Oldham Local Studies and Archives has uncovered a fascinating connection with the sinking of the Titanic.

Whilst looking through old copies of the Oldham Chronicle a member of staff chanced upon the following report of a telegram sent from New York:

Failsworth Woman Saved: Elizabeth Ann Wilkinson, wife of Mr Samuel Wilkinson of 47 Oldham Road Failsworth, was a second cabin passenger on the Titanic. She has telegraphed from New York: ‘Am safe. – Lizzie’

Staff then began to uncover the story of Elizabeth Wilkinson which proved far more fascinating than could have been expected.

Elizabeth Wilkinson was born in 1881 at Newton Heath. Her father, William Wilkinson, was a paper dealer. On May 20, 1907, she married Samuel Wilkinson, a 24 year-old butcher from Denton, at St Augustine’s, Pendlebury. In 1911 they were living at 47 Oldham Road, Failsworth.

So how did Elizabeth Wilkinson come to be on the Titanic?

Records show that she embarked on the Titanic at Southampton with ticket number 2926 second class, at a cost of £26. What is intriguing is that she was travelling under the name ‘Lizzie Faunthorpe’ with a gentleman called Harry Bartram Faunthorpe.

Harry Bartram Faunthorpe was born in October 1880, the son of a farmer, at a place called Scotter, near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. In 1911 he was living in Grimsby as a furniture salesman. Before sailing on the Titanic he appears to have been living at 16 Charles Street, Liverpool. We can only assume that as a travelling salesman he must have met Elizabeth Wilkinson on some occasion leading to their fateful decision to cross the Atlantic.

The couple left Southampton on the Titanic on April 10, 1912, but only Elizabeth Wilkinson survived the sinking of the ship. She was fortunate to be rescued from lifeboat Boat No16 by the Carpathia and arrived in New York on April 18.

After arriving in New York she went to her cousin John Devine at 669 Brooklyn Street, Philadelphia.

Harry Bartram Faunthorpe’s body was later recovered by the MacKay Bennett. The body was dressed in a green waistcoat; grey coat and vest; blue pants; white waist coat with stripe; purple and green flannel shirt; brown drawers; black boots. On the body were found six gold and diamond rings; sovereign case; £3 10s; George sovereign; spectacles; gold watch chain and seal’ silver watch; silver chain; two knives; papers; 12s 6d in silver; 1s 2d in copper. estimated to be worth £1,000 dollars.

The body was forwarded to ‘Mrs Faunthorpe’, care of William Springfield, of Philadelphia and buried on the May 11, 1912 in Philadelphia. His occupation was given as ‘commission salesman’.

In August 1912 ‘Elizabeth Wilkinson’ sued the White Star Company for $10,000 dollars in the Federal Court, for the loss of her ‘husband’.

So far this is all that staff have been able to uncover about Elizabeth Wilkinson and Harry Bartram Faunthorpe.

If any readers are able to provide any further information Oldham Local Studies and Archives would be please to hear from you.

Contact Oldham Local Studies and Archives, 84 Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DN; tel: 0161 770 4654 or e-mail: archives@oldham.gov.uk