The Mintram Family, Barnardo's & the Titanic Connection
William Mintram Sr
A new study was published in February 2012 in the English Historical Review (Volume CXXVII, Issue 524Pp. 83-109) by Sarah Gregson, entitled "Women and Children First? The Administration of Titanic Relief in Southhampton, 1912-59). The aim of this study was to examine the administration of the Southampton Titanic Relief Fund, collected for the victims of the Titanic.
An oral interview was recorded with a Rosina Broadbere ( tape held at SOHA, M0092T) in which she recalled her mother's treatment by the fund. "Having lost her father in the sinking, Rosina’s mother was sent into service at the age of 15. She was unable to visit her sister who was ill in London and her three brothers were sent to Dr Barnardo’s in Canada and were all working on different farms."
Researching this story and the three children sent to Canada has uncovered a very different set of circumstances then those related in this statement. Rosina's mother was born Rosina May Mintram on February 12, 1887. She was the daughter of William Mintram and his wife Eliza May Rose Veal. William and Eliza May were married on the 16th August 1886. Eliza was already pregnant with Rosina when her parents married. In November of 1886, when Eliza was about six months pregnant with their first born, William was convicted and imprisoned on a charge of "unlawful wounding". It is not know whom he had hurt in this incident.
Following Rosina's birth, four more children would be born to this couple, William born 25 Jan 1889, Eliza May born c1891, Charles Thomas born 6 May 1893 and George born in 1897. The children were all born in Southampton, England. On October 18, 1902 Eliza would wind up dead, stabbed to death in her very home in front of her second eldest, William. The Times, on Monday November 24, 1902 reported this version of the events which actually led to her death:
William Mintram, 33, a mariner, was tried for the wilful murder of Eliza May Rose Mintram, his wife, at Southampton, on October 18th [1902]. Mr Evans Austin, and Mr E. L. Craik appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Treasury; Mr Emanuel defended. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was a fireman, who had been employed by a large shipping firm at Southampton for many years, and during all the period bore a most excellent character. The prisoner and his wife did not live happily. At 10.30pm on that day the prisoner came back and found supper prepared for him, the only other person present being his son, William. This lad gave evidence that the wife was sitting in a chair when the prisoner came in and slapped her in the face. After a short interval, the prisoner got up and took a knife and stabbed his wife in the back, death resulting shortly afterwards. A policeman who was called stated that about half an hour before the time of the occurrence, he heard quarrelling in the house, and had to disperse the crowd that had collected outside.The prisoner gave evidence, and stated that his wife kept nagging at him when he complained of the boy's boots being pawned by her for drink. He had had a good deal to drink, and his wife rushed at him, and he remembered nothing more. The jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter, and the judge sentenced him to twelve years penal servitude.
Mintram had claimed that the quarrel was over the fact that his wife had pawned his son’s boots to buy drink for herself, and that he had had a bit to drink too when he came home, when she slapped him across the face he stabbed her in the back with a knife, accidentally. Following his 1902 conviction, William was once again imprisoned. The 1911 census for the Portland Convict Prison, Grove Portland shows William imprisoned there. He's listed as having been born in Southampton and is a widower. As for the fate of the children, in 1903 Charles was brought to Canada on board the HMS Canada, destination Toronto. In 1905, William also was brought to Canada by Dr. Barnardo. He was aboard the HMS Southwark, destination was the Russell, Manitoba Training Farm. In 1907, Rosina married Walter Hurst in Southampton. She would list her father as a seaman on her marriage record. In 1909, George was brought to Canada by the Dr. Barnardo Homes, aboard the HMS Corsican. His destination was Quebec.
Sometime between 1911 and 1912 William would be released from prison. He would come to reside beside his daughter Rosina and her husband Walter Hurst, William at 12 Chappel Road, the Hurst's at 15. Both William and his son in law would wind up crew members aboard the infamous ship the Titanic.
