Gunhilde Oline 'Lena' Jacobsen

Who was Mrs Gunhilde Oline ‘Lena’ Jacobsen?

Mrs Gunhilde Oline ‘Lena’ Jacobsen, also known as Lena Jacobsen Solvang, was a 63 (sixty-three) year-old Norwegian woman who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1848, she was a widowed seamstress and mother who was embarking on a journey to visit her daughter in America when fate intervened on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

A Norwegian Upbringing

Lena was born Gunhilde Oline Johannesdatter on December 21, 1848, in Skaare (Haugesund), Rogaland, Norway. She was christened on December 31 of the same year, marking the beginning of a life deeply rooted in Norwegian culture and tradition.

Her parents were:

Father: Johannes Torstensen Fedjedal/Teigadahl (born 1813, christened April 3, 1814)
Mother: Gonnel/Gunnild Christine Hansdatter (born February 7, 1817)

The couple married on April 11, 1844, in Avaldsnes, Rogaland County, Norway.

Lena grew up in a family of five children:

Berthe Christine (born June 18, 1844)
Osmund (born April 12, 1846)
Gunhilde Oline (Lena) (born December 21, 1848)
Anna Henrikke (born September 6, 1851)
Marthe Mallene (born April 4, 1854)

Marriage and Family Life

From Unmarried Mother to Widowed Seamstress

Lena’s journey through adulthood was marked by significant changes in her personal life. In 1875, she was listed as unmarried and living with her parents at Feidjedal, Skåre, Torvastad, Utsira, Rogaland County, Norway. At this time, she already had two daughters.

Sometime after 1875, Lena married Rasmus Jacobsen, a general laborer born on April 14, 1833, at Udsire/Utsira Torvastad, Rogaland. This union expanded her family, and by 1900, records show that Lena was living at Sørhaug, Skåre, Norway, with:

Her husband, Rasmus Jakobsen (born 1833)
Son Ole (born 1881)
Daughter Ragna (born January 11, 1895, at Skaare)

In total, Lena appears to have had four children:

Son Ole
Daughters Berthe and Ragna
A step-daughter Elizabeth

Widowhood and New Beginnings

Tragedy struck Lena’s life between 1900 and 1910 when her husband Rasmus passed away. The 1910 census reveals that Lena, now a widow, was still living at Sørhaug with her daughter Ragna. It was during this period that Lena took up work as a seamstress, likely to support herself and her remaining family at home.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why was Lena on the Titanic?

In 1912, at the age of 63, Lena embarked on what would be her final journey. She was traveling to visit her married daughter, Berta Berg, who had settled in Centerville, South Dakota. This trip represented not just a family reunion, but possibly a new chapter in Lena’s life as she ventured across the Atlantic.

Titanic Voyage Details

Ticket Number: 65305
Passenger Class: 3rd Class
Embarkation Point: Southampton
Fare: £8 2s

The Night of the Sinking

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, a fellow passenger and survivor named Bernt Johannesen, who knew Lena, reportedly assisted her to the boat deck. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Johannesen escorted Lena to a lifeboat on the port side of the ship, believed to be either No. 10 or No. 12. Thinking she would board the lifeboat, Johannesen left her there.

“For reasons unknown she stayed on the ship and was lost.” - Encyclopedia Titanica

This poignant detail raises questions about Lena’s final moments. Did she hesitate to leave others behind? Was she overwhelmed by the chaos? Or did she, perhaps, have difficulty understanding instructions in a foreign language?

Legacy and Mysteries

The Solvang Enigma

One intriguing aspect of Lena’s story is the use of the name ‘Solvang’ on the White Star Line passenger list. It remains a mystery why she was registered under this name, adding an element of intrigue to her already compelling story.

Remembering Lena Jacobsen

Lena Jacobsen’s life and tragic death on the Titanic serve as a poignant reminder of the many individual stories that make up the larger narrative of the disaster. Her journey from a small Norwegian town to the decks of the most famous ship in history encapsulates the dreams and aspirations of many immigrants of her time.

As we remember Lena, we are reminded of the strength of maternal love that drove her to cross an ocean, the resilience she showed in the face of widowhood, and the cruel twist of fate that prevented her from reaching her destination. Her story, like many others from that night, continues to captivate and move us, ensuring that the memory of those lost on the Titanic lives on.