Brooke-ing no denial: Reclaim the Records successfully pursues NYC marriage affidavits/licenses

Too many of us take no for an answer when access to public records is concerned. Not Brooke Schreier Ganz.

Brooke's objective was to make genealogists' lives much easier when they are pursuing New York City records from the 20th Century. She just achieved her first win: acquisition of the index for New York City affidavits for license to marry (marriage applications), 1908-1929. 

This record set (an index) could only be accessed in person at the Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street or via mail-in search requests - which could be pricey. 

Earlier this month Avotaynu Online featured an article about Brooke's quest.

Brooke's organization Reclaim the Records had filed a petition with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York using New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) to force the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (parent of the Municipal Archives) to grant public access to the 1908-1929 index of the City Clerk's Office marriage licenses. 

NYC Marriage Licenses and Certificates

For a period of time (1908-1937) for each borough in New York City, the Health Department and the City Clerk's Office maintained two independent marriage record collections. 

Health Department marriage certificates were created at the wedding. Indexes of marriage certificates from the Health Department (through 1937) have been available online for some time via the Italian Genealogy Group, the German Genealogy Group, Ancestry and FamilySearch and copies of original marriage certificates have been available (through 1937) on FamilySearch Library microfilm (as well as at the Municipal Archives). There are separate indexes for bride and groom.

City Clerk's Office records are less well-known and consist of three parts: the affidavit (an application to marry) usually filed several days to several weeks before the wedding; a reiterative summary of the information on the affidavit; and then, what is essentially a marriage return filed by the officiant documenting that the wedding had occurred, its date, place and witnesses.

The affidavits/licenses of the City Clerk's Office had not been microfilmed by FamilySearch or any other outside organization and the index had not been made available to the public outside the Municipal Archives. The City Clerk's index for records of 1908-1951 is arranged by borough, quarters of the year and the first two letters of the bride's or groom's last name. 

The records are filed by the date of the affidavit, not the date of the marriage. So, when I was searching for my family's records, I came armed with marriage dates and usually looked for records filed in quarters before the wedding. A great deal of microfilm scrolling was involved in finding each record.

Further information about these records may be seen in Estelle Guzik's book, Genealogical Resources in New York, published by the Jewish Genealogical Society, Inc (JGSNY) in 2003. JewishGen also provides a nice summary in an InfoFile, "New York City Vital Records," written by Sheila Kievel. A description and table regarding NYC marriage records is also included on page 23 of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society's New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer, published in 2014.

In the past I have posted a few blogs here, here, here and here using information from NYC marriage affidavits/licenses - which are different than the marriage certificates available (through 1937) at the Municipal Archives and on microfilm via the FamilySearch Library. I've shown how one may confirm or clarify information about the bride, groom, officiant, witnesses or marriage location when poor hand writing or document condition might otherwise prevent it.

Usually the information on the certificate and the affidavit/license is not hugely different. But sometimes additional or slightly different information may be provided. When I searched the index I found affidavits for marriages that never took place. I also found couples for whom there were two affidavits - apparently their wedding had been rescheduled for several months later and they applied a second time for a license. 

Here is my grandparents' affidavit for license to marry and associated filed documents, which I acquired on-site at the NYC Municipal Archives.

And this is the associated certificate of marriage - also acquire several years ago from the archives.

My grandparents applied for their marriage license on 11 July 1916 and married on 12 August 1916. 

• Under clergyman on the affidavit it provides a location (Harlem Terrace Hall) not provided on the certificate. 

• My grandparents' community of origin is listed on the affidavit, but not on the certificate (although, the name of the community was misspelled, confused with the more well-known Lublin). 

• My grandmother's occupation (ladies waist) was listed on the affidavit and none was provided on the certificate. This is the only document on which I have any information that she ever worked outside the home.

• The officiant's full name is provided on the affidavit. In addition, his name is written several times - giving one an opportunity to decipher difficult handwriting.

