Happy Mothers' Day Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup H7e!

A couple of years ago I posted a Mother's Day homage to my mother's mother's mother's line (mitochondrial haplogroup L2a1l2a). This year let's talk about my father's mother's mother's mother's line (mtDNA haplogroup H7e).
 
Happy Mother's Day to my late grandmother Dora, great grandmother Sarah, great great grandmother Ida (Chaye Sura) and my great great great grandmother Devora!

I do not know Devora Kesselman's maiden name (if she had one). Nor do I know if she and her husband Baruch Yisrael Kesselman had any children beyond my great great grandmother Chaya Sura. 

Morris family: (l-r) Jeannette, Max, Sarah, Murray, Esther and Dora; inset is Saul

Chaye Sura adopted the name Ida after she arrived in the USA with her husband David Malzmann (later Myers) in 1913. She was born about 1844 in the Russian Empire and died in the Bronx on 16 November 1926. David and Ida had six children: Myer, Sarah (my great grandmother), Rebecca, Louis, Joseph and Harry. It would seem to me that some member of the Myers family must have some photos of David and Ida Myers. But, so far, I have not located anyone with a family archive.

My great grandmother Sarah was born about 1876 in Labun, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire and married Itzig Mazewitsky. She died on 9 August 1956 in the Bronx. Itzig adopted the name Isidor Morris upon immigration to New York City in 1906. Sarah followed with their children in 1910. She and Isidor had six children: Dora (my grandmother), Jeannette, Max, Murray, Esther and, their only US-born child, Saul.

Isidor and Sarah's eldest child was my grandmother, Dora. She married her first cousin (Isidor Morris' sister's son) Jack Garber in New York City in 1916. Dora  (originally Dvora) was born in Labun about 1897 and died in Brooklyn in 1954. Jack and Dora had three children: Leah, Bernard and Leonard.

Two of my cousins tested to identify this line's mtDNA haplogroup. One is a grandchild of Sarah Myers Morris and the other is a great grandchild. Interestingly, they are each other's only exact matches for mtDNA. There are 45 matches at a genetic distance (mutation) of 1; 39 at 2 and 6 at 3. This indicates the possibility of a fairly recent mutation separating this line from others in the haplogroup. If we ever find another previously unpredicted exact match, we'll likely have a cousin.

Tombstone Tuesday: Morris and Rebecca Berman, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Last week I documented Anna Chalewsky. She was the mother of Bertha Myers and, one of this week's subjects, Rebecca Berman.

BERMAN

Here lies

Moshe Aharon son of Naftali

May his soul be bound in the bbonds of the living

MORRIS

DIED APRIL 30. 1988

AGE 100 YEARS

Here lies Votah daughter of Meier

May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

REBECCA

DIED JAN. 17, 1972

AGE 83 YEARS

REST IN PEACE 

Rebecca, born Votah Chalewsky, came the the United States in 1907 with her widowed mother, Henie, and her sister, Taube (who became Bertha).[1] The town of residence on this manifest is not clear, but it may have been the community where Henie's family resided, rather than where Rebecca and Taube were born. Additional information be required before town(s) of origin may be ascertained.

In 1912, Rebecca married Morris Berman, who worked in ornamental iron.[2] They gave their address as 207 E. 100th Street in Manhattan - the same address given by her sister Bertha and her husband Jacob Myers when they had married in 1911.[3]

They had two sons, Nathan (born about 1912) and Meyer (born about 1918). By 1920, the family lived at 218 146th Street, New York, New York.[4]

In 1925 they lived in the Bronx at 2162 Valentine Avenue.[5] They were in Yonkers by 1929, living in their single-family home at 141 DeVoe Avenue. The 1930 census indicates that they owned their house.[6] According to Zillow.com this home was built in 1927.

The Great Depression was probably not kind to this family. After 1931, they are no longer listed in Yonkers City directories. The 1940 census enumeration found Morris, still providing ornamental iron for the construction industry, renting a room from Louis and Celia Cohen in the Bronx.[7] I have not yet found the rest of the family. Morris' World War II Draft Registration card from 1942 indicated that the "person who would always know" his address was Celia Cohen - not his wife Rebecca.[8] Morris worked for Town Iron Works in the Bronx.

