Miss Mary Natalie Wick

Who was Mary Natalie Wick?

Miss Mary Natalie Wick was a 31 (thirty-one) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on August 2, 1880, in Youngstown, Ohio, she was the daughter of iron magnate George Dennick Wick and Mary Caroline Chamberlain. Natalie, as she was better known, survived the tragic sinking of the Titanic and went on to lead a remarkable life that spanned two continents and two world wars.

Early Life and Background

A Privileged Upbringing

• Born into a prominent Ohio family
• Only child of George Dennick Wick and Mary Caroline Chamberlain
• Father was president of various iron companies in Ohio

Natalie’s early years were marked by both privilege and loss. Her mother passed away on March 2, 1893, when Natalie was just 12 years old. Her father remarried on June 10, 1896, to Mary Peebles Hitchcock, and Natalie gained a step-brother, George Dennick Jr., born on March 19, 1897.

Society Life in England

In the 1890s, Mary, better known as Natalie, seemingly spent time in England and was prominent in local society there.

This early exposure to English society would prove significant in her later life choices. By the time of the 1910 census, Natalie was still unmarried and living with her family in Youngstown, Ohio.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why did the Wick family embark on their European vacation?

Natalie’s father, George, had been suffering from ill health for several years. The family decided that a vacation to Europe might benefit his wellbeing and prevent him from having to retire. In February 1912, Natalie departed from Youngstown along with her father, stepmother, and cousin Caroline Bonnell.

European Tour and Titanic Boarding

1. Visited Naples, Venice, Paris, and London
2. Met Washington Roebling and Stephen Weart Blackwell in France
3. Boarded the Titanic at Southampton as first-class passengers
4. Joined by Elizabeth Bonnell at Southampton

The family’s ticket (number 36928) cost a substantial £164 17s 4d. Natalie shared cabin C7 with her cousin Caroline Bonnell.

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, Natalie and Caroline were in bed when they felt the collision with the iceberg. Their initial reaction was one of curiosity rather than fear:

Caroline said to Natalie, “Well, thank goodness, Natalie, we are going to see our iceberg at last!”

The women observed the calm sea and clear, star-filled sky, initially finding nothing amiss. However, a crew member soon instructed them to don their life belts. Despite Mr. Wick’s initial skepticism, the family eventually made their way to the deck.

Survival and Rescue

• Placed into lifeboat 8
• Drifted for five hours in the cold
• Rescued by the Carpathia

Natalie, along with her stepmother Mary Peebles Wick and cousins Caroline and Elizabeth Bonnell, survived the sinking. Tragically, her father George Dennick Wick did not survive the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

Marriage and Family

In 1916, Natalie married Tom St Aubyn Barrett Lennard Nevinson in London. Her husband was:

• Born on February 7, 1870
• A London native and colonel in the British Army
• Previously widowed with a son from his first marriage

Natalie and Tom had two daughters together, with their first child, Mary, born in 1917. The family maintained homes in both England and France, reflecting Natalie’s transatlantic background.

World War II and Escape from France

During World War II, Natalie found herself caught in the tumult of history once again. In July 1940, following the outbreak of war in Europe, she fled from her home in San Rafael, France. Her escape was aboard the Saltersgate, a small English coal barge. Interestingly, one of her fellow passengers on this perilous journey was the famed writer Somerset Maugham.

Final Years and Legacy

In her later years, Natalie settled in Thursley, near Godalming in Surrey, England. She passed away on October 12, 1944, at the age of 64 (sixty-four), following surgery at Stoneyhead Nursing Home in Hindhead, Surrey. Natalie was laid to rest in St Michael and All Angels Churchyard, Thursley, Surrey.

Her widower, Tom, never remarried and lived in Knightsbridge, London, until his death on November 4, 1951. He was buried alongside Natalie.

Mary Natalie Wick’s life story encapsulates the dramatic changes of the early 20th century. From the opulence of first-class Titanic travel to wartime escape, her experiences paint a vivid picture of a woman who survived not one, but two of the most significant events of her time.