Elizabeth Anne Mellenger

Who was Mrs Elizabeth Anne Mellenger?

Mrs Elizabeth Anne Mellenger was a 42 (forty-two) year old English servant and Titanic survivor who embarked on the ill-fated voyage as a second-class passenger. Born in 1870, she survived the sinking and later settled in Canada, where she lived until her death in 1962 at the age of 92 (ninety-two).

Early Life and Family

Elizabeth Anne Mellenger was born as Elizabeth Anne Maidment in Pimlico, Middlesex, England in 1870. She came from a working-class family, with her father William Maidment (1831-1889) working various jobs including porter, painter, and bailiff. Her mother, Sarah Neale (1832-1927), hailed from Buckinghamshire. Elizabeth grew up with five siblings:

• William Henry (b. 1858)
• Charles (b. 1859)
• Louisa (b. 1864)
• John (b. 1867)
• Emily (b. 1873)

Marriage and Children

On March 13, 1895, Elizabeth married Claude Leinard Deschamps Mellinger at St Mary’s Church, Islington. The couple had five children:

1. Eugenie Claudine Emily (b. 1895, later Brunger)
2. Alexander Leinard Deschamps (1896-1975)
3. Violet Madeleine (b. 1899)
4. Edmund Reginald (1900-1992)
5. Constance Sylvia (b. 1904, later Mrs Rupert Vance)

Marital Struggles and Hardship

Elizabeth’s married life took a difficult turn when she and Claude became estranged. The 1911 census paints a picture of the dire circumstances Elizabeth faced:

• Elizabeth and her daughter Eugenie lived with the Carpenter sisters in Wimbledon, Surrey
• She was listed as a married domestic servant
• Her other children were placed in care:
  • Alexander was at Gordon’s Boys Home in Chobham, Surrey
  • Madeline was at a children’s home in Wimbledon
  • The whereabouts of her two youngest children were unclear

Meanwhile, Claude had resettled in Victoria, Australia by 1910, where he lived with another woman named Ellen Costello until his death on March 6, 1952.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Elizabeth Mellenger on the Titanic?

In early 1912, Elizabeth secured a position as a housekeeper at Fillmore Farms in Bennington, Vermont. This estate belonged to the Colgate family, famous for their toothpaste brand. Seeking a fresh start, Elizabeth and her daughter Violet Madeline boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912.

Titanic Ticket Details

The Sinking and Survival

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Mrs Mellenger and her daughter managed to survive the sinking. Their escape can be summarized as follows:

1. Initially entered lifeboat 14
2. Later transferred to boat 12 by Fifth Officer Lowe
3. Boat 12 rescued occupants of collapsible B
4. Elizabeth assisted Second Officer Lightoller by putting her cape around him
5. Lightoller reportedly gave her his whistle in gratitude aboard the Carpathia

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic affect Elizabeth Mellenger’s later life?

The Titanic disaster had a profound impact on Elizabeth’s life:

1. After arriving in New York, she visited the widow of Charles Cresson Jones in Bennington
2. Returned to England briefly before emigrating to Canada around 1915
3. Settled in Toronto with her daughter
4. According to her grandson, Elizabeth:
   • Went deaf prematurely
   • Suffered lifelong nervous reactions from the shock of the sinking

Titanic Reunion

On April 15, 1939, Elizabeth and her daughter participated in a Titanic reunion dinner at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. They were joined by fellow survivors Emma Bliss and John Collins, marking the 27th anniversary of the disaster.

Elizabeth Mellenger’s Legacy

Elizabeth Anne Mellenger passed away on January 4, 1962, at the age of 92. She is buried in St. John’s Ridgeway cemetery near Welland, Ontario. Her story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors and the lasting impact of that fateful night on their lives. Elizabeth’s journey from a struggling mother in England to a Titanic survivor and eventually a long-time resident of Canada encapsulates the dramatic life changes experienced by many who were touched by the Titanic disaster.