Mr Frederick Joseph Goodwin was born in Bermondsey, Surrey, England on 1 February 1870.

He was the second son of Charles Goodwin (1842-1892) and Mary Ann Tyler (b. 1840). His father, a printer and later a school caretaker, hailed from Newington, Middlesex and his mother was born in Good Easter, Essex and they were married in 1867. Frederick's known siblings were: Thomas Charles (b. 1868), Florence Emmeline Mary (b. 1872), Sidney Tyler (b. 1873), Lydia Amy (b. 1875) and Frank Osborne (b. 1877).

He appears on the 1871 census living at Swan Street, St Mary's, Bermondsey but the family appear on the 1881 census living at 11 Rodney Street, Newington, Southwark and on the 1891 census at 3 Draco Street, Newington. By this time Fred was described, like his father, as a printer and compositor.

Fred was married on Christmas Day 1894 to Augusta Tyler (b. 1868), a Middlesex native and former domestic servant. Together they would have six children: Lillian Augusta (b. 1896), Charles Edward (b. 1897), William Frederick (b. 1898), Jessie Allis Mary (b. 1900), Harold Victor (b. 1901) and Sidney Leslie (b. 1910).

The family are shown on the 1901 census living at 4 Exeter Road, Edmonton, Middlesex where they would remain for several years. The family latter resettled in Melksham, Wiltshire sometime before 1910 and they appeared there on the 1911 census living at Watson's Court on High Street, Melksham. Fred was no longer a printer at this point and was described as a general labourer in a foundry. By 1912 it seems they were back living, at least temporarily in London at 10 Vernon Street, Fulham.

Several of Fred's siblings had emigrated to the USA and settled in Niagara, New York. His elder brother Thomas had emigrated to the USA in the late 1880s or early 1890s, initially to Indiana. By 1912 he had been living in Niagara Falls, New York for several years with his wife Charlotte and two daughters, Florence (b. 1898) and Helen (b. 1900). His sister Florence (Mrs William Rottger) also lived in Niagara with her German husband and four children: Gladys (b. 1905), Kenneth (b. 1907) and twins Duane and Carl (b. 1910). Another sibling, Lydia (Mrs Joseph Grey), who had recently been widowed lived in Niagara with her son Gilbert Goodwin (1901-1979).

Thomas Goodwin notified Fred of an opportunity for work at the big power station at Niagara and plans were made for Fred and his family to settle there also. Funds were borrowed from his sister Florence Rottger and her husband William, and his sister Lydia also sent monetary help.

The family had originally planned to cross on another steamer but the coal strike changed their plans and they were transferred to the Titanic. They boarded Titanic in Southampton on 10 April 1912 as third class passengers (ticket number 2144 which cost £46, 18s).

Like most large families travelling in third class, especially those with teenage boys, the entire family was lost in the sinking. Only the body of baby Sidney was recovered (remaining unidentified for many years).

Fred's family were assisted financially following his loss; his widowed mother, who lived in Walworth London with her two sons Frank and Sidney, depended on him for their upkeep, especially considering that Sidney was disabled. His siblings who had assisted him to travel to the USA were reimbursed $150.

There is a memorial to the family in the Church at Melksham, Wiltshire.

His mother passed away in 1917 aged 77. His brother Frank, who worked as a carpenter, was married to Emily Margaret Lindholm (b. 1875), and had a son named Frank (b. 1910). He died in Walworth, Surrey on 1 March  1941.

His brother Sidney, recorded as a "cripple" and an "imbecile" on the 1911 census, was never married and died in Kent in 1945.

His sister Florence later lived in Buffalo, New York where she lived for several years and made several trips back to her native England. Her last years were spent living in Los Angeles and she died there on 11 October 1954 aged 82.

His brother Thomas was still living in Niagara by the time of the 1920s but what became of him thereafter is not clear. Likewise, the fate of his sister Lydia is uncertain.