Encyclopedia Titanica

Gertrude Mabelle Thorne

Gertrude Mabelle Thorne
Gertrude Mabelle Thorne

Gertrude Mabelle Thorne was born Gertrude Mabelle McMinn on 26 January 1875 in San Francisco, California1 she was the daughter of William C. McMinn (b. 1840) and Emma Amanda McGee (b. 1856 d. 1926), she had two sisters, Maude Bernice (later Mrs. Thomas Costigan) (b. 1871 d. 1956) and May Beatrice (later Parker) (b. 1873 d.1943).

By 1878, Gertrude's father William C. McMinn had abandoned his family and Gertrude's mother Emma A. McGee soon married Samuel Abraham Wayne on December 25th 1878 in lake County, California, USA. The family was later listed in the 1880 U.S census in Davisville, California, USA

On June 16th 1899, Gertrude married Harry Thorne in Santa Clara, California. Gertrude was listed in the 1910 U.S census as Maybelle Thorne, a widow living in Manhattan with a border named Charles L. Cohe

Gertrude boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a first-class passenger Having Ticket No. 17585, £80 4d.

She was the mistress of George Rosenshine. To hide the fact they boarded under the assumed names of George And Gertrude Thorne. The couple were returning from a business trip and holiday. George Rosenshine perished in the disaster but Gertrude escaped in the last lifeboat collapsible D.

Gertrude sent two Marconigrams from the Carpathia, dated 18th April 1912 to: Mr. J. Rosenshine, 1 W. 92nd Street, New York City.

Am safe - Pray God George was rescued by another boat with rest of men. Arrive Carpathia. Mabelle Thorne.

And a Marconigram sent 18th April 1912 to: Mrs. J. Costigan, 72nd & Riverside, The Chatsworth, New York City.

Am safe. Arrive on Cunard Carpathia. Gertrude.

Mr  J. Rosenshine was George Rosenshine's brother, and Mrs J. Costigan was her sister Maude Bernice Costigan.

On July 12th 1913 in Stanford, Connecticut, Gertrude married Richard Centennius Yanke (b. 1876 d. 1935)2 and they were listed as living with each other and a maid in Manhattan, New York, New York in the 1920 U.S census. Richard and Gertrude travelled extensively and Gertrude claimed various ages on passenger lists until the couple settled in Paris. In her later years, Gertrude lived in Paris with her widowed sister Maude Costigan.

Gertrude Mabelle McMinn Yanke died on 19 November 1947 in Nice, France from a cerebral haemorrhage and was buried at Cimetière de L'Est, Nice, France. Her sister Maude Costigan continued to live in France until her death in 1956.

Notes

  1. There is some confusion of what year she was born in. On her death certificate it states her birth date as January 26th 1880 but in the 1880 U.S census she is listed as being five years old saying that she was born in 1875 meaning she was most likely born on January 26th 1875
  2. The date and place of there marriage is stated in Richard Yanke's passport from 1922.

Research Articles

Peter Engberg-Klarström Titanica! (2018) Titanic : The Last Boat
Collapsible Lifeboat D, the last boat to be lowered.

Newspaper Articles

Ballymena Observer (11 April 1913) Three Widows To Visit Scene

Images

Documents and Certificates

Graves and Memorials

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Comment and discuss

  1. Jeffrey M. Kern

    The only real thing that I know is that she was mistress to Mr George S Rosenshine, and that she was travelling with him around the world practically, making the final leg of their journey to New York on board the Titanic. She survived in Collapsible D, and there is a passenger on the Carpathia, a Mrs Campbell, who had spoke to her and Mrs Harris, and there is an account I have in an old 1912 newspaper which I would be most happy to donate. Otherwise, is there anything more historians have learned of, in one expert's opinion, the most unknown of Titanic's passengers? (Agewise, I would believe she would be in her forties or late thirties.)
    : Reply
  2. Daniel Rosenshine

    Daniel Rosenshine

    Hi Actually Mrs Thorne was not Mr Rosenshine's mistress. A mistress is a lover of a married man. Mr Rosenshine was not married, therefore Mrs Thorne was more like his girlfriend. On the Carpathia she signed on her age as 38, but considering the many "age" inaccuracies on that list, Mrs Thorne might not have been 38. She was definetely not a young woman, but not older than Mr Rosenshine (45). It's quite possible she was 38, but we can not entirely trust it. After she landed in New York, she simply disappeared. The Rosenshine family were unable to track her down and nothing was known of her ever since. Daniel.
    : Reply

