Empress of Ireland (1906)
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2.
Mar. 31, 2009

After much research I have finally found the missing pieces of the puzzle, re a Great Aunt who drowned on the Empress of Ireland. I am referring to my Great Aunt Jane Elizabeth Dunn nee`Elliott, who came into Canada from Liverpool England, on the Empress of Britain on the 11th April 1914. Listed on CPR passenger list as 72084 age 47 married, denomination Wesleyan. 

She was listed as a visitor and her destination was listed as Brampton, Ontario. The family did know that a brother of my Aunt had emigrated to either America or Canada. Unfortunately the name of the said brother was not right, and we have now corrected this error.             

Jane is also listed in David Zeni's Book, 'Forgotten Empress' as a second class passenger on the Empress of Ireland on the ill fated last voyage of the same. The mystery was further compounded by the fact that her body was identified. Until today I had no knowledge of who might have identified her or where she had been buried.

I contacted the CPR just last night, and by this morning I was sent the following information. "The records for the CPR show that Jane E.Dunn was identified. A.A. Elliott of Brampton was notified and asked for instructions, (this would have been her brother Arthur Aikins Elliott) and that her remains were shipped to Liverpool on the SS Victorian June 9th 1914". 

A further note mentions that the ship probably sailed on the 11th June 1914. Along with Jane's name, there were listed 6 other names of people who were also sent back to Liverpool England in caskets on the ship SS Victorian. I am sending you this information in hopes that others may be able to set the matter to rest as to whether or not their own family members were also sent home, instead of being buried in Canada.
(Unfortunately I am unable to read some of the names) Jane's name does not appear on the Memorial at Rimouski. The information can be obtained from the CPR Archives at Archives @cpr.ca Hope this information is instructive and helpful.

Kindest regards,
Josephine M. Laxton


1.
October 22, 2006

I have spent a number of years researching my family history and within the last couple of days I have discovered that Mabel Lucy Hackney (wife of Laurence Irving) was the sister of my paternal g,grandmother, Emily Margaret Bradley nee' Penrose. They were born in Swansea, Glamorgan, daughters of William Hackney and his wife Susan Lucy Hackney nee' Penrose. I had not realized that my great Aunt was a famous actress or the wife of Laurence Irving. Neither did I know until today that they had both drowned on the Empress of Ireland.

My Kindest Regards,
Elizabeth Penrose Hodgson.



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Page published Aug. 8, 2007