Mrs Anna Abelson: A Titanic Survivor’s Tale of Resilience

Who was Mrs Anna Abelson?

Mrs Anna Abelson was a 28 (twenty-eight) year-old Russian-born survivor of the Titanic disaster. Born as Anna Nantes Jacobson on September 14, 1883, in Odessa, Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), she embarked on a journey that would forever change her life and secure her place in maritime history.

Early Life and Family

Anna’s early life remains shrouded in mystery, with few concrete details available. What is known is that she had at least two siblings, a brother and a sister. Prior to her fateful voyage on the Titanic, Anna may have spent a considerable portion of her adult life in Paris, a city that would continue to play a significant role in her story.

Marriage and Occupation

Anna, described as an “expert dressmaker,” was married to Samuel Abelson, a Russian-born bookkeeper approximately 30 years old at the time of the Titanic’s maiden voyage. The couple had no children. Their skills and professions would prove crucial in the aftermath of the disaster.

The Titanic Journey

Boarding and Accommodation

The Abelsons purchased ticket number P/PP 3381 for their journey, paying £24 for their passage. They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as second-class passengers, with New York as their final destination. Before embarking on their transatlantic voyage, the couple had stayed in Paris, where Anna’s brother resided at Rue Marcadet 68.

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14, 1912, Anna’s life changed forever. In later years, she recounted her experience, though her story became somewhat embellished over time. According to a 1962 interview, Anna claimed she had been seasick for most of the voyage. On the night of the disaster, she was awakened by a knock on her cabin door from a steward informing her of the situation.

Anna left her cabin with her husband, dressed only in shoes, a nightgown, and a robe, carrying a steamer rug that would become a significant part of her survival story. While she later claimed to have jumped into the icy waters and been picked up by a lifeboat, it is more likely that she was safely evacuated in one of the aft lifeboats.

Survival and Rescue

Mrs. Abelson survived the sinking, possibly in lifeboat 10, although there is no conclusive evidence. Tragically, her husband Samuel was among those lost in the disaster. During her time in the lifeboat, Anna used the steamer rug she had brought from her cabin to wrap around two shivering children, demonstrating her compassion even in the face of tragedy.

Life After the Titanic

Immediate Aftermath

After being rescued by the Carpathia, Anna attempted to send a Marconigram to her brother in Paris, which was never transmitted due to the overwhelming number of messages. Upon arrival in New York, she was assisted by the Hebrew Shelter and Emigrant Aid Society and received support from the Red Cross.

A New Beginning

In the years following the disaster, Anna’s life took several interesting turns:

1. She made her home in Manhattan and bravely returned to ocean travel, visiting Paris in June 1914.
2. Anna met Edward Douglas Bolton, a New York-born lawyer, while dealing with Titanic-related claims at a law firm.
3. On July 6, 1920, Anna married Edward Bolton, beginning a new chapter in her life.

Later Years and Reflections

The Boltons lived in various locations across New York, including the Bronx and Westchester. Anna continued to carry the memories of the Titanic with her:

• She kept the famous Titanic steamer rug, using it on subsequent ocean voyages and even lending it to her brother-in-law during World War I.
• In 1962, Anna gave an interview to the Herald Statesman, sharing her vivid memories of the disaster.
• She attended a special screening of “A Night to Remember” in Manhattan but found it too difficult to watch the sinking scenes.

Final Years

In their later years, Anna and Edward retired to Florida, settling in New Smyrna Beach. During their golden wedding anniversary in July 1970, Anna found the memories of the Titanic disaster too painful to discuss in detail.

Anna Bolton passed away on January 18, 1972, at the age of 88 (eighty-eight), and was buried in Daytona Memorial Park, Florida. Her husband Edward followed her in death on December 7, 1972.

Anna Abelson Bolton’s life story is a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy. From her harrowing experience on the Titanic to her later years as a respected member of society, she carried with her the weight of history and the strength to forge a new life from the ashes of disaster.