Miss Mary Bourke

Who was Mary Bourke?

Miss Mary Bourke was a 40 (forty) year-old Irish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on June 11, 1871, in Carrowskeheen, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland, Mary was a third-class passenger who embarked on the Titanic’s maiden voyage with hopes of starting a new life in America. Tragically, she became one of the many victims of the disaster, never reaching her intended destination.

Early Life and Background

Family Roots in Mayo

Mary Bourke came from a farming family in rural Ireland. Her parents were:

• William Bourke (born 1840): A farmer
• Mary O’Boyle (born 1848): Mary’s mother, who passed away at a young age

After her mother’s death, Mary’s father remarried Margaret (born 1837), a woman from Mayo who outlived him.

Siblings and Family Life

• Mary had one known sibling: her brother John (born 1869)
• The 1901 Irish census shows Mary and John living at house 11 in Carrowskeheen with their stepmother Margaret
• Mary was described as a farmer’s servant and never married

The Decision to Emigrate

What prompted Mary Bourke to leave Ireland?

Several factors influenced Mary’s decision to emigrate:

1. Her brother John’s marriage to Catherine McHugh in early 1911
2. Catherine McHugh’s previous experience living in Chicago, Illinois
3. The return of Catherine McGowan (a close friend of Mary’s sister-in-law) to Mayo in late 1911, with plans to go back to Chicago

These events likely inspired Mary, her brother John, and sister-in-law Catherine to make plans for a new life in Chicago, where Catherine’s sister Ellen resided at 66 Ruby Street.

The Titanic Journey

Departure and Ticket Details

• Embarkation Point: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland
• Embarkation Date: April 11, 1912
• Ticket Number: 364848
• Ticket Cost: £7 15s (7 pounds, 15 shillings)
• Passenger Class: Third Class

Mary joined a large group of over a dozen people from her locality who would all be travelling third class aboard Titanic.

Companions on the Voyage

Mary was not alone on this journey. She traveled with:

• Her brother, John Bourke
• Her sister-in-law, Catherine McHugh Bourke

The Night of the Disaster

What happened to Mary Bourke during the sinking?

The events of April 14-15, 1912, unfolded tragically for Mary and her family:

1. Mary, John, and Catherine were asleep when the Titanic struck the iceberg
2. They were awakened by a steward urging them to get up and dress
3. The trio made their way to the upper decks
4. Mary and Catherine had opportunities to escape in lifeboats
5. However, they refused to leave John behind due to the “women and children first” policy
6. All three were lost in the sinking

Legacy and Remembrance

How is Mary Bourke remembered?

Mary Bourke’s story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. Her decision to stay with her brother, forsaking a chance at survival, speaks to the strong family bonds and tragic choices faced by many passengers that night.

• Mary’s body, if recovered, was never identified
• Her name is listed among the victims of the Titanic disaster
• She is remembered in her home county of Mayo, Ireland, as part of the “Addergoole Fourteen” – a group of 14 passengers from the parish who boarded the Titanic, of whom only three survived

Mary Bourke’s life and fate serve as a touching example of the countless personal tragedies that make up the larger narrative of the Titanic disaster, reminding us of the individual stories behind the statistics of that fateful night.