Sarah Ann Kirby was born in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, towards the end of 1861, the daughter of Frederick and Isabella Kirby (née Winshall). She was the youngest of eight known children in the family, and her father, who worked for a flour mill, died in early 1868 when Sarah was aged six years.
In February 1870, Sarah, who was now aged eight years, was convicted at Leeds Police Court of being a pickpocket. Her accomplice, Margaret Morley, was aged ten years. Sarah was committed to the Ragged and Certified School, to be detained until she was aged sixteen years. It is not known if she served her full sentence; however, she certainly was a resident there on the night of the recording of the 1871 census.
She returned to live with her family and worked as a weaver in a local woollen mill. On the 24th December 1892, she married Joseph Thompson, who was a boiler maker, and they had a son named Norman, who was born in 1896. The family home was originally at 26. Coupland Terrace, but they later moved to 1, Colville Terrace, Beeston Hill, Leeds.
In March 1910, Joseph Thompson travelled to the United States of America and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he found work as a boiler maker with the New York and Newhaven Railway Company. As soon as he had settled in Boston, he sent for his wife and son to join him, which they duly did in July, and they established their home at 83. Charles Street, Boston. They later moved to 150. Neponset Street, Canton, Massachusetts. Both Joseph and his son, Norman, were employed at the railroad facility at nearby Readville, where they maintained and repaired railway stock.
Then, in the spring of 1915, the family decided to return to Leeds for a holiday and as a result booked third class passage on the Lusitania for the journey home. They left Massachusetts at the end of April and boarded the vessel on the morning of 1st May, with ticket number 129911 - for what would become her final voyage out into the North
River. The Lusitania’s departure was then delayed until 12.27 p.m. because she had to load cargo and embark passengers and some crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, unexpectedly requisitioned by the British Admiralty for use as a troop ship.
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Cunarder was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, off the coast of southern Ireland. Sarah Thompson and her son Norman were both killed as a result of this action, although her husband Joseph survived. As no trace of her body was ever found and identified, she has no known grave. She was aged 43 years.
On the day after the sinking, Cunard at Queenstown sent a cable to a Mr. E.A. Thompson at the Beeston Hill address, which stated: -
Joseph Thompson, Sarah Ann Thompson Norman Thompson saved.
This must have given false hopes to the family in Leeds, but unfortunately the information proved not to be accurate.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, West Yorkshire England Church of England Births and Baptisms 1813 – 1910, West Yorkshire England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1813 – 1935, 1871 Census of England & Wales, 1881 Census of England & Wales, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, Massachusetts Passenger Lists 1820 – 1963, Cunard Records, West Yorkshire England Reformatory School Records 1856 – 1914, Boston Globe, Liverpool Records Office, PRO BT 100/345, UNiLiv.D92/1/6, UniLiv D92/2/379(b), Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.