Sarah Emma Woodcock was born in Mossley, Lancashire, England, in 1884, the daughter of George and Bridget Woodcock (née Winterbottom). She was the youngest of eight known children and her father was a grocer for many years before becoming a draper, with Sarah as his assistant.
In 1912, her father died, leaving his estate of £701 to Sarah, and then, in 1914, her mother died. By now, Sarah was running her father’s drapery business on her own account and was employing a number of staff.
She had a sister, Eliza Jane, living in Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and after she came back to Oldham for a holiday, and perhaps her mother’s funeral, Sarah decided to return with her, possibly intending to make her home in America. She resided with her sister at 96. Oak Grove Avenue, Fall River.
However, she could not settle there and made the fatal mistake of booking a return passage as a second cabin passenger on the Lusitania's final voyage, which she joined at Pier 54 in New York, before the liner sailed on 1st May 1915.
She was killed after the Cunarder was torpedoed, six days later, and her body was never recovered afterwards and identified. She was aged 30 years.
Tragically, her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Quinn, who lived at 127. Lees Road, Oldham, received a telegram after the sinking to say that she had survived, but this proved not to be the case!
Two other second cabin passengers who were travelling to Oldham were Cyrus and Sylvia Crossley, who survived the sinking. They were interviewed by a reporter of a local newspaper, The Oldham Evening Chronicle, on the afternoon of 9th May 1915, on their return, and Mrs. Crossley was asked if she knew anything at all about the fate of Sarah Woodcock. The report, published the following day, stated: -
Mrs. Crossley was still suffering from her terrible experience, and was greatly upset and nervous, as might be expected. She recalled on the lady being mentioned to her, having met Miss Woodcock, the Oldham lady, on board the vessel, in the music room, during the voyage, and had chatted with her about her being from Oldham.
She obviously had no other information which might have been helpful to Miss Woodcock’s family.
Administration of her estate was granted to her sister, Elizabeth Quinn, wife of John Quinn, at London on 14th August 1915 and her effects amounted to £398-8s-6d., (£398.42½p.).
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Fall River Daily Evening News, Oldham Evening Chronicle, Oldham Standard, Probate Records, 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.