Olaf Pedersen

Mr Olaf Pedersen was born in Ramnes, Jarlsberg, Larvik, Norway on 15 May 1883. He was the son of Anton Pedersen (b. 1859) and Anne Oline Olavusdatter (b. 1859). His mother was a native of Sandar in Jarlsberg.

He came from a dysfunctional background; his parents never married, his mother instead marrying a Swedish man. She later died in a lunatic asylum, having previously served prison-term for assisting in the death of an infant.

Olaf emigrated in 1904, settling in Seattle, Washington where he worked as a seaman. He was shown on the 1910 census living in Salmon Bay, Seattle and was described as a boatman. He would return to Norway by early 1912 and he was married in March that year to Anna Marie Larsen (b. 1881). Plans were in place for Olaf to return to the USA with Anna to follow shortly after.

Olaf boarded the Titanic in Southampton as a third class passenger (ticket number 345498 which cost £7, 15s, 6d). He was headed back to Seattle.

Olaf died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow Anna never remarried and worked as a dressmaker to support herself. She died in 1938.