Miss Elizabeth Ann Seccombe

Elizabeth Seccombe (1877 – 1915), 38, was traveling aboard Lusitania with her younger brother Percy. They lived in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The New York Times reported that they were going to visit the old family home in England, but the Mixed Claims Commission states that the brother and sister were en route to England to enlist in Red Cross work. Elizabeth was a British national, having been born in England, whereas Percy was a naturalized United States citizen. Both brother and sister were lost in the Lusitania sinking, and both bodies were recovered and sent back to the United States for burial.

Elizabeth Seccombe was born in England on 8 January 1877, the second child of William Simpson Seccombe and Hannah Seccombe. William was born in England in 1847, where he married Hannah in 1874. He left England in 1895 and settled in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and the family joined him in 1897. On 18 May 1898, William became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Elizabeth, being over 21 at the time, was not naturalized when her father was, even though she had been living in the United States for 18 years. Her brother Percy, however, was still a minor at the time at 3 years of age and attained American citizenship with their father.

William Seccombe served as Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War, 1898 – 1899, at the close of which he was honorably discharged. He was by profession a master mariner, known as Captain W. S. Secombe of the Cunard liner Cephalonia. William died in 1910, leaving a small estate and a large family. Elizabeth was the second child and Percy the youngest. Through great industry and strict economy Hannah was able to raise her family and bring them up to be self-supporting.

Elizabeth was the mainstay of the family. She was trained as a nurse and also as housekeeper, companion, and secretary, and for a number of years prior to her death was employed in a variety of positions to be the family breadwinner. The contributions which Elizabeth made to her mother were a principal source of the latter’s support. Elizabeth also helped educate several of the younger children, including Percy, and her accumulated saving in stocks and cash inventoried slightly over $7,000. Perhaps because she was so busy, up to the time of her death, Elizabeth had never been married.

The New York Times reported that Elizabeth and Percy were traveling aboard Lusitania to visit the old family home in England, but the Mixed Claims Commission states that the brother and sister were en route to England to enlist in Red Cross work. Aboard Lusitania, brother and sister had ticket number 1296 and shared cabin B-35.

Both brother and sister were lost in the Lusitania disaster. Her body was recovered, #164, and was to be buried in Common Grave B but was returned to New York City on Monday, 31 May 1915 aboard the SS Lapland.

Related Pages

Elizabeth and Percy Seccombe at the Mixed Claims Commission

Contributors:
Judith Tavares

References:
Mixed Claims Commission. Docket No. 267. Page 551.