Who was Mrs Annie May Stengel?

Mrs Annie May Stengel was a first-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on May 2, 1868, in Brooklyn, New York, she was 43 (forty-three) years old when she boarded the ill-fated ship in 1912. Annie was an American citizen from a notable family background, with one of her ancestors being Robert Morris, a signatory of the US Declaration of Independence.

Early Life and Family

Annie May Stengel, née Morris, was born into a family with an intriguing lineage:

Father: Charles E. Morris (born 1828), a “cartman”
Mother: Amanda Ripley (born 1843)
Siblings: One brother, Edward (born 1875)
Half-siblings: Four from her father’s first marriage - Thomas, Frank, Emma, and Joseph

Growing up in Brooklyn, Annie’s family resided at 311 Hoyt Street by 1880, as recorded in the census of that year.

Marriage and Children

In 1888, at the age of 20 (twenty), Annie married Charles Emil Henry Stengel, a prominent figure in the leather manufacturing industry. The couple had three children:

Inez (born November 3, 1888)
Henry Ivan (born October 3, 1891)
Karl Raymond (born July 9, 1895)

The Stengel family lived in various locations, including:

Spring Lake Borough, Monmouth, New Jersey (1900)
1192 Broad Street, Newark (1905)
1075 Broad Street, Newark (1910)

The Titanic Journey

In March 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Stengel embarked on a European trip. For their return journey to the United States, they boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as first-class passengers. Their ticket details were as follows:

Ticket number: 11778
Cost: £55 8s 10d
Cabin: C116

The Night of the Sinking

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Annie Stengel’s experience was harrowing:

She and her husband were in their cabin when the ship struck the iceberg.
After initial confusion, they went to investigate and saw Captain Smith looking grave.
Annie escaped in lifeboat 5, while her husband managed to board lifeboat 1.

Annie’s account of the sinking was vivid and emotional:

“We could see the big liner not a great way from us as she sank slowly and first at the bow. After we had been in the lifeboats for some time we heard four explosions from the Titanic, and after that she began to sink rapidly. She was listing greatly to port as she sank, and as she foundered her stern lifted high in the air. As she did so I saw many persons jump into the sea and disappear in the darkness. The cries from the distressed passengers who had been left on the ship and who did not fully realise that they were lost until after the explosion took place, were horrifying. I can’t forget it. Those wails of distress keep ringing in my ears.”

Life After the Titanic

Following the disaster, the Stengels returned to their home in Newark. However, their post-Titanic life was marked by both tragedy and adventure:

Mr. Stengel died suddenly on April 19, 1914, possibly due to delayed shock from the Titanic disaster.
Annie inherited a considerable estate and an annuity of $15,000.
She became an avid traveler, embarking on numerous trips to Europe over the next two decades.

Annie’s Travels

Annie’s passion for travel is evidenced by the many ships she sailed on after the Titanic, including:

Araguaya (1923)
San Lorenzo (1925)
Majestic (1927)
President Cleveland (1928)
Columbus (1928)
Reliance (1928)
California (1929)
Leviathan (1932)
St Louis (1937)
Kungsholm (1930 and 1937)
Europa (1938)

Later Years and Legacy

In her later years, Annie Stengel:

Settled in Miami, Florida in 1940
Maintained a summer home in Spring Lake, New Jersey
Kept many priceless family relics

Annie’s health declined in her final years. She passed away on January 22, 1956, at the age of 88 (eighty-eight) in the Fairfield State Hospital, Norwalk, Connecticut. She was laid to rest alongside her husband in Fairmont Cemetery, Newark.

Mrs Annie May Stengel’s life story, from her survival of the Titanic disaster to her later globetrotting adventures, serves as a testament to her resilience and zest for life. Her firsthand accounts of the Titanic’s sinking continue to provide valuable insights into one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.