Emma Jane Risien

Who was Mrs Emma Jane Risien?

Mrs Emma Jane Risien was a 64 (sixty-four) year-old English passenger who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in 1848 in Havant, Hampshire, she was a third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, traveling with her husband Samuel Beard Risien.

Early Life and Family

A Hampshire Childhood

Emma Jane Lellyett was born in early 1848 in Havant, Hampshire, England. She was baptized on March 29, 1848, marking the beginning of her life’s journey. Emma was the second child in a family of eight siblings:

Mary Louisa (b. 1846)
Charlotte Amelia (b. 1851)
Kate Elizabeth (b. 1852)
Walter Thornton (b. 1854)
Louisa Emily (b. 1856)
Ellen (b. 1857)
John Densley Hopwood (b. 1860)

Her parents were Walter Lellyett, born in 1804, who worked as a coal merchant and victualler, and Charlotte Boyett, born in 1816. The couple had married in Chichester in 1845, bringing together their Hampshire and Sussex roots.

Growing Up in Havant

Emma’s early years were spent in Havant, a market town in Hampshire. Census records paint a picture of her childhood:

1851 Census: The Lellyett family resided on North Street, Havant
1861 Census: They had moved to South Street in the same town

A Family’s Journey to South Africa

After 1861, the Lellyett family seemingly vanished from British records. It is believed that they embarked on a life-changing journey to Durban, South Africa. This move would prove significant, as the family reportedly became involved in the lucrative diamond mining industry.

Marriage and Life in Texas

A Transatlantic Love Story

Emma’s life took an interesting turn when she married Samuel Beard Risien, an English carpenter. Interestingly, Samuel had previously been married to Emma’s elder sister, Mary, who had passed away sometime after 1880. Emma and Samuel’s union occurred before 1890, marking the beginning of their shared adventures.

Life in the Lone Star State

By 1910, Emma and Samuel had settled in Limestone, Texas, as evidenced by the census of that year. Their time in Texas was likely interspersed with periods in South Africa, where Emma’s family connections to diamond mining may have played a role in their travels.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

A Diamond-Studded Mystery

In late 1910, Emma and Samuel returned to Durban, South Africa, staying for about 14 months. Family lore suggests an intriguing twist to their story:

They reportedly brought back diamonds from South Africa, choosing to travel third class on their return journey to avoid suspicion about the valuable contents of their large suitcases.

Boarding the “Unsinkable” Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Emma and Samuel boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket, number 364498, cost £14 10s (14 pounds and 10 shillings), a significant sum for the time.

A Postcard’s Poignant Message

Just days before their departure, on March 30, 1912, Samuel sent a postcard to his son Charles from London. The message, filled with excitement and a touch of concern, read:

“About the time you get this we will be leaving for N. York. We expect to sail on the new ship ‘Titanic’ largest in the world and her trip (45,000 tons) two more papers I think will be all I can send. We shall sail from Southampton on April 10th that is if they can get coal enough to go on. it is getting very scarce and dear. Both well, Papa”

The Tragic End

Sadly, both Emma and Samuel Risien perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified, leaving their final resting place as the cold depths of the North Atlantic.

Emma Jane Risien’s life, from her Hampshire roots to her global travels and tragic end, serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. Her story, intertwined with family, adventure, and possibly even hidden diamonds, continues to fascinate Titanic historians and enthusiasts more than a century later.