William Jeffery Ware

William Jeffery Ware was a 22 (twenty-two) year-old English passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in 1889 in Calstock, Cornwall, Ware was a second-class passenger who embarked on the ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton, England, with dreams of a new life in America. Tragically, he would never reach his destination.

Early Life and Background

A Cornish Upbringing

William Jeffery Ware was born in the closing months of 1889 in Calstock, Cornwall, England. He was the only child of Samuel Ware, a blacksmith born in 1862, and Ann Louisa Witheridge, born in 1860. While his father was a native of Calstock, his mother hailed from Buckland, Devonshire. The couple married in 1888, welcoming William into the world a year later.

Family Movements and Early Years

The young Ware’s life was marked by several relocations:

1891: Living with his parents at Barclay’s Cottage in Gunnislake, Cornwall
1901: Moved to King Street in Gunnislake
1908: His father relocated to South Africa for work

William’s father had been making trips to South Africa for work since the 1890s, eventually settling there in 1908. This international connection would play a significant role in William’s life and, ultimately, his fateful journey on the Titanic.

The Journey to Titanic

What led William to board the Titanic?

William had spent over a year visiting his father in South Africa, returning to England just six weeks before his departure on the Titanic. This explains his absence from the 1911 census, where his mother was recorded as living alone on King Street.

Titanic Boarding Details

Class: Second Class
Ticket Number: 28666
Fare: £10 10s
Port of Embarkation: Southampton

William boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a second-class passenger. He was not traveling alone but was accompanied by a friend, Frederick William Pengilly, also from Gunnislake, and two brothers from nearby Harrowbarrow, Harry and Shadrach Gale.

Destination and Dreams

Where was William headed?

William’s ultimate destination was Butte, Montana. Like many passengers aboard the Titanic, he was likely drawn by the promise of opportunity in America, perhaps hoping to find work in Montana’s booming mining industry.

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink. As a second-class passenger, William Jeffery Ware’s chances of survival were slim. The “women and children first” protocol meant that many male second-class passengers did not make it onto lifeboats.

What was William’s fate?

Tragically, William Jeffery Ware did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He was just 22 (twenty-two) years old when he perished in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Remembrance

Despite his young age and the brevity of his life, William Jeffery Ware’s memory lives on:

A cenotaph was erected by his parents in St. Andrews Church Cemetery, Calstock, Cornwall, ensuring that his name and story would not be forgotten.
His story contributes to the broader narrative of the Titanic disaster, representing the dreams and aspirations of many young people who sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.

How did the tragedy affect William’s family?

The loss of their only child must have been devastating for Samuel and Ann Louisa Ware. After the tragedy:

Samuel eventually returned from South Africa
Both parents continued to live on King Street, Gunnislake
Ann Louisa passed away on November 4, 1929
Samuel lived until August 21, 1945

Their longevity perhaps speaks to the resilience of those left behind by the Titanic disaster, carrying the memory of their loved ones through the decades that followed.

William Jeffery Ware’s story, while tragically cut short, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. His journey from the mines of Cornwall to the decks of the world’s most famous ship encapsulates the spirit of adventure and hope that characterized many of the Titanic’s victims, whose dreams were forever silenced in the cold waters of the Atlantic.