The Molefsky, Baltman and Related Families in Russia and America

PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE MOLEFSKY FAMILY

Fievel Bochcsinkon and Sema Rifka Molefsky

Harry Molefsky and Lena Baltman

Descendants of Fievel Bochcsinkon and Sema Rifka Molefsky

THE BALTMAN FAMILY

Anshel Moses and Anne Bortman

Abraham Leib and Audie Balla Bortman

Descendants of Anshel Moses and Anne Bortman

NOTES

This is an incomplete history of the Molefsky, Baltman, and related families in Russia and America. It is based on records available in the United States and the recollections of family members. For a number of reasons it may never be possible to compile a complete family history.

It wasn t until 1844 that Russian Jews were required to have last names, and people were apparently very casual in their use of names. For example, a sick child might be given a new name to trick the Angel of Death. Children might be called by last names different from their parents in order to confuse government officials. These factors make it difficult to trace a family name very far back. Additionally, many records may not have survived World War I, the Russian Revolution, and World War II. Soviet archives have been largely inaccessible for genealogical research, with the breakup of the Soviet Union this situation may be changing.

Each family group is discussed in a separate chapter. The chapters begin with a short narrative on each family followed by a descendants chart summarizing the family's genealogy. Throughout this document women are referred to by their maiden name, when a maiden name is not known their husband's last name in brackets is used. Dates for events (births, deaths, and marriages) in Russia must be considered rough approximations. These events were not documented very well. As Stella Levine Lefcourt wrote, "The Europeans didn't have definite knowledge of birthdays. It was either the time of someone's measles, or some happening, by which the age of their children and birthdays were determined."¹

The information in this document has come from a variety of sources including passenger arrival lists, Census reports, birth, death, and marriage certificates, as well as interviews with and questionnaires sent to family members. However, any errors in this paper are solely mine. Please notify me of any errors or omissions.

Information for this family history was provided by: Adele Mishkin Burkes, Morris Melofsky, Bette Melowsky, Arthur Mishkin, Beatrice Bukzin Molefsky, Howard Molefsky, Philip Molefsky, Sheila Molefsky Parker, and Ruth Baltman Raefsky.

The following organizations also provided records and assistance:

National Archives and Records Administration

Library of Congress

Social Security Administration

U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service

City Clerk, Brooklyn, New York

New York City Municipal Archives

New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records

American Jewish Historical Society, Waltham, Massachusetts

Family History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Washington

The Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia

New York Public Library

The origin of the name Molefsky is not known. Sky or ski is a Slavic suffix meaning from a place, so the name could mean from Molef. It was common for Russian Jews to take surnames based on towns they once lived in. Kaganoff's A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History notes:

Malev or Malevsky from Malewo, the name of a number of places throughout Poland and Russia.²

Perhaps, at one time the Molefsky family lived in one of those Malewos.

Alexander Baider, an expert on Jewish surnames used in the Pale of Settlement, suggests that the name may be a variation of Mogilefsky. The name would have been pronounced Mohelefsky and spelt with an h in Yiddish. The Russian language does not have the equivalent of an h, it was common to transliterate the h into a g.

The spelling of the name has never been standardized. At least four different spellings--Melofsky, Melewsky, Molefsky, Melowsky--have been used, but Molefsky is the most common. The w in place of the f undoubtedly comes from the German language. The first place the name Molefsky would have been written in the Latin alphabet was in Germany. In German the letter w is pronounced as v or f.

According to the passenger arrival lists and other documents, Belaya Tserkov was the home of the Molefsky family.³

Fievel Bochcsinkon and Sema Rifka Molefsky

Very little is known about Fievel and Sema Rifka. Harry Molefsky, according to Bette Melowsky, Morris Melofsky, and Beatrice Bukzin, at various times claimed that Molefsky was his mother's maiden name. When Harry Molefsky arrived in the United States the name he used was Hirsch Bochcsinkon. Presumably, Bochcsinkon was his father's last name.⁴ It is not known when he began using the name Molefsky.

Fievel and Sema Rifka apparently had several children. One son was said to have been a good dancer. Bette Melowsky has photographs showing the families of what she believes are Harry Molefskys brothers. She also has a photograph of a woman and child identified as Harry Molefsky's sister. Hirsch/Harry was the only member of the family known to have emigrated to the United States. The other children are believed to have died during World War II.

