Encyclopedia Titanica

Charles William Warren

Charles William Warren
Charles William Warren

Mr Charles William Warren was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England over the summer months of 1881.

He was the son of Henry John Warren (1854-1916), a bricklayer, and Emily Jane Sansbury (1852-1929), both natives of Portsmouth who had married in 1874 and he was one of four surviving children from a total of eight. His known siblings were: Henry James (b. 1874), Alfred George (b. 1876), Samuel Sidney (b. 1879), Nellie Beatrice (b. 1888), Harold Edgar (b. 1894), Sidney Rupert (b. 1897) and May Gladys (b. 1900).

In the months prior to Charles' birth his family were listed on the 1881 census living at 70 Grigg Street, Portsea and would be moved to 15 Staunton Street in the same locale by the time of the 1891 census. The 1901 census shows the family living at 15 Chapel Street, Portsmouth and the record indicates that Charles was an unmarried seaman. How long his career at sea lasted is unknown and he later followed in his father's footsteps to become a bricklayer.

He was married in Portsmouth in late 1902 to Sophia Dine (b. 1883), a native of Brighton, Sussex. The couple would have five children: Charles Henry (1903-1983), Delcie Alice (later Mrs Edward Abery, 1905-1983), Frederick John (1907-1988), Ivy Louisa (later married Ernest Abery - brother of Edward, 1910-2003) and Olive May (later Mrs Arthur Knipe, 1912-1976).

The family are listed on the 1911 census living at 31 Hyde Street, Southsea, Portsmouth and Charles was still described as a bricklayer.

Charles boarded the Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 travelling third class (ticket number 49867 which had cost £7, 11s). Two brothers already lived in the USA, George and Samuel, the latter having crossed the previous July aboard the Oceanic. They settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it was Charles' intention to join them there and set up as a tobacconist. 

Charles Warren died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. He left behind a three-month-old daughter, Olive (who had been born on 14 January 1912), besides his other children and his widow.

The following death notice appeared in the Portsmouth Evening News on 8 May 1912:

WARREN--On the 15th April, Charles William Warren, the dearly-beloved husband of Sophie Warren, 3rd class passenger, who heroically lost his life in the ill-fated Titanic aged 30. A most devoted husband and father. Gone, but not forgotten.

His wife placed the following memorial in the same paper on 15 April 1913:

WARREN--In loving memory of Charles William Warren, who lost his life on SS Titanic on April 15th, 1912, aged 30. Sadly missed by his wife and children.

His parents placed another memorial in the Portsmouth Evening News on 16 April 1915:

WARREN--In loving memory of our dear son, Charlie, who lost his life through the foundering of the Titanic, April 15th, 1912. One of the best--Mother, father, sisters and brothers.

Charles' father Henry remained a bricklayer up until his death; on 13 March 1916, he was pulling a builder's truck through Alexandra Road when a motorcar collided with it. Mr Warren was severely bruised and shaken and rushed to hospital. After a two week spell in hospital he returned home but died shortly after, his death recorded as accidental due to shock and secondary pneumonia and acute kidney disease. His widow, Charles mother Emily passed away in 1929.

Charles' widow Sophia was remarried in 1915 to Robert Horsley (1861-1949) and the couple had several more children. Sophia died in Portsmouth in 1967. Ivy, Charles' last surviving child, died in Portsmouth in 2003.

References and Sources

Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Michael A. Findlay (1998) Revised Passenger List in Judith Geller Titanic: Women and Children First. Haynes. ISBN 1 85260 594 4
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)
Names and Descriptions of British Passengers Embarked at the Port of Southampton, 10 April 1912 (PRO London, BT 27/780B)
Portsmouth Evening News, 15 March 1916, Motor-car mishap
Portsmouth Evening News, 10 July 1916, Portsmouth Inquests
Photograph courtesy of Karen Abery, great-granddaughter of Charles Warren
Search archive online

Comment and discuss

  1. Daron Newman

    Charles William Warren was my wife's Great Grand Father. He lived at 71 St. Paul's Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire (not Dorset). Mrs Warren and children were featured in a photograph in the Daily Sketch holding a telegram and showing it to a postman. The postman was actually Mrs Warren's brother and the photograph was mocked up for the purpose of selling more copy. The photo is featured on page 132 in the book "The Titanic Disaster" by Dave Bryceson (ISBN 1 85260 579 0)
  2. Frank Cotton

    Charles Warren was my Great Grandfather. His daughter Ivy was my Grandmother. She was 2 when he died. Charles was emigrating to America to start a new life for the family. His plan was to get settled and then call for his family once he was.
  3. Pjwarren94

    The names of Charles' siblings is partially incorrect. The children of Henry John Warren and Emily Jane Warren were: Henry James 1874-1915; George Alfred 1876-1919; Sidney Samuel 1879-1948; Charles William 1881-1912 Titanic; Edward Benjamin 1883-1943; Emily Georgina 1885-1959; Alice Louisa 1887-1946; Richard Frederick 1890-1907; Amy Lucy 1892-1942; and John Alexander 1896-1914. Charles was on his way to Pittsburgh to join his brothers George and Sidney. I am the grand-daughter of Sidney.
  4. Daron Newman

    Charles date of birth: 29 May 1881.
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr Charles William Warren
Age: 31 years (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Sophia Dine
Last Residence: in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Occupation: Bricklayer
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 49867, £7 11s
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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