Charles Proctor

Mr Charles Proctor was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England in on 7 October 1866.

He was the son of Irish parents William Proctor (b. 1838), a ship's baker, and Anna McKay (or McKey, b. 1839). His father was native to Dublin and his mother to Newry, Co Down and they had married in Aberdeen, Scotland on 25 November 1859. 

Charles had five known siblings: Anne (b. 1862), Mary Catherine (b. 1864), William (b. 1869), Sarah Elizabeth (b. 1871) and Thomas John (b. 1874).

He first appears on the 1871 census living at 24 Rockingham Street, Kirkdale, Lancashire. What became of his parents is not certain and they do not appear on further census records. Charles and his siblings would be listed as visitors at 5 Rockingham Street by the time of the 1881 census and Charles, aged 14, had already left school and was working as a shop boy. By the time of the 1891 census Charles had already began his seafaring career and was described as a ship's cook and was living with his siblings at 56 Blair Street, Bootle.

He first appears on crew manifests in the capacity of assistant cook as early as October 1887 when aboard the Aurania; his pay at the time was £2, 15s. In 1891 he was working aboard the Augustine; by 1897 he was working board the Majestic, then as 2nd cook, and by the start of the 1900s was working aboard the Cymric, having risen through the ranks to become head chef; his pay at that time was £8. Sometime after 1901 he began serving as chef aboard the Cedric; his home address at the time was 146 Fountains Road, Kirkdale, Lancashire and his monthly wage as £10.

Charles was married in Liverpool in 1899 to Beatrice Sarah Bagnall (b. 10 April 1873 in Aston, Birmingham). The couple would have four children, three daughters and one son. Gladys Beatrice (b. 9 June 1900), John Charles (1905-1905), Phyllis (b. 28 August 1906) and Hylda (b. 17 November 1909).
Charles was absent from the 1901 census but his wife Beatrice and first child were listed at 146 Fountains Road, Kirkdale, Lancashire, the home of his parents-in-law, George and Sarah Bagnall. Perhaps at sea by the time of the 1911 census, Charles was again absent but his family were recorded as living at 11 Wyresdale Road, Walton, Liverpool. They would apparently move to Southampton shortly after, settling in 29 South View Road, Shirley. His younger brother William was also a head chef in the merchant marine.

Proctor was on board the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. When he signed-on again for the maiden voyage on 4 April 1912 he gave his address as 29 South View Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as chef he received monthly wages of £20 and was, after Captain Smith, the highest paid crew member aboard the ship. The ship sailed on 10 April, his wife's birthday.

Charles Proctor died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Proctor's estate, worth £219, was administered to his widow on 1 August 1912. 

Beatrice Sarah Proctor never remarried and elected to remain in Hampshire where she remained for the rest of her life. She lived for many years at The Mill House in Horsebridge, Romsey and died on 26 August 1951.

His daughter Gladys was never married and later worked as a school teacher. She died in Hampshire in 1997.

His daughter Phyllis was first married in 1933 to Frank Evans (b. 1895), an insurance broker but later divorced and married to James W. Pickard. She died in New Forest, Hampshire in 1997.

His daughter Hylda was married in 1935 to Ronald G. Drew, with whom she had a son, John. What became of Hylda remains unclear. 

Charles Proctor is remembered on his wife's family headstone in Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool Section C/E 3, Plot 1528.