Fievel is thought to have been a carriage driver in Belaya Tserkov. Both Fievel and Sema Rifka probably died before 1920.

Harry Molefsky and Lena Baltman

Harry Molefsky was born in Belaya Tserkov, Russia most likely in 1883. His exact birthday will probably never be known. Three different documents give three different dates of birth: September 25, 1883 on his World War I draft registration, October 15, 1883 on his Social Security application, and December 15, 1883 on his naturalization papers.

Harry was the son the Fievel Bochcsinkon and Sema Rifka Molefsky. In February 1903 he married Lena Baltman, the oldest daughter of Abraham Leib and Audie Balla Bortman. Lena was born in Belaya Tserkov about 1884. Their oldest child, Baruch (later known as Sam), was born in Belaya Tserkov in December 1903.

Harry Molefsky and Lena Baltman, 1903
(probably their wedding picture).

In August 1906 Harry Molefsky emigrated to the United States. He may have left Russia to escape the draft.⁵ Harry sailed from Hamburg, Germany aboard the S.S. Amerika⁶ on 15 August 1906 and arrived in New York on 25 August 1906. According to the passenger arrival list his name was Hirsch Bochcsinkon, age 26, tailor, could not read or write, Russian, Hebrew, from Kiev, traveling to Brooklyn, New York where he was joining an uncle, Josul Bokmann, he had $7.00.

Josul Bokmann was Lena's uncle, Joseph Baltman who had emigrated to the United States in 1890. According to Harry's daughter, Bette, Joseph Baltman helped Harry come to the United States.

Sometime after he arrived in the United States Harry began using the name Molefsky, which was apparently his mother's maiden name.

Apparently, Harry did not want to bring Lena and Baruch to America. It is believed there was some sort of confrontation between Harry and Joseph Baltman after which Lena and Baruch emigrated.

Lena emigrated to America aboard the S.S. St. Louis⁷ sailing from Southampton on 28 May 1910 arriving New York 5 June 1910. She was accompanied by her son Baruch. According to the passenger arrival list her name was Leie Malewski, age 26, could not read or write, last residence was Bialya Cerkow, her nearest relative there was her father Abram Malewski (sic), she had no money, was joining her husband Herschel Malewski living at 257 E 3 St, New York. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches, fair complexion, black hair, green eyes. She was met by her husband who gave his name as Aaron living at 257 E 2 St. Baruch/Sam was 6 years old, the passenger list has no other information about him.

Harry and Lena had six children Sam (Baruch), Bette, Henry, Morris, and the twins, Abraham and Philip. Bette was named after Lena's mother, Audie Balla. Abraham was named after Lena's father, Abraham Leib, and Philip was named after Harry's father, Fievel. It is not known who Sam, Henry, and Morris are named after.

Abraham & Philip Molefsky

Sam and Bette never married. Henry married twice, his first wife was named Ruth, they were divorced. Henry's second marriage was to Lillian Jamal in the mid 1950s, they had no children. Morris married Rose Dotkofsky in 1941, they had one son, Joel. Abraham married Faye Calman, they had two daughters, Maxine and Susan, and a son Howard. Philip married Beatrice Bukzin in 1947, they had two children, Barry and Sheila. Sheila was named after Harry's mother, Sema Rifka.

Harry worked in the garment industry as a pocket maker for mens clothing, a skilled occupation. He was a member of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers union. In September 1918 when he registered for the draft during World War I he was working for Reuben Needle in Manhattan. When he applied for a Social Security number in November 1936 he was working for Baschuk & Dabzetsky on West 11th Street.⁸

At one time all of Harry and Lena's children worked in the garment industry. But only Sam and Bette spent their working lives in the industry. Sam worked in the shipping department; he had a talent for remembering postal zones and rates. Henry went into the junk business. Morris, Abraham, and Philip became taxi drivers.

During World War II Sam had a short stint in the Army; he was discharged for medical reasons shortly after joining. Abraham saw service in Alaska and Europe. Philip was in the Military Police serving in the Middle East.

Harry and Lena were not religious.

