George Quincy Clifford

[Judy Marvelli]

I'm trying to find out any information on first class passenger George Quincy Clifford. He was not a survivor. he was from Stoughton, Ma. I have not been able to find much information. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Jeffrey M. Kern]

Unfortunately, I have to retire in a few short minutes, but I have a Boston, Massachusetts newspaper which does provide some information on him (the picture seen on his biography in this Web Site was one extracted from this newspaper). I will delve into as much as I can on him for you, and I wish you luck in your search for more information!

 

[Daniel Rosenshine]

Hi!

I believe it sais that Mr Cliffors was in A14. This is not true. I contribute to the cabin allocations of this site, and although the new list is still being revised, I can tell you that Mr Clifford was in C110, with a good friend of his, Mr Porter.

Daniel.

 

[Arne Mjåland]

From Stoughton Public Library, Stoughton MA I got sent some newspaper articles about Titanic passenger Geo Q Clifford who drowned. In an article I read that Mr. Clifford sent hundreds of postcards during his stay in Europe to the Belcher last Co. where he worked. I wrote to one of the Belchers in Stoughton two years ago if he had seen such cards. He replied that he had not seen any, but he told me he was born 15 april 1912. I did not ask to buy any cards from him but he told me he would not sell if he had had any.

 

[Arne Mjåland]

Two years ago the public library in Stoughton, MA sent me copies of some newspaper articles about him, which had been in the local papers there in April 1912.
I read that Geo Q. Clifford had stayed in many European countries prior during winter 1912. He had sent hundreds of postcards to friends, ralatives, and to the firm Belcher where he worked.
I was curious to try to find out if any of those cards still existed.
I wrote to Mr John A. Belcher asking if he knew anything about those postcards.
I got a surprice when I got the answer:
"No I do not have any Titanic material and would not sell if I had it.
George Belcher & Co. went out of business years ago.
I was born at 2.40 in the morning April 15 1912"
I think it is a peculiar coincidence. Any of you living in Massachusets might perhaps like to have a talk with him?

 

[Ben Holme]

Hi Arne,

I, for one, would be fascinated to read those postcards, should they turn up. I am only sorry that you have come to a temporary dead end. Clifford would certainly have made numerous references to his poor health which beleagured his enjoyment of his business and pleasure trip to England, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and other countries, and which undoubtedly prompted his decision to take out $50,000 extra life ensurance shortly before he booked passage on Titanic for the return trip to Stoughton. Clifford's friend and work colleague, Walter Chamberlain Porter (who would later become a fellow Titanic victim) wrote several letters to his wife, Elizabeth, and to his business partner, Walter E. Bigelow in which he related that while he and John Maguire (another Massachusetts businessman) had enjoyed good health, George Clifford "had been in very poor health during the last three weeks". Not only does this effectively explain his reason for taking out extra life ensurance, but it also accounts for the surprising absence of survivor accounts which mention him.

Hope the above is of interest.

Best,
Ben

 

[Daniel Klistorner]

Ben,

Very interesting info! Clifford's poor health may then explain why Porter shared a room with him, rather than the three men booking a cabin each. Porter probably looked after and assisted Clifford in case something happened or he needed attention.

Daniel.

 

[Ben Holme]

Good observation there, Daniel. I hadn't considered the relevence of the rather unusual cabin situation to the above. I agree that Porter and Maguire would probably have fulfilled similar roles to Beattie and McCaffry in looking after their equally ill companion, Hugo Ross.

Glad the above was of interest.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Arne Mjåland]

The information about Mr. Clifford I found in a long article in Stoughton Sentinel April 27 1912.
It was Mrs Geo E. Belcher who got sent several hundreds postcards from him.
Also Frank T. Youngquist of the firm C.R. Hillberg & Co. received a postcard mailed from Holland.
And this is about his insurance, which Ben mentioned:
"Mr. Clifford made most through preparations for his trip abroad and with keen business sence, left a will prior to his departure and also put his business affairs in good shape and took out large accident insurance for the trip."
In addition to the library in Stoughton. the Historical society in that town has material about him.