  3. Jeffrey M. Kern

    Thank you for the clearup (are you related to George Rosenshine?). I had only heard of Mrs Thorne as the 'mistress', but then again, she was Mrs Thorne, was she not? I will give the newspaper article to Mr Hind, and hopefully he can post it up on her biography when he gets the time. Thank you once again!
    : Reply
  4. Céline Pinet

    Céline Pinet

    My great-aunt (my paternal grand-mother's sister)is supposed to have been aboard the Titanic as mistress of a business man. Her name was Joséphine Cormier. She was 29 at the time and lived in Duluth Minn where she probably worked for her brother who owned a clothing store. Could the Rosenshine Bros have been a supplier at the store? She would have been one of the rescued passengers. Apparently the incident caused quite a scandal in her strong catholic family. Some of her sibblings even refused to speak to her when she visited her hometown of Caraquet NB. She married a Mr. Howard. They settled in Duluth Minn. Could she have been Gertrude Maybelle Thorne?
    : Reply

  5. Michael H. Standart

    Nope. Check out the bio on the passangers list on this site. Gertrude Maybelle Thorne was her real name, but the assumed name she used was George Thorne. Meaning no disrespect to your family, but you may want to research this one a little more...try to find some substantiating documentation...befor you accept the family lore. Bogus Titanic passangers/survivors/casualties are legion. Cordially, Michael H. Standart
    : Reply

  6. Daniel Klistorner

    I think I have seen it posted somewhere on this board that Maybelle Thorne may not have been her real name, and thus the difficulty tracking this person down. Then again she was an older woman, certainly not 29, she was about 40 (or in fact 38 as on the Carpathia list). Daniel.
    : Reply

  7. Charles Provost

    I'm afraid there is nothing to support she was more than 29 year old...
    : Reply

  8. Daniel Klistorner

    Yes there is, the only age known for her (whether correct or not) is 38. That's already something.
    : Reply

  9. Charles Provost

    Well, that's what I meant. I meant there is no source other than this one. But I do agree that even if there is an error on her age, it at least gives us a good indication.
    : Reply
  10. Céline Pinet

    Céline Pinet

    Very little seems to be known about 1st class passenger Gertrude Maybelle Thorne, mistress of George Rosenshine. Could she have also been using an assumed name?
    : Reply

  11. Brian J. Ticehurst

    Céline, As far as I know Mrs. Thorne was not using an assumed name - buried in the family plot etc. Here is what I have on her - not much I am afraid: THORNE, MRS. GERTRUDE (Maybelle. Saved in Lifeboat number D. Marconigram dated 18th April 1912 to: Mr. J. Rosenshine, 1 W. 92nd Street, New York City. ''Am safe - Pray God George was rescued by another boat with rest of men. Arrive Carpathia. Mabelle Thorne.'' Marconigram sent 18th April 1912 to: Mrs. J. Costigan, 72nd & Riverside, The Chalsworth, New York City. ''Am safe. Arrive on Cunard Carpathia. Gertrude.'' George Rosenshine. He was a First Class passenger registered on the ships passenger list under the assumed name of Mr. George Thorne, travelling with his mistress, Mrs. Gertrude Thorne, a survivor. Mrs. Thorne is buried in the family plot at Bayside Cemetery, Congregation Shaare Zedek, Queens, Long Island, New York. Best regards Brian
    : Reply
  12. Lindsay R

    Lindsay R

    Hello, I'm trying to track down photos of either of these passengers. George actually traveled under the name "Thorne". He owned a company called "Rosenshine Bros." which sold imported Ostrich feathers. Maybelle was married... to someone else. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks
    : Reply

  13. carol young

    I am trying to find daniel rosenshine. Are you a relative of george rosenshine? If so I have some very important information to share with you.}
    : Reply

  14. carol young

    I believe I am george rosenshines great grandaughter... very interesting story. He had no known chilren.
    : Reply

  15. Gianni Yrois

    maybe he had children with Gertrude Maybelle Thorne or a other women. Is there now any more information what became of Miss Thorne (when this was her reall name?) or are there any photos?any mentions on them aboard the ship? best regards
    : Reply

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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Miss Gertrude Mabelle Thorne (née McMinn)
Age: 37 years 2 months and 20 days (Female)
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married to Harry Thorne
Embarked: Cherbourg on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 17585, £80 4d
Rescued (boat D)  
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Cause of Death:
Buried: Cimetiere de L'Est, Nice, France

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