Marian Meanwell

At the time of the 1911 census Marian was living on her own at 60 Walterton Road, Paddington North, London, a 61 year old widow, working as a Milliner and Dressmaker. She gave her birthplace as Ramsbottom, Lancashire

In 1901 she was living at 473 Kings Road, Chelsea, London - a 48 year old widow, Milliner with a boarder living with her.

In October 1894 she and a 20 year old Walter Meanwell were aboard the Spree returning from USA.

In 1871 she and her husband Thomas were in Bradford, Yorkshire with a 4 month old Walter.

By 1881 Marian was on her own in Bradford, a widow aged 29, with an 8 year old daughter, Margaret A, who was born in Bradford. She was working as a Milliner.

It looks as if the marriage broke up, as no death registration for Thomas has been found between 1871 and 1881.

In 1891 Thomas H Meanwell, Head aged 41, Warehouseman born Coningsby, Lincolnshire living in Gorton, Lancashire.

Also in the HH is a "wife" Mary J aged 31 born in Kirmington, and 3 Children: Thomas E aged 9 born in Leeds, Ernest 5 and daughter Ross 1 both born Manchester.

Two doors away is the family of John F Morris and Alice, with Kate who married Thomas Hilton's son Walter Ogden from his marriage with Marian Ogden.

It looks as if sometime after the birth of twins Annie Elizabeth (1872-1874) and Margaret Ann (1872 -) Thomas left Marian, and by 1882 had started a family with Mary Janes Forman - with whom he didn't marry until 1918, not long before his death in 1919.

The surviving twin, Ann Margaret, went to the USA where she married Edward Tudor. He died before 1912, which was why Marian was on her way to the USA. One of the grandchildren was born in Italy in 1906.

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/marian-meanwell...

Mrs Marian Meanwell (née Ogden)

• Age: 63 years
• Last Residence: in Eastboune Sussex England
• Occupation: Milliner
• 3rd Class passenger
• First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
• Ticket No. 392087 , £8 1s
• Destination: New York City New York United States
• Died in the sinking.
• Body Not Recovered

Mary was on her way to see her daughter Margaret Ann born 1872, who married Edward Tudor in Manhattan, New York in 1900.

The following two accounts give more detail to the reasons behind Mary leaving for the USA. She must have made a decision to travel, leaving her family behind in England.

American Red Cross Case number 302.

"A mother, Mary Ann (Marian) Meanwell, sixty-three years of age, was drowned, while coming to this country to make her home with her daughter, whose husband had recently died, leaving two children aged six and two years. These children were to have been cared for by their grandmother while their mother was at work. She was a ballet dancer in a circus. She has now left the circus and is employed where she can have her children with her. Accident insurance amounting to $500 was paid to the daughter, and she received $350 from other American relief funds. This money has been placed in the bank for the care of the children. The local Charity Organisation Society will continue its oversight of the welfare of the children".

WHitehaven News 2nd May 1912.

"THE widespread effects of the Titanic disaster is evidenced by the fact that Mrs. Beck of Cambridge Street, Millom, (Cumberland) had a relative aboard the ill-fated vessel.

Mrs. Meanwell, first cousin of Mrs. Beck, who was proceeding on the Titanic to join her daughter in America. She had often crossed the Atlantic previously, and according to a letter dispatched to Mrs. Beck from Queenstown, was delighted with the new gigantic vessel.

In her views, nothing approaching the accommodation had been experienced in any of the previous journeys, and nothing but a very pleasant voyage was anticipated.

There appears to be little hope that Mrs. Meanwell had escaped the fate which befell so many of the Titanic passengers, as her name does not appear, so far, amongst those who have been saved".