native Henry Hart. In the chaos that followed, Margaret’s account of what happened to her friends differs:

Version 1: Mary Burns and Kate Hargadon chose to stay on the ship, believing it safer.
Version 2: Kate Hargadon was too seasick to climb to the upper decks, and Mary Burns stayed to care for her.

“We were all on deck, not thinking it was serious, when the boy comes along and said ‘You girls had better get into a boat.’ Then he held out his hand, saying ‘I hope we’ll meet again.’… I got into the boat, but Mary Burns and Kitty Hargadon held back, thinking it was safer to remain on the ship, I never saw them again…” - Margaret Devaney, Irish World, May 4, 1912

Margaret managed to secure a place on one of the last lifeboats, recalling the harrowing experience of pushing away from the sinking ship. In a remarkable act of resourcefulness, she loaned her pocketknife to a seaman struggling to release the lifeboat’s falls.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience shape Margaret’s life?

Margaret’s survival of the Titanic disaster marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life:

Arrived in New York and was met by her brother Michael
Kept mementos: metal flag from a lifeboat, her pocketknife, and third-class ticket
Found work as a housemaid in New York

Family Life in America

Married John Joseph O’Neill, an Irish American plumber, in 1919
Had four children: Matthew, Kathryn, Helen, and John
Lived at 182 Pearsall Avenue in Jersey City for many years

Legacy and Later Years

Margaret Devaney O’Neill became an important voice in preserving the memory of the Titanic:

Gave frequent interviews about her experience, especially as interest grew in the 1950s
Special guest at a screening of “A Night to Remember” in 1958
Honorary member of the Titanic Enthusiasts of America (later the Titanic Historical Society)

What was Margaret’s lasting impact?

Margaret’s willingness to share her story helped keep the memory of the Titanic and its passengers alive for future generations. Her personal artifacts and recollections provided valuable insights into the experiences of third-class passengers during the disaster.

Margaret Devaney O’Neill passed away on June 12, 1974, in Clifton, New Jersey, at the age of 83 (eighty-three). She was laid to rest in Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, leaving behind a legacy as one of the last survivors of the Titanic to share her firsthand account of that fateful night.