Encyclopedia Titanica

Tyrell William Cavendish

Tyrell William Cavendish
Tyrell William Cavendish

Tyell Cavendish

Mr Tyrell William Cavendish was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England on 12 October 1875.

He was the only son of Charles Tyrell Cavendish 1 (1851-1903) and Elizabeth Anne Dickinson (1848-1933). His father was a native of Middlesex whilst his mother hailed from Durham and they were married in 1873. His father was a JP (justice of the peace) and the family were well-connected and with Royal ties.

He first appears on the 1881 census living at Crakemarsh Hall in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England and he was educated at the prestigious Harrow school in London.

He was married in New York on 26 December 1906 to Julia Florence Siegel, a Chicagoan from a well-connected family. The couple returned to Britain, arriving in England on 14 January 1907 aboard Teutonic and they made their home in Uttoxeter and had two sons: Henry Siegel (b. 29 August 1908) and Geoffrey Manners (b. 3 October 1910). The family appeared on the 1911 census living at Little Onn Hall, Church Eaton, Staffordshire.

Mr Cavendish boarded the Titanic at Southampton with his wife Julia Florence Cavendish and her maid Ellen Mary Barber. They travelled as first class passengers (ticket number 19877, £78 17s) and occupied cabin C-46. They were travelling to visit Julia's father at his country home, Orienta Point, in Mamaroneck, New York.

Mrs Cavendish and Miss Barber were rescued in lifeboat 6 but Mr Cavendish died, his body was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#172).

NO. 172. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 35, LIGHT - HAIR.

CLOTHING - Black striped flannel suit.

EFFECTS - Gold watch; 2 ck; boots; £7; 1 pair of gold cuff links and stud.

NAME - TYRELL W. CAVENDISH.

The body was forwarded to Mrs Cavandish on 3 May 1912, under the care of Simpson, Crawford & Co, and he was cremated the following day following a funeral service at the Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck, New York. His estate, valued at £95,654 4s, 9d, was administered to The Public Trustee on 18 June 1912.

His wife returned to England and never remarried.

His son Henry Siegel was later educated at Eton and Cambridge and served in the RAF during WWII. He was married in 1940 to Diana Linda Ryle (b. 1914) and they had a son, William Henry Tyrell (b. 1940). He died in 1995 in Bodmin, Cornwall.

His son Geoffrey later worked as a chartered engineer and, for a time, was an Air Ministry Examiner. He was married in 1937 to Caecilia Frances Patricia Pharazyn (d. 1968) and had two daughters, Caroline Anne (b. 1938) and Caecilia Bridget (b. 1941). His second marriage was in 1967 to Pamela Marjorie Osborn Newman (1917-2004). William died in Derbyshire in 2007 aged 96.

Notes

(1) His father died on 18 August 1903 in Cheade Royal Lunatic Asylum in Cheshire, leaving an estate of only £10. His mother continued to live in Crakemarsh Hall and died on 28 August 1933. Her estate at the time was worth £10841, 18s, 1d.

References and Sources

Record of Bodies and Effects: Passengers and Crew, S.S. Titanic (Public Archives of Nova Scotia)
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])

Newspaper Articles

Town and Country (26 December 1906) An Englishman Of Much Interest
New York Times (16 April 1912) Mr. And Mrs. T. W. Cavendish
Washington Herald (20 April 1912) Mrs. Tyrell W. Cavendish
Washington Herald (21 April 1912) Mrs. T. W. Cavendish
New York Times (23 April 1912) Cavendish Children Escape
New York Times (4 May 1912) Death Notice Of Tyrell Cavendish
New York Times (4 May 1912) Funeral Of T. W. Cavendish
Newark Evening News (4 May 1912) Titanic Victim Cremated

