Edwina Celia Troutt

Who was Edwina Celia Troutt?

Edwina Celia Troutt was a remarkable Titanic survivor who lived to be 100 years old. Born on July 8, 1884, in Bath, England, she endured health challenges in her youth but went on to lead an extraordinary life marked by her survival of the Titanic disaster and her later contributions to preserving its history.

Early Life and Family

Edwina was born into a large family in Bath, Somerset, England. Her parents were Edwin Charles Troutt and Elizabeth Ellen Gay. Although Edwina claimed to be the eleventh of thirteen children, records show she was likely one of ten siblings. Her mother was a descendant of John Gay, the poet who wrote “The Beggar’s Opera.”

As a child, Edwina faced significant health challenges:

• At age 16, she simultaneously suffered from pleurisy, pneumonia, and German measles
• This illness cost her the use of one lung for the rest of her life
• Despite her poor health, she was not expected to survive to adulthood

Despite these setbacks, Edwina persevered. She worked as a primary school teacher in her teenage years and later at her brother-in-law’s tobacco shop.

Journey to America and Early Career

Edwina’s first trip to America came on November 16, 1907, when she arrived as a second-class passenger aboard the White Star liner Arabic. Immigration records describe her as:

• An unmarried shop assistant
• 23 years old
• 5'3½" tall
• Brown eyes and hair with a dark complexion

In the United States, Edwina worked various jobs:

1. Domestic servant for the William Wynn family in Queens, New York
2. Employee in the home of Harry Garfield, president of Williams College
3. Waitress at a café in Norumbega Park, Boston (after the Titanic disaster)

The Fateful Titanic Journey

In early 1912, Edwina returned to England but planned to go back to America to help her sister Elsie with her newborn child. She purchased a second-class ticket aboard the Oceanic but was transferred to the Titanic due to a coal strike. Her ticket number was 34218, which cost £10 10s.

Experiences on the Titanic

• Shared a cabin with Nora A. Keane and Susan Webber
• Sat at the dining saloon table with Danish engineer Jacob Milling and Argentine student Edgar Andrew
• Was in her bunk at the time of collision with the iceberg

During the evacuation, Edwina:

1. Went on deck to learn about the collision
2. Returned below to warn acquaintances and help with lifebelts
3. Assisted her cabinmate Nora Keane in getting dressed
4. Initially resigned herself to death, watching lifeboats being lowered
5. Eventually accepted a baby from a man and entered a lifeboat

There is still debate among Titanic researchers about which lifeboat carried Edwina to safety.

Life After the Titanic

Edwina’s post-Titanic life was marked by several notable events:

• Moved to California in 1916 for the climate
• Picked apricots during World War I for gas mask manufacturing
• Married three times:
  1. Alfred Thorwald Petersen (1919-1944)
  2. James Corrigan (1955-1957)
  3. James Morell MacKenzie (1963-1967)

Involvement with the Titanic Community

From the 1950s onward, Edwina became deeply involved with the Titanic community:

• Gave numerous interviews about her experiences
• Spoke at schools and community groups
• Attended Titanic conventions and film premieres
• Formed close bonds with other survivors and researchers

Legacy and Longevity

Edwina Troutt MacKenzie passed away on December 3, 1984, at the age of 100. She was the fourth-longest-living Titanic survivor, behind only:

1. Mary Davis Wilburn (104)
2. Marjorie Newell Robb (103)
3. Ellen Shine Callaghan (101)

For many years, Edwina believed she was the oldest living Titanic survivor, unaware that Mary Davis Wilburn was actually older. Her longevity and willingness to share her experiences made her an invaluable source for Titanic historians and enthusiasts, helping to keep the memory of that fateful voyage alive for future generations.