The family lived at 88 Columbia St. in 1911, while living there Harry was known as Aaron, and 92 Lewis St. in 1920 on the Lower East Side. They also lived on Cannon Street at various times. These building no longer exist, in fact Cannon Street has completely disappeared. In 1925 they moved to Brooklyn, and lived at Christopher St., 314 Powell St. in 1936, 555 Schenk Avenue in 1942 and then at 606 Linwood Street. Their last address was on Winthrop Street.

With two exceptions the Molefskys stayed in the Metropolitan New York area. The only family members to live outside New York are Philip who moved to Florida after retiring and Philip's son Barry who moved to Virginia. In addition, Morris' grandchildren, Christopher and Tammy, live in Washington State with their mother.

Harry Molefsky became an American citizen on June 1, 1948 at the United States Court for the Eastern District of New York, in Brooklyn. Lena Baltman never learned English and never became an American citizen.

Harry died in January 1969 and Lena died in February 1978. During her last years, Lena was confined to a nursing home in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn. Although not from Ekaterinslaw, Harry belonged to the Relief Association of Ekaterinslaw⁹ and he and Lena are buried in that society's section of the Montefiore Cemetery on Springfield Boulevard in Queens, New York.

Henry died in September 1991 at Maimondes Hospital in Brooklyn. He was buried at United Hebrew Cemetery on Staten Island. Sam died in November 1991.¹⁰ He had been in poor health for several years. He was buried at Montefiore Cemetery near his parents.

Descendants of Fievel Bochcsinkon and Sema Rifka Molefsky

Fievel Bochcsinkon born Before 1883, Russia, married Sema Rifka Molefsky, in
Russia, born Before 1883, Russia, died Russia. Fievel died Before 1920, Russia.

I. Harry Molefsky born 25 SEP 1883, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, married Lena
   Baltman, FEB 1903, in Belaya Tserkov, Russia, born 15 MAR 1884, Belaya
   Tserkov, Russia, died 14 FEB 1978, Brooklyn, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens,
   NY. Harry died 26 JAN 1969, Brooklyn, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens, NY.

   A.   Sam Melewsky born 21 DEC 1903, Belaya Tserkov, Russia. Sam died 18
        NOV 1991, Brooklyn, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens, NY.

   B.   Bette Melowsky born 6 MAY 1911, 88 Columbia St, New York, NY.

   C.   Henry Molefsky born 5 NOV 1912, New York, NY, married (1) Ruth
        [Molefsky], married (2) Lillian Jamal, About 1957, in Brooklyn, NY,
        born Syria. Henry died 27 SEP 1991, Brooklyn, NY, buried United
        Hebrew, Staten Island, NY.

   D.   Morris Melofsky born 8 AUG 1915, New York, NY, married Rose
        Dotkofsky, 6 JUL 1941, in Ellenville, NY, born 20 DEC 1920, NY, died
        7 APR 1980, Brooklyn, NY, buried Beth Moses, Pinelawn, NY.

        1.   Joel Melofsky born 16 APR 1959, Brooklyn, NY, married (1) Cheryl
             [Melofsky], born WA (divorced),  married (2) Marguerite PAULUCCI 
             on 13 May 1995 at Roslyn Heights, NY.
.
             a.   Tammy Jo Melofsky born 21 DEC 1983, WA.

             b.   Christopher Michael Melofsky born 21 DEC 1983, WA.

   E.   Abraham Molefsky born 1 JAN 1920, 92 Lewis St, New York, NY,
        married Faye Calman, 3 JAN 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, born 25 MAY
        1924, died 24 NOV 1982, Bronx, NY, buried Beth Moses, Pinelawn, NY.

        1.   Maxine Molefsky born 30 MAY 1948, Brooklyn, NY, married
             (1) Jeffrey ? (divorced), married (2) Marvin Zell, Before 1976 (divorced).

             a.   Pamela Amy Zell born 8 NOV 1976, Brooklyn, NY.

             b.   Eric Zell born 21 AUG 1979, Brooklyn, NY.

        2.   Howard Molefsky born 27 JUN 1951, Brooklyn, NY, married
             Joanne Levine, DEC 1987, in Syosset, NY, born Brooklyn, NY. Howard died
             1998, Brooklyn, NY, buried Beth Moses, Pinelawn, NY.

        3.   Susan Molefsky born 1 APR 1954, Brooklyn, NY, married 
             Fred Verschleiser, 19 NOV 1994, in Tarrytown, Westchester Co., NY.