Back to Reclaim the Records

After indications they would continue to fight the Reclaim the Records request, the City abruptly changed course and approached Reclaim the Records' attorneys with an offer to settle. This victory means new access to over 600,000 genealogical records on 48 microfilms. This is huge! A big thank you is due Brooke for her tenacity in the face of rejection.

There is much work yet to do. Now Brooke hopes to fulfill her goal of placing the images of the index online (with free access) and then finding an entity to create a searchable index of the records so that researchers can more easily find their quarry.Armed with the index information, researchers may then order the records from the Municipal Archives.

The next Freedom of Information targets will be additional New York City and New Jersey records that should, based upon state law, be publicly available, but are not. Brooke is soliciting our opinions regarding future targets. See Reclaim the Records website and newsletter for more information about this exciting development.

Pamela Weisberger, z''l

Pamela Weisberger

Words are just not adequate. I've spent the afternoon in shock.

Sandy Malek of the Jewish Genealogical Society-Los Angeles, posted notice of Pamela's passing on JGS-LA's FaceBook page. Pam was their Vice-President of Programs and passed away suddenly after a brief illness on September 25, 2015. She leaves her husband, Ken Kaufman, and three children.

Pamela also leaves thousands of fans in the genealogy community: people who have benefited from her humor, wit, enthusiasm for genealogy (and life), creativity, and energy. She was a force of nature in genealogy, leading Gesher Galicia to new heights of research relevance.

Pamela Weisberger, a wholly committed genealogist, a researcher of extraordinary talent, a lecturer of great skill and originality, and a great teacher, was also President and Research Coordinator of the non-profit Gesher Galicia. Inc., international lecturer, and frequent traveler and visitor to archives in Ukraine, Poland and Austria. 

Pamela's talks were always lively and cleverly presented. I have been partial to her ability to turn a phrase in developing titles for her talks: "Chutes and Ladders: Innovative Approaches to Genealogy," "It's News to Me! Historical Newspaper Research for Genealogists," "When Leopold met Lena: Marriage, Divorce and Deception in 1892." No stodginess here! 

And although she was a Jewish genealogist, she'd developed cross-over appeal. Last year at the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in Salt Lake City, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society sponsored her luncheon talk, "Holly Golightly was a Nice Jewish Girl: Our Ancestors Reinvented." She also spoke at A.J. Jacobs' Global Family Reunion. A couple of her speaking proposals had been accepted for RootsTech 2016.

Pamela in the tunnel beneath the Western Wall, Jerusalem (5 July 2015 - E. Garber)

Pamela started her first career in the film industry working with director Otto Preminger - a man who would not take no for an answer. She definitely learned from that: I don't think "no" was in her vocabulary. Somehow I visualize her as part of the Andy Hardy film series: "Come on, kids! Let's put on a show!" She was frequently planning some event, whether something as large (and successful) as the 2010 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies conference in Los Angeles (where she was co-chair), or as small as an invitation-only tunnel tour under the Western Wall in Old Jerusalem this past summer or dinner with an assortment of friends during a conference. 

A gathering (she arranged) at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, 5 July 2015

She was always either involved or available to be involved. A month or so ago she contacted me (since I'm on the program committee for the Seattle IAJGS conference) and offered to organize a Jewpardy game - crowd-pleasing evening entertainment - during the 2016 IAJGS. And just last week I finished reading Israel Pickholtz' new book (Endogamy: One Family, One People) and learned that Pamela and her daughter had participated in Israel's research by allowing him to analyze their DNA samples.

Pamela was generous with her time and expertise. When I was planning my trip to Ukraine several years ago, she spent an hour on the telephone with me sharing her much-welcomed and excellent advice. I did not interact with Pamela on a daily basis or even a monthly basis, but I always looked forward to seeing her at conferences.

The genealogy community - especially the Jewish genealogy community - has lost a dynamo. She had so much more to do. But, more than anything, we've all lost a good friend. We'll have to follow her example and make sure the show goes on. 
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** If you would like to leave a message of condolence or remembrance, Gesher Galicia has a memorial page: http://www.geshergalicia.org/about-gesher-galicia/pamela-weisberger-in-memoriam/
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In a fitting honor to Pamela's memory, her family has authorized the establishment of the Pamela Weisberger Memorial Fund, to be administered jointly by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles (JGSLA) and Gesher Galicia.