It appears that neither Morris nor Rebecca naturalized until the 1940s. I have not yet ordered their records.

Rebecca and Morris are likely interred in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association burial plots in Montefiore Cemetery because Rebecca's sister, Bertha Myers, marred a Jacob Myers, who was related to people from the community (and may have lived there, a some point, himself).

As noted in the previous post about Rebecca's mother, the family may have lived in Staro Konstyantiniv - a larger community, not far from Lubin/Labun.

Morris' and Rebecca's graves are located in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY, Gate 567W, Block 5, Line 4L. There appears to be a mistake in the Montefiore Cemetery online index. Morris' grave is identified as grave 1 and Rebecca's as grave 21. My guess is that Rebecca's is actually grave 2.

Notes:
1. Manifest, S.S. Vaderland, 3 July 1907, stamped p. 18, lines 28-30, Henie [indexed as Henri] (age 55), Votte (21) and Taube (19) Chalewski; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 January 2017).
2. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 6428 (5 February 1912), Moris Berman and Beckie Cholawsky; Municipal Archives, New York City.
3. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 29954 (20 December 1911), Jacob Myers and Bertha Goldman; Municipal Archives, New York City.
4. 1920 U.S. census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 1449, sheet 15B, dwelling 26, family 400, Morris and Rebecca Berman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 November 2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1225.
5. 1925 NewYork State census, Bronx County, NY, enumeration of inhabitants, assembly district 8, election district 27, page 4, lines 12-16, Morris and Rebecca Berman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 February 2015); citing New York State Archives, Albany.
6. 1930 U.S. census, Westchester County, New York, population schedule, Yonkers, enumeration district 60-381, sheet 2B, dwelling 44, family 44, Morris and Rebecca Berman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 November 2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1668.
7. 1940 U.S. census, Bronx County, New York, population schedule, Bronx, enumeration district 362, sheet 3B, household 66, Morris Berman; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 February 2017); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2469.
8. Morris Berman, World War II draft card, New York, fourth registration, serial number U 894"U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 February 2017).

Tombstone Tuesday: Anna Chalewsky, Montefiore Cemetery, New York

I have been documenting gravestones from the three First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots in New York cemeteries. Most of the people interred were from the organization's home community of Labun/Lubin, Volhynia gubernai, Russian Empire. And most of those not from Labun can be linked to those who were. Such is the case with Anna Chalewski.

Here lies

Our beloved mother

A modest and important woman

Hentsya daughter of Avigdor

Died

28 Nisan 5686

At the age of 85 years

May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

Anna Chalewsky

Died April 12, 1926

Age 85 Years 

One would think that with a surname like Chalewsky, that finding her would be a snap. But, I have been unable, thus far, to locate her death record in New York City records. [Update (21 April 2017): With the help of commenter Anonymous, I located and ordered Ann'a death record from the New York City Municipal Archive. Kings County (1926) 9302. An unnamed son of Anna was the informant for her death certificate. Anna was identified as a widow who had come to the USA 19 years before (1907 - check!). Her parents were identified as Wolf Sherlesky and Bessie Cohen. Of course, "Sherlesky" would have been her married name. So there is an immediate problem with this information. In addition, the father's name does not seem to match what is on the tombstone. Although it is possible that Avigdor was also known as Wolf.]

Two of her daughters are also in the First Lubiner plot at Montefiore Cemetery: Rebecca Berman and Bertha Myers.

Rebecca's marriage record on 5 February 1912, shows Becky Cholawsky marrying Morris Berman.[1] Her mother is identified as H. Cholawsky and her father, M. Cholawsky. Her gravestone indicates that her father's name was Meier.[2] She was born about 1891.

Bertha's marriage record is a bit confusing. She married Jacob Myers (my great grandmother's first cousin) on 20 December 1911 and identified her parents as M. Goldman and Anne Cholewska.[3] Bertha's maiden name is listed as Goldman. She was born about 1892.

