George Blundell's nephew Walter Henry Nichols
John Henry Vivian employed Robert Blundell as coachman. Robert married Ann Sambrook. They had 11 children. The eldest son was George, who worked as a blacksmith in Sketty. The youngest daughter was Ruth.
This blog follows her line.
The 1841 Census records the Blundell family as residing at
the Vivian Estate Lodge.
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| 1841 Census |
The following decade, the 1851 Census records that Jane
Blundell, 19, who is a Dressmaker, is living with her younger sisters, Mary, 14;
Ruth, 11; and 9-year-old Rachel, at 42 Sketty Road.
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| 1851 Census |
21-year-old Ruth, at the time of the 1861 Census, is
employed as a Servant at Singleton Abbey.
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| 1861 Census |
William Graham Vivian, who is referred to as the “Son”, is
the head of the household. He is
recorded as practicing in Messer Vivian & Sons.
Also present is Ernest Ambrose Vivian, 13, grandson.
Several servants include
Sarah Lever, 70, Nurse; Rebecca Jones, 29, Housekeeper;
Hannah Brown, 31, and Betsy Baldsdon, 28, who are House Maids; Sarah Stocket,
26, and Ruth Blundell, 21, who are the Laundry Maids. Edward Hunt, 24, Velvet; George Nichols, 20, Groom;
and 23-year-old Robert Billing, the Helper.
In April 1863, Ruth Blundell married George Nichols at
Derby.
Ruth Nichols, at the time of the 1871 Census, was living at Bessborough Mews, Westminster, London.
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| 1871 Census |
29-year-old Ruth is a coachman's wife. Her children are
Alice, 6; Emily, 4; George, 2; and 10-month-old Francis.
Also present is 41-year-old Emma, who is a dressmaker and the
sister of Ruth.
Laundress Ruth is widowed at the time of the 1881 census,
and she is living with children at 29 Trott Street, Wandsworth. George had died in 1879.
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| 1881 Census |
Alice M., 16, who is a Cook; Emily E., 14; George J., 12; Francis
R., 10; Caroline R., 8; Edith W., 6; Walter H., 4, and Ruth L., 2.
Ruth moves again by the time of the 1891 census, this time
to Chiddingfold, Surrey.
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| 1891 Census |
This blog now follows Ruth’s son, Walter Henry Nichols
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| Walter Henry Nichols |
The next record for Walter is his marriage to Florence Helen Speath, in 1876 at Christ Church, Richmond.
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| Walter Henry Nichols and Florence Helen Speath Marriage Certificate Christ Church, Richmond |
Walter and Florence would have four children: Walter George 1903-1974, Dorothy Florence 1905-1952, Basil Henry Mongolia 1906-1985 and Audrey Blanche 1910-1911.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Florence and the children were
residing at 40 Kent Road, St. Denys, Southampton. Walter was absent.
Walter signed on the R.M.S. Titanic, on the 4th
of April, he was ranked Assistant Second-Class Saloon Steward.
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| R.M.S. Titanic |
During the evacuation, Walter recalled that passengers were amusing themselves in the first-class gymnasium.
Walter was rescued on Lifeboat 15. Walter would say
“...sank slowly
and steadily and then we heard a little explosion that must have been the first
boiler. After that, the lights began to go out in different parts of the ship.
Then came a big explosion, and we could see a mass of black smoke. The boat
seemed to lift right up out of the water and tilt up on end and then seemed to
break and drop back..... For one moment, she was right up in the air, standing
on her nose. That’s when the people left on board went into the water, there
were 1500 to 1700 left on the ship and that’s when most of them were thrown
into the water by this explosion.... “
Walter would also talk about the horrible cries of those who
were struggling in the water.
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| S.S. Royal Edward |
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| H.M.S. Panama |
Following the sinking, Walter turned to the United Kingdom,
where he carried on working at sea. During
the First World War, he served on the troopship S.S. Royal Edward and
the hospital ship H.M.S. Panama, among other vessels. Following the war, Walter returned to
merchant shipping before retiring and becoming a village postmaster and running
a post office at West Moors, Dorset.
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| 1939 Register |
During the Second World War, Walter worked at various military establishments at Weymouth.
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| Walter Henry Nichols Priory Road Cemetery in West Moors, Dorset credit - findagrave |
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