Timothy John McCarthy: A Titanic Victim’s Tale

Timothy John McCarthy was a 54 (fifty-four) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on November 25, 1857, in Boston, Massachusetts, McCarthy worked as a buyer for the Boston department store Jordan Marsh and was returning from a business trip in Europe when he boarded the Titanic.

Early Life and Irish-American Roots

What was Timothy McCarthy’s family background?

Timothy McCarthy was born to Irish immigrant parents, Jeremiah McCarthy (b. 1827) and Hannah Murray (b. 1831). His parents had emigrated from Ireland in the early 1850s and married around 1856. Growing up in a large family, Timothy had six known siblings:

• Dennis (b. 1859)
• Hannah (1865-1909)
• John (1867-1908)
• Jeremiah Fred (b. 1870)
• Charles (b. 1874)
• William (b. 1878)

How did McCarthy’s early career unfold?

Timothy’s professional journey began in Boston, where he first appeared in the 1880 census as a dry goods clerk. His career progression led him to become a stationery buyer, a role he held for many years.

Family Life and Residence

On June 26, 1888, Timothy married Mary Anastasia Haggerty (b. July 1860), also a first-generation Irish American. The couple had six children:

1. Anna Gertrude (b. January 18, 1890)
2. Mildred Denney (b. November 24, 1891 - d. 1968)
3. John Joseph (b. November 4, 1892 - d. November 2, 1894)
4. Justin Leon (b. February 6, 1895)
5. Edmund Charles (b. March 13, 1897)
6. Brendon Murray (b. May 17, 1901)

By 1912, the McCarthy family resided at 52 Nelson Street in Dorchester, Boston.

The Titanic Journey

How did McCarthy come to be on the Titanic?

Following a business trip to Europe, Timothy McCarthy and his colleague Herbert Henry Hilliard boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912. They traveled as first-class passengers, sharing cabin E-46.

McCarthy was no stranger to sea travel, having made at least twenty transatlantic voyages in his lifetime.

Fate During the Disaster

Tragically, Timothy McCarthy did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was later recovered by the Mackay Bennett, identified as:

NO. 175 - MALE - ESTIMATED AGE 65 - GREY HAIR & MOUSTACHE CLOTHING- Grey overcoat; black striped suit; purple knitted tie. EFFECTS- Prayer book; purse; pipe; wedding ring; knife; gun metal watch and fob; papers; 5s.; $110.00 in notes. NAME - TIMOTHY J. MCCARTHY

McCarthy’s body was delivered to J. V. Finn of Boston on April 30, 1912, and buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

What was unique about McCarthy’s death certificate?

Interestingly, the State of Massachusetts issued a death certificate for Timothy McCarthy on May 3, 1912 - an uncommon occurrence for many Titanic victims.

Legacy and Family After the Tragedy

Timothy McCarthy’s legacy lived on through his family:

• Mary McCarthy (widow): Never remarried and continued to reside in Boston until her death on March 15, 1947.
• Anna Gertrude: Worked as a bookkeeper and remained unmarried.
• Mildred Denney: Worked as a cashier, remained unmarried, and passed away on October 16, 1968.
• Edmund Charles: Followed in his father’s footsteps as a department store buyer. He married Julia Wholey and had two children before passing away in Wilmette, Illinois on June 10, 1949.
• Justin Leon: Worked as a salesman, married, and raised a family. He died in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1960.
• Brendon Murray: Became a window dresser in a department store, later retiring to Brevard, Florida where he passed away on December 8, 1982.

Timothy John McCarthy’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives tragically cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey from Irish immigrant roots to a successful career in Boston, ending with his untimely death aboard the Titanic, encapsulates the dreams and tragedies of many who sought to cross the Atlantic in the early 20th century.