Tombstone Tuesday: Joseph and Esther Rothman, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

There appear to have been two Joseph Rothmans associated with the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association landsmashaft. The one in this post was the younger one, born about 1878 and married to Esther, with whom he raised a family. The other Joseph Rothman (whom I will chronicle in a future post) was born about 1861, married Goldie and had no children. I do not know where he is buried. Both Joe Rothmans were glaziers in New York City.

Here lies

Gershon son of Levi Yitzchak

Died 11 Shevat 5703

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

----------

JOE ROTHMAN

DIED JAN. 17, 1943
AGE 64 YEARS

IN OUR HEARTS

YOU LIVE FOREVER

Joe Rothman was born Gershon Chajtmann in Labun to Levi Yitzchak Chajtman. I do not know his mother's name. He married Ester Potashnik in Labun in about 1902. They had five children: Ruchla, Ides, Sara, Berko and Jankiel.[1]

In March 1913, Gershon left Bremen for New York City aboard the S.S. Brandenburg. He landed in New York on 27 March 1913.[2] The manifest listed his occupation as trader.

>World War I and the Russian Revolution likely delayed the family's emigration. In June 1921, Ester and four of her children traveled from Antwerp to Philadelphia on the S.S. Samland.[3] The Chajtman's eldest child, Ruchla, followed from Antwerp in October.[4]

Here lies

Ester daughter of Moshe

----------

BELOVED MOTHER

ESTHER

ROTHMAN

DIED JAN. 28, 1953

AGE 67 YEARS

I have been unable to locate Joe in records created prior to the arrival of his family. But, at Ester and the children's arrival in the USA, Joe was living at 244 Clinton Street, New York, New York. When Ruchla arrived but a few months later, the family was at 101 Norfolk Street.[5]

In census enumerations in 1925 and 1930, the family was still on Clinton Street, but had moved to 14 Clinton.[6] In 1925, Joe was listed as a presser of suits. In 1930 and 1940, he was in the glass business.[7] The 1940 census records the Joe, Esther, Benjamin and Sarah at 50-52 East 3rd Street, New York, New York.

Eldest daughter, Rose, married Harry Openden on 1 June 1931.[8] Ida married Henry Zap on 11 June 1935.<[9] Jacob and Helen Panzer married on 13 October 1936.[10] Thus far, no marriage records have been located for Benjamin and Sarah.

Google maps, 2016

Joe died on 17 January 1943 after being hit by a truck the day before.[11] He died at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. His doctor reported he had a fractured skull and lacerations of the brain. In addition, he had fractured ribs, right tibia and fibula and was in shock. The medical examiner reported that he'd been hit by the truck at the corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street. This was just around the corner from his home at 52 East 3rd Street.

It appears that Esther had at least one brother in New York City. Her husband listed his brother-in-law M. "Potashik" at 72-4 Broome Street, New York, NY.[12]

Joe Rothman is buried in block 5, gate 567W, line 1R, grave 6 and Esther is interred in line 2L, grave 1, First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York.

Notes:

>1. Esther Rothman, naturalization file 414883 (1942), Southern District of New York; "New York, Naturalization Records, 1882-1944," images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 September 2016); Records of the District Court of the United States; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City, microfilm publication M1972, roll 1401.

2. Manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, March 1913, list 37, lines 26, Gershon Chajtmann, age 35; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2011).

3. Manifest, S.S. Samland, 2 July 1921, list 50, lines 22-26, Ester Chajtman (age 35), Ides (15), Sara (13), Berko (11) and Jankiel (7); images, "Pennsylvania, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1880-1952," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2011).

4. Manifest, S.S. Finland, November 1921, list 3, line 30, Ruchla Chajtman, age 17; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2011). 
5. Manifest, S.S. Finland, Record of Detained Aliens, 7 November 1921, list 173 (stamped), line 96, Ruchla Chajtman; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2011).

6. 1925 New York State census, New York County, New York, enumeration of inhabitants, Manhattan, election district 20, assembly district 4, page 32, Joseph and Esther Rottman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 September 2016).

  1930 US Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 31-132, sheet 6A, dwelling 22, family 152, Joe and Esther Rothman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2010).

7. 1940 US Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 31-690, sheet 9A, household 281, Joseph and Esther Rothman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 March 2016).

8. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 11426 (1931), Harry Openden and Rose Rothman, 1 June 1931; Municipal Archives, New York City.

9. Bronx County, New York, marriage certificate no. 5039 (1935), Henry Zap and Ida Rothman, 11 June 1935; Municipal Archives, New York City.

10. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 26453 (1936), Jacob Rothman and Helen Panzer, 13 October 1936; Municipal Archives, New York City.
11. New York County, New York, death certificate no. 1481 (1943), Joseph Rothman, 17 January 1943; Municipal Archives, New York City.
12. Manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, March 1913, list 37, lines 26, Gershon Chajtmann, age 35.