Titanic: James Carter alias W Ball

[napmay]

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.

[groom]

Hi  - is this him, listed as James Carter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crew_members_on_board_RMS_Titanic

[CaroleW]

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

[groom]

Have you seen this?

http://www.titanic-titanic.com/james_carter.shtml

[groom]

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.

[napmay]

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.

[groom]

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.

[napmay]

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.

[Andrew Williams]

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.