Talbot H. Southwick was born August 10, 1911, in Great Neck, New York, the son of Clarence and Jean (Folkard/Folkart) Southwick. He had an older brother, Gilbert. Throughout his childhood the family lived in North Hampstead, Nassau County, New York.
Talbot had a privileged upbringing during what became known as "the Roaring Twenties." His father, Clarence worked in advertising, eventually establishing his own agency. Their lives were lightened by servants, and repeated trips to Europe and Bermuda on the great Cunard ocean liners Aquitania and Mauretania. Around 1926 the family moved to New York City, living variously on Fourth Avenue, Riverside Drive and 14th Street.
His parents were divorced , and Clarence married a second time in 1929 to Lloyd Marshall. Even as late as 1940, both Talbot and Gilbert were still single and living with their mother on 14th Street in Manhattan. Gilbert had followed his father's example, and was working as a manager of an advertising firm; Talbot was working in collections for "Reg. Corp."
Talbot continued living at the 14th Street address at least until 1957; from 1959 until 1994 he lived at 79 Horatio St.
Talbot H. Southwick died on October 1, 1994, aged 83, at the Fieldston Lodge Care Center in the Bronx. He was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Federal Censuses; New York, State Census, 1915 and 1925; UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960; UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989, U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Vol. 1; Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, and Death Announcements, 1851-2003.