Encyclopedia Titanica

Thomas Henry Blake

Mr Thomas Henry Blake was born in St Tessell, Cornwall, England over the summer months of 1875.

He was the son of Guy Blake (1839-1912), a gardener, and Harriet Henwood (1839-1904). Both his parents were Cornish and had married in Tywardreath on 20 October 1866. 

He had three known siblings: Charles Guy (b. 1867), Frederick (b. 1869) and Beatrice Ann (b. 1873).

Thomas first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were residing at Clutton in High Littleton, Somerset. The 1891 census shows Thomas, listed as an assistant to his gardener father, then living at an address in Clifton, Bristol. He went to sea in the following years and appears on the 1901 census as a boarder at 19 Church Street, Woolwich, London and he was described as an unmarried ship's fireman.

Thomas was married in Southampton in mid-1904 to Alice Finch Smith (b. 8 March 1876 in Reading, Berkshire) and the couple had three children: Gladys Marjorie Phyllis (b. 2 August 1905), Frank Reginald (b. 3 January 1908) and David Henry (b. 26 April 1911). The family appears on the 1911 census living at 35 Peel Street, St Mary, Southampton and Thomas was described as a ship's fireman for the White Star Line.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 Blake gave his address as 35 Peel Street, Northam, Southampton. He was transferred from the Oceanic and as a fireman he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6.

Thomas Blake died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, has never been identified. He is mentioned on the St. Augustine's Church Memorial, Northam, Southampton. His death came only weeks after the death of his father, Guy, earlier in the year.

Thomas' widow Alice never remarried and remained living in Southampton for many years before she resettled in Wallisdown, Dorset, later living at 84 Bryant Road where she died on 19 February 1950. 

Both his daughter Gladys and son Frank never married and both remained in Southampton. Gladys died in 1992 and Frank, who later became a weaver and pattern maker, died in 1996. 

Thomas' youngest son David later worked as an ordnance surveyor and was married and raised a family. He died in Surrey in 1995.

References and Sources

British Census 1881-1911
United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List
Donald Hyslop, Alastair Forsyth and Sheila Jemima (1997) Titanic Voices: Memories from the Fateful Voyage, Sutton Publishing, Southampton City Council. ISBN 0 7509 1436 X

Documents and Certificates

Search archive online

Comment and discuss

  1. Ann Laver

    Ann Laver

    Thomas Blake was born in St Austell and the written 1881 census given does not match the other 1881 census.See ref to 1901 census. please amend the write-up
Open Thread Leave a Reply Watch Thread

Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Thomas Henry Blake
Age: 36 years (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Alice Finch Smith
Last Residence: at 35 Peel Street, Northam Southampton, Hampshire, England
Occupation: Fireman
Last Ship: Oceanic
Embarked: Southampton on Saturday 6th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

Page Options

Watch this page

Improve this Biography

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