There are a variety of scenarios in which Bertha might have become Goldman. But, so far I have no proof pushing me toward any one of them.

Bertha's death certificate tells a different story. Her father was identified as Meyer Chale and her mother as Anna Chale.[4] Her son, Fred Myers, was the informant. Ordinarily, one would think that Bertha's word was worth more than her son's when it came to her maiden name. But, I am not so sure.

But, back to Anna! She arrived in New York City as Henie Chalewski, age 55, on 3 July 1907.[5] She was a widow accompanied by her two daughters, Votte (age 21) and Taube (age 19). 


In most Jewish genealogy we find that adopted American names usually start with the same sound as the original Hebrew and Yiddish names. That's a tradition, however, not a rule. And neither of Anna's daughters followed convention.  

Rebecca Berman's Hebrew name on her tombstone was Votah (the same as entered on her passenger manifest). Bertha Myers' Hebrew name on her gravestone is Tova. The Yiddish equivalent of that name was Taube (the same as her passenger manifest). Both sisters' gravestones identify their father as Meier. 

Bertha Myers' naturalization record confirms that she was the Taube who arrived with Henie (Anna) Chalewski and sister Votte in 1907.[6]

The 1925 New York State census found Annie Chalewsky living with her son, glazier Isidor Chalewsky, his wife Sarah and their children at 235 East 103rd Street, New York, New York.[7] I believe Anna had one or two other sons who also became glaziers in New York City.

The Chale name, I believe, comes from some of Anna Chalewsky's sons (and their offspring) who, after a time, shortened their surname to Chale.

Isidore's arrival in the United States is recorded in a U.S. border crossing in October 1909 in Quebec, Canada.[8] His name was Itzik Chalewski and he was going to his mother Ensy Chalewski in New York City. 

He had sailed on the S.S. Laurentic from Liverpool on 14 September 1909.[9] His name is crossed off the Laurentic's passenger list with the note "Erased by purser - changed destination to Canada." The crossed-off entry also included this tidbit: Itzik was planning to join his mother Hensya Chalewski c/o Morris Mohlman, 118 W. 3rd St., New York. 

118 W. 3rd Street is significant in my family because it was the address, starting about 1909, of my great grandfather Isidore Morris' and his business partner (and likely relative ) Benjamin Molthman's glass store, called Morris Molthman Glass. So, I think the "Morris Mohlman" on Itzik Chalewsky's passenger manifest was actually not a person, but my great grandfather's store and home address. 

Isidore Chalewsky's death record identified his parents as Meyer Chalewsky and Anna Shukart.[10] The informant for this record was Isidore's daughter, Bessie Taffel.

The town of origin for the Chalewsky family is unclear. A couple of the sons identified Staro Kostyantiniv as their town of birth on manifests. Naturalization documents identified "Volin" - the gubernia, rather than the town name. Staro Kostyantiniv is about 25 miles south southwest of Labun. 

On Sarah Chalewsky's naturalization petition, she identified her husband Isidore Chalewsky's town of birth as Scharovka [11]. The town, today called Sharivka, is located south of Khmelnitsky (Proskurov).

Anna Chalewsky's grave is located within the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY: block 89, gate 156N, line 3L, grave 5.

Notes:

1. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 6428 (5 February 1912), Moris Berman and Beckie Cholawsky; Municipal Archives, New York City.

2. Rebecca Berman, gravestone, died 17 January 1972, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens County, New York.

3. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 29954 (20 December 1911), Jacob Myers and Bertha Goldman; Municipal Archives, New York City.
4. Kings County, New York, death certificate no. 1421 (19 January 1954), Bertha Myers, Municipal Archives, New York City.
5. Manifest, S.S. Vaderland, 3 July 1907, stamped p. 18, lines 28-30, Henie [indexed as Henri] (age 55), Votte (21) and Taube (19) Chalewski; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 January 2017).
6. Bertha Myers, petition for naturalization (1943), naturalization file no. 393317, Eastern District of New York; Record Group 21: Records of the District Courts of the United States; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City. 
7. 1925 New York State census, New York County, New York, enumeration of inhabitants, Manhattan, assembly district 18, election district 15, p. 29, Isidore and Sarah Chalewsky family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 April 2014).
8. "U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1956," images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 January 2017); passenger list, Dominion, October 1909, sheet 3, line 1, Itzik Chalewski, age 34.
9. Manifest, S.S. Laurentic, 23 September 1909, p. 9, line1, Itzyk Chalewsky (age 35); images, "Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 January 2017).
10. New York County, New York, death certificate no. 10535 (3 May 1944), Isidore Chalewsky; Municipal Archives, New York City.
11. Sarah Chalewsky petition for naturalization petition (1943), naturalization file no. 431566, Southern District of New York; Record Group 21: Records of the District Courts of the United States; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City.

My DNA Arboriculture

Commons.Wikimedia.org

Recently many genealogists have jumped on a bandwagon started by blogger J. Paul Hawthorn. He created a chart using Excel to show where ancestors on his family tree were born. Then some genealogists, including Lara Diamond, thought to show their Y-DNA (father's father's father, etc.) and mitochondrial DNA (mother's mother's mother, etc.) haplogroups. 

Using this tool for DNA results is a terrific way to see how well one has applied DNA testing to one's tree. It really shows where the holes are and gives one an idea which relatives to approach next for further testing. 

For my family, I had to remake the chart to take into account the fact that my paternal grandparents (Jacob Garber and Dora Morris) were first cousins. Jacob's mother and Dora's father were siblings.

Holes in the Chart:

Morris (Mazewitsky) Y-DNA: I have not pursued this line yet, but I do have more than one Morris male relative to approach.

Wilson (Wilensky) Y-DNA: Soon to be accomplished. My cousin (a Wilson male) has just sent in his cheek swab test to FamilyTree DNA. Yes!

Liebross Y-DNA: I have asked some of my Liebross male cousins to test and have not yet received a yes (sigh).

Hoda Epstein Mt-DNA: I know of only one person I could approach on this (I missed my chance to ask her late mother to test). Right now I do not think the daughter is interested.

The other blanks cannot be pursued, at this point, unless I determine some additional collateral relatives on my tree.

Treasure Chest Thursday: "Saul" Myers family advertisement, FLPBA 1949 anniversary publication

GREETINGS

- - - from - - -

Mr. & Mrs. Saul Myers

AND FAMILY

and 

CAROL and DAVID

120 OCEAN PARKWAY

BROOKLYN, N.Y.

The spelling of Sol's first name in this advertisement is likely a typo as he is consistently referred to as Solomon or Sol in all other records (census, his parents naturalization, his father's probate, and his social security file).

Sol Myers was the middle child and only son of Samuel and Esther Myers. I previously wrote about Sam here and here and Esther, here. Both of Sol's parents were born in the Russian Empire and were active in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA). 

Sol was born in New York City on 27 December 1920 and grew up in Brooklyn and the Bronx.[1] He was in the Army during World War II, serving from 23 November 1942 to 21 October 1945.[2] He became an accountant (CPA) and taught at the college level.[3] He and his wife Beatrice had five children (clearly only two were born when this FLPBA anniversary publication was printed).

Sol died on 7 August 1986. He and Beatrice are not buried in any of the three FLPBA plots in Montefiore or Beth David Cemeteries in New York.

Notes:
1. 1925 New York State census, Kings County, New York, enumeration of inhabitants, Brooklyn, election district 54, assembly district 18, page 52, Samuel and Esther Meyers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 June 2012); New York State Archives, Albany.
1930 U.S. census, Bronx County, population schedule, Bronx, enumeration district 3-428, sheet 24A, dwelling 484, family 484, Samuel and Esther Meyers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 26 December 2008); NARA microfilm publication T626 , roll 1477.
2. "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 August 2015), entry for Sol Myers; "Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File," U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C.
3. "Deaths," Sol Myers, New York Times (New York), 8 August 1986; digital image, New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/nytarchive.html : accessed 27 August 2011).

