Titanic Passengers: Joseph Laroche & Family
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Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche
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Mr Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti on May
26, 1886. In 1901, at age 15, he left Haiti and travelled to Beauvais,
France, where he hoped to join the high school to study engineering.
While visiting nearby Villejuif Joseph met Miss Juliette Lafargue; After
Joseph graduated and got his degree, he and Juliette were married in March
of 1908. Their daughter Simonne was born 19 February 1909; a second
daughter, Louise, was born prematurely on 2 July 1910, and suffered many
subsequent medical problems.
Racial descrimination prevented Joseph Laroche from obtaining a high-paying
job in France. Since the family needed more money to cope with Louise's
medical bills, Joseph decided to return to Haiti to find a better-paying
engineering job, the move being planned for 1913.
In March 1912, however, Juliette discovered that she was pregnant, so she
and Joseph decided to leave for Haiti before her pregnancy became too far
advanced for travel. Joseph's mother in Haiti bought them steamship tickets
on the La France as a welcome present, but the line's strict policy
regarding children caused them to transfer their booking to the Titanic's
second class. On April 10 the Laroche family took the train from Paris to
Cherbourg in order to board the brand new liner later that evening.
Joseph - who is thought to have been the only black passenger on the Titanic
- died in the sinking but his family were saved, possibly in lifeboat 14.
Juliette LaRoche
================
Mrs Joseph LaRoche (Juliette Marie Louise Lafargue), 22, was born in Paris
on born 20 October 1889 the daughter of widower Monsieur Lafargue, a wine
seller of Villejuif, France.
She boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her husband Joseph and daughters
Louise and Simonne. Juliette was pregnant at the time of the disaster.{1}
She died in Paris, France on 10 January 1980.
Simonne LaRoche
===============
Miss Simonne Marie Anne Andr�e LaRoche, 3, was born in Paris, France on 19
February 1909.
She boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her father Joseph, mother Juliette
and sister Louise.
Simonne LaRoche died in Paris on 8 August 1973, she never married.
Louise LaRoche
==============
Miss Louise LaRoche, 1, was born in Paris on 2 July 1910.
She boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with her father Joseph, mother Juliette
and sister Simonne.
Louise LaRoche died in Paris on 28 January 1998. She never married.
Notes :
Joseph LeMercier LaRoche, Jr. was born 17 December 1912, he married to a
Mlle Claudine ?. He died 17 January 1987. Claudine LaRoche is still living
in the Paris area. She and Joseph had several children who are the only
living descendants of this family.
References
Judith Geller (1998) Titanic: Women and Children First. Haynes. ISBN 1 85260
594 4
Acknowledgements
Olivier Mendez, France
Contributors
George Behe, USA
Phillip Gowan, USA
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