Margaret Feerick was born in Cloondaver, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland, on the 26th February 1891, the daughter Anthony and Bridget Feerick (née Feerick). Her father was a farmer, and Margaret was one of nine children. She was unmarried and worked as a domestic servant.
Margaret went to the United States of America in 1909, arriving on board the
Teutonic on 8th April, accompanied by her older brother, John. Their destination was the home of their sister, Annie, who lived at 788. Columbus Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.
In the spring of 1915, sister and brother decided to return home to Ireland for a visit, and therefore booked third class tickets from New York to Liverpool on the May sailing of the
Lusitania. Presuming that they wanted to return again, they adopted the pretence of being married as they perceived that there was a better chance of gaining re-admission on their return.
They joined the vessel on the morning of 1st May 1915, at her berth at Pier 54 in the west side of the city. The liner’s departure for Liverpool was actually delayed until the early afternoon, as she had to take on board passengers, cargo and some crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war work as a troop ship.
Six days later, the vessel was torpedoed and sunk, by the German submarine
U-20, and both Margaret Feerick and her brother John were killed. At that stage of her voyage, the
Lusitania was only about fourteen hours away from the safety of her home port and within sight of the coast of southern Ireland.
As no trace of either of their bodies was ever found and identified later, neither Margaret nor John Feerick has a known grave. She was aged 24 years.
After news of the sinking reached County Mayo, her father, Anthony Feerick successfully applied to The Lusitania Relief Fund for financial help. The fund had been set up by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool and other local dignitaries, to give aid to those survivors or relatives of the dead who were experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the sinking. The award committee made Mr. Feerick an immediate grant of £5-0s-0d., to be paid in weekly instalments of £0-10s-0d., (£0.50p.).
Cunard records published in March 1916, incorrectly recorded her surname as Ferrick, but official documentary sources prove it to have been Feerick.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of Ireland, 1911 Census of Ireland, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Connaught Telegraph, Liverpool Record Office, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/294, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.