Collection of three letters related to the loss of John Gill in the Titanic disaster, consisting of a letter from his widow Sarah Gill's attorneys, a letter from the White Star Line, and a carbon copy of the law firm's response. The initial TLS is from Sarah Gill's attorneys O'Donoghue & Forbes, December 21, 1915, in full: "We are acting for Mrs. Sarah Gill of Clevedon, Somerset, whose husband was drowned in the 'Titanic' & who is, at present, receiving an annuity out of Bishop of Exeter's fund. We notice from the papers that your Line has agreed to pay £128,000 in settlement of all claims arising from the sinking of the 'Titanic.' We should be glad if you would kindly let us hear what part of this fund will be allocated to our client." The White Star Line forwards the letter to their law firm, Messrs. Hill, Dickinson & Co., in a TLS of December 22nd, in headed “‘Titanic,’” in full: "We attach letter from Messrs O'Donoghue & Forbes, regarding Mrs. Sarah Gill, whose husband was drowned in the 'Titanic,' with which we shall be glad if you will deal." Last is the law firm's retained carbon of their letter to O'Donoghue & Forbes, in part: "The reference in the newspapers to a settlement is with regard to certain proceedings in America. If your client was a party to those proceedings she will in due course receive a dividend; but we have no information…of your client being a party to the American Proceedings." In overall very good to fine condition, with scattered creasing. The young John Gill married Sarah Hodder on February 14, 1912, and in April he boarded the Titanic as a second-class passenger with a view to setting up a new home in America for he and his bride. Gill perished in the disaster and his body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett on April 23rd, with his personal effects recovered and returned to his widow. Her heart broken, Sarah Gill never remarried and passed away in 1968.
