Encyclopedia Titanica

James Flynn

Third Class Passenger

James Flynn
James Flynn

James Flynn was born in Cuilkillew, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland on 9 September 1883 and he was baptised four days later on 13 September.1

He was the son of James Flynn (b. 1841), a farmer, and Anne Canavan (b. 1847). One of eight children born to his parents, seven surviving infancy, his siblings were: Mary (b. 1869), Michael (b. 1879), Patrick (b. 1881), Anthony (b. 1885), Bridget (b. 1887), Thomas (b. 1889) and Annie (b. 1896). The family were Roman Catholic and spoke both Irish and English.

The 1901 and 1911 censuses shows James and his family living in Cuilkillew and he was described on both as an unmarried farmer's son. His younger brother Anthony had emigrated to the USA previously, settling in Manhattan, and James decided to join him there.

James boarded the Titanic at Queenstown on 11 April 1912 as a third class passenger (ticket number 364851 which cost £7, 15s). He travelled with a large group from his area, now referred to as the Addergoole Fourteen, led by Catherine McGowan. Also travelling with him were his relatives Mary and Patrick Canavan, and Annie Kate Kelly. His ultimate destination was to the home of his brother Anthony where Mary Canavan was also headed.

James Flynn died in the sinking and her body, if recovered, was never identified.

His brother Anthony in New York continued to live there, later in Staten Island. He died in 1966.

Notes

  1. Many sources give his actual birthdate as 13 September when this was, in fact, his baptism date.

References and Sources

Titanic Communtator (1997) - Don Lynch's Passenger Manifest
Cork Constitution (Eire)
US Senate Passenger List
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279]).
Noel Ray (1999) List of Passengers who Boarded RMS Titanic at Queenstown, April 11, 1912. The Irish Titanic Historical Society
 

Research Articles

John Kelly Titanica! (2011) Anna Katherine Kelly 1892 - 1969

Newspaper Articles

Connaught Telegraph (20 April 1912) Wreck Of The Titanic (lahardane Passengers)

Miscellaneous

Three members ring the Timoney Bell in daylight
by a great-nephew of Anna Katherine Kelly
Addergoole Titanic Society (2011) New Titanic Themed Church Stained Glass Window
New window for Church in Lahardane; Ireland's Titanic Village
Search archive online

Comment and discuss

  1. Rae Kenny-Rife

    Rae Kenny-Rife

    Trying to solve family rumour if we had a relative on the Titanic. Doing this for my son's fourth grade science project. James Flynn is very possibly a relative. His parents are listed as James Flynn and Anne Canavan. If someone could find out for me when the father James Flynn was born and what county in Ireland, could have my puzzle solved. Thanks.
  2. Senan Molony

    1901 Census - Parents James Flynn 60, farmer; Anne Flynn 54, his wife. Can read and write. Children Mary 32, Michael 21, James 18, Anthony 16, Thomas 13, Bridget 14, Anne 6. All can read and write. James Flynn Snr is shown as aged 70 on the 1911 census, which indicates a rare level of consistency for these Form A returns - usually the ages are hopping around unreliably from census to census. This would indicate that James Flynn Snr was born around the latter half of 1840 or the first quarter of 1841, since censuses were taken in April - and still are. There will be one in Ireland on April 23 next. James Flynn Snr lived all his life at Cuilkillew, Addergoole, Co Mayo, where he was very likely also born. His birth predates compulsory civil records, so you would have to look for a Catholic church record of baptism to e absolutely sure (his religion is given as RC). Thus, to answer your question, it is highly doubtful that James Snr was born anywhere other than Co.... Read full post
  3. Rae Kenny-Rife

    Rae Kenny-Rife

    Senan...thanks so much for your info. Now we know that this is definitely not our James Flynn. Our Flynn's were born in Roscommon and emmigrated to Newcastle sometime between 1844 and 1861. Patrick Flynn and Catherine Flynn, listed as head of household. The family rumour is that we had a 19 yr old cousin of my grandfather's (James Kenny)on board. He may have worked on the ship in Belfast, he was a good swimmer and was pulled out of the water. After the sinking, his hair turned completely white. My grandfather would have been 5 at the time of the sinking. At what age he met this cousin we don't know and could possibly be the reason for the sketchy details. My grandfather had 7 children and never talked about his family, but one of my aunt's swear's that her father told her this before his death. She's a little full of the fancifullness of possibly having a relative on the Titanic and isn't very educated, I find her details change, the part that does seem to be consistent... Read full post
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr James Flynn
Age: 28 years 7 months and 6 days (Male)
Nationality: Irish
Occupation: General Labourer
Embarked: Queenstown on Thursday 11th April 1912
Ticket No. 364851, £7 15s
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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