Mr Johan Svensson

Mr Johan Svensson was born 17 May 1837 in Anderstorp, Jönköping, Sweden. He was the son of Sven Magnusson and Martha Larsdotter.

He worked as a farmer and was married to Brita Lisa Börjesdotter (b. 11 April 1837) and had six children: Maria Christina (b. 1861), Johan (b. 1866) Janne Leander (b. 1870), twins Frederick Oskar and Karl August (b. 1874) and Emma Lovisa (b. 1878).

Several of his offspring later emigrated and settled in the USA: his sons Amandus and Oskar lived in South Dakota; his daughter Emma Swanberg lived in New Jersey and another daughter Maria Larson lived at 165 Chatham Street, New Haven, Connecticut.

Johan was widowed when his wife Brita died on 2 February 1912, leaving him with few relatives left in Sweden. His son Johan returned from South Dakota to bring him back to America, a move he was reluctant to make and he apparently wept at leaving his home country. Father and son boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third class passengers (he on ticket number 347060 which cost £7, 15s, 6d ). Johan senior was the oldest person aboard the Titanic.

Both Johan and his son died in the sinking and their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

His daughter Maria lived in Hartford, Connecticut for the rest of her life and died on 10 June 1934.