Albert Harry Copperthwaite was born on 25 December 1883 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. He was the son of Arthur Flint Copperthwaite (1842-1919), a ship's steward, and Clara Carter (1842-1929), Southampton-natives who had married in that City in All Saints Church on 30 September 1861.
Albert was the youngest of eight children born to his parents, one of whom died in infancy. His surviving siblings were: Alfred J. (b. 1866), Ada Susanna (b. 1869), Ernest George (b. 1872), Laura Clarinda (b. 1875), Lily Louise (b. 1878) and Frederick Adolphus (b. 1882).
Albert first appears on the 1891 census; he and his family were then living at 3 Spa Road, All Saints, Southampton. The family would have relocated to 29 John Street, St Mary, Southampton by the time of the 1901 census but Albert was absent and listed as a visitor at the address of his married sister Laura Noyce and her family at 1 Mount Street, All Saints. Aged 18, he was described as a ship's trimmer.
Titanic fireman Albert Harry "Bert" Copperthwaite
Albert was married in Southampton in 1907 to Kate Young (?) but what became of that arrangement is unknown. He later began a relationship with Maud Beatrice Johnson (b. 1891 in Southampton) but the two were never married. They had a daughter Alice Lily at the beginning of 1911.
Albert, known as "Bert," appears on the 1911 census living at 8 Wharf Street, Southampton and he is described as a mariner who had been married for a year. Maud Johnson and her child are described as lodgers.
When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6th April 1912, Albert gave his address as 39 Mount Street, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.
Copperthwaite died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His daughter and mother both benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund.
Maud Beatrice Johnson was married in 1914 to William Thompson and had several children. She died in Southampton in 1967. His daughter Alice, better known as Lily, was married in 1931 to Charles Alfred Line (1904-1953). She died in Southampton in 1956.
Comment and discuss
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My Great Uncle Albert(Bert) Copperthwaite was a ships fireman his age is listed as 22 and single he was 28 and married,could the original Titanic records have been missread,re the bodies unidentified they would have been trying to match him up to a 22 year old so is there any chance of finding out through dna
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Yvonne, identification of bodies at the time was almost always from their effects, especially documents carried. For crewmen, clothing often provided clues to their job but not personal identity. There was no detective work to match names with faces, so the physical features, age etc would have been no help except to people who actually knew the deceased. It was possible to view the bodies in Halifax, but obviously that wasn't practical for the families of crew members living in England. Sets of the photographs of unidentified bodies were circulated to White Star offices in various countries but as far as I know there were no investigations based on these and not one identification was made from them. Also, of course, dozens of the unidentified bodies of crewmen were buried at sea before anybody had a chance to photograph them. Owing to the ground conditions at the Halifax cemeteries, many of the bodies effectively no longer exist. DNA testing on a large scale would be...
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Hi Bob Thanks for your help,we may never find anything but I will keep trying to find any info on him,apart from what I know.
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Re: Bert Copperthwaite Fireman Titanic I have found more information on my great uncle, he was born 25 december Albert Harry son of Clara & Alfred Flint Copperthwaite, Southampton. He married 16th March 1907 age 23, Kate Young age 22. Information on the ships records that he was 22 and single is wrong as I have his birth and marriage certificates
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Dear Yvonne - Thanks for the extra information on Bert Copperthwaite. Below is my print out on him. You say he was married but he must have left his wife and taken up with another lady and the Lily Johnston below was the result. Did you know this? Copperthwaite, B. Lived at 39 Mount Street, St Marys, Southampton. Occupation - Fireman. 22 years old. (Born in Hampshire). (From: Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklet, March 1913) Number 84. Johnson, Lily, Child (illegitimate). Copperthwaite, Mrs. Mother. Both class G dependents. (From the Titanic Relief Fund Minute Book number 2, Southampton Area) Date December 22nd 1913. Case number C84. All payments to Maud Johnson in respect of an illegitimate daughter be in future made to the child's grandmother Mrs. Charlotte Johnson. (From Titanic Memorial Fund Relief Book number 3 - 23rd June 1928) Case number C84. That an allowance of 8/6d per week be made for Lily Johnston if necessary. Best regards - Brian
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Albert was married in Southampton in 1907 to Kate Young ( b. 1881 in Southampton). There is evidence to suggest that they separated very shortly afterwards and that Kate went on to have three children with an Edward Brennock before 1911. The couple married in 1914 ( Kate using her married name of Copperthwaite). She died in 1965. Albert subsequently started a relationship with Maud Johnson.
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