In an undated letter, Walter gives his account of that night:
"I was serving on Titanic as Engine oiler or as what we British call Greasers it was at 11.20 P.M. on the 14th when I was awakened by a grinding crash along the starboard side no one was very much alarmed but knew we had struck something my Father in Law was in the same room he ran up on deck and back at once with a large lump of ice threw it in my bunk and told me to get up as we had struck a berg at that moment a messanger from the bridge told us to put on our warmest clothes and muster in the Mess Room and as a precaution put on Lifebelts later we went to the Fore Well Deck we were met by a Quarter Master who told us not to come on Boat Deck until later on I could plainly see a ships Riding Light away on the port side and our ship was sending up Rockets but got no reply we could see that they were lowering boats and I saw the first one away No 1 Starboard boat going into the water there were P.O. in the stern at the Tiller, 4 crew on the oars and about 4 passengers so we all began to go up to the boat deck, my Stations was No 13 Boat but it was gone, there were crowds around some other boats but no one seemed to have got scared yet as they have great Confidence in the ship and stood watching the band playing in the smoke room some in Blue uniforms and others in their White waiting jackets not knowing much about music I could not identify the tunes but it seemed something fine [?] a Lady and two Gents were by me and I heard them say (she cant possibly sink she has so many air-tight compartments) and I advised one man to get her into a boat if possible as I could see the ship was sinking and said if she can stay afloat till morning we may be all right as the Marconi would get help and that certainly cheered him up some. all the boats were gone by now except no 9 and there was a bit of trouble there, the Chief officer was thretening [sic] someone and fired 2 Revolver shots shouting now will you get back I was not near enough to see if anyone was shot........The Ships Lights were still on from the Emergency Dynamo. there came a terrible crashing of machinery falling forward and one Propellor fell off the After funnel fell in the sea near me and I was half blinded by soot and water then came the raft we had cut adrift it fell within a dozen feet of me and some men were clinging to it there were terrible screams all round and I plainly heard screaming (Save one Life) I've never forgotten that."
That fateful night, reportedly, after he has roused his son in law, William had found a lifejacket, but Walter had not. William gave his lifejacket to his son-in-law. Walter survived but William's body was never recovered.
On September 22, 1914, at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, Charles Mintram, 21, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he was born in Southampton, England; that his next of kin was his brother, W. Mintram, who resided at Churchbridge, Saskatchewan; that his date of birth was May 6, 1893; and that he was not married. Charles married Florence Wells in 1916
On May 1, 1915, at Sewell, Saskatchewan, William enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He claimed his next of kin was his sister Rose Hurst, He declared that he was a widower with 3 children and was born in Southhampton, England.
On February 22 1916 George, out of Toronto, Ontario, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He claimed that he was born in London, England, that his next of kin was Mrs. Hurst from Southhampton, England and that he was a single farmer. George married Lilian Little in 1919.
After service, both Charles and George would return to Southampton to live out their lives. Both married, Charles to Florence Wells and George to Lilian Josephine Little. William would remain in Canada. After the death of his first wife Johanna Lilian Thorsteinson mother of Rose Elva Mintram, Violet Mintram and Valdy Mintram) he married Margaret Alice Ann Chaffin (mother of Margaret & Mary Mintram) in 1918.
An oral interview was recorded with a Rosina Broadbere ( tape held at SOHA, M0092T) in which she recalled her mother's treatment by the fund. "Having lost her father in the sinking, Rosina’s mother was sent into service at the age of 15. She was unable to visit her sister who was ill in London and her three brothers were sent to Dr Barnardo’s in Canada and were all working on different farms."
Researching this story and the three children sent to Canada has uncovered a very different set of circumstances then those related in this statement. Rosina's mother was born Rosina May Mintram on February 12, 1887. She was the daughter of William Mintram and his wife Eliza May Rose Veal. William and Eliza May were married on the 16th August 1886. Eliza was already pregnant with Rosina when her parents married. In November of 1886, when Eliza was about six months pregnant with their first born, William was convicted and imprisoned on a charge of "unlawful wounding". It is not know whom he had hurt in this incident.
Following Rosina's birth, four more children would be born to this couple, William born 25 Jan 1889, Eliza May born c1891, Charles Thomas born 6 May 1893 and George born in 1897. The children were all born in Southampton, England. On October 18, 1902 Eliza would wind up dead, stabbed to death in her very home in front of her second eldest, William. The Times, on Monday November 24, 1902 reported this version of the events which actually led to her death:
William Mintram, 33, a mariner, was tried for the wilful murder of Eliza May Rose Mintram, his wife, at Southampton, on October 18th [1902]. Mr Evans Austin, and Mr E. L. Craik appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Treasury; Mr Emanuel defended. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was a fireman, who had been employed by a large shipping firm at Southampton for many years, and during all the period bore a most excellent character. The prisoner and his wife did not live happily. At 10.30pm on that day the prisoner came back and found supper prepared for him, the only other person present being his son, William. This lad gave evidence that the wife was sitting in a chair when the prisoner came in and slapped her in the face. After a short interval, the prisoner got up and took a knife and stabbed his wife in the back, death resulting shortly afterwards. A policeman who was called stated that about half an hour before the time of the occurrence, he heard quarrelling in the house, and had to disperse the crowd that had collected outside.The prisoner gave evidence, and stated that his wife kept nagging at him when he complained of the boy's boots being pawned by her for drink. He had had a good deal to drink, and his wife rushed at him, and he remembered nothing more. The jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter, and the judge sentenced him to twelve years penal servitude.