For immediate contributions, please send checks made payable to the Pamela Weisberger Memorial Fund, c/o JGSLA, PO Box 55443, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413. Or use Paypal online.
  For further information, see either the JGS-LA webpage or the above-mentioned Gesher Galicia memorial page.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Henry I Fetell family advertisement, FLPBA 1949 anniversary publication

Henry Fetell and his wife, Lillian Meyers Fetell purchased an advertisement in the 1949 publication commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (the landsmanshaft organization for the community of Labun, Russian Empire (Ukraine). 

Henry and his siblings were born in Labun. He arrived in the USA at the age of 9 with his brothers (Jankiel and Moise) and sisters (Mania and Usla).[1] His eldest sibling, Mania, was only 18. They were headed to their uncle Hyman Boris (their mother's brother) in New York City.

Henry and his siblings lived together for several years in New York City.[2] It appears their parents (Abraham and Feigah) may have both died in the old country before their children emigrated.

An uncle, Ben Fetell, had immigrated before World War I.
Henry graduated from law school, married Lillian Meyers and enlisted in the military during World War II.[3]

[Update: 6 June 2020] Henry and Lillian had two sons. One was named Arnold. 

They passed away in Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida. Henry died 28 July 1982 and Lillian, 23 September 1989.[4]

Notes:
1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 May 2011), manifest, S.S. Estonia, Danzig to New York, arriving 27 September 1921, list 2 (handwritten), lines 28, Chaim Fertel, citing NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 3028.
2. 1925 New York State Census, New York County, New York, enumeration of inhabitants, Manhattan, assembly district 13, election district 42, page 24, entry 27, Henry Fetell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 September 2015); New York State Archives, Albany.
1930 U.S. Census, Bronx County, New York, population schedule, Bronx, enumeration district 3-361, sheet 12A, dwelling 85, family 266, Henry Fetell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 24 September 2015); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1474.
3. 1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-2448, sheet 6B, household 127, Henry and Lillian Fetell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 September 2015); NARA mircofilm publication T627, roll 2610.
"U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 September 2015), entry for Henry Fetell, death date 28 July 1982; "Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File," Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
4. "U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014," entry for Lillian Fetell, 23 September 1989; index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 September 2015); Social Security Administration.

Tombstone Tuesday: Sidney Rubin, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Last Tuesday's tombstones were from Harry and Anna Rubin. Their son Sidney is also buried in the same First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot.

Here lies

Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away and be at rest.

Shmuel son of Tsvi Hersch

Died 13 Nisan 5753

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

SIDNEY

RUBIN

BELOVED SON

AND BROTHER

MARCH 24, 1924

APRIL 4, 1993 

I was unsure of a translation of the second and third lines inscribed on the gravestone, so I posted its image on Tracing the Tribe FaceBook page and asked for help. Israel Pickholtz pointed out that the two lines are from Psalm 55, verse 7. I Googled that reference and found this beautiful verse: Oh, that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and be at rest.

Sidney was born in Chicago and was Harry and Anna's second child and only son. An indexed record of his birth is located on FamilySearch, but I have not yet ordered the original.[1]

In 1930 Sidney and his family resided in Brooklyn at 910 Myrtle Avenue.[2] In 1940, they lived at 175 Ocean Parkway.[3]

Sidney served in the Army during the Second World War. He enlisted 3 September 1943 and was honorably discharged 15 February 1946.[4]

Based on his gravestone inscription, it appears that he never married (or was not married at the time of his death) and did not have children. His passed away in 1993 and his last residence was in Brooklyn. He is buried in block 5, gate 567W, line 6R, grave 1.

Notes:

1. "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKM7-1XQK : accessed 21 September 2015), Sidney Rubin, 24 Mar 1924; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 13683, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago.

