Francis 'Frank' Houston was born at his family home at 38. Silvio Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, on the 1st January 1888, the son of Francis and Ellen Maria Houston (née Hamilton). His father worked in a local linen mill, and he was one of nine children.
He was a machine operator by trade, and in December 1906, he had left Belfast and gone to the United States of America, probably with the intention of making his fortune. He settled in Auburn, New York State, where he had a married aunt. He found work as a janitor at the Osborne Works, and resided at 9 Throop Avenue, in Auburn.
In the spring of 1915, however, maybe because of the war in Europe, he decided to return home to Belfast and booked himself a third class ticket on the
Lusitania, on the sailing which was due to commence on 1st May 1915. He joined the vessel at the Cunard berth in New York, before she sailed from there for the last time, just after mid-day on that date.
Exactly one week later, however, he was dead, killed after the ship was torpedoed. As no trace of his body was ever discovered afterwards, he has no known grave. He was aged 27 years.
He is commemorated on the family grave in Belfast City Cemetery, the inscription concerning him stating: -
FRANK HOUSTON,
LOST ON S.S. LUSITANIA
7TH MAY 1915
Nearby is the grave of Typist Sadie Hale, a member of the Lusitania's crew, who also perished in the disaster.
Later in the summer of 1915, his parents in Belfast applied to The Lusitania Relief Fund for financial help. This fund was set up in Liverpool by its Lord Mayor and other local businessmen, in May 1915, to help those survivors or relatives of the dead who found themselves in financial difficulties as a result of the sinking. The awards committee granted Mr. and Mrs. Houston the sum of £0-5s-0d., (£0.25p.), per week for a period of one year, on the grounds that neither of them was able to work, apart from keeping poultry!
The family home in 1915 was Fernbrook Cottage, Carnmoney Road, Belfast, County Antrim.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, 1911 & 1915 Auburn City Directory, Democrat and Chronicle, Larne Times, Liverpool Record Office, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/327, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Ray Cleland, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.