TITANIC MYSTERY - WHO WAS EDITH BOON?
This is a Titanic mystery with a South African connection, and I'm looking for the story behind this.
Edith BOON was apparently a passenger on the Titanic, probably aged 15 years, along with her grandfather (name unknown). They embarked at Southampton. It is not certain whether she was born in South Africa or England. There is a letter that she wrote on 26 April 1918, addressed to "Dear May", which seems to have been written while in Retreat, Cape Town. The 5-page letter is "a personal account of the sinking of the Titanic" and is in the National Library of South Africa in Cape Town as part of the A.A. FULLALOVE Collection. Arthur Anthony FULLALOVE (1911-1978) was a South African Railways employee and amateur researcher and writer. He collected books, documents, photographs and diaries.
Edith was adopted by her grandfather and they first lived in England and then in South Africa. When she was 14 years old, they returned to England, but shortly afterwards her grandfather decided to immigrate to America, and he bought them passage on the Titanic. A First Class ticket cost £4 350 and a Third Class ticket cost £30.
Edith's letter includes the following "“On the boat we had a glorious time; all the way round the deck was a cycle track and also beautiful gardens – really the Titanic was a moving palace... The cabins were beautifully furnished and very large. We had four bunks in our cabin, including a dressing table, washing stand and wardrobe, and leading from our cabin into the next was a beautiful bathroom.” She further describes the disaster... "Oh! Never shall I forget that scene. My grandfather told us that our lives were now almost at an end and that only prayers shall help and comfort us. He helped to get us a boat, kissing us goodbye and taking his wedding ring and slipping it onto mine. He left us with a prayer on his lips and tears in his eyes. Oh! Never, never! will I forget that moment, he turned away and we lost sight of him among the crowds that were struggling for a seat on the boats. We then saw hundreds of people struggling in the icy water on the one side of us and on the other we saw the huge iceberg floating away, and without exaggeration it seemed to be as large as Table Mountain, well I dare say it is only natural that it should seem huge for we were not too far away from it. The last I can remember is the awful cry of the drowning; then of the explosion..."
Who was Edith BOON? She is not listed as such in any of the Titanic passenger lists or survivor lists, nor on my South African listing. Did she use another name? Who were her parents, her grandfather? Why did she write a letter detailing the voyage?
There was a Edith Maud BOON born 07 March 1868, daughter of Henry M. BOON and Eleanor; baptised 05 May 1868 in the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Grahamstown.
At the Pearson Street Congregational Church in Port Elizabeth, on 23 November 1857, Henry Mays BOON (age 29, bachelor, Sergeant of the 6th Regiment of Grahamstown) married Eleanor SHONE (age 25, spinster of Grahamstown). They were married by special licence and the ceremony was at the house of the officiating minister. The witnesses were Jeremiah GOLDSWAIN and H. GOLDSWAIN.
In 1867 Henry requests an appointment as a gaoler. In 1869 he again requests this, this time in Peddie.
Henry Mays BOON born August 1825; married 23 November 1857 to Eleanor SHONE; died 03 November 1870; buried in Peddie. Eleanor was born 13 February 1833 in Clumber, daughter of Thomas SHONE and Sarah PHILLIPS, baptised 12 June 1833. She died 10 September 1921 in Peddie, age 88 years and 6 months.
Her Death Notice was signed by E.H. BOON (daughter present at death). Eleanor married her second husband John PEVERETT in Peddie (born 16 March 1822 in Cambridgeshire, England; died 30 July 1890 in Peddie). There were no children of this marriage. Eleanor's children were:
1) Eleanor Hughes BOON born 11 March 1862; baptised 15 April 1862; died 30 May 1942 in the Cape.
2) Charles Henry Murdoch BOON born 11 October 1864; baptised 01 February 1865.
3) Edith Maud BOON born 07 March 1868; baptised 05 May 1868; died 23 January 1921 in the Cape; married John Granville NICHOLSON.
4) Henrietta May BOON born 04 March 1871; baptised 26 March 1871; died 29 March 1871; buried in Peddie.
There is a Edith BOON whose birth was registered in the March 1896 quarter in Fulham District, England. Also a Edith BOON whose birth was registered in the June 1896 quarter in Basford District, England.
