Mr William Joseph Douton

Who was William Joseph Douton?

William Joseph Douton was a 55 (fifty-five) year-old English quarryman who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born on December 18, 1856, in Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Douton’s life story intertwines with the fateful voyage of the Titanic, leaving behind a legacy that echoes through generations.

Early Life and Background

Family Roots and Childhood

William Joseph Douton was born into a working-class family in Southsea, Portsmouth. His parents were:

Father: William Douton (born 1835), a carpenter from Plymouth, Devon
Mother: Ann Eliza Goulter (1839-1868) from Portsmouth

The couple married on November 29, 1855, in Portsea, and William Joseph was their firstborn. He had one younger brother, John, born in 1858 in Jersey.

Tragedy and Relocation

Douton’s early life was marked by hardship:

In 1861, at age 5, he lived with his mother and brother at 26 Grosvenor Street, Portsea
His father was notably absent from the household
Tragedy struck in 1868 when his mother died at the young age of 29

Following their mother’s death, William and his brother moved to Guernsey. The 1871 census shows them living with their cousin, Henry Coggen and his wife at Salt Farm in St Sampsons.

Marriage and Family Life

Who did William Joseph Douton marry?

William married Emily S. Le Monnier around 1880. Emily, born in 1862 in St Sampsons, became his life partner. The couple’s early years were spent in Guernsey:

1881: Living at Courtil Au Feves, St Michael in the Vale, Guernsey
William’s occupation: Stone dresser

Children and Emigration

The Doutons had three daughters:

Emelene (born 1883)
Wilhelmina “Wilma” (born 1884)
Florence (1889-1894)

In 1887, the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Holley, New York. Tragically, their youngest daughter Florence passed away at the age of 5.

The Titanic Journey

Why was William Joseph Douton on the Titanic?

William had been part of a group of 11 people visiting the Channel Islands. This party included:

His goddaughter, Lillian Winifred Bentham
Peter Daniel McKane
Peter and Lillian Renouf
Clifford and Ernest Jefferys
Albert Denbuoy
Emily Rugg

Titanic Boarding Details

Class: Second Class passenger
Port of Embarkation: Southampton
Ticket Number: 28403
Fare: £26
Last Known Address: Home of Mrs. Cornaille near Vale Church in Guernsey

Fate During the Disaster

William Joseph Douton did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body, if recovered, was never identified. While he perished, his young charge Lillian Bentham and several others from his party were saved.

“Where’s William?” - Emily Douton’s first words to Lillian Bentham upon meeting her from the Carpathia

Legacy and Remembrance

Memorial

A touching tribute to William Douton and his friend Peter McKane stands in Hillside Cemetery, Orleans, New York:

ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF
WM DOUGHTON
& PETER MCKAIN
LOST AT SEA WITH
S.S. TITANIC
APR. 14. 1912
BY HOLLEY LODGE
42 I.O.O.F.

This memorial was erected by the Independent Order of Old Fellows, of which William was a member.

Family After the Tragedy

William’s widow, Emily, remarried twice:

Charles Benjamin Hyde (born 1850), a paper manufacturer who died in 1917
Angelo F. Biondi (born circa 1863), an Italian-born man

Sadly, Emily passed away only months after her third marriage in Monroe, New York.

What became of William’s daughters?

Both of William’s surviving daughters married and raised families:

Emelene: Married Charles Cooper, had four children, and passed away in Brockport, New York in 1972.
Wilma: Became Mrs. Henry Epke, had two children, and died in Monroe in 1980.

William Joseph Douton’s Place in Titanic History

William Joseph Douton’s story is a poignant reminder of the many lives tragically cut short by the Titanic disaster. As one of the second-class passengers who did not survive, his tale adds to the rich tapestry of personal histories that make up the Titanic’s enduring legacy. His journey from England to Guernsey, then to America, and finally aboard the ill-fated ship, illustrates the mobility and aspirations of many early 20th-century immigrants, whose dreams were ultimately shattered on that fateful night in April 1912.