Mrs Mary Emma Corey

Who Was Mary Emma Corey?

Mary Emma Corey, née Miller, was a 32 (thirty-two) year-old American schoolteacher who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in August 1879 in Pennsylvania, Mary was a second-class passenger on the ill-fated voyage, traveling while pregnant to return home from Burma where her husband worked.

Early Life and Background

Pennsylvania Roots

Mary Emma Miller was born into a large family in Pennsylvania, possibly Cambria County, in August 1879. Her parents, John Alexander Miller and Sarah Jarrett, were both Pennsylvania natives. Mary was the eldest of nine children:

John (b. 1883)
Twins Albert and Bertha (b. 1885)
Howard (b. 1887)
Percy (b. 1890)
Elva (b. 1894)
Lydia (b. 1896)
Sarah (b. 1899)

The Miller family resided in Elliott, Pittsburgh, as evidenced by the 1900 census. By 1910, they had moved to Pittsburgh proper.

Career and Marriage

Known affectionately as “Mamie,” Mary pursued a career in education, teaching at Westlake School. Her life took a significant turn when she married Percy Coleman Corey on August 26, 1911, in Windsor, Essex, Ontario. Percy, born on June 20, 1874, was a Pennsylvania native and the son of Joseph Corey and Anna Waite.

Interestingly, this was not Percy’s first marriage. He had previously been wed to Minnie Bedford in 1896, with whom he had a son, Harold, born in 1895. However, Percy and Minnie later divorced.

Titanic Journey

Why Was Mary on the Titanic?

Mary’s journey on the Titanic was prompted by her pregnancy. She had moved to Burma with her husband, who worked as a superintendent at a petroleum company. Upon discovering she was expecting, Mary decided to return to Pennsylvania for the birth of her child.

Embarkation and Travel Companions

Mary boarded the Titanic in Southampton as a second-class passenger. She was not traveling alone; her companion was Claire Karnes, another resident of Pittsburgh whose husband Frank also worked for Percy Corey in Burma. Notably, Claire was also pregnant.

Ticket and Fare Details

Ticket Number: 13534
Fare: £21

Mary and Claire shared a joint ticket, indicating they had planned their journey together.

The Final Days

Last Known Sighting

According to survivor Lawrence Beesley, Mary likely spent her last day on the Titanic in the second-class library. Beesley’s account paints a vivid picture of Mary:

“Close beside me–so near I cannot avoid hearing scraps of their conversations–are two American ladies, both dressed in white, young, probably friends only: one had been to India and is returning by way of England, the other is a schoolteacher in America, a graceful girl with a distinguished air heightened by a pair of pince-nez.”

This description aligns with what we know about Mary and her traveling companion, Claire.

Fate During the Disaster

A Tragic End

Tragically, both Mary Corey and Claire Karnes became two of only a dozen women traveling in second class who did not survive the disaster. The exact reasons for their inability to leave the Titanic remain unknown, adding a layer of mystery to their already tragic story.

Legacy and Remembrance

Family Aftermath

Mary’s untimely death at the age of 32 (thirty-two) left a profound impact on her family. Her widower, Percy, eventually returned to the United States and remarried twice:

In 1914, to Hazel Eugenia McDaniels (née Cranston) in Los Angeles, California
Later, to Florence Agnes Snell (1887-1971), with whom he had two daughters born in Burma: Margaret and Patricia

Tragically, Percy’s son from his first marriage, Harold, was killed in an aviation accident in New York in 1919. Percy himself passed away on April 3, 1960, in San Luis Obispo, California.

Memorial

Mary Emma Corey is remembered on her sister’s headstone in Chartiers Cemetery, Carnegie, Pennsylvania (section G), serving as a lasting tribute to her life and the tragic circumstances of her death.

Mary Corey’s Place in Titanic History

Mary Emma Corey’s story encapsulates the tragedy of the Titanic disaster. A young, pregnant schoolteacher returning home for the birth of her child, she represents the dreams and aspirations cut short by the sinking. Her tale, intertwined with that of her traveling companion Claire Karnes, highlights the particular vulnerability of second-class female passengers during the catastrophe, challenging assumptions about passenger safety and rescue priorities.