Joseph Francis Akerman

Biography
Mr. Joseph Francis Akerman was born on Thursday, May 14th, 1874 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He was the son of Joseph Akerman (1845 - 1914) and his wife Fanny Palmer (1845 - 1925). Both were Wiltshire natives who had married in 1871. He had five siblings; William Henry (1872 - ?), Eliza (1875 - ?), Arthur Wallace (1877 - ?), Albert Edward (November 13th, 1880 - April 15th, 1912) and Alice Maud (1882 - ?).

Joseph is first seen on the 1881 census living with his family at 12 Spring Place in Salisbury with his father being listed as a general labourer. On the 1891 census, the family is now seen living at 37 Green Croft Street and his father is now listed as a tractor engine driver and Joseph as a milkman. In late 1898, Joseph got married to Emily Kate Francis (1876 - 1951) and together had six children; Lillian (1899 - ?), Gladys (1901 - ?), Doris (1904 - 1905), William Frank (January 24th, 1906 - 1980), Vera May (1909 - 1918), Herbert George (May 22nd, 1911 - 1993) and Joseph Francis (December 16th, 1912 - 1983). On the 1901 census, Joseph, his wife and children are seen living at 6 George Street, Northam, Southampton, Hampshire, England. On the 1911 census, the family is now seen living at 25 Rochester Street in Southampton and Joseph is listed as a steward for the American Line.

When Joseph signed on the Titanic on April 4th, 1912, he gave his address at 25 Rochester Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England, and his last ship as being the R.M.S. Oceanic. He would work as an assistant pantry steward and receive monthly wages of £3 15s. His brother Albert, who had also signed up to work on Titanic, would work as a third class steward. Both Joseph and Albert would perish in the sinking. Their last moments remain unknown and while Albert's body was never recovered, Joseph's was. It was the 205th body recovered by the C.S. Mackay-Bennett. He was brought back to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery on May 6th, 1912.

Emily, Joseph's wife, had been pregnant at the time of the disaster and on December 16th, 1912, she gave birth to a son that she named in his father's memory. Emily never remarried and she died there in 1951. The Akerman brothers are remembered on the St. Augustine Church Memorial in Southampton.