Ella B. Holmes White (December 18, 1856 – January 31, 1942) was an American woman who was a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Ella Bertha Holmes was born on December 18, 1856, in New York, the daughter of Edwin Holmes [1] and Eliza Ann Richardson. She had two brothers and a sister. [2] Holmes later moved to Briarcliff Manor, New York, staying at the Briarcliff Lodge (her apartment was The Oak Room), [3] [4] and when in New York City she would stay at the Waldorf-Astoria or the Plaza Hotel. [5]
On December 12, 1894, she married John Stuart White. [1] White died on May 19, 1897. [6] Holmes never remarried. Until her death she lived and travelled with Marie Grice Young, a piano teacher and fellow Titanic survivor whose pupils included the children of President Theodore Roosevelt. [7] [8]
Ella Holmes White died in New York City on January 31, 1942 whilst living at the Plaza Hotel (with Young). [5] Her will left to Young, personal effects and life estate in a trust to yield US$250 ($4,662 in 2023 dollars) per month for life. [9] Historian Jonathan Ned Katz has suggested that Holmes had an intimate relationship with Marie Grice Young, in a time when same-sex relationships were usually kept very quiet. [10]
Ella Holmes White boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her maid Amelia Bissette and manservant Sante Ringhini. She travelled first class sharing a cabin with Marie Young. They also brought along some exotic French-bred chickens, intending to keep them at their New York country home. [11] White and her maid were rescued in lifeboat 8. Her manservant Sante Ringhini died. [12] She later testified before the American Inquiry that the Titanic had broken in two before sinking. [5]
Ella B. Holmes White (December 18, 1856 – January 31, 1942) was an American woman who was a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Ella Bertha Holmes was born on December 18, 1856, in New York, the daughter of Edwin Holmes [1] and Eliza Ann Richardson. She had two brothers and a sister. [2] Holmes later moved to Briarcliff Manor, New York, staying at the Briarcliff Lodge (her apartment was The Oak Room), [3] [4] and when in New York City she would stay at the Waldorf-Astoria or the Plaza Hotel. [5]
On December 12, 1894, she married John Stuart White. [1] White died on May 19, 1897. [6] Holmes never remarried. Until her death she lived and travelled with Marie Grice Young, a piano teacher and fellow Titanic survivor whose pupils included the children of President Theodore Roosevelt. [7] [8]
Ella Holmes White died in New York City on January 31, 1942 whilst living at the Plaza Hotel (with Young). [5] Her will left to Young, personal effects and life estate in a trust to yield US$250 ($4,662 in 2023 dollars) per month for life. [9] Historian Jonathan Ned Katz has suggested that Holmes had an intimate relationship with Marie Grice Young, in a time when same-sex relationships were usually kept very quiet. [10]
Ella Holmes White boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her maid Amelia Bissette and manservant Sante Ringhini. She travelled first class sharing a cabin with Marie Young. They also brought along some exotic French-bred chickens, intending to keep them at their New York country home. [11] White and her maid were rescued in lifeboat 8. Her manservant Sante Ringhini died. [12] She later testified before the American Inquiry that the Titanic had broken in two before sinking. [5]