John Mudge was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 6th January 1868, the son of James and Ann Mudge (née Richards). His father was a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine, and John was the youngest of three known children in the family.
He married Rosa Ann Honiball in Liverpool on the 12th November 1893, and the couple lived at 99. Louisa Street, Everton, Liverpool, with their two daughters.
John was a professional seaman, serving as a waiter, steward, and sometimes a cook, in the British Mercantile Marine, and he engaged as a night watchman in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915, and reported for duty on board, on the morning of the 17th April before the liner left Princes Landing stage at Liverpool for the very last time.
Three weeks later, after the liner was torpedoed and sunk, he was fortunate enough to be counted as one of the survivors and landed at Queenstown.
When he eventually reached Liverpool, he was officially discharged from the Lusitania’s final voyage and paid the balance of wages owing to him. In keeping with all the crew, his wages were calculated for the period of the voyage, which was reckoned to be from the 17th April 1915 until the 8th May, 24 hours after the ship foundered.
John Mudge continued to serve in the Mercantile Marine for the rest of his working life, and the family continued to reside at 99. Louisa Street, Everton, Liverpool. He died in Liverpool on the 2nd March 1949, aged 81 years, and he was buried in Anfield Cemetery.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Liverpool England Church of England Baptisms 1813 – 1919, England Select Marriages 1538 – 1973, 1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, PRO BT 349, PRO BT 351/1/101427, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 19th January 2025.