Mr Mauritz Nils Martin Adahl

 

Mr Mauritz Nils Martin Ådahl, 30, was born 15 June 1881 the son of Elna Ådahl and her husband. Ådahl had worked as a carpenter in Asarum, Blekinge, Sweden but moved to the USA in 1903. His fiancé Emelie came 1906 and they were married on 14 September 1907. A daughter, Vera, was born 1908 and a second child, Georgia, in 1910.

Emelie started to long for home and she returned to Sweden in 1911. Mauritz's father died in May 1911 and because his mother had difficulty in supporting herself Mauritz returned to Sweden that Christmas. A few months later he planned to return to America for a couple of years to earn some money. The family had bought a piece of land in Asarum and he was going to build a house.

Mauritz travelled with John Holm. On their way to Denmark they met Adelia Landergren from Karlshamn. None of them had originally planned to take the Titanic but due to the recent coal strike they were transferred. They boarded as third class passengers in Southampton. Nils held ticket # C 7076 for which the fare was £7 5s.

After the collision they helped Adelia up to the boat deck and shoved her into lifeboat 13, but the men did not follow.

Ådahl's body was later recovered by the MacKay Bennett (#72). On him they found his watch that had stopped at 2.34, 14 minutes after Titanic sunk. He was buried at sea 24 April 1912.

NO. 72 - MALE - ESTIMATED AGE, 30 - HAIR FAIR; MOUSTACHE LIGHT CLOTHING - Dark suit; brown socks; striped shirt; singlet marked "M.A."; no other marks. EFFECTS - Silver watch and chain; pipe; book; comb; knife; key chain; sleeve-links; ring marked "MA"; 100 kroner. THIRD CLASS TICKET NO. 7076 - NAME - MAURITZ ADAHL

The Mansion House Fund paid 1784.58 Kr (£98) to his wife and children on 23 January 1913 and 509.8 Kr (£28) to his mother on the same day. Damages of 6006 Kr (£325) were paid to the wife, children and mother on 10 October 1914.

Emelie probably knew that Mauritz had been buried at sea but had never told the children. When the Ådahl's grandchildren planned to visit the grave in Halifax they were shocked to discover the truth. During a recent expedition on the vessel "Nadir" a wreath-laying ceremony was held on deck for Mauritz Ådahl.

After Mauritz's death Emelia lived in destitution, she had to earn her living among other things by sewing flags. She died in 1947.

Notes
He is frequently confused with Nils Martin Ödahl in the lists.

Documents
Record of Bodies and Effects: Passengers and Crew, S.S. Titanic (Public Archives of Nova Scotia) (#72)

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Claes-Göran Wetterholm (1988, 1996, 1999) Titanic. Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91 518 3644 0
Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklets and Minute Books

Acknowledgements
Claes-Göran Wetterholm, Sweden

Contributors
Leif Snellman, Finland

     

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Summary
Born: Wednesday 15th June 1881
Age: 30 years
Last Residence: in Asarum Småland Sweden
Occupation: General Labourer
3rd Class passenger
First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 7076 , £7 5s
Destination: Brooklyn New York United States
Died in the sinking.
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 72)
Buried: at Sea on Wednesday 24th April 1912.

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