encyclopedia titanica

Mr Thor Anderson Olsvigen : 3rd Class Passengers

Summary
Born: Sunday 7th February 1892
Age: 20 years
Last Residence: in Oslo Norway
Occupation: Salesman
3rd Class passenger
First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 6563 , £9 4s 6d
Destination: Carneron United States
Died in the sinking.
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 89)
Buried: at Sea on Wednesday 24th April 1912.

Mr Thor Anderson Olsvigen

Mr Thor Andersen Olsvigen, 20, an unmarried salesman from Vikersund, Norway, was born on 7 February 1892 (1) in Olsvigen farm Ådal. His parents were Anders Eriksen Olsvigen and Rønnang Torsen Olsvigen. He was the second of 11 children.

To reach his destination of Cameron, Wisconsin, he booked a passage on the Titanic from the White Star's agent in Christiania (now Oslo): Ferdinand Elster on 2 April 1912. (third-class ticket No. 6563, £9 4s 6d). He travelled to Hull on 3 April 1912 aboard the Oslo and boarded the Titanic at Southampton.

Olsvigen died in the sinking. His body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett (#89) and buried at sea. The belongings were returned to his parents.

NO. 89. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 25. - HAIR LIGHT. CLOTHING - Dark suit; black boots and socks. EFFECTS - Gold watch and chain; pocket book with $ 20.00 in notes and papers; bundle of photos; knife; comb; purse and chain, with $ 4.50; pocket knife. NO MARKS THIRD CLASS TICKET NO. 6563 NAME - THOS. ANDERSON

 

Thor Olsvigen's parents received £60 (1090.20 NKr) from the Mansion House Fund on 19 January 1913. The family claimed compensation from the White Star Line and received a first payment of £72 (minus £18 for attorney) in February 1916. A second payment of £19 (attorney £5) was given to them in November 1916. In early 1928 they got a final £2,3. His father wrote to the agent and asked $25 for a trunk he son had with him, but White Star refused to make any payment. There is a notice in the Fund's papers: "Anders Olsviken is lately been sick and his wife as well. He is now been taken in at Drammen hospital".

Thor's mother died of cancer in November 1913. His father died in 1943. His oldest sister emigrated a few years after his death. She arrived in Wisconsin safely.

Notes
1. Wetterholm (1988, 1996) records the date of birth as 7 January 1892.
2. His name is sometimes listed as "Thor Anderson".

Documents
Record of Bodies and Effects: Passengers and Crew, S.S. Titanic (#89)

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Per Kristian Sebak (1998) Titanic: 31 Norske Skjebner, Genesis Publishers
Claes-Göran Wetterholm (1988, 1996, 1999) Titanic. Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91 518 3644 0

Acknowledgements
Claes-Göran Wetterholm, Sweden

Contributors
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Per Kristian Sebak, Norway
Leif Snellman, Finland