2. 1930 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-323, sheet 21A, dwelling 100, family 288, Sidney Rubin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 September 2015); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1503.

3. 1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-1404, sheet 7A-7B, household 162, Sidney Rubin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2582.

4. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 September 2015), Sidney Rubin, 4 April 1993; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Norflus advertisement, FLPBA 1949 Anniversary publication

Joe and Fannie Norflus worked together as glaziers in their store in New York City. It was Fannie who was born in Labun - the community associated with the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association. She was the daughter of Joseph and Anna Kargman and arrived in the USA in 1921 at the age of 23 with her parents and sister, Sarah.[1]

Joe's 1942 World War II draft registration card indicates he was born in Warsaw.[2] He and Fannie married on 7 January 1926 in Brooklyn.[3]

They had two sons: Morris (born about 1926) and David (born about 1930).[4] The family lived for many years at 1605 Fulton Street in Brooklyn.

Notes:
1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 Dec 2010), manifest, S.S. Zeeland, Antwerp to New York, arriving 1 August 1921, list 16 (handwritten), lines 5-8, Josef, Chana, Sura and Feiga Kargman, citing NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 3001. 
2. "U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942" digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2010); Joseph Norflus, New York registration, Serial no. U337; NARA record group 147, microfilm publication M1987.
3. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate no. 822 (1926), Joe Norflus and Fanny Kargman, 7 January 1926; New York City Municipal Archives.
4. 1930 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-272, sheet 2B, dwelling 35, family 59, Joseph and Fannie Norflus family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2010); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1502.
1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-671, sheet 5B, household 92, Joseph and Fannie Norflus family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 September 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2563.

Tombstone Tuesday: Harry and Anna Charny Rubin, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

The Abraham and Chasi Charny family from Labun (aka Lubin), which I've been documenting during the last few weeks included not only their sons, Nathan and Louis, but also their daughter Anna and her husband Harry Rubin. 

Here lies

Tsvi Arye son of Ze-eiv

Died 15 Tishri 5709

May his soul be bound in everlasting life

HARRY

RAVRABEY

DIED OCT. 15, 1948

AGE 51 YEARS 

HUSBAND - FATHER

Harry, a butcher, and Anna arrived in New York on 4 September 1921 as Hershko and Henia Rawreba.[1] They left behind Hershko's brother David Rawreba in Lubin and planned to go to Henia's father A. Czarny in Chicago. Hershko, however, landed in the hospital at Ellis Island and, consequently, Henia was detained for 10 days before they could resume their journey to Chicago.

Here lies

Our beloved mother

She opens her arms to the poor

And extends her hand [spreads her palm] to the needy

Khana Rakhel

daughter of Avraham Yosef haCohen

Died eve of the Holy Sabbath 24 Kislev 5740

May her soul be bound in eternal life

ANNA RUBIN

BELOVED MOTHER

AND GRANDMOTHER

DEC. 14, 1979 [2]

Once in the United States, the couple changed their surname to Rubin. Their first two children, Ruth (born about 1921) and Sidney (24 March 1924-4 April 1993) were born in Chicago. Lillian, born in 1927, was a native New Yorker.[3] The family settled in Brooklyn and Harry was a butcher in his own retail store.

Harry died young. His daughter Ruth was the informant on his death certificate and stated that Harry's father's name was Wellvel and his mother's Riva.[4] Harry's gravestone identifies his father as Ze-eiv. Ze-eiv is the Hebrew equivalent of the Yiddish name Velvel (Wolf).

Anna Rubin died on the first night of Chanukah (a Friday).

They are buried in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY. They are both in block 5, gate 567W. Anna is in line 5R, grave 1 and Harry is in line 1R, grave 7.

