William Carbines

William Carbines was a 19 (nineteen) year-old English miner who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in 1893 in Nanjivey near St Ives, Cornwall, Carbines was one of fifteen children in a large working-class family. His journey on the Titanic was meant to be the start of a new life in America, but instead became part of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Early Life and Family Background

What was William Carbines’ upbringing like?

William Carbines, known affectionately as Willie, was born in early 1893 to Nicholas Wallis Carbines and Jane Wedge Paynter. His father worked as a farm laborer, and the family lived in Nanjivey, St Ives. Willie was part of a large family, with eleven surviving siblings:

• Nicholas Wallis (1886-1944)
• John Paynter (1887-1923)
• Robert Richards (1889-1938)
• Elizabeth Humphrys (1891-1984)
• Jane Paynter (1895-1995)
• Annie Richards (1897-1975)
• Thomas (1900-1990)
• Lily (1902-1969)
• Richard Paynter (1907-1944)
• George Bryant (1909-1912)

How did William’s early career develop?

Census records from 1901 and 1911 show William living with his family in Nanjivey, St Ives. By 1911, he was described as an unmarried general laborer, likely working alongside his father in various agricultural jobs around Cornwall.

The Titanic Journey

Why was William Carbines on the Titanic?

William Carbines boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger, holding ticket number 28424, which cost £13. He was traveling with his friend William John Berriman, with plans to join his brothers Robert and John in Calumet, Michigan, where they worked as miners.

Titanic Ticket Details:

• Class: Second Class
• Ticket Number: 28424
• Cost: £13
• Embarkation: Southampton

What were William’s plans in America?

William’s intention was to follow in his brothers’ footsteps and work as a miner in Calumet, Michigan. This move was part of a broader pattern of migration from Cornwall to the mining regions of the United States, where many Cornish miners found work due to their expertise in the field.

The Fateful Night

What happened to William Carbines during the Titanic disaster?

Tragically, William Carbines did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was later recovered from the sea by the cable ship Mackay-Bennett, identified as body number 18.

The report of his recovered body provides a poignant snapshot of William’s last moments:

• Body Number: 18
• Estimated Age: 20
• Hair: Brown
• Clothing: Dark suit; white shirt with green stripe; knitted socks; black boots
• Effects:
  • Watch
  • Silver chain and charm
  • Photographs
  • 8s 1d in coins
  • Pipe
  • Knife

How was William’s body returned home?

After identification by his brothers, William’s body was transported aboard the Oceanic to Southampton on May 10, 1912. From there, it was taken by train to St Ives on May 27, 1912, where a large crowd gathered to pay their respects. William was laid to rest in Barnoon Cemetery, St Ives, on May 30, 1912, in his grandparents’ grave. Over 500 mourners attended the funeral, demonstrating the impact of his loss on the local community.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

How did the Titanic disaster affect the Carbines family?

The loss of William was only the beginning of a series of tragedies for the Carbines family:

• William’s youngest brother, George, died on June 24, 1912, just weeks after William’s funeral.
• William’s brother John died in Michigan in 1923.
• Brothers Robert and Nicholas, who had been living in America, both returned to England. Robert died in 1938 and Nicholas in 1944.
• Richard, another brother, joined the RAF during World War II and was killed in action on April 17, 1944.

Did any of William’s siblings eventually settle in America?

Despite the tragedy, three of William’s siblings later emigrated to the United States:

1. Annie arrived in New York on June 21, 1922, aboard the Olympic. She married William Henry Jenkins Stevens and settled in Detroit, where she died in 1975.
2. Thomas emigrated in 1920, also settling in Detroit. He later moved to Florida, where he died in 1990 at the age of 89.
3. Jane married John Couch in Cornwall in 1920 and emigrated in 1926. She lived to be 99 years old, passing away in Naples, Florida on January 1, 1995.

William Carbines’ Place in Titanic History

William Carbines’ story is a poignant example of the dreams and aspirations cut short by the Titanic disaster. As a young man seeking opportunity in a new land, his journey represents the hopes of many who embarked on the ill-fated ship. Today, his name is remembered among the victims of the Titanic, particularly those from the second-class passengers who perished in the tragedy.

His personal effects, carefully cataloged and returned to his family, serve as tangible reminders of a life cut tragically short. The photographs found with his body, now lost to time, would have been precious mementos of the home and family he left behind in Cornwall.

William Carbines’ final resting place in St Ives, surrounded by the graves of his family members, stands as a silent testament to the far-reaching impact of the Titanic disaster on families and communities across the world.