   F.   Philip Molefsky born 1 JAN 1920, 92 Lewis St, New York, NY, married
        Beatrice Kate Bukzin, 8 JUN 1947, in Brooklyn, NY, born 4 MAR 1927,
        Brooklyn, NY.

        1.   Barry Edward Molefsky born 18 JAN 1950, Brooklyn, NY,
             married Frances Ann Prevatte, 11 OCT 1987, in Alexandria, VA,
             born 8 JUL 1959, Kingstree, SC.

        2.   Sheila Rae Molefsky born 3 APR 1951, Brooklyn, NY, married
             Steve Parker, 2 JUN 1974, in Brooklyn, NY (divorced).

Early records show the family name as Bortman or Bortmann, at some point it was changed to Baltman. The change was made in the United States for unknown reasons. Kaganoff's Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History does not list either name. It does list similar names, Balter and Bortnik. Balter is taken from the town of Balta in Moldavia;¹¹ Bortnik is derived from Bortniki, a town in Russia. ¹² It was common for Russian Jews to adopt surnames based on towns they once lived in.

According to the passenger arrival lists and a 1927 letter from the U.S. consulate in Riga, Latvia, Belaya Tserkov was the home of the Bortman/Baltman family.¹³

Anshel Moses and Anne Bortman

Nothing is known about Anshel Moses and Anne Bortman except that they were the parents of Joseph Baltman. They were probably the parents of Abraham Leib Bortman as well.¹⁴ It is not known if they had other children.

Abraham Leib was married to Audie Balla. They had three daughters Lena, Pessie, and Nechame. Lena married Harry (Hirsch) Molefsky in Russia before 1903. Pessie married Louis Mishkin in New York City in 1917. Nechame apparently never married and probably died in Belaya Tserkov during World War II. Abraham Leib and Audie Balla died before 1920.

Joseph Baltman was born in 1870. Joseph was apparently the first in the family to come to America. According to his naturalization papers, he arrived in the United States on March 10, 1890. The papers do not identify the ship he sailed on. There was only ship arriving in New York on March 10, 1890 that he could have been on; however, an inspection of the passenger list did not find him. His daughter Ruth says that when he arrived in New York he had only one penny in his pocket.

In America Joseph married Molly Shapiro. Molly was born in 1876 in Wastow, Russia. They had at least eight children, six daughters and two sons. One daughter, Fannie, died as a child after receiving the wrong treatment for measles. One son, Abe, became estranged from the family after marrying outside the faith.

Joseph helped his niece Lena's husband, Harry Molefsky, emigrate to the United States in 1906. When Harry proved reluctant to bring Lena and their son to New York there was some sort of confrontation between Harry and Joseph after which Lena came to America.

Joseph Baltman died in June 1947 and Molly Shapiro died a few years later in 1950. They are buried at Beth David Cemetery on Long Island.

Abraham Leib and Audie Balla Bortman

Abraham Leib Bortman and his wife Audie Balla lived in Belaya Tserkov, Russia. It is not known when or where they were born. Audie Balla probably died before 1911 and Abraham Leib died between 1911 and 1920.

They had three daughters Lena, Pessie, and Nechame. Lena married Harry Molefsky in Russia in February 1903. Harry was the son of Fievel Bochcsinkon¹⁵ and Sema Rifka Molefsky. In August 1906 Harry emigrated to the United States. Sometime after arriving in New York he began using his mother's maiden name.

Lena emigrated to the United States in 1910, almost four years after Harry. She travelled to America aboard the S.S. St. Louis¹⁶ sailing from Southampton on 28 May 1910 arriving New York 5 June 1910. She was accompanied by her son Baruch (later known as Sam). According to the passenger arrival list her name was Leie Malewski, age 26, could not read or write, last residence was Bialya Cerkow, her nearest relative there was her father Abram Malewski (sic), she had no money, was joining her husband Herschel Malewski living at 257 E 3 St, New York. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches, fair complexion, black hair, green eyes. She was met by her husband who gave his name as Aaron living at 257 E 2 St.

Lena and Harry had six children Sam (Baruch), Bette, Henry, Morris, and the twins, Abraham and Philip. Bette was named for Audie Balla. Abraham was named after Lena's father and Philip was named after Harry's father. It has been said that whenever Lena was angry at Harry she would hit Philip.

