Mr Samuel Beard Risien

Mr Samuel Beard Risien was born in Deal, Kent, England on 3 June 1842, the son of Samuel Smillie Risien and his wife Elizabeth Chambers. Samuel Smillie Risien was a grocer and Elizabeth ran a boarding house. They had eight children: Emily Furton, Alfred William, Jonathan Bailey, Elizabeth Ludlum, Jonathan F., Mary, Joseph, and Samuel Beard. Apparently the parents lived in the United States for awhile as Samuel Beard Risien's sister Mary was born here while the other children (older and younger) were born in England.

Samuel Beard Risien married first to Mary Louise Lellyet on 8 June 1867 in St. Pancras, London and they came to the United States in 1870. All of Samuel Beard Risien's children were by her (1). Samuel and Mary became American citizens and settled in Groesbeck, Texas. Mary Louise (Lellyet) Risien died between 1880-1890 but no gravestone has ever been found for her.

After the death of Mary Louise Risien, Samuel remarried to Emma Lellyet (the sister of his first wife), who was a native of Durban, South Africa where her family apparently had an interest in diamond mines. Late in 1910, Samuel and Emma went back to Durban and stayed for about 14 months. Family lore has them bringing back diamonds and travelling third class so no one would guess what they were carrying in their huge suitcases.

On 30 March 1912, Samuel sent a postcard to his son Charles J. Risien from London:

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

On 10 April 1912, Samuel and his wife boarded the Titanic at Southampton (ticket number 364498, £14 10s).

Samuel Beard Risien and his wife Emma both died in the disaster. Their bodies, if recovered, have never been identified.

Notes
1.The children of Samuel Beard and Mary Louise Lellyet Risien were:
i. Charles J. (1880-1948) was a pharmacist in Frost, Texas and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas. He was twice married (his widow, Rosa (Bostick) Risien, lived to be 95, died in Corsicana, Texas 1984) and had an only daughter, Louise Risien, by his first wife.
ii. Samuel M. Risien--lived and died in Groesbeck, Texas.
iii. Katherine E. (Katy) Risien-married a Mr McFarland.

Sources
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279]).

Acknowledgements
Daisy Bostick, USA (granddaughter-in-law of Samuel B. Risien)
Laura Myhre, USA (great-great-granddaughter of Samuel B. Risien)
Rosa Bostick Risien (daughter-in-law of Samuel B. Risien)

Contributors
Phillip Gowan USA