Allison family

The Allison family was a Canadian family associated with the 1912 sinking of RMS Titanic rather than a commercial brand or operating business. The family consisted of Hudson Joshua Creighton Allison, his wife Bess Waldo Allison, their daughter Helen Loraine Allison, and their son Hudson Trevor Allison. Hudson and Bess died in the disaster, as did their daughter Helen. Their infant son Trevor survived after being rescued by his nursemaid, Alice Cleaver, and lived until 1929. Hudson Allison was born in 1881 in Winchester Township, Dundas County, Ontario, near Chesterville. He began his working life in retail and later studied shorthand in Buffalo, New York. After moving to Montreal, he worked for New York Life Insurance Company under his maternal uncle, George Franklin Johnston. In 1905 he became an instructor, and the following year moved to Winnipeg after entering the orbit of land promoter Andrew Duncan Davidson. Allison subsequently became involved in real estate, insurance, western Canadian development, lumber, coal mining, and securities businesses. In 1907 he helped establish Johnston, McConnell & Allison with his uncle and John Wilson McConnell. He also served as a director of Canadian Western Development Company and later held positions connected with British Canadian Lumber Corporation, Cardiff Collieries, and British Empire Securities Company. Bess Waldo Daniels was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1886. Hudson met her during a train journey in 1907, and they married in Milwaukee on 9 December of that year. The couple established their home in Montreal and participated in Methodist, hospital, and civic activities. Hudson supported the Montreal YMCA and became a life governor of both Montreal General Hospital and Western Hospital. The couple had two children: Helen, born in 1909, and Hudson Trevor, born in 1911. The family lived in Westmount and also developed a property near Chesterville, Ontario, where Hudson planned a summer home and stock farm. In late 1911 they travelled to England with Bess's mother, sister, nephew, and household staff. They delayed their return to Canada so they could sail on Titanic. The family boarded at Southampton in April 1912 with several servants and travelled in first class, while two members of their staff travelled in second class. Titanic struck an iceberg late on 14 April 1912 and sank in the early hours of 15 April. Accounts of the Allisons' movements during the evacuation differ, and contemporary newspaper reports included errors and dramatic embellishments. The consistent historical conclusion is that Hudson, Bess, and Helen perished, while Trevor was taken to safety and survived. The family's story has remained part of Titanic historiography because of the loss of an entire immediate family except for one very young child, the disputed circumstances surrounding the evacuation, and the later survival of Trevor.

The Allison family was a Canadian family whose historical significance derives primarily from its connection to RMS Titanic. Hudson Joshua Creighton Allison was born on 9 December 1881 near Chesterville, Ontario, to Jesse Rose Allison and Phoebe Johnston. His family had Irish immigrant ancestry on both sides and was established in Dundas County. Hudson attended local schools, worked in a general store, studied shorthand in Buffalo, and then moved to Montreal, where he entered the insurance business through his maternal uncle George Franklin Johnston. Hudson's career expanded after he became an instructor and met Colonel Andrew Duncan Davidson, a promoter of western Canadian railway and homestead lands. He moved to Winnipeg in 1906 and became involved in insurance and real estate. Around 1907 he joined with George Franklin Johnston and John Wilson McConnell to form Johnston, McConnell & Allison. He was also associated with the Canadian Western Development Company and later with ventures in lumber, coal mining, and securities. These activities made him a prosperous businessman with professional and social connections in Montreal and western Canada. Hudson met Bess Waldo Daniels, a Milwaukee native, while travelling by train in 1907. They married at Westminster Church in Milwaukee on 9 December 1907, Hudson's twenty-sixth birthday, and made their home in Montreal. They were active at Douglas Methodist Church and supported local institutions, including the Montreal YMCA and Montreal hospitals. Their daughter Helen Loraine was born on 5 June 1909, followed by their son Hudson Trevor on 7 May 1911. The family lived at Roslyn Avenue in Westmount before purchasing a larger residence at 665 Belmont Avenue in November 1911. Hudson also acquired land near Chesterville for a summer home and stock farm, with his brother Percy involved in managing the agricultural property. The Allisons travelled to England aboard SS Megantic in November 1911, accompanied by members of Bess's family. While in England they lived in London and hired household staff, including Alice Cleaver as Trevor's nursemaid. The family chose to return to Canada aboard Titanic, boarding at Southampton with their servants. Hudson, Bess, and the children travelled in first class. Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of 14 April 1912 and sank several hours later. Surviving testimony and later accounts do not establish every detail of the family's actions. The central account is that Trevor was separated from his parents during the evacuation and was rescued by Alice Cleaver, while Hudson, Bess, and Helen did not survive. Trevor was later raised away from the disaster and died on 7 August 1929. Because the available accounts contain contradictions, particularly concerning the cabins, the timing of the family's movements, and the role of household staff, interpretations should distinguish documented facts from later retellings. The family is therefore best treated as a historical subject, not as a brand, company, product line, or commercial identity.

• 1929

  Death of Hudson Trevor Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  The sole surviving child of the immediate family died on 7 August 1929.

• 1912

  Titanic voyage and sinking

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family boarded Titanic at Southampton. Hudson, Bess, and Helen died when the ship sank on 15 April; Trevor survived.

• 1911

  Birth of Hudson Trevor Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  The couple's son, Hudson Trevor Allison, was born on 7 May.

• 1911

  Journey to England

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family sailed from Montreal to Liverpool aboard SS Megantic and remained in England into 1912.

• 1909

  Birth of Helen Loraine Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  The couple's daughter, Helen Loraine Allison, was born on 5 June.

• 1907

  Formation of Johnston, McConnell & Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  Hudson joined his uncle George Franklin Johnston and John Wilson McConnell in forming a Montreal real estate firm.

• 1907

  Marriage of Hudson and Bess Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  Hudson Allison married Bess Waldo Daniels at Westminster Church in Milwaukee on 9 December.

• 1906

  Move to Winnipeg

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  After working in Montreal insurance, Hudson moved to Winnipeg following an opportunity connected with western Canadian land development.

• 1881

  Birth of Hudson Allison

  [1]Allison familyen.wikipedia.org

  Hudson Joshua Creighton Allison was born near Chesterville in Winchester Township, Dundas County, Ontario.

1. 1Allison familyen.wikipedia.org