Sam and Bette never married. Henry first married Ruth [Molefsky], his second marriage was to Lillian Jamal, they did not have any children. Morris married Rose Dotkofsky, they had a son, Joel. Abraham married Faye Calman, they had three children: Maxine, Howard, and Susan. Philip married Beatrice Bukzin, they had a son, Barry, and a daughter, Sheila.

Harry died in January 1969 and Lena died in February 1978. They are buried at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York. Their son Henry died in September 1991 in Brooklyn. He is buried at United Hebrew Cemetery on Staten Island. Sam died in November 1991 and was buried at Montefiore Cemetery.

Eighteen months after Lena came to America, Pessie came to the United States to live with her sister. It is said that Harry and Lena had only enough money to bring one person from Russia; they had to choose between Lena's sister or someone from Harry s family. The choice was Pessie.

Pessie emigrated to the United States aboard the S.S. Zeeland¹⁷ sailing from Antwerp on November 25, 1911 arriving New York December 6, 1911. She was 18, 4 feet 11 inches, fair complexion, brown hair and eyes. She could not read or write, her occupation was listed as seamstress, she had no money. Her last place of residence was Bialocerkow, Russia; nearest relative in Russia was her father Abram Bortmann living in Bialocerkow gub. Kiev. Passage to America was paid by her brother-in-law, who she was joining, Harry Malefski living at 88 Columbia Street, New York. Pessie had to wait several hours at Ellis Island before being met by her sister Lena.

In 1917 Pessie married Louis Mishkin in Brooklyn, New York. At the time of their marriage Louis was a railroad brakeman living in Utica, New York.¹⁸ Louis later became a plumber. He was the son of Eleazer Mishkin and Rose Diamond. His father died before he was born and he was named after him.¹⁹ His mother later married a Slavinsky. Pessie and Louis had three children, Adele, Arthur, and Stanley. Adele was named after Pessie's mother, Audie Balla.

Standing, from the left, Bette Melowsky, Philip Molefsky, Beatrice Bukzin, Abe Burkes, Adele Mishkin, Lillian Jamal, and Henry Molefsky, Seated from the left, Harry Molefsky, Lena Baltman, Abraham Molefsky, Faye Calman, Morris Melofsky, and Rose Dotkofsky

Adele married Abe Burkes, they had two daughters, Susan and Lynn, and a son, Jeffrey. Arthur's first wife was Betty Behar, they had two children, Jeffrey and Barbara. After Arthur and Betty divorced, Arthur married Sylvia Perlin. Arthur and Sylvia had two children, Linda and David. Sylvia died in 1991. Stanley's first wife was Donna Gillbo, they had a son Larry. Stanley and Donna divorced and Stanley married Barbara Anderson.

Louis died in 1958; Pessie died 14 years later. They are both buried at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York.

According to Bette Melowsky, Pessie had promised her father that she would arrange for her younger sister Nechame to come to America.²⁰ That promise could not be kept. First, World War I interfered, then, after the War, U.S. immigration laws were changed making it difficult for East Europeans to enter the United States.

Pessie saved a copy of a letter from the American Consulate in Riga, Latvia sent to Nechame. The letter amply, and sadly, illustrates the problem of bringing Nechame to the United States:

   Riga, Latvia, May 9, 1927

   Miss Nechame Bortman
   c/o Mrs. Pugachevsky
   Kievsky per. #7
   Belaj-Tzerkow, Kievsk, Gub.
   S.S.S.R.

   Madam:
   With reference to your letter of April 23, 1927, concerning your desire
   to join your brother-in-law, Mr. Louis Mishkin, at New York City. I have
   to inform you that you are apparently chargeable to the non-preference
   series of the Russian quota, and as there are some 20,000 persons
   registered against this series of that quota, it will be many years before
   favorable action can be taken in your case.

   Very respectfully yours,
   /John Farr Simons,
   American Consul,
   File No. 811.1121

Bette Melowsky believes that Nechame never married and remained at Belaya Tserkov. According to the Encyclopeadia Judaica, the 3,000 Jewish inhabitants of Belaya Tserkov were killed by the Germans in August 1943.

Descendants of Anshel Moses and Anne Bortman

Anshel Moses Bortman born Russia, married Anne [Bortman] in Russia, born Russia,
died Russia. Anshel died Russia.

