ONE OF OVER 2,208 PASSENGER & CREW STORIES - JOHN WILLIAM GILL, MARRIED VALENTINE’S DAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1912

John Gill had lived for years in the town of Stoughton, Wisconsin. Throughout those years he corresponded with friends and family members back in his native England and an old friendship turned into much more. In 1911 he returned to England with plans to marry Sarah Elizabeth Wilton Hodder. The sweethearts were married on Valentine’s Day of 1912 in the Parish Church of Clevedon, England.

Mr. Gill was returning to America alone to make preparations for his bride to follow him in the summer. He boarded Titanic as a second class passenger. It was on his 2-month wedding anniversary that the great ship struck the iceberg and the young bridegroom perished. His body was later recovered and the body was buried at sea the following day. Personal possessions were returned to the young widow who cherished them the rest of her life.

The Parish Church of Clevedon, England held a special service in memory of John Gill and the offertory funds from the day were given to Sarah. A wedding photo of the young couple was hung in the porch of the church and a special hymn composed for the occasion was sang by the congregation. Sarah Gill never remarried and it is said that for an extended period of her life she refused to talk at all.