A George BOON died on 04 April 1901, age 35 years, at Woodstock, Cape Town.
28 May 2012 update - The above listed BOON families do not fit the latest news. I have now received a copy of Edith BOON's letter written on 26 April 1918 at Retreat. In it she writes that she knows May is very interested in the Titanic, and so tells her what she recalls, even though it is difficult for her to deal with the memories. Edith was living in Holland with her parents and little sister (she also refers to her as her twin), when her grandparents arrived for a visit from England. A week later, her sister became ill and died. Her mother was hospitalised with shock, and her grandparents stayed on to look after Edith during the day, while her father was out working. When Edith's mother was released from hospital, she found it difficult to see Edith without her sister, so she asked the grandparents to adopt her. This happened when Edith was four years old. Edith and her grandparents left for England for a short while and then to "Africa". Her mother later adopted other little children.
Edith and her grandparents stayed in Africa until she was 14 years old, after which they left for England and then Holland. In Holland, Edith was told who her parents were, as she had regarded her grandparents as her mother and father. After so many years, she decided to remain living with her grandparents. After a stay in Holland, Edith and her grandparents returned to England in 1912. On 02 April 1912, they left England aboard the Titanic for the USA, as First Class passengers.
Edith's grandfather found a life-boat for her and his wife. He took his wedding ring off and gave it to Edith, and kissed them goodbye with a prayer and tears in his eyes. Her turned into the crowd and they lost sight of him. Once they were safely on board the life-boat and rowing away from the ship, they saw him one last time on the deck, bidding them a last farewell. Edith wore the ring all her life. She ended her letter by signing off as "I remain a Titanic survivor" and asks May not to show the letter to anyone else as it is badly written.
Have I discovered who Edith was? No! The only Edith on-board who matches in age was Edith BROWN (later married to HAISMAN). However, she was in Second Class, and the letter writer specifically stated that her grandfather would not allow her to go down to the other Classes so she did not know what they looked like. Also, the two girls memories of their grandfathers on the fateful night, are very different.
Her grandparents were on her maternal side. So what was her mother's maiden name?
Edith BOON was apparently a passenger on the Titanic, probably aged 15 years, along with her grandfather (name unknown). They embarked at Southampton. It is not certain whether she was born in South Africa or England. There is a letter that she wrote on 26 April 1918, addressed to "Dear May", which seems to have been written while in Retreat, Cape Town. The 5-page letter is "a personal account of the sinking of the Titanic" and is in the National Library of South Africa in Cape Town as part of the A.A. FULLALOVE Collection. Arthur Anthony FULLALOVE (1911-1978) was a South African Railways employee and amateur researcher and writer. He collected books, documents, photographs and diaries.
Edith was adopted by her grandfather and they first lived in England and then in South Africa. When she was 14 years old, they returned to England, but shortly afterwards her grandfather decided to immigrate to America, and he bought them passage on the Titanic. A First Class ticket cost £4 350 and a Third Class ticket cost £30.
Edith's letter includes the following "“On the boat we had a glorious time; all the way round the deck was a cycle track and also beautiful gardens – really the Titanic was a moving palace... The cabins were beautifully furnished and very large. We had four bunks in our cabin, including a dressing table, washing stand and wardrobe, and leading from our cabin into the next was a beautiful bathroom.” She further describes the disaster... "Oh! Never shall I forget that scene. My grandfather told us that our lives were now almost at an end and that only prayers shall help and comfort us. He helped to get us a boat, kissing us goodbye and taking his wedding ring and slipping it onto mine. He left us with a prayer on his lips and tears in his eyes. Oh! Never, never! will I forget that moment, he turned away and we lost sight of him among the crowds that were struggling for a seat on the boats. We then saw hundreds of people struggling in the icy water on the one side of us and on the other we saw the huge iceberg floating away, and without exaggeration it seemed to be as large as Table Mountain, well I dare say it is only natural that it should seem huge for we were not too far away from it. The last I can remember is the awful cry of the drowning; then of the explosion..."
