Miss May Elizabeth Howard

Who was May Elizabeth Howard?

May Elizabeth Howard was a 26 (twenty-six) year-old English laundry worker who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on May 2, 1885, in North Walsham, Norfolk, England, Howard embarked on a journey that would become a defining moment in her life and in history.

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

May Elizabeth Howard was born into a working-class family in Norfolk, England. Her parents were:

• Father: William Howard (born 1845), an agricultural laborer
• Mother: Martha Whall (born 1849)

May was one of eight children in the Howard family:

1. Mary (born 1874)
2. Jane (born 1875)
3. Edward James (born 1877)
4. William (born 1880)
5. Henry (born 1882)
6. May Elizabeth (born 1885)
7. Thomas (born 1886)
8. Emily (born 1888)

Early Career

Before her fateful journey on the Titanic, May worked as a laundress in North Walsham. This occupation would later influence her decision to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic.

The Titanic Journey

Why did May Elizabeth Howard board the Titanic?

May boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. Her reasons for travel were twofold:

1. To join her brother Edward in Toronto, Ontario
2. To work as a nanny for the Kenyon family in Albion, New York, where her married sister Jane (Mrs. Henry Hewitt) had emigrated in 1908

Ticket and Boarding Details

• Ticket Number: A. 2. 39186
• Fare: £8 1s (8 pounds, 1 shilling)
• Port of Embarkation: Southampton

Interestingly, May had reportedly been booked on another ship but was switched to the Titanic due to a coal strike.

Companions on the Journey

May traveled with the Goldsmith family, whom she knew prior to boarding. This connection would prove crucial during the disaster.

The Night of the Disaster

What was May’s experience during the Titanic’s sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, May was in her cabin, fully dressed, when the Titanic struck the iceberg. She described the impact as:

“Not violent enough to upset them but felt the ship rock and was further alarmed by the sound of ringing bells coming from down below.”

The sequence of events for May that night:

1. Left her bunk to investigate
2. Encountered other bewildered passengers in the hallways
3. Initially told by crewmen to return to bed
4. Later instructed by a “doctor” to get lifebelts

Rescue and Survival

May’s survival can be attributed to her quick action and the assistance of the ship’s officers. She escaped the sinking vessel on Collapsible C, one of the last lifeboats to leave the Titanic.

“One of the ships officers grabbed Mrs Goldsmith and myself and pushed us to the edge of the ship where the lifeboat was being filled with women and children. An officer there shouted, ‘All men back, women come first.’”

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact May’s later life?

The Titanic disaster left an indelible mark on May Howard’s life. After her rescue by the Carpathia, she sent a brief telegram to her family:

“Arrived safe will write. May”

Post-Titanic Years

• Initially stayed with her sister in Albion, New York
• Worked for the Kenyon family in Hilton, Monroe, New York, helping to raise their five children
• Remained with the Kenyon family from at least 1920 to 1940
• Later worked for Margaret Kenyon Dieckman (1912-1998)

May’s Character and Legacy

Those who knew May described her as:

• A sweet lady
• Wonderful with children
• Quiet and reserved
• Fearful of water

Notably, while her Titanic survival was known to the Kenyon family, it was a topic she preferred not to discuss.

Final Years and Death

May Elizabeth Howard, who never married, spent her final years in Hilton, New York. Her last known address was 28 Smith Street.

• Date of Death: November 28, 1958
• Age at Death: 73 (seventy-three)
• Place of Death: Rochester State Hospital
• Burial: December 1, 1958, in Boxwood Cemetery, Medina, New York (Bowen family plot)

May Howard’s life, from her humble beginnings in Norfolk to her extraordinary survival of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters, serves as a testament to human resilience. Her story, though often untold, remains an important part of the Titanic’s legacy.