Morris (sometimes known as “Maurice”) Benjamin Medbury was born in Edmeston, Otsego County, New York, in the United States of America, on the 12th August 1864, the son of Wallace D. and Mabel E. Medbury (née Phelps). His father was a farmer, and Morris was the eldest of three children.
He was in the habit of describing himself a dealer in “antique and modern jewellery, solid silver, etc.”, travelling from place to place “offering” his private collection, but in reality, he dealt in c
On the 11th January 1888, he married Lora Martin, who came from a wealthy family in Utica, Oneida County, New York, and from the early 1900’s the family were residing in Alameda, California. The couple had three children - Margaret Martin, born in 1890, John Phelps, born in 1895, and Gordon Spencer, born in 1896.
Morris Medbury travelled extensively, buying and selling his wares, and bought property throughout the United States of America, and later in Europe. Around 1906, he deserted his family, although he was sending money to them until 1913 when he ceased all contact with them.
From at least 1908, he was living with a woman named Maude Hare-Danby, who had previously been married, but whereas she claimed to be his wife, there is no record of them ever having married, and even if they had, their marriage would have been bigamous.
By 1911, Morris Medbury was mostly living in London, with Mrs. Hare-Danby, and in February 1915 had travelled to the United States of America as a saloon class passenger on board the Lusitania, presumably in connection with his business.
For his return to London, he again booked saloon passage (with ticket number 13093), on the May sailing of the Lusitania which was scheduled to leave New York on the morning of 1st May 1915.
Arriving at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in the harbour, in time for the 10.00 a.m. sailing, Maurice Medway was escorted to his accommodation which was in room B101 and which was the personal responsibility of First Class Bedroom Steward Thomas Dawes, who came from Walton, a district of Liverpool.
The liner’s sailing was delayed until the afternoon and she finally left New York just after mid-day. Just six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20, whilst she was twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland and only hours away from her Liverpool destination.
At the time the torpedo struck, Morris Medbury was in the first class smoking room with fellow saloon passenger and New Yorker Isaac Lehman. According to the book Seven Days to Disaster by Des Hickey and Gus Smith: -
“Let’s get away from here”, a frightened Isaac Lehman urged Maurice Medbury as they hurried from the smoking room. The two men rushed towards the deck as debris crashed down onto the roof of the Palm Lounge. After that, Lehman did not see Medbury again.
In fact, no-one whose testimony has survived saw Medbury again, dead or alive, and as his body was never recovered and identified, he has no known grave! He was aged 50 years.
Although Isaac Lehman survived the sinking, Bedroom Steward Thomas Dawes, who had looked after Morris Medbury in room B101 also perished and never saw his Walton home again!
Following his death, it was discovered he had banks accounts, property, and jewellery in a number of states in the U.S. which were administered in St. Louis in Missouri, Ohio, California, New York, to name just a few. Maude Hare-Danby contested a few of the proceedings, but it is believed that she was unsuccessful.
His widow, Lora Medbury, later filed a claim which was decided by the Mixed Claims Commission. Initially, his three children were also named in the claim, but by the time it came for decision, they had withdrawn from the proceedings.
The Commission found that the documentation submitted with the claim was incomplete and unsatisfactory, but awarded his widow the sum of $7,500.00 in compensation.
1865 New York State Census, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, 1875 New York State Census, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, Washington Passenger Lists 1882 – 1965, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, UK Incoming Passenger Lists 1878 – 1960, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 2055, California U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1850 – 1953, Fall River Globe, Oakland Tribune, Rome Daily Sentinel, 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.