Mr Sidney Samuel Jacobsohn

Who was Sidney Samuel Jacobsohn?

Sidney Samuel Jacobsohn was a 42 (forty-two) year-old South African lawyer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on October 23, 1869, in Cape Town, South Africa, Jacobsohn was a second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, traveling with his wife and extended family to Montreal, Quebec.

Early Life and Background

A Multicultural Family

Sidney Samuel Jacobsohn came from a diverse background:

• Father: Moritz Jacobsohn (born 1838), a Jewish-German general merchant
• Mother: Juliet Solomon (born 1839), of Anglo-Australian descent

His parents married around 1865 and had eight children, with seven surviving infancy. Sidney’s siblings included:

1. Rosa Leah (born 1865)
2. Oscar (born 1866)
3. Joseph Henry (born 1868)
4. Florence Annie (born 1874)
5. Lillian Esther Margarethe (born 1879)
6. Lewis Bertie (born 1880)

Professional Life

Sidney Jacobsohn followed a career in law:

• Trained as a lawyer in South Africa
• Partnered in a Cape Town legal practice called Walker and Jacobsohn
• The firm was based at 16 Wale Street with branches throughout South Africa
• Later described as a “colonial lawyer” in England

Life in England

Why did the Jacobsohns move to England?

Sidney, along with his parents and several siblings, relocated to England, settling in London. This move likely occurred to expand their horizons and pursue new opportunities in the heart of the British Empire.

Marriage and Family Life

• Married Amy Frances Cohen on September 6, 1910, in London
• Honeymooned in Torquay, where Sidney drew up his will
• Settled at 7 Pembridge Square, London
• The couple had a daughter who sadly died at birth

The Titanic Journey

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Sidney and Amy Jacobsohn boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers. Their ticket details were:

Who accompanied the Jacobsohns on their journey?

Traveling with Sidney and Amy were:

• Rachel Juli Cohen Christy, Amy’s sister
• Alice Frances Christy, their widowed mother

The group was en route to Montreal, Quebec, possibly for business or family reasons.

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Sidney Jacobsohn during the Titanic’s sinking?

Tragically, Sidney Jacobsohn did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. While the three women in his party - his wife Amy, sister-in-law Rachel, and mother-in-law Alice - were rescued, Sidney perished in the disaster.

His body, if recovered, was never identified.

A Glimmer of Hope

In the aftermath of the disaster, Amy Jacobsohn sent a poignant telegram:

“Dont be alarmed Sydney may be on another boat”

This message, sent to 34 Anson Road, Cricklewood, London, reflects the confusion and hope that many families experienced in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

Legacy and Legal Proceedings

How was Sidney Jacobsohn’s estate settled?

Following her return to London, Amy Frances Jacobsohn initiated legal proceedings in July 1912 to secure Sidney’s estate:

• Lawyers traced Mr. and Mrs. Wright, who had witnessed Sidney’s will in Torquay
• The Wrights testified that they had read the will, an unusual practice
• Sidney’s estate, valued at £4,017, 1s, 7d, was left entirely to Amy
• Sidney’s brother, residing in Anson Road, Cricklewood, waived all claims to the estate
• The judge ruled in Amy’s favor, with the provision that if the original will was ever recovered, it must be produced in court
• The estate was officially settled on October 7, 1912

An Enduring Memory

Sidney Samuel Jacobsohn’s life, cut short at 42 (forty-two) years old, serves as a poignant reminder of the many personal tragedies that unfolded during the Titanic disaster. His story, intertwining elements of colonial success, intercontinental travel, and ultimately tragedy, continues to captivate those interested in the human stories behind the Titanic’s second-class passengers.