Who was Edith BOON? She is not listed as such in any of the Titanic passenger lists or survivor lists, nor on my South African listing. Did she use another name? Who were her parents, her grandfather? Why did she write a letter detailing the voyage?
There was a Edith Maud BOON born 07 March 1868, daughter of Henry M. BOON and Eleanor; baptised 05 May 1868 in the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Grahamstown.
At the Pearson Street Congregational Church in Port Elizabeth, on 23 November 1857, Henry Mays BOON (age 29, bachelor, Sergeant of the 6th Regiment of Grahamstown) married Eleanor SHONE (age 25, spinster of Grahamstown). They were married by special licence and the ceremony was at the house of the officiating minister. The witnesses were Jeremiah GOLDSWAIN and H. GOLDSWAIN.
In 1867 Henry requests an appointment as a gaoler. In 1869 he again requests this, this time in Peddie.
Henry Mays BOON born August 1825; married 23 November 1857 to Eleanor SHONE; died 03 November 1870; buried in Peddie. Eleanor was born 13 February 1833 in Clumber, daughter of Thomas SHONE and Sarah PHILLIPS, baptised 12 June 1833. She died 10 September 1921 in Peddie, age 88 years and 6 months.
Her Death Notice was signed by E.H. BOON (daughter present at death). Eleanor married her second husband John PEVERETT in Peddie (born 16 March 1822 in Cambridgeshire, England; died 30 July 1890 in Peddie). There were no children of this marriage. Eleanor's children were:
1) Eleanor Hughes BOON born 11 March 1862; baptised 15 April 1862; died 30 May 1942 in the Cape.
2) Charles Henry Murdoch BOON born 11 October 1864; baptised 01 February 1865.
3) Edith Maud BOON born 07 March 1868; baptised 05 May 1868; died 23 January 1921 in the Cape; married John Granville NICHOLSON.
4) Henrietta May BOON born 04 March 1871; baptised 26 March 1871; died 29 March 1871; buried in Peddie.
There is a Edith BOON whose birth was registered in the March 1896 quarter in Fulham District, England. Also a Edith BOON whose birth was registered in the June 1896 quarter in Basford District, England.
A George BOON died on 04 April 1901, age 35 years, at Woodstock, Cape Town.
28 May 2012 update - The above listed BOON families do not fit the latest news. I have now received a copy of Edith BOON's letter written on 26 April 1918 at Retreat. In it she writes that she knows May is very interested in the Titanic, and so tells her what she recalls, even though it is difficult for her to deal with the memories. Edith was living in Holland with her parents and little sister (she also refers to her as her twin), when her grandparents arrived for a visit from England. A week later, her sister became ill and died. Her mother was hospitalised with shock, and her grandparents stayed on to look after Edith during the day, while her father was out working. When Edith's mother was released from hospital, she found it difficult to see Edith without her sister, so she asked the grandparents to adopt her. This happened when Edith was four years old. Edith and her grandparents left for England for a short while and then to "Africa". Her mother later adopted other little children.
Edith and her grandparents stayed in Africa until she was 14 years old, after which they left for England and then Holland. In Holland, Edith was told who her parents were, as she had regarded her grandparents as her mother and father. After so many years, she decided to remain living with her grandparents. After a stay in Holland, Edith and her grandparents returned to England in 1912. On 02 April 1912, they left England aboard the Titanic for the USA, as First Class passengers.
Edith's grandfather found a life-boat for her and his wife. He took his wedding ring off and gave it to Edith, and kissed them goodbye with a prayer and tears in his eyes. Her turned into the crowd and they lost sight of him. Once they were safely on board the life-boat and rowing away from the ship, they saw him one last time on the deck, bidding them a last farewell. Edith wore the ring all her life. She ended her letter by signing off as "I remain a Titanic survivor" and asks May not to show the letter to anyone else as it is badly written.
Have I discovered who Edith was? No! The only Edith on-board who matches in age was Edith BROWN (later married to HAISMAN). However, she was in Second Class, and the letter writer specifically stated that her grandfather would not allow her to go down to the other Classes so she did not know what they looked like. Also, the two girls memories of their grandfathers on the fateful night, are very different.
Her grandparents were on her maternal side. So what was her mother's maiden name?