Treasure Chest Thursday: Joseph Myers advertisement, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

I shared a short biography and photograph of Joseph Myers (1889-1945) in an earlier post about the 25th anniversary publication for the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association. He was a glazier who had joined his brothers (Myer and Louis) in the United States, arriving in 1906.[1]

He married Rose Adler on 25 March 1913.[2] By 1936, when the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association celebrated its 25th anniversary, Joe and Rose had lost their second born, Marvin. They had a daughter Lillian (born 15 February 1914) and a son Eugene (born 10 August 1918).

Their home in 1936 was just around the corner from Joe's glass and picture framing shop at 590 3rd Avenue. Unfortunately, the buildings now at 155 E. 39th Street and 590 3rd Avenue are of more recent construction.

Notes:

1."New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 19 June 2009), manifest, Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 16 November 1906, p. 18, line 10, Jossel Malzmann; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 798.
2. New York County, New York, Certificate and Record of Marriage number 5284 (25 March 1913), Joseph Myers and Rose Adler, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Joseph & Rose Myers advertisement, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

We continue coverage of the 25th Anniversary commemorative publication for the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA) with an advertisement by Joseph Myers and his family.

Joseph Myers was discussed earlier in this series because he was identified as the Ex-Treasurer of the FLPBA and his photo is shared earlier in the publication. But I have also previously blogged about his gravestone and his and Rose Adler's marriage certificate. He was the brother of my great grandmother Sarah Myers Morris (Malzmann Mazewitsky).

Joseph, another Lubin glazier, and his wife Rose had a daughter and a son who lived to adulthood: Lillian Myers Langer and Eugene Myers.

In the 1930 Census and a 1933 New York City Directory, the family was recorded at 219 E. 40th Street, New York, NY.[1] 

By the 1940 census, they were enumerated at 155 E. 39th Street where they paid $45 each month for rent.[2] Joseph is listed as owning a retail picture framing business. In answer to the census question regarding their residence in April 1935, the response was "same place" (meaning same city) rather than "same house." The family likely moved to 155 E. 39th Street sometime in either late 1935 or early 1936 - before the FLPBA 25th anniversary. 

By the time Joe registered for the WWII draft (April 1942), he resided at 212 E. 39th Street.[3] 

I tried to locate the building on Google Street View, but it appears that the building in that spot is of more recent construction.

Notes:
1. 1930 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, New York, enumeration district 31-1217, sheet 14A, dwelling 19, family 425, Joseph and Rose Myers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 March 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1562.
1933 City directory
2. 1940 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, New York, enumeration district 31-816, sheet 5B, household 274, Joseph and Rose Myers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2643.
3. "U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 April 2012); Joseph Myers, Serial no. U2235, New York; citing NARA, St. Louis, Missouri.

Treasure Chest Thursday: "Stone House," Perrineville ad, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

More than two years ago I wrote about my great grandfather, Isidore Morris and great grandmother, Sarah Myers Morris, and their Perrineville, New Jersey home documented in the 1940 census. They had left New York City in 1933 and purchased a house with some acreage (their "farm") in Perrineville, New Jersey.[1] What I had not realized until I saw this advertisement in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association's twenty-fifth anniversary publication was that they had developed a country summer "resort" called "Stone House" and rented rooms and a bungalow.

Isidore and Sarah sold the property in 1945 and moved back to the City.[2] Isidore's health had deteriorated, undoubtedly due to his years working as a glazier. He passed away in 1947.[3]

Note:
1. Monmouth County, New Jersey, Deed Book 1639, page 94, George Moskowitz to Isidore Morris, 25 October 1933.
2. Monmouth County, New Jersey, Deed Book 2003, page 27, Isidore and Sarah Morris to Joseph and Esther Horowitz, 14 May 1945.
3. Bronx County, New York, Certificate of Death no. 12512 (22 December 1947), Isadore Morris, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Treasure Chest Thursday: First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association 25th anniversary, Part 4

The First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association, a community association for former residents of Lubin, Russian Empire (aka Labun or, now Yurovshchina, Ukraine), celebrated the anniversary of their founding in 1911 with a commemorative publication. I have been sharing a few of the pages of this document.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

An earlier post regarding the group's incorporation papers, is located here.
 