Images

Golders Green Crematorium

Miscellaneous

Search archive online

Comment and discuss

  1. Brian Ahern

    Does anyone out there have any info on Tyrell and Julia Cavendish, aside from what is on their ET bios? I mean as far as their personalities, the circumstances surrounding their marriage, and Julia's life post-Titanic? I've always been curious about what brought together this high-born Englishman and (Jewish?) American. Over the years I've only been able to pick up a few tidbits here and there on them, and have had to assume what I can. A few years ago, I located a brief blurb in the London Times, printed not long after the Titanic's sinking, mentioning Tyrell's will being registered in probate. If I remember correctly, he left behind something in the neighborhood of 70 or 80,000 pounds. This was quite a fortune in 1912 and shows that Tyrell wasn't just another impovershed nobleman who crossed the ocean to find himself a dollar princess. In fact, I once came across another newspaper article from 1912 where Julia's father, Henry Siegel, described his daughter's marriage as one of... Read full post
    : Reply

  2. Randy Bryan Bigham

    Brian, I have a letter of Lucy Duff Gordon's to her sister, written shortly after the disaster, in which she mentions Julia Cavendish standing in the crowd in the boat deck foyer (without her husband, she notes) just before the call came to evacuate. She also mentions the Cavendishes in her autobiography. Randy
    : Reply

  3. Brian Ahern

    Thanks Randy - it doesn't sound like she goes into any detail about them, then? And I got the html for Tyrell's family tree wrong - it's . But, again, this is just alot of names and dates and not much else... Regards, Brian
    : Reply

  4. Randy Bryan Bigham

    Brian, RE: The Cavendishes No, she really doesn't go into any detail. In the letter it's but a passing reference. In her book she says more - Discretions and Indiscretions by Lady Duff Gordon (U.S. ed.), p. 180: "...One of the women I talked to was Mrs. Turrell (sic) Cavendish, the daughter of Mr. Henry Siegel. She was heartbroken over the loss of her husband, who had put her in one of the first boats to leave the wreck and had then gone back to save other women and children. The boat in which she had escaped had carried twenty-four women and only two sailors to row them. One of these men was so overcome by the cold that he collapsed in the bottom of the boat, and the women had taken their turn at the oars, and somehow or other managed to get the boat alongside the Carpathia. Several of them had been almost frozen during the night, for they were only half dressed and without shoes or stockings..." I can't recall which boat Julia Cavendish was in... Read full post
    : Reply

  5. Brian Ahern

    Thanks for taking the trouble to include that, Randy. According to everything I've ever seen, Mrs Cavendish was in lifeboat six. The crewmember must have been the stoker transferred from lifeboat sixteen. I actually can't think who Marian Kenyon was referring to, since sources have always put her in lifeboat eight. Lucy Duff Gordon's reference is typical of info on the Cavendish's - tantalizing but fleeting. Kristen Iversen (author of "Molly Brown: Unravelling the Myth") is about the only person to go into any depth on Julia's actions and words throughout the disaster. But as she lists Julia as an Englishwoman in her mid-thirties, as opposed to American and 25, I have to wonder how much she can be trusted on this particular issue (in general, Iversen seems a very adept researcher). What I'm really interested in, though, is the lives of the Cavendish's outside of the disaster. Two young people from different worlds ending up together. And then the beautiful young widow... Read full post
    : Reply

  6. Geoff Whitfield

    Brian,I have a copy of the Cavendish will - it's extremely long!Whilst the amount you stated was roughly correct - this amounted only to the sum held in the United Kingdom. There was a further huge amount of American property and securities to be added to that. At Florence's death, the amount had dwindled greatly - possibly much was lost during the collapse of the NY Stock Exchange. One of the Cavendish sons is still alive, I received a letter from him earlier this year. Geoff
    : Reply

  7. Brian Ahern

    Thanks, Geoff. I assume the American money was Julia's (or did she go by Florence?). I hate to be too prodding but did the son ever speak of his parents in any way you'd feel at liberty to discuss? -Brian
    : Reply

