The Lusitania Romances

[Ren-Horng James Wang]

I know the title of this thread sounds romantic, but it's here for another reason: to see if anyone else has been able to find information on stories which researching has lead to dead ends.

Stewart and Leslie Mason
I think it's ridiculous on how little information there is on this couple. I've gone to clan Lindsay, Boston Family History, Boston University (who owns her house now), and none of them seem to know anything about Leslie. Hopefully the Suffolk Family History Society will find something on Stewart . . .

Jack Welsh and Gerda Nielson
I was advised that the first step would be getting a copy of their marriage certificate. Does anyone know the date of when these two were married? I've seen "two weeks after" the disaster, but that still looks vague. The 1901 census page shows a John Welsh of North Manchester and Gerda Nielson of Durham. Are these the same people?

Ogden and Mary Hammond, Frederick and Kathleen Hammond
To put it concisely, too many people named Hammond, not enough of them interested in the Lusitania.

If anyone can offer tips on how to get out of these research ruts, I would be very grateful.

Ren-Horng (James)

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Ren-Horng,

As I've mentioned to Jim Kalafus I have come across occasional photos and short features on Mrs. Ogden Hammond in the society and fashion press. I have yet to be able to place where I saw them but when I do I will let you both know. I recall a particularly striking portrait of the lady from about 1913-14 that must have been in "Vogue" magazine or some similar publication.

Did you get my reply to your request for info about Lucy Duff Gordon's Lusitania connections? I have had some emails go astray and wondered if that one reached you. I am happy to help as I am able.

Randy

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Well, the Mrs. Hammond who survived was a striking looking woman to judge from her photos. She died at Saranac Lake soon after the disaster, which implies that she was tubercular, since Saranac was synonymous with TB at that time.

Ogden Hammond has his own entry on the Hammond family website. His and Mary's photos ran in a New York Herald photomontage soon after the sinking. Mary Picton Stevens Hammond was quite beautiful. She left a $1,000.000+ estate, the accounts of the settling of which will give you all of the biographical information you could want.

Leslie Mason- at least two photos of her ran after the sinking- one flattering, one less so. Have you enquired at the museum collection which bears her name? Or the chapel? I have not checked to see if she left a will and do not know of how her estate was disposed, but finding the records might be a good place to start.
Stewart- you can get a good physical description of him , and some other information, at EllisIsland.org