August Abraham Johannes Abrahamsson was born in Dragsfjärd, Finland on 15 July 1892.
He was the son of Anton Abrahamsson (1849-1913) and Klara Vilhelmina Vendenberg (1852-1904) and had two known siblings: Anton (1885-1967) and Aina Aliina (1887-1969, later Mrs Odor Trepanus Karlsson).
He boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third class passenger (ticket number 3101284 which had cost £7, 18s, 6d) and was travelling to Hoboken, New Jersey where his brother Anton lived. Accompanying him were Eino Lindqvist and Helga and Hildur Hirvonen and he shared a cabin with five other Finnish men.
At the time of the collision August was asleep and at first he had no intention to go up and investigate the cause. One of his cabin mates left to investigate but never returned and soon he became anxious that something was amiss and headed to the open decks. Soon realising that the ship was in danger he returned below to warn Eino Lindqvist, who was bunked in a different cabin. Upon doing this he started making his way to his own cabin, just one deck below, to fetch a lifebelt but found that seawater had already inundated that section of the ship.
He managed to get up to the upper decks, minus a lifebelt, and entered one of the last lifeboats, most likely lifeboat 15. He later reported hearing stifled explosions as the ship went down and stated that the lights still burned brightly until only moments before the ship made her final plunge.
After his arrival in New York August was quartered at St. Vincent Hospital in New York. He went back to Finland but, in 1914, got married and returned to America. His wife was a lady named Martha (b. 30 December 1890), another Finn who had also spent time living in America, she arriving there in 1913.
August and Martha settled in Brooklyn, New York but had no children. August worked as a ship's carpenter and at the time of his WWI draft he was listed as working for Cranes Co on Erie Basin Road. He was described as of medium height and build with brown hair and blue eyes. He became a naturalised US citizen in 1919.
The 1920 census shows August and his wife living at 807, 41st Street. The 1930 and 1940 censuses show the couple at 101 44th Street and the former record then described August as a building contractor.
August died on 16 August 1961 aged 69; his wife Martha followed him in death on 15 August 1978. They are both buried in Evergreens Cemetery, Brooklyn.
I have read Philip Gowans excellent article in the magazine for The Irish Titanic Historical soiety vol. 10, No. 1 about Finland Titanic passengers. Philip mention that August Abrahamson died in the summer of 1961, but do anybody know where?
Hi Phil, I just joined ET two days ago and stumbled upon Arne Mjaland's mail regarding an article you have written: "I have read Philip Gowans excellent article in the magazine for The Irish Titanic Historical soiety vol. 10, No. 1 about Finland Titanic passengers. Philip mention that August Abrahamson died in the summer of 1961, but do anybody know where?" Any chance for you to send it to me by mail (along with the Bulgarian text to be translated)? We have located photos of the Jussila sisters in an obscure Finnish muesum, and I hope that I will be able to visit them and take...
Gosh, we are honoured! Those of you who don't know Kalman Tanito are about to be introduced to one of the most brilliant Titanic researchers that I know of. Welcome aboard sir! Geoff
Geoff, Thank you for the accolades, but it is me who is pleased to be in such awesome company at last :-) . My own research leaves a lot to be desired, although there have been some interesting things that I have stumbled upon - the latest being that Gusztáv Ráth, Hungarian supernumerary officer of the Carpathia died in South America in the 1950's. I do have a lead, but it should be followed on ... But Geoff, now there is a REAL researcher :-) ! I should really make it to the BTS convention in the future, as Phil Gowan and Juha Peltonen keep telling me. Kalman
Kalman: Very glad to see you here. And yes, you should come to the next BTS convention. Last April's was the best I've ever been to for any society. Eric Sauder
Kalman, I'm happy to see you aboard, my friend! Have missed hearing from you. I got your message forwarded from ET but there was no email attached. Now that you've posted your homepage to your profile, I just replied with news. I must second Geoff's accolade. Kalman is not only brilliant as a researcher but he is one of the most generous and helpful people one is likely to come across. Kalman, I hope you do come to the next convention. I'll be happy to finally meet you. It will be my first time to a Titanic event so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. All my best, Randy
Kalman-great to see you here! Will send you the article and some other stuff next week--am away from home until Sunday. Are the exams all over and done with? Phil
Welcome Kalman. I have not had the opportunity to meet you as of yet, but look forward to learning a whole lot from you in the future. Sincerely, Colleen
Hi, Kalman! I'm absolutely delighted to see you here on ET! It's been a long time since we've seen each other in person; let's hope it won't take another thirteen years before we can sit across a table from each other, hoist a few Mountain Dews and talk about the good old days. :-) Take care, my friend. WSOM George
George - Oh, not the Mountain Dews again - I'm still recovering!! Geoff
Hey, Geoff -- what you need is a little 'hair of the dog' to ease the symptoms of Dewski withdrawal. . . :-) Nice to see you here, my friend. (Gosh, did I really say that?) :-) WSOM George (P.S. I'll reply to your email very soon.)
George - What I need is a little hair, full stop!! Geoff
Sure thing -- I'll send you some of the hair that I find on my pillow every morning. :-)
Ah, ha! The reason you're loosing your hair is .... Too much Dewski! Look at me, I've still got all mine, and I drink the hard stuff - Classic Coke! (of course, mine isn't quite the dark brown shade it used to be ......)
Who is this masquerading as George Behe? Surely this is not our old friend returned?!!! Welcome back stranger. You've been much missed.