Fun Feather Facts
Heart Breaking Story of a Peacock on the Infamous Titanic.
Editor’s Note: The following articles are copied from newspaper accounts of the sinking of the ocean liner: Titanic in 1912.
Mrs. Peacock May Be on Board Titanic
Elizabeth Daily Journal
Tuesday 16 April 1912
Among those who visited the White Star steamship offices in New York today in an endeavor to learn [sic] whether or not the members of his family were on board the Titanic, was Benjamin Peacock, of 609 South Broad Street. Efforts to reach Mr. Peacock today were unavailing, as with the first news of the loss of the steamship he went to New York. Supposed to be on board were his wife and two children, a daughter, Terrestrial [sic], 3 years old, and a son, Albert Edward, 6 months old, and his two brothers, both former seamen in the Royal Navy.
Mr. Peacock came to America a year ago, and the first anniversary of his coming was today. His son he has never seen. Mr. Peacock is a machinist in the employ of the Public Service Corporation and has been working at the local powerhouse.
The last letter received from his wife was mailed from Southampton, where she lived, under date of April 3, and in this she stated her intention of sailing at the earliest opportunity. Mr. Peacock told Mrs. Town, with whom he lives, that his wife was to sail in the second cabin, but her name is not [sic] among the list of passengers. On this account it is hoped that she missed the steamer and is sailing by another line. Her [sic] two brothers had booked passage on the Titanic and for this reason she was making especial efforts to make the trans- Atlantic trip with them. Mr. Peacock sent her passage money a little more than a week ago and is in hopes that she did not receive it in time to embark, but he is secure in his knowledge that his brothers sailed on the lost steamship.
Mrs. Peacock and Children MISSING
Newark Star
Monday 22 April 1912
Mrs. Edith Peacock
3rd Class Passenger
Edith was born into a large family of 10 children from Cornwall, England.
She left Cornwall in 1906, met and married Mr. Benjamin Peacock, a mechanical engineer. They settled in Southampton and had two children, Treasteall in 1908, and Alfred in 1911.
In early 1912 they decided to immigrate to America, but at the time they were to leave, Edith became too ill to travel. So it was decided Mr. Peacock would go on ahead to America by himself-leaving his family to come later.
Edith eventually recovered and bought a ticket on the Titanic for herself and her two children. She was excited to rejoin her husband in their new country.
Elizabeth man’s wife and children perish
Newark Evening News
Friday 19 April 1912
Special Service of the NEWS
ELIZABETH, April 19,1912--- The wife and two children of Benjamin Peacock, of 609 South Broad street, perished on the Titanic, according to the list of those who were on the boat and whose names do not appear in the roster of those saved.
Mr. Peacock, who is employed in the power-house of the Public Service Corporation at Cranford, came to this country from England a year ago, leaving his wife and one child, then three years old, behind. After he arrived here another child was born, and Mr. Peacock had never seen it. He went to New York this morning to get further details of the tragedy.
Mr. Peacock’s two brothers in England had planned to sail on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but they changed their plans at the eleventh hour.
Peacock still hoping to find brothers
Journal Tuesday April 23, 1912
Benjamin Peacock, who lost his wife and two children in the Titanic disaster, returned to his work in the Public Service powerhouse on South Avenue, Cranford, yesterday. He told his friends that his wife and two children had been placed in one of the lifeboats, which capsized.
Mr. Peacock has not yet given up hope of finding his brothers who were also passengers on the ill-fated ship. Less than two weeks ago Mr. Peacock told the men of how glad he would be to have his family with him and showed them a baby carriage for the baby and toys for the older girl. He had brought then from Elizabeth to show them to his fellow workmen.
Two brothers not on titanic
Elizabeth Daily Journal
Monday 6 May 1912
Benjamin Peacock Learns They Are Still in England