Encyclopedia Titanica

Charles Frederick Shillabeer

Mr Charles Frederick Shillabeer was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 2 December 1892. 

He was the son of John Shillabeer (1856-1928), a mariner, and Emily Browning (1860-1920), both natives of Southampton who had married in 1879.
One of seven children, Charles' siblings were: Henry George (1881-1949), John (1884-1948), William James Richard (1888-1933), Florence Mabel (1890-1939, later Mrs Arthur Spencer), George (1896-1948) and Richard "Reggie" Pitts (1901-1968). 

By the time of the 1911 census Charles is still at home and described as a bottler in a brewery, the family address at the time being 21 Nelson Road, Southampton.

By 1912 Charles had already begun a career at sea and when he signed on to the Titanic he gave his address as 21 Nelson Road, Southampton and his previous ship as the Oceanic. As a trimmer he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6, 10s

Charles Shillabeer died in the disaster and his body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and later buried on 8 May 1912 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Grave

NO. 195. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 22. DARK - HAIR.

CLOTHING - Dungaree pants; serge jacket and vest; grey flannel shirt.

EFFECTS - B. S. F. Union book 995; papers.

NO MARKS. TRIMMER.

NAME - CHARLES SHILLABEER,

21 Nelson Road, Southampton.

The following death notice appeared in the Hampshire Independent on 11 May 1912:

SHILLABEER--Charles, dearly beloved 4th son of John & Emily Shillabeer of 21 Nelson Road, Freemantle, Deeply mourned by his sorrowing father, mother, brothers & sister.

 ​​​​​Shillabeer Memorial Shillabeer Memorial
(Photos Courtesy of Trevor Baxter)

He is also remembered on the family headstone in Hollybrook cemetery Southampton section L5, plot 225 the headstone is in a bad state of repair the top half has been broken off. 

References and Sources

United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List
White Star Line (1912.) Record of Bodies and Effects (Passengers and Crew S.S. "Titanic") Recovered by Cable Steamer "MacKay Bennett" Including Bodies Buried at Sea and Bodies Delivered at Morgue in Halifax, N.S. Details compiled from records of the "Mackay-Bennett". Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., Manuscript Group 100, Vol. 229, No. 3d, Accession 1976-191
Grave Photo: © Bob Knuckle, Canada
Search archive online

Comment and discuss

  1. Su walls

    Proud to display a plaque on the front of our house honouring this young man who lived here so long ago
  2. Heather gouveia

    He is my relative from my mothers side, researching my family tree thank you for the placque
Open Thread Leave a Reply Watch Thread

Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Charles Frederick Shillabeer
Age: 19 years 4 months and 13 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Trimmer
Last Ship: Oceanic
Embarked: Southampton
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 195)
Buried: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday 8th May 1912

Page Options

Watch this page

Improve this Biography

If you have any corrections or something to add please  get in touch