John Harvey Page, known as J. Harvey Page, was born in Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, on the 3rd September 1869, the only child of John and Alida Page (née Johnson). He had two half-sisters from his father’s first marriage which ended with the death of his wife in 1866. John’s mother was his father’s second wife, however, she died in 1878, and his father married for a third time in 1880. His father was a currier.
On completing his education, he began working for the Mark Cross Company, 404. 5th Avenue, New York City, who were renowned for producing high-quality luxury leather goods. He rose up through the company, becoming a product buyer and vice-president, before becoming the managing director of their branch in England, and responsible for their manufacturing operations there. He resided in Walsall, Staffordshire. By 1915, his annual salary was $12,500.00 as a vice-president of the company, and a further $2,500.00 as managing director of the English branch of the company. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean very frequently in connection with his business.
On the 21st August 1894, he married Cora Amelia Powers in Cambridge Massachusetts, and they established their home in Walsall, although they also maintained a second home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had no children.
In the spring of 1915, he had been at home in Cambridge Massachusetts, and for his return to England, he booked a saloon cabin on the Lusitania, (with ticket number 46103) through the New York office of his firm and having left home at the end of April, he joined the liner at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York port, on the morning of 1st May 1915 in time for her scheduled 10 o‘clock sailing. He is reported to have had personal property to the value of $3,092.00 in his possession. Once on board, he was escorted to his room, A12, which was under the personal supervision of First Class Bedroom Steward Edward Bond, who came from Anfield, a suburb of Liverpool.
Because of a delay to her original sailing plans, caused when she had to embark passengers, some crew and cargo from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, requisitioned for war service as a troop ship, by the British Admiralty the liner did not actually leave her berth until just after mid-day. Just six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her Liverpool destination.
J. Harvey Page was one of those killed in the loss of the ship and as his body was never found and identified afterwards, he has no known grave. He was aged 45 years.
On 26th October 1915, at a London probate hearing, administration of his estate was granted to his widow Cora, his effects amounting to £1,148-16-0d., (£1,148. 80p).
Bedroom Steward Bond, who looked after Mr. Page in room A12 did survive the sinking, however, and eventually made it back to his Anfield home.
His widow filed a claim with the Mixed Claims Commission for compensation for the loss of her husband and his property, and on 21st February 1924, she was awarded
$80,000.00 for the loss of her husband, and $3,092.00 for the loss of his property.
Massachusetts U.S. Birth Records 1840 – 1915, Massachusetts U.S. Marriage Records 1840 – 1915, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 238, New York Times, 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.