Mr Stephen Weart Blackwell

Mr Stephen Weart Blackwell, 45, of Trenton, New Jersey was born on 6 September 1866, the eldest son of former U. S. Senator and Mrs Jonathan H. Blackwell of 167 West State Street. After graduating from Princeton Blackwell worked in connection with his father's wholesale grocery business.

Stephen Blackwell travelled with fellow Trentonian Washington Augustus Roebling, II and Roebling's chauffeur, Frank Stanley on a tour of Europe in the early months of 1912. Blackwell's wife had died aged 24 in 1906 and, evidently still grieving, he felt a journey would help his shattered nerves.

When sailing to Europe, the two men became acquainted with Miss Caroline Bonnell. They met up with Ms. Bonnell and the family of George Dennick Wick while touring France, and they boarded the Titanic together in Southampton, Blackwell occupied cabin "T" on the Boat Deck (ticket number 113784, £35 10s).

Miss Bonnell said she last saw Mr Blackwell in the smoking room talking with Captain Smith. Both Blackwell and Roebling perished. His brothers, William J. and Henry C. Blackwell went to New York with two cousins of Roebling upon receiving word of the sinking. After meeting with Miss Bonnell, the men returned to Trenton, convinced that their relatives had not survived. In addition, to his parents and brothers, Mr Blackwell was survived by a sister, Clara. She had been in Washington attending a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution Congress, when notified of the sinking. The Trenton Evening Times also reported that Blackwell's mother had been in ill health for some time and there was concern about how she would take the news of her son, though she seemed to be holding up well once told.

Although a body, initially identified as Blackwell, was recovered (#241) it appears that his body was never found. The stone in the Blackwell family grave in Hopewell churchyard, Trenton reads simply "LOST AT SEA ON THE STEAMER TITANIC". Blackwell's memorial service was scheduled for April 27, 1912, 3:00pm at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, the Rev. William Best Eddy presiding.

He left his estate, estimated at between $110,000 and $200,000 to his father and brothers. According to Insurance Press, his accident insurance policy paid $33,000, among the highest amounts carried by Titanic victims. Only Charles Hays at $80,000 and Frank Warren $56,000 were reported to have larger policies.

References
Trentonian, 21 December 1997
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])

Contributors
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Arthur Merchant, USA
Craig Stringer, UK
Geoff Whitfield, UK