Notes:
1. "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 July 2013), manifest, S.S. Zeeland, Antwerp to New York, arriving September 1921, p. 20, Hershko and Henia Rawreba; citing NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 3018.
2. Special thanks to participants on Tracing the Tribe FaceBook page: Anne Budlender, Elan Caspi, and Anat Rosenbaum. They generously shared their understandings of the meaning of Anna Rubin's gravestone inscription. Final choices (and mistakes) are mine.
3. 1930 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-323, sheet 21A, dwelling 100, family 288, Harry and Anna Rubin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 December 2010); NARA microfilm publication T 626, roll 1503.
4. Kings County, New York, death certificate no. 20631 (1948), Harry Rubin, 18 October 1948; New York City Municipal Archives.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Joseph Schwartz family advertisement, FLPBA 1949 anniversary publication

Glazier Joseph Schwartz and his wife Gussie purchased this advertisement in the 1949 anniversary publication of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association landsmanshaft organization in New York City. 

Gussie Kargman, daughter of Meyer and Goldie, from Labun (Lubin), Russian Empire, married Joseph Schwartz on 31 January 1925.[1] Gussie had emigrated from Danzig with her mother and sister and landed in Boston Harbor on 21 February 1921.[2]

Gussie's naturalization record indicates that Joseph was from Tomes (possibly Tamasi), Hungary.[3]

Gussie and Joseph had two children who grew to adulthood: Shirley (born in 1925) and Milton (1933-2010). Lillian died as an infant on 20 October 1931.[4]

In the late 1930s, Joseph and Gussie moved from Manhattan to Hartford, Connecticut.[5] They opened State Glass in Hartford and their son Milton joined his father in the store after he finished college.[6] 

Gussie died in 1951 and Joseph in 1967 in Hartford.

Notes:
1. New York County, New York, marriage certificate no. 6662 (1925), Joseph Schwartz and Gussie Kargman (31 January 1925); New York City Municipal Archives.
2. "Massachusetts, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 14 December 1910), manifest, S.S. Manchuria, Danzig to Boston, arriving 21 February 1921, p. 3, lines 5, Gisia Kargmann; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T938, Roll 260.
3. "Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974" digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 1910); Gussie Schwartz, petition for naturalization no 217437 (1933), Southern District Court of New York; NARA microfilm Series M1972, roll 862.
4. New York County, New York, death certificate no. 24555 (1931), Lillian Schwartz, 20 October 1931; New York City Municipal Archives.
5. 1940 U.S. Census, Hartford County, Connecticut, population schedule, Hartford, enumeration district 10-142, sheet 61B, household 167, Joseph and Gussie Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 537.
6. "Milton Schwartz," Hartford Courant (Connecticut), 30 April - 1 May 2010; Legacy.com 

(http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=milton-schwartz&pid=142356408 : accessed 9 September 2015).

Tombstone Tuesday: Louis and Gertrude Chorny, Montefiore Cemetery, NY

During the last couple of weeks we've been documenting gravestones of the Charny family of Labun: parents Abraham and Chasi; and son Nathan and his wife Yetta. I'm not quite sure why this occurs - or why it sticks, but the Charny family, like a few others with which I am familiar, adopted different spellings of their surname when they established themselves in the United States. Louis Chorny was another of Abraham and Chasi's children. Yet he consistently chose to spell his surname Chorny and codified that upon naturalization in 1942.[1]
 

Here lies

Leib son of Avraham haCohen

LOUIS CHORNY

1906 - 1971

Louis immigrated as Leib Czarny in August 1921 and headed to his father in Chicago.[2] By 1924, Louis was in New York City working as a glazier.[3]

Louis married native New Yorker Gertrude Rubin on 27 March 1927.[4] 

Here lies

Garona daighter of Nachman Yitzchak

GERTRUDE

CHORNY

Born April 14, 1905

Died March 23, 1974 

Louis and Gertrude had Lucille about 1928 and Harold in about 1936.[5] 

Louis and Gertrude are buried in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York. Louis is interred in block 5, gate 567W, line 3R, grave 8. Gertrude is in line 4L, grave 8.

Notes:

1. "U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 December 2010); U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York, index card 5239885, Louis Chorny, 28 July 1942: NARA Microfilm serial M1164, roll 43. 

2. "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2010), manifest, S.S. Kroonland, Antwerp to New York, arriving 9 August 1921, p. 23, Leib Czarny; citing NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 3005.

