Robert John Adams

Biography
Mr. Robert John Adams was born on Sunday, June 7th, 1885 in the neighborhood of Shirley in the town of Southampton, Hampshire, England. He was the son of mariner Robert Adams (1849 - 1893) and Kate Knott (1853 - April 7th, 1934), two natives of Hampshire who had married in Portsea in 1879. He had six siblings; Kate (1883 - March 31st, 1916), Frederick (1887 - ?), Ernest (1889 - ?), Charles (1891 - ?), Ada Lillian (1892 - 1959) and Ellen (1894 - 1978).

Robert first appears on the 1891 census living at 13 Nelson Road in Southampton. Two years later, his father would die. On the 1901 census, the family is now living at 27 Pound Street in Southampton. Robert's aunt Charlotte was living with them and, along with his mother Kate, were supporting the family by working as laundresses. Robert was listed as a points boy for the Tramway Company. By 1911, Kate is listed as living at 4 Oriental Street in Southampton but Robert is absent, probably working at sea.

When Robert signed on the Titanic, on April 6th, 1912, he gave his address as 168 Pound Tree Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the R.M.S. Tagus and, as fireman, he would receive the monthly wages of £6. Once in New York City, New York, United States, Robert had intended to travel to be with the rest of his siblings who had all immigrated to Ontario, Canada. His brother Ernest was traveling from Toronto, Ontario, Canada by train to meet him. This would never happen as Robert died in the sinking. His last moments remain unknown and his body, if recovered, was never identified.