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS on this gala occasion the 25th Jubilee Anniversary of our worthy Organization, the First Lubiner Prog. Benevolent Ass'n.

It is, truly, thrilling and inspiring to greet you all, members, friends and guests and to have you join here in celebrating this auspicious occasion.

It is my sincere wish that this Brotherhood shall live for many years to come and continue to spread much joy and happiness in our midst, and charity and help to those less fortunate than ourselves

Again wishing you all much good, I am,

                                Cordially,

                                     SAMUEL MYERS, Treasurer 

I discussed a little about Sam Myers in a previous post. He was likely from Podolia Gubernia - probably Kamyanets-Podilskiy - and his original surname had been Malzman. He arrived in the United States in 1912 masquerading as an offspring of David Malzman - my great great grandfather. In reality, it is more likely that he was a cousin of David's children. The links in this relationship are, as yet, unclear.

What is clear is that Sam's father's name was actually Elias. He provided this information on both his Social Security application (SS-5) and his marriage certificate.[1]

Sam, a glazier, married Esther Newman in Brooklyn on 10 February 1917.[2] One of the witnesses to the marriage was my great great uncle Louis Myers (whom Sam had identified on his manifest as his "brother").[3]

Sam and Esther had three children: Ann Myers Lang, Elinor Myers Sherr and Sol Myers. After Esther's passing, Sam married Reva on 20 March 1970.[4]  

Sam died on 7 May 1975. His obituary indicates that, in addition to his leadership role in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association, he had been active in his synagogue as past president of the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach.[5]

Notes:

1. On his SS-5, Sam indicated his father's name was Elliot (probably an Anglicized version of his first name).

Samuel Myers, SS no. 109-28-2478, 27 December 1952, Application for Social Security Account Number (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland.

2. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate no. 1917-2284, Brooklyn, New York, Samuel Myers and Esther Newman, Municipal Archives, New York City. 

3. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 November 2008), manifest, S.S. Noordam, Rotterdam to New York, arriving 27 August 1912, list 2, line 5, Zise Meyers; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: 1921. 

4. Brooklyn, New York, probate case files, no. 1975-3562, Samuel Myers (1975), letters of administration, 1 August 1975; Kings County Surrogate's Court, Brooklyn. 

5. Samuel Myers, death notice, New York Times, 9 May 1975; digital image, New York Times.com (http://www.nytimes.com : accessed 27 August 2011).

Treasure Chest Thursday: First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association 25th anniversary, Part 3

A few months ago I acquired copies of several pages of a publication printed in honor of the anniversary of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA), a landsmanshaft (community organization) in New York City. Earlier posts on this publication may be found here and here.

I have been most excited about seeing, for the first time, photos of some of my relatives.  This post concerns a possible relative by marriage (Isidore Bauman) and his leadership message (in Yiddish) to the FLPBA membership.[1]

I uploaded this image of Isidore's text on ViewMate - a wonderful service provided by JewishGen and its awesome volunteer army. Within a few hours I had three volunteer translators collaborating to complete the translation.[2]

A greeting from the Vice President

Twenty-five years have flown by since I was still a young and joyful youngster, when destiny had thrown me with my whole being into this organization which celebrates its 25th jubilee.[3]

25 years! How quickly the years flew by!

The idealistic dedication and readiness to make sacrifices of those who are not with us anymore, the true devotion with which we all have put the foundations stone by stone and turned this organization into what it is today.

25 years ... quick! It was a long chain of happy, warm days, and also - sleepless nights, standing on guard for the interests of the members. I hope that none of us will stop his activities, and we all will continue to be devoted to the society and we will not forget our sisters and brothers who are still in Lubin. 