3. Polk's New York City Directory, 1924-25, entry for Louis Chorny, p. 573; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 September 2015). 
4. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate 4204 (27 March 1927), Louis Chorny and Gertrude Rubin; New York City Municipal Archives.
5. 1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-2404, sheet 6B, household 146, Louis and Gertrude Chorny family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 August 2015); NARA micfofilm publication T627, roll 2609.

Adding a significant leaf on the tree: Tsiril Liebross

Oh, I know it's not "Tombstone Tuesday," but this is one of those genealogy happy dance moments - and I want to share. I have recently received, via email, photos of my great great grandmother Tsiril Liebross' tombstone in the Radauti (aka Radautz) Jewish Cemetery in Romania (what had been the Bukovina province of the Austrian Empire).

An index of this record has been online for some time (the inventory of the cemetery was completed in 2005) associated with the Radauti kehilalinks page on JewishGen. But, it has taken me some time to find additional evidence that my great great grandmother was this Tsiril who died in Radauti.

Based upon some recent contacts, I have also been able to add another sister for my great grandfather Louis Liebross (more about that another time) and confirm that "Zirl Libruss" was my Tsiril Liebross.

Here lies an important woman

modest and proper

Mrs. Tsiril daughter of

the late Mr. Asher

Zelig Died second

intermediate day of Sukkot

5652 May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

Devout Jewish people may not work during the first two days of Sukkot. The first two days of Sukkot are followed by intermediate days on which people may go about most of their usual work routines. So the second intermediate day is the fourth day of Sukkot (18 Tishri). In the year 5652, the Gregorian calendar date of Tsiril's death was 20 October 1891.

Her father was Asher Zelig. My great uncle, Sidney Libross (son of Louis and Bertha), was named for Asher Zelig and shared that Hebrew name. Sidney was born on 2 February 1890. Since Ashkenazi Jewish people do not name after the living, we know that Tsiril's father died before 2 February 1890. We do not know Tsiril's father's surname or the name of her mother.

My great aunt Celia Liebross' Hebrew name was Tsiril, like her grandmother. While I am not sure of Celia's exact date of birth (she had a tendency to get younger as the years went by), I know she was born after her brother Harry (14 November 1893) and before her brother Joseph Jerome, also known as Jerry (15 July 1897). So, she certainly could have been named after Tsiril who died in October 1891.

Tsiril was the wife of Mane. She and Mane had at least four children: my great grandfather Eliezer (Leizer or Louis) Liebross, Simon Liebross, Ruchel Liebross Gottfried and Rivka Liebross Schaffer.

I do not know when and where Mane died or was buried - his grave does not appear in this inventoried Radauti cemetery. However, Louis's eldest son, Max, born on 8 December 1889 in Radauti, was given the Hebrew name Mane. 

Recently discovery of Louis' elder sister Rivka Liebross Schaffer has added to information that may provide some indications regarding Mane's death. Rivka's first son (second child), born 26 September 1870 was also named Manie.[1]  So, we may assume that Louis' and Rivka's father (Tsiril's husband) died before that.*

My research leads me to believe that the family lived (or at least was registered in) Zaleszczyki before moving to Radauti. It is possible that Mane might have been buried there. Unfortunately, there are today neither records nor remnants of the Zaleszczyki Jewish cemetery.

The Radauti Jewish Cemetery Project, online via JewishGen, was kind enough to respond to my request for these photos of my great grandmother's gravestone and to allow me to use the images on my blog. 
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* I am indebted to researcher Eli Schaffer who is related to Rivka Liebross Schaffer's husband Avraham Dov Ber Schaffer. He pointed me in the correct direction in recognizing Rivka as a relative and noting Manie Schaffer's birth date. 

Notes:
1. "Registrupentiu actlele Starii Civile, Radauti, Nascuti 1857-1876-N1," birth register, page 50, record 67, Manie Schaffer, born 26 September 1870; Arhivele Nationale ale Romaniei (The National Archives of Romania), Suceava.