Mrs Mary Dunbar Hewlett

Who was Mary Dunbar Hewlett?

Mrs Mary Dunbar Hewlett was a 56 (fifty-six) year-old English passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on July 8, 1855, in Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, she was a second-class passenger traveling from Southampton to visit her son in South Dakota. Her remarkable story of survival and her detailed account of the disaster provide valuable insights into the Titanic tragedy.

Early Life and Background

Family and Childhood

Mary Dunbar Kingcome was born to John Kingcome, a silk merchant from Devon, and Rosa Lloyd Villiers, a milliner and dressmaker from Covent Garden, London. She had only one known sibling, her younger brother Henry Frederick (1857-1865).

Education and Marriage

As a young girl, Mary was described as a scholar in the 1871 census. On June 14, 1875, she married Frederick Rufford Hewlett, a draper from Plaistow, Essex. The couple had four children:

Francis Rufford Kingcome (1877-1936)
Mary Rosa (b. 1878)
Florence Rufford (1879-1963)
Phillip Rufford (b. 1881)

Life as a Widow

Mary was widowed in 1899 when her husband died at the age of 52. She never remarried and continued to live with her mother until 1903. Her son Phillip worked as a civil engineer in Lucknow, India, which would later influence her travels.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Mary Dunbar Hewlett on the Titanic?

Mrs Hewlett boarded the Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912, with the intention of visiting her son Francis in Rapid City, South Dakota. She had recently returned from visiting her other son, Phillip, in India and had spent time with her daughter Mary Villiers in Lymington, Hampshire before embarking on her transatlantic journey.

Ticket and Accommodation Details

Class: Second Class
Ticket Number: 248706
Fare: £16

The Fateful Night: April 14-15, 1912

Mrs Hewlett’s Survival Story

In a letter written aboard the Laconia on May 30, 1912, Mrs Hewlett provided a detailed account of her experience:

I was in bed and asleep and did not feel the shock of the collision with the iceberg & no one called me, I awoke & finding the engines had stopped I got out of bed & looked into the alleyway - I saw the steward - he assured me there was no danger & that I need not dress unless I liked…

Mrs Hewlett was placed in Lifeboat 13, which she described as chaotic:

About 50 people, mostly men of the “unemployed class”
Only 12 women
No compass, lanterns, or water
Inexperienced rowers who “did not know how to row - could not keep time & did not know starboard from port”

Rescue by the Carpathia

After a harrowing night at sea, Mrs Hewlett and the other survivors were rescued by the Carpathia. She sent a telegram from the ship on April 18 at 4:21 pm:

Groves - Avenue - Brondesbury London. Rescued unhurt Carpathia

Life After the Titanic

Return to England and Onward Journey

Mrs Hewlett was met in New York by her son Francis and later boarded the Laconia in Boston for her return voyage to Britain, arriving in Liverpool on June 5, 1912. Her experience on the Carpathia was challenging:

Stayed in the Library for four days and nights
Lack of basic necessities like brushes, combs, and toothbrushes
Witnessed harrowing scenes of grief among fellow survivors

Final Years in India

After her Titanic ordeal, Mrs Hewlett returned to her son in Lucknow, India, where she spent the remainder of her life. She died of septicaemia on May 9, 1917, at the age of 61 (sixty-one) in the Ramsay Hotel in Naini Tal, India. She was buried the following day in Kaladhungi Road Cemetery at the foot of the Himalayas.

Legacy

Mrs Mary Dunbar Hewlett’s detailed account of the Titanic disaster provides valuable firsthand testimony for historians and researchers. Her story exemplifies the experiences of many second-class survivors, offering insights into the chaos and confusion of the evacuation, the conditions in the lifeboats, and the aftermath aboard the Carpathia.

Her estate, worth £155 16s, was administered to her daughter Florence Groves of Hastings, Sussex, leaving a tangible connection to her life and experiences for future generations.