  8. Geoff Whitfield

    Brian, I'll find the letter and contact you. Geoff
    : Reply

  9. Ben Holme

    Hi Brian, Regarding their shipboard acquaintances. Although I've drawn a blank on the source that may confirm this, it would appear that Tyrell and Julia were acquainted with the Countess of Rothes. Her table steward, Robert Burr, mentioned in his letters home that she was part of a table of 6. It is my belief that the Cavendish comprised two of the others. Tyrell's friend and fellow MP, Norman P. Craig, had orginally booked to sail with them, but cancelled at the last minute for no apparent reason. I believe Julia Cavendish was one of two women who purchased items of clothing on the Carpathia for 2nd Officer Lightoller who came aboard with nothing but the drenched clothes he was saved in. I will try an upload a picture of their final resting place at Golders Green cemetary, London. Best Regards, Ben
    : Reply

  10. Brian Ahern

    Thanks a lot, Geoff and Ben. I hadn't realized Tyrell was an MP. Every bit of info is much appreciated. Regards, Brian
    : Reply

  11. Iain Stuart Yardley

    Little Onn Hall is 1 1/2 miles south of Church Eaton, itself 6 miles south-west by west of Stafford, just north of Gnosall station. The Cavendish's residence, as you know, was Little Onn Hall. In 1912 the Hall was owned by Mrs Arthur Talbot of Edgmond Rectory and occupied by Tyrell William Cavendish Esq. In 1870, Little Onn Hall is described as a modern stone mansion built in the Tudor style, with extensive and picturesque grounds. It was the seat of the Misses Ashton. (In 1851, Little Onn hamlet itself is 1 1/2 miles south of Church Eaton and is 870 acres in size, the sole property of Chas Ashton Esq.) In 1932, Mrs Arthur Talbot still owned the Hall, occupied then by Mrs Heywood. Nothing really to do with the Cavendish's. Would be interesting to find out why they made Stafford their home though. Cheers, Boz
    : Reply

  12. ian Hough

    Ben Did you ever get around to uploading a picture of the Cavendish's final resting place at Golders Green - I am going down to London next weekend and I would love to know where about in the Cemetery they are - if you could upload a picture or even give me directions it would save me a lot of hunting when I get there many thanks Houghie
    : Reply

  13. Daniel Klistorner

    Brian, I think you might be referring to the "New York American" 17 Ap. 1912 account by her father, which (as far as I recall) does say that they were very close, mentions the children etc. A later issue of the same newspaper has a small account by Mrs. Cavendish herself. I have never seen it; I recall someone told me about it (might have been George Behe). Regards, Daniel.
    : Reply

  14. Ben Holme

    Hi Ian, I tried to upload the image on ET but it exceeded the maximum size. However, I would be glad to send it via email along with some more detailed directions. I know there are two cemetaries on Hoop Lane in Golders Green. On one side of the road is the Jewish cemetary (Golders Green is a predominantly Jewish community) where I learned subsequently that fellow passenger Adolphe Saalfeld is buried. Directly opposite is the actual cremetorium. Best, Ben
    : Reply

  15. Ben Holme

    Hi Daniel--A small account by Julia Cavendish appeared in the 19th April edition of the New York World. It is sketchy in detail and I have doubts about its accuracy, specifically her statement; My husband told me to get into a boat with the little girl. The couple were not travelling with children and her maid, Ellen Barber, was a year older than Mrs. C and hardly a "little girl". Apparently, Julia was the original source for the "I'm Ismay, I'm Ismay" story - the chairman's alleged ratings on the Carpathia.
    : Reply

Showing 15 posts of 87 total. View all.

Open Thread Leave a Reply Watch Thread

Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr Tyrell William Cavendish
Age: 36 years 6 months and 3 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Julia Florence Siegel
Last Residence: at Little Onn Hall Church Eaton, Staffordshire, England
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 19877, £78 17s
Cabin No. C46
Destination: Orienta Point Mamaroneck, New York, United States
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 172)

Linked Biographies

Page Options

 PDF    Print

Watch this page

 Watch this page

Improve this Biography

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