Charles Cheever Hardwick was born on 10th November 1865, in Brooklyn, New York City, in the United States of America, the son of William and Sarah Robinson Hardwick (née Hills). His father was a book keeper, who died when Charles was a child, and the family had moved from New York City to Passaic, New Jersey, either before or after the death of William Hardwick.
On the 24th December 1894, he married Charlotte Ambrose in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, and the couple lived with his wife’s family for a number of years in Orange.. They eventually established their own home at Oakwood Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey. Charlotte was a daughter of Harry T. Ambrose of the American Book Company, and both Charles and Charlotte were members of the North Orange Baptist Church. Charles was also a member of The Essex County Country Club in England. The couple had two sons, Ambrose Helen, born in 1890, and Charles Cheever Jr., born in 1897.
Charles Hardwick was a lace, novelties, and white goods importer, and his firm was Burr and Hardwick of 132, 5th Avenue, New York. He frequently crossed the Atlantic to England, (61 times up until early 1915), in connection with his work, often accompanied by his wife.
This work was to take him to England again in May 1915 but because of the war, Mrs. Hardwick decided not to go with him. As a result, Charles Hardwick booked on his own, as a saloon passenger on the
Lusitania's final voyage. He was on his way to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. Once on board, he was allocated room B104, which was the personal responsibility of First Class Bedroom Steward Percy Penny, who came from Aigburth, which was on the outskirts of Liverpool.
The Lusitania left New York just after mid-day on 1st May 1915, after a delayed start and six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, she was sunk off the coast of southern Ireland by the German submarine
U-20. When the news of the sinking reached New Jersey, Mrs. Hardwick was confident that no harm would befall her husband and as a consequence, did not worry about his safety.
Her intuition proved to be sound, for not long afterwards, she received a cablegram from him which stated: -
Torpedoed twice without warning. Lusitania sank less than twenty minutes. Few saved.
Not long after that, The Newark Evening News reported an interview also sent by cablegram, by Mr. Hardwick via Dublin, Southern Ireland. It related a little more of his experiences: -
I was talking with Mr. Winters of the Cunard Line when the ship was hit. Winters got into boat No. 17, which overturned and then swam to boat No. 19. Most of the passengers were eating luncheon and the proportion saved was small.
Mrs. M.M. Pappadopoulo who was on her way to Athens with her husband, swam for a long distance towards shore when she was picked up. She believes her husband was drowned.
Charles Hardwick was aged 49 years at the time of the sinking and after being rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown, he abandoned what ever plans he had, and returned to his home in the United States, boarding the
St. Louis at Liverpool on the 29th May.
Mr. Winters was Assistant Caterer William H. Winter of Dublin, who although was normally employed by Cunard, was travelling on this occasion as a saloon passenger. He was drowned.
Mrs. M.M. Pappadopoulo was Angela Pappadopoulo whose husband was Mikes Pappadopoulo who also perished, but Bedroom Steward Penny, who had looked after Charles Hardwick in room B104 survived.
Charles Hardwick suffered severe shock as a result of his experience, which resulted in him being of a nervous disposition for the remainder of his life. On his return home, he was under the care of his doctor for six months, but was still able to give his business interests attention.
As a result of the injuries he received, and the loss of his personal belongings in the sinking, Charles filed a claim with the authorities for compensation. It would be after the conclusion of the war before the United States and Germany would decide on the terms for compensation, but prior to a ruling in his case, Charles Hardwick had died on 1st March 1921, aged 57 years.
The Mixed Claims Commission eventually ruled on his claim, and awarded his estate the sum of $7,500.00 to compensate him for his injuries and medical expenses, and a further $1,024.60, which was the value of the personal belongings he had with him when the
Lusitania sank. His widow was the sole beneficiary of his estate.
The remains of Charles Hardwick were interred on the 3rd March 1923 at Rosedale Cemetery, Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.
New Jersey Marriage Records 1670 – 1965, New Jersey Death Index 1901 – 2017, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 2559, Football Echo, Newark Evening Star, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.