According to her husband’s naturalization paper, we learn that Anna (aka Hannah and Chana) was born in Tuszyn in Galicia, then part of the Austrian empire, but later part of Poland. [1]
We also know that Anna and Isadore were married in Tuszyn. Here we learn that her family name was originally Lewin. [2]
Anna emigrated alone with four young children in 1907. Her husband had left for the New World three years earlier. [3]
She and the children sailed on the steamship, Statendam, of the Holland-American Line. [4] First they had to get from Poland to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. According to family stories, she told her grandchildren that the family fled across fields at night to get out of Poland. The steamship set sail on September 7, 1907, and arrived at the Holland-American terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, on September 17, 1907.
The Statendam
That means Anna and the children spent 10 days on a rocking ship. It was probably also smelly from the foods from different cultures being cooked and from the unwashed bodies. From Hoboken, they had to take a ferry to Ellis Island to be processed. Isadore must have been waiting for them as they are not on a detained passenger list. From there, they had to get back to New Jersey since they were headed to Paterson, where Isador was living. As you can see, this was not an easy trip for adults, no less young children, all of whom did not speak English.
According to the 1910 Census, they were living on Hamburg Street. [5]
By 1915 New Jersey State Census, they were living on Ryle Avenue. Only Sadie, Paul and Rosie were in school. Arthur was working as a clerk and Frieda was a sewer. Anna was at home as a housewife. [6]
Her daughter, Frieda, married Milton Berkowitz in 1919. The other children all still lived at home for the 1920 Federal Census. At this time they were renting a home on Albion street. The children were still called by their Yiddish names: Otto for Arthur, Tadie (Sadie) for Ruth, Penkey for Paul, and Rose for Rosalyn. [7]
For the 1930 Federal Census, they were still renting a home on Albion Street, but now the children were going by their Americanized names. Although Frieda had her own home, they still listed her with the family. [8]
Anna with 2 of her children, Frieda and Paul, and a friend in 1930.
By the time of the 1940 Federal Census, Anna and Isadore owned their own home at 11 Albion Street. It was valued at $2000. Only Arthur was living at home. [9]
Anna and Isadore, 1945
Anna and her grandson, Stanley, circa 1946
Anna passed away after a brief illness. Her obituary appeared in The Morning Call on February 5, 1948, Page 15. This was posted by Newspapers.com
She is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Saddle River, New Jersey. According to cemetery personnel, Anna and Isadore purchased plots in 1935. [10]
The Hebrew on her stone is translated as Hanah, daughter of Mr Asher the KOHAIN. [11] [12]
Sources
- [1] Isadore’s Declaration of Intention – Declaration of Intention, The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Petitions for Naturalization from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey at Newark, New Jersey, 1924-1945; Series Number: M2123; Record Group Title: Records of the Title New Jersey, Naturalization Records, 1878-1945 Author Ancestry.com
- [2] Anna and Isadore’s marriage record – Marriage record for Frieda Rothman: Title New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937Author Ancestry.com Publisher Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
- [3] Anna’s Ship Manifest- The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at and Departing from Ogdensburg, New York, 5/27/1948 – 11/28/1972; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715, 1897-1957, Title New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 Author Ancestry.com
- [4] picture of the steamship Statendam
- [5] 1910 Federal Census for Isadore Rothman and family -Year: 1910; Census Place: Paterson Ward 2, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: T624_906; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0094; FHL microfilm: 1374919 Title1910 United States Federal Census Author Ancestry.com
- [6] 1915 NJ State Census for Isadore Rothman and family – New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1915; Reference Number: L-10; Film Number: 54 New Jersey, State Census, 1915AuthorAncestry.com
- [7] 1920 Federal Census for Isadore Rothman and family – Year: 1920; Census Place: Paterson Ward 1, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: T625_1064; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 60 Title1920 United States Federal Census Author Ancestry.com
- [8] 1930 Federal Census for Isadore Rothman and family – Year: 1930; Census Place: Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 2341113 Title1930 United States Federal Census Author Ancestry.com
- [9]1940 Federal Census for Isadore Rothman and family – Year: 1940; Census Place: Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: m-t0627-02429; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 26-16 Title1940 United States Federal Census Author Ancestry.com
- [10] Conversation with Lisa at Riverside Cemetery on Sept. 11, 2023
- [11] FindAGrave.com for Anna’s gravestone photo
- [12] Tracing the Tribe, Facebook Group, for gravestone translation