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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: napmay on Wednesday 16 November 11 21:01 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone have information about James Carter from Southampton? He was a Fireman/Stoker who died on the Titanic. He signed on and was known as 'W Ball' on board.
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Hi - is this him, listed as James Carter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crew_members_on_board_RMS_Titanic
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What other info can you give us about him?
Why did you think he had signed on under an alias?
Was he actually born in Southampton or elsewhere?
Who were his parents
Was he married - if so - to whom
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Have you seen this?
http://www.titanic-titanic.com/james_carter.shtml
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I googledhis name +Titanic and got this
Mr James Carter, of 51 Brintons Road, Southampton died in the sinking. For some reason he signed onto the ship as Mr W. Ball.
You might be able to find him or his wife at that address in the 1911 census.
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Thank you both.
I have checked the 1911 Census and found a Marianna Carter at 5 Brintons Road, Southampton. James and Marianna married in 1909 and were both in their 40s. Her lodger was born in Barnstable (near my ancestors).
I may well be chasing non-existent connections here. My granddad, Edwin Frederick Ball, was born (1881) and brought up in Tavistock Workhouse. He always said that he lost 'a brother' on the Titanic. I found W Ball on the crew list, also known as James Carter, and the remote possibility of some link intrigues me.
I know that many people at that time claimed links with the Titanic, presumably for a variety of reasons, so this is probably a fruitless search. I found a man called John Poole Penrose who came from from granddad's family's village of Mary Tavy, near Tavistock. He also died on the Titanic.
I'm clutching at straws, maybe, to find a connection that doesn't exist. But I do like a good mystery!
Any further thoughts, particularly how someone could sign on under an alias but finally be identified under his 'real'?? name, gratefully received.
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Have you been able to find your grandfather's parents at all to see if he did in fact have any brothers? If W Ball/James Carter was his brother there would have been about a 20 year age difference.
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My granddad was illegitimate. No father found and mother was born 1852 so too young to be James Carter's mother anyway. She had an illegitimate son, John Ball, in 1870 and an illegitimate daughter in 1873.
Even if not connected, I'm still intrigued by this James Carter/W Ball alias.
Many thanks for your useful suggestions.
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napway -- a bit late in the day for me to come forward but as a gesture of goodwill, I have the marriage certificate for James and Miranna.
Miranna died in 1945 and she's buried with her sister in Southampton. She does originate from the Channel Islands. As oppose to James he's a case of hit and miss as I cannot fathom out where he came from although I have been told he may well have been born in London.
If you would like to conact me privately I can provide you with dates.
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Hi, I have recently been researching a family member of mine who 'died' on board the Titanic who happens to be the mysterious James Carter. I do not know of much information but I do know of a few more possibilities of which could answer your questions, it is said that the man who stepped onto that ship as part of the engineering crew was not actually the man that he said he was given the reason why he added another name into the one he went by on the Titanic and that my Great-Great-Great uncle did not depart on that ship and gave up his place for the unknown man. Another possibility is the real James Carter did depart on the ship as he was never seen again after the disaster. If anyone would like to know a bit more about Mr Carter then please feel free to ask as I can tell you a lot more about the history of the Carter family.
Abigail Morrison.
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That sounds intriguing. I'd love to hear more!!