Mr. John William Hemingway, Double Bassist

John William Hemingway, 27, of Buslington, England, was a son of Joseph Hemingway and Mary Goodall. The Hemingway family was a family of musicians. The Hemingways had three daughters, Hannah, Mary, Nellie, and two sons, John William and Herbert. Father Joseph Hemingway played the double bass and John followed him. Both father and son frequently worked as musicians on transatlantic liners. John also may have played in London’s Royal Albert Hall. John’s sister Hannah played the cello in a ladies orchestra (probably in the city hall in Hull); Nellie was a violinist, and Herbert played the cello.

John survived the sinking of the Lusitania. His daughter Josephine Lucie, born after the sinking, was named after the ship and is still living.

Contributors:
Sylvia Morgan (grandniece of John William Hemingway)

References:
Ellis Island Online