Mr Matthew Sadlier

Who was Matthew Sadlier?

Matthew Sadlier was a 19 (nineteen) year-old Irish farm labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on October 8, 1892, in Clooncooe, near Mohill in Co Leitrim, Ireland, Sadlier was one of nine children from a Church of Ireland family. His journey on the Titanic was meant to be a new beginning, as he sought to join his siblings who had already established themselves in America.

Early Life and Family Background

A Large Irish Family

Matthew Sadlier came from a sizeable family:

• Parents: Matthew Sadlier (b. 1861) and Catherine Duke (b. 1852)
• Siblings:
  1. Thomas (b. February 4, 1882)
  2. William (b. June 29, 1883)
  3. Jane Ann (b. November 27, 1884)
  4. Frances “Fanny” (b. January 8, 1886)
  5. Elizabeth (b. September 5, 1887)
  6. Henry “Harry” (b. May 8, 1889)
  7. Catherine “Kate” (b. November 18, 1890)
  8. Susan Margaret (b. November 19, 1899)

His father worked as a labourer and later became a shepherd, while his mother tended to their large household.

Life in Clooncooe

The Sadlier family’s life in rural Ireland is documented in census records:

By the time of the 1911 census, Matthew had begun working as an agricultural labourer, following in his father’s footsteps.

The Journey to a New Life

Why was Matthew Sadlier on the Titanic?

Matthew Sadlier boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger, following in the footsteps of his older siblings who had already made the journey to America. His destination was Lakewood, New Jersey, where his eldest brother Thomas had settled and worked as a gardener.

Matthew’s ticket (number 367655) cost £7 14s 7d, a significant sum for a young farm labourer at the time.

Family Pioneers in America

Several of Matthew’s siblings had already established themselves in the United States:

• Thomas: Married in 1904 and settled in Lakewood, New Jersey
• Fanny and Jane: Emigrated around 1907
• Harry and William: Also made the crossing around 1907

Matthew’s journey was part of a larger pattern of Irish emigration to America, seeking better opportunities and joining family members who had already made the move.

Fate on the Titanic

Tragically, Matthew Sadlier did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. At just 19 (nineteen) years old, his promising future was cut short. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

Legacy and Family After the Disaster

How did the Titanic disaster affect the Sadlier family?

The loss of Matthew deeply impacted the Sadlier family. His mother, Catherine, died of pneumonia on November 15, 1915, just a few years after the tragedy. The fate of his father remains uncertain.

The Sadlier Siblings’ Lives

Despite the tragedy, many of Matthew’s siblings went on to build lives in America:

• William: Married Eliza Britton on September 18, 1912, raised a family, and died in Florida in 1962
• Thomas: Raised a family in Fairfield, Connecticut, and passed away in 1925
• Harry: Settled in New York with his wife Mary, dying in Dutchess in 1967
• Fanny: Married Walter Dye in 1921, lived in South Orange, New Jersey, until her death in 1977
• Jane: Married James Johnston in 1916, lived in Bronx and South Orange, New Jersey, before passing away in Kenilworth, Union County in 1967

Interestingly, only Kate is believed to have remained in Ireland, though her fate after marriage is unknown.

Matthew Sadlier’s Place in Titanic History

Matthew Sadlier’s story represents one of many Irish victims of the Titanic disaster. His journey reflects the hopes and dreams of countless immigrants seeking a better life in America, only to have those dreams tragically cut short. Today, he is remembered as one of the many young lives lost in one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.