I. Abraham Leib Bortmann born Before 1884, Russia, married Audie Balla
   [Bortmann], in Russia, born Before 1884, Russia, died Before 1910, Russia.
   Abraham died After 1911/20, Russia.

   A.   Lena Baltman born 15 MAR 1884, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, married
        Harry Molefsky, FEB 1903, in Belaya Tserkov, Russia, born 25 SEP
        1883, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, died 26 JAN 1969, Brooklyn, NY, buried
        Montefiore, Queens, NY. Lena died 14 FEB 1978, Brooklyn, NY, buried
        Montefiore, Queens, NY.

        1.   Sam Melewsky born 21 DEC 1903, Belaya Tserkov, Russia. Sam
             died 18 NOV 1991, Brooklyn, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens,
             NY.

        2.   Bette Melowsky born 6 MAY 1911, 88 Columbia St, New York,
             NY.

        3.   Henry Molefsky born 5 NOV 1912, New York, NY, married (1)
             Ruth [Molefsky], married (2) Lillian Jamal, About 1957, in
             Brooklyn, NY, born Syria. Henry died 27 SEP 1991, Brooklyn,
             NY, buried United Hebrew, Staten Island, NY.

        4.   Morris Melofsky born 8 AUG 1915, New York, NY, married
             Rose Dotkofsky, 6 JUL 1941, in Ellenville, NY, born 20 DEC
             1920, NY, died 7 APR 1980, Brooklyn, NY, buried Beth Moses,
             Pinelawn, NY.

             a.   Joel Melofsky born 16 APR 1959, Brooklyn, NY,
                  married (1) Cheryl [Melofsky], born WA (divorced),  
                  married (2) Marguerite PAULUCCI on 13 May 1995 
                  at Roslyn Heights, NY. 

                  (1)  Tammy Jo Melofsky born 21 DEC 1983, WA.

                  (2)  Christopher Michael Melofsky born 21 DEC
                       1983, WA.

        5.   Abraham Molefsky born 1 JAN 1920, 92 Lewis St, New York,
             NY, married Faye Calman, 3 JAN 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, born
             25 MAY 1924, died 24 NOV 1982, Bronx, NY, buried Beth
             Moses, Pinelawn, NY.

             a.   Maxine Molefsky born 30 MAY 1948, Brooklyn, NY,
                  married (1) Jeffrey ? (divorced), married (2) Marvin Zell, Before
                  1976 (divorced).

                  (1)  Pamela Amy Zell born 8 NOV 1976, Brooklyn,
                       NY.

                  (2)  Eric Zell born 21 AUG 1979, Brooklyn, NY.

             b.   Howard Molefsky born 27 JUN 1951, Brooklyn, NY,
                  married Joanne Levine, DEC 1987, in Syosset, NY, born
                  Brooklyn, NY.

             c.   Susan Molefsky born 1 APR 1954, Brooklyn, NY, married 
                  Fred Verschleiser, 19 NOV 1994, in Tarrytown, Westchester 
                  Co., NY.

        6.   Philip Molefsky born 1 JAN 1920, 92 Lewis St, New York, NY,
             married Beatrice Kate Bukzin, 8 JUN 1947, in Brooklyn, NY,
             born 4 MAR 1927, Brooklyn, NY.

             a.   Barry Edward Molefsky born 18 JAN 1950, Brooklyn,
                  NY, married Frances Ann Prevatte, 11 OCT 1987, in
                  Alexandria, VA, born 8 JUL 1959, Kingstree, SC.

             b.   Sheila Rae Molefsky born 3 APR 1951, Brooklyn, NY,
                  married Steve Parker, 2 JUN 1974, in Brooklyn, NY
                  (divorced).

   B.   Pessie Baltman born 31 MAR 1896, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, married
        Louis Mishkin, 9 MAY 1917, in Brooklyn, NY, born 26 JUN 1896,
        Russia, died 23 MAR 1958, Bronx, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens, NY.
        Pessie died 31 DEC 1972, Bronx, NY, buried Montefiore, Queens, NY.