From the bottom of my heart I wish all the members and their families to live to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Itzkhak Bauman

Similar to many such landsmanshaft (countrymen's) organizations, the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association provided benefits for the welfare and burial of their members. I, unfortunately, do not have any society papers documenting their many good works in the United States. In a later post I will discuss one of their projects for improving the lot of their brethren left in their home town Lubin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes:
1. Isidore, from Lubin, married fellow Lubiner Ida Molthman. Ida was the daughter of Benjamin Molthman, whose surname in the old country had been Malzman. All of my Myers relatives were also Malzmans from Lubin. Benjamin was also in the glass business for a short while with my great grandfather Isidore Morris, whose wife (my ggm) was Sarah Myers (Malzman) Morris. So, the relationship between Molthman and Myers was close, but still not completely understood.
2. Special thanks to Emma Karabelnik, Ite Doktorski and Ann B. Lnder for generously sharing their Yiddish skill and understanding and to JewishGen for starting and maintaining ViewMate.
3. Emma Karabelnik, in her translation, above, explains this idiom, noting that it directly translates as "with all my 248 organs." The Jewish Virtual Library discusses Jewish anatomy and says that 248 actually refers to bones in the body and follows rabbinic tradition in the Talmud.

Treasure Chest Thursday: First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association incorporation papers

When the number of Jewish immigrants from a specific community in Europe reached critical mass in their new settlement, they often banded together to form a landsmanshaft - a community benevolent society. In 1911, Jewish immigrants from Labun, Russian Empire (now Yurovshchina, Ukraine) who had resettled in New York City formed the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association. These incorporation papers are archives YIVO in New York City.

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

of the

FIRST LUBINER PROGRESSIVE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION

(the word "Lubiner" is the name of a town in Russia)

STATE OF NEW YORK      )

CITY OF NEW YORK        :   SS:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK )

                    We, the undersigned, of full age, being desirous of associating ourselves together for social and beneficial pruposes as hereinafter is more particularly described, pursuant to and in conformity with Acts of the legislature of the State of New York, relating to Membership Corporations, do hereby certify and declare that we are all of full age, two-thirds of us are citizens of the United States, and all of us are residents if the State of New York.

                    We further certify and declare as follows:

     First:       That the particular objects for which said Corporation is formed are as follows, viz:

                    To engender good feelings and brotherly love among its members; to promote sociability among its members; to aid its members voluntarily in case of need and distress; to voluntarily provide for a suitable funeral and burial for its members in case of death; to institute and maintain a common meeting place where its members may gather at certain intervals or meetings for social purposes, and to adopt by-laws by which said Association may be governed.

     Second:   That the corporate name by which said Corporation bereby to be formed shall be known and distinguished is and shall be

                    FIRST LUBINER PROGRESSIVE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.

     Third:      That the territory in which the operations of said corporation are to be [line cut off on microfilmed copy]

     Fourth:    That the principal office of said Corporation shall be located in the City of New York, County of New York and State of New York.

     Fifth:       That the number of Directors of said corporation shall be five.

     Sixth:      That the names and places of residence of the persons to be the directors of said Corporation until its firth annual meeting are:

JOSEPH ROTHMAN                      178 Chrystie Street, N.Y. City

MORRIS SCHREIBMAN               30 Orchard Street, N.Y. City

LEO NATHANSON                        341 E. 82nd Street, N.Y. City

MYER MYERS                               41-43 E. 7th Street, N.Y. City

HARRY SIMON                              232 Bergen Street, Brooklyn,

     Seventh:  That the annual meeting of said Corporation shall be held on the first Tuesday of October in each and every year.

                     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have made and signed this this Certificate in duplicate and have hereunto set our hands and affixed our respective seals this 29th day of April 1911.

/s/ Myers Myers

/s/ Joseph Rothman

/s/ Morris Schreibman

/s/ Harry Simon

/s/ Leo Nathanson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty five years later, only Myer Myers (my great grandmother Sarah Myers Morris' brother) and Joseph Rothman were still listed as members of the landsmanshaft.[1] And both Myer and Joseph were the only members of the original directors who are buried in any of the three FLPBA burial plots in New York.[2]

Notes:  

1. "First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association, 25th Anniversary," photocopy of original booklet; original in possession of family of Julius Reitman, Massachusetts. 

2. All three plots (two at Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY and one at Beth Moses Cemetery, Pinelawn, NY) have been phtographed by the author. All three may be accessed online via the JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry.