Jane Tanner Goodchild was born in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, on the 29th June 1860, the daughter of James and Mary Anne Goodchild (née Tanner). She was one of nine children and her father was a shoemaker. The family home was at 11. Patrick Street, Clonakilty.
In April 1883, she emigrated to the United States of America, having sailed from Queenstown to Boston, Massachusetts, on board the Samaria, and on the 25th September 1886, she married Charles Edward Worden, who had been born in Canada. Their home was in Lowell, Massachusetts, where Charles was employed as a carpenter, and Jane worked at home as a dressmaker. The couple had no children. On 29th September 1914, Charles Worden became a naturalised citizen of the United States, and consequently, so did his wife, Jane.
Jane sold footwear for a number of years before operating a dressmaking business from her home.
Her father James died in February 1915, and because of this, she decided to return home to bring her mother to live with her in Lowell, and subsequently booked as a second cabin passenger on the Lusitania’s, last ever voyage out of New York, which left from Quay 54 just after mid-day on 1st May 1915.
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, when the liner was lost, so too was Jane Worden. As her body was never found and identified afterwards, she has no known grave. She was aged 54 years
She is, however, commemorated on the family grave in The Church of Ireland Cemetery at Clonakilty, the relevant headstone inscription stating: -
IN
MEMORY OF
JAMES GOODCHILD
WHO DIED FEB 25TH 1915
AGED 80 YEARS
AND OF HIS DAUGHTER
JANE. E. WORDEN
WHO WAS LOST ON THE LUSITANIA,
MAY 7 TH 1915.
AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE SEA
The “E” in her name appears to be an error as her middle name was “Tanner”. Mary Anne Goodchild, Jane’s mother, died on 12th March 1924, aged 85 years.
Charles Worden suffered ill health shortly after his wife’s death and became unable to work. He resided with his widowed sister, who also lived in Lowell.
He filed a claim with the Mixed Claims Commission for compensation for the loss of his wife and her belongings as a result of the sinking. In February 1924, he was awarded the sum of $7,500.00 for the loss of his wife, with a further $650.00 as compensation for the loss of her personal belongings. Unfortunately, Charles Worden died in Lowell on the 21st June 1924, and therefore he did not get to benefit from the award for very long. He was buried in Edson Cemetery, Lowell, and his wife is commemorated on his gravestone.
Massachusetts U.S. Marriage Records 1840 – 1915, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, Massachusetts Passenger Lists 1820 – 1963, Cunard Records, Mixed Claims Commission Docket No. 288, 1901 Lowell City Directory, Boston Globe, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Paddy O’Sullivan, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.