Mintram had claimed that the quarrel was over the fact that his wife had pawned his son’s boots to buy drink for herself, and that he had had a bit to drink too when he came home, when she slapped him across the face he stabbed her in the back with a knife, accidentally. Following his 1902 conviction, William was once again imprisoned. The 1911 census for the Portland Convict Prison, Grove Portland shows William imprisoned there. He's listed as having been born in Southampton and is a widower. As for the fate of the children, in 1903 Charles was brought to Canada on board the HMS Canada, destination Toronto. In 1905, William also was brought to Canada by Dr. Barnardo. He was aboard the HMS Southwark, destination was the Russell, Manitoba Training Farm. In 1907, Rosina married Walter Hurst in Southampton. She would list her father as a seaman on her marriage record. In 1909, George was brought to Canada by the Dr. Barnardo Homes, aboard the HMS Corsican. His destination was Quebec.
Sometime between 1911 and 1912 William would be released from prison. He would come to reside beside his daughter Rosina and her husband Walter Hurst, William at 12 Chappel Road, the Hurst's at 15. Both William and his son in law would wind up crew members aboard the infamous ship the Titanic.
In an undated letter, Walter gives his account of that night:
"I was serving on Titanic as Engine oiler or as what we British call Greasers it was at 11.20 P.M. on the 14th when I was awakened by a grinding crash along the starboard side no one was very much alarmed but knew we had struck something my Father in Law was in the same room he ran up on deck and back at once with a large lump of ice threw it in my bunk and told me to get up as we had struck a berg at that moment a messanger from the bridge told us to put on our warmest clothes and muster in the Mess Room and as a precaution put on Lifebelts later we went to the Fore Well Deck we were met by a Quarter Master who told us not to come on Boat Deck until later on I could plainly see a ships Riding Light away on the port side and our ship was sending up Rockets but got no reply we could see that they were lowering boats and I saw the first one away No 1 Starboard boat going into the water there were P.O. in the stern at the Tiller, 4 crew on the oars and about 4 passengers so we all began to go up to the boat deck, my Stations was No 13 Boat but it was gone, there were crowds around some other boats but no one seemed to have got scared yet as they have great Confidence in the ship and stood watching the band playing in the smoke room some in Blue uniforms and others in their White waiting jackets not knowing much about music I could not identify the tunes but it seemed something fine [?] a Lady and two Gents were by me and I heard them say (she cant possibly sink she has so many air-tight compartments) and I advised one man to get her into a boat if possible as I could see the ship was sinking and said if she can stay afloat till morning we may be all right as the Marconi would get help and that certainly cheered him up some. all the boats were gone by now except no 9 and there was a bit of trouble there, the Chief officer was thretening [sic] someone and fired 2 Revolver shots shouting now will you get back I was not near enough to see if anyone was shot........The Ships Lights were still on from the Emergency Dynamo. there came a terrible crashing of machinery falling forward and one Propellor fell off the After funnel fell in the sea near me and I was half blinded by soot and water then came the raft we had cut adrift it fell within a dozen feet of me and some men were clinging to it there were terrible screams all round and I plainly heard screaming (Save one Life) I've never forgotten that."
That fateful night, reportedly, after he has roused his son in law, William had found a lifejacket, but Walter had not. William gave his lifejacket to his son-in-law. Walter survived but William's body was never recovered.
On September 22, 1914, at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada, Charles Mintram, 21, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he was born in Southampton, England; that his next of kin was his brother, W. Mintram, who resided at Churchbridge, Saskatchewan; that his date of birth was May 6, 1893; and that he was not married. Charles married Florence Wells in 1916
On May 1, 1915, at Sewell, Saskatchewan, William enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He claimed his next of kin was his sister Rose Hurst, He declared that he was a widower with 3 children and was born in Southhampton, England.
On February 22 1916 George, out of Toronto, Ontario, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He claimed that he was born in London, England, that his next of kin was Mrs. Hurst from Southhampton, England and that he was a single farmer. George married Lilian Little in 1919.
After service, both Charles and George would return to Southampton to live out their lives. Both married, Charles to Florence Wells and George to Lilian Josephine Little. William would remain in Canada. After the death of his first wife Johanna Lilian Thorsteinson mother of Rose Elva Mintram, Violet Mintram and Valdy Mintram) he married Margaret Alice Ann Chaffin (mother of Margaret & Mary Mintram) in 1918.
Rosina's Birth Certificate
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Rosina & Walter Hurst
Above: Rosina and Walter Hurst
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Titanic agreement record, William Mintrum, living at 12 Chapel Road
Titanic Agreement showing Walter Hurst living at 15 Chappel Road
