Francis Cranston. Kellett – always known as Frank - was born in Bailieboro, County Cavan, Ireland, on the 4th January 1868, the son of Edward and Margaret Kellett (née Cranston). His father owned a well-established and respected drapery business in the town.
Presumably, he commenced his profession as a draper with his father, before moving to Dublin. Conflicting newspaper reports state that he was employed by the prestigious firms of Arnotts and Switzers in Dublin - firms that still exist today, and it is possible that he was employed by both firms at some stage.
In 1893, he immigrated to the United States of America, taking up residence in Tuckahoe, New York, and he became a naturalized U.S. citizen on the 2nd August 1901. Ten days later, on the 12th August 1901, he married, his wife, Margaret Lavinia Storey in Manhattan, New York City, and they had one son, Stewart Cranston Kellett, who was born on the 11th May 1902.
Between the summer of 1914, and March 1915, Frank Kellett made three return trips across the Atlantic Ocean in connection with his business. Frank was vice-president of the Julius Stein Company - Successors, Inc., which was a division of the main company. It is likely that he was negotiating contracts for clothing with the Allied military authorities. He was required to travel to Europe again in May 1915, and as a
consequence, booked a saloon class ticket, on the Lusitania, (number 13191) through his employer’s, Julius Stein, of 303, 5th Avenue, New York.
Having arrived at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 on the morning of 1st May 1915, in time for her 10.00 a.m. sailing, he was escorted to his accommodation in room B93, which was the personal responsibility of First Class Bedroom Steward Thomas Dawes who came from Walton, a district of Liverpool.
Frank Kellett had his last view of New York in the early afternoon of May Day, as the Lusitania made her delayed departure from New York. This delay was caused because she had to embark passengers, crew and cargo from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been taken up from trade by the British Admiralty, at the end of April for war service.
Sis days later, however, on the afternoon of 7th May, he was dead, killed after the Lusitania had been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. At that time, the liner was only twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her Liverpool destination. He was aged 47 years.
According to the book Seven Days to Disaster by Des Hickey and Gus Smith, Frank Kellett was on the promenade deck on the starboard side of the vessel with several other fellow saloon passengers and actually saw the wake of the torpedo which struck the vessel. However, even this early knowledge of the impending sinking did not help him to survive.
As his body was never recovered from the sea and identified afterwards, he has no known grave.
Bedroom Steward Dawes, who had looked after Francis Kellett in room B93, was also killed as a result of the sinking and never saw his Walton home again.
Frank’s widow and son lodged a claim with the Mixed Claims Commission after the War. On 21st February 1924, the Commission awarded his widow the sum of $30,000.00, and his son the sum of $15,000.00.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1905 New York State Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, New York State and Federal Naturalization Records 1794 – 1943, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 232, Irish Independent, Anglo-Celt, Seven Days to Disaster, PRO 22/71, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.