Charles Casswill ¹ was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 14 December 1877. He was the son of Thomas Casswill (1840-1881), a ship's steward, and Sarah Jane Hayter (1841-?). His father hailed from Somerset and his mother from Cranborne, Dorset and they had married in Southampton in 1865, living at 3 Guillaume Terrace in that city.

Charles had three known siblings: Ada (b. 1866), Henry George (b. 1868) and Arthur Albert (b. 1869).

Charles' father Thomas died aged 41 in 1881. For reasons uncertain Charles, his mother and siblings Ada and Henry are not listed on the 1881 census. His bother Arthur is listed, however, at the home of their next door neighbours Mr and Mrs William Gilbert at 5 Guillaume Terrace.

His mother was remarried in 1886 to John William Bailey (b. 1846 in Wimborne, Dorset), a bank clerk, and the family would be listed on the 1891 census living at "Kildare," St Mary, Southampton, with Charles still attending school. Charles later went to sea, becoming a steward like his brother Arthur and their father before them. They appear still living with their mother and stepfather at 42 Denzil Avenue, Southampton on the 1901 census.

Charles was married in Southampton in late 1903 to Hilda Maud Terry (b. 1876 in Southampton) but the couple would have no children. They are listed together on the 1911 census at 42 Oxford Avenue, Southampton and Charles was described as an "automatic machine traveller."

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Charles gave his address as 42 Oxford Avenue, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Trent. As a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Casswill died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in an unidentified newspaper:

CASSWILL--Taken, with other brave ones, April 15th, s.s. Titanic, Charles, aged 34, the dearly loved husband of Hilda Casswill, of 42, Oxford Avenue, Southampton.

Hilda Casswill never remarried and continued to live in Southampton. She later lived at 81 Melbourne Street and died there on 31 July 1959.