        1.   Adele Mishkin born 17 JUN 1918, Bronx, NY, married Albert
             Burkes, 21 JAN 1939.

             a.   Susan Burkes born 5 MAR 1942, married Richard Baron,
                  15 MAR 1964, born 31 OCT 1940 (divorced).

             b.   Lynn Burkes born 10 AUG 1945, married Marvin Leifer,
                  14 NOV 1975, born 9 FEB 1945.

                  (1)  Jennifer Bess Leifer born 5 SEP 1978.

                  (2)  Michael Scott Leifer born 9 MAR 1988.

             c.   Jeffrey Richard Burkes born 21 JUL 1948, married Susan
                  Peters, 16 JUL 1982, born 22 JAN 1949.

                  (1)  Elizabeth Mary Burkes born 17 JUL 1989.

                  (2)  Katherine Grace Burkes born 11 AUG 1989.

        2.   Arthur Lawrence Mishkin born 16 MAY 1923, Bronx, NY,
             married (1) Betty Behar, 12 DEC 1946, born 16 AUG 1923,
             married (2) Sylvia Perlin, 31 OCT 1958, born 30 JAN 1922, died
             8 NOV 1991, buried Sharon Gardens, Valhalla, NY.

             a.   Jeffrey Alan Mishkin born 7 SEP 1948, married Janet
                  Steel, 26 DEC 1971, born 8 JUN 1947.

                  (1)  Paul Mishkin born 4 OCT 1978.

                  (2)  Douglas Mishkin born 7 SEP 1982.

             b.   Barbara Mishkin born 9 MAY 1952, married Neil Galen,
                  28 MAY 1988.

                  (1)  Michael Galen born 1 AUG 1989.

                  (2)  Adam Galen born 18 NOV 1991

             c.   Linda Mishkin born 26 SEP 1959.

             d.   David Mishkin born 16 MAY 1962.

        3.   Stanley Mishkin born 18 JAN 1933, married (1) Donna Gillbo,
             21 JAN 1954, born MAR 1934, married (2) Barbara Anderson,
             27 JAN 1970, born 13 SEP 1935.

             a.   Larry Mishkin born 1 MAR 1966.

   C.   Nechame Bortman born After 1897, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, died AUG
        1943, Belaya Tserkov, Russia.

II.     Israel Joseph Baltman born 20 FEB 1870, Belaya Tserkov, Russia, married Molly
        Shapiro, 1 JUN 1893 in New York, NY, born 6 JUL 1876, Wastow, Russia, died
        14 SEP 1950, Brooklyn, NY, buried Beth David, Elmont, NY. Joseph died 25
        JUN 1947, Brooklyn, NY, buried Beth David, Elmont, NY.

   A.   Abe Baltman born 8 JUN 1894, NY.

   C.   Anna Baltman born 22 SEP 1898, NY, married ? Feinstein.

        1.   Doris Feinstein married ? Polesky.

             a.   Michael Polesky

             b.   Vivian Polesky

             c.   Jan Polesky

   D.   May Baltman born 20 SEP 1900, NY, married David Ostrofsky. May
        died About 1990.

   E.   Ethel Baltman born About 1900, NY, married ? Grossman.

        1.   Seymour Grossman

   F.   Max Baltman born About 1904, NY.

   G.   Fannie Baltman born NY, died Before 1920, NY.

   H.   Ruth Baltman born 8 AUG 1910, NY, married David Raefsky, born 20
        FEB 1909, died JAN 1978.

        1.   Arthur Raefsky married Beverley [Raefsky], in CA.

        2.   Larry Raefsky

   I.   Pearl Baltman born 21 NOV 1913, NY.

¹Lefcourt, Stella Levine. Letter to Barry Molefsky. May 20, 1990.

²Kaganoff, Benzion C. A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History. New York, Schocken Books, 1977. p. 174.

³BELAYA TSERKOV, an ancient town in Kiev oblast, about 50 miles south of the city of Kiev, was settled toward the end of the 16th century. In 1646, Jews owned 100 of the town’s 800 houses. The Jewish community was destroyed in 1648 during the Chemielnicki rising and "again suffered at the beginning of the Haidamack rising in 1703." In 1765 there were 1,876 poll tax–paying Jews in the town and its vicinity. In 1768 only 223 Jews survived an attack led by Cossack General Gonta. Thereafter the Jewish population rose to 1,077 in 1787, 6,665 in 1847, and 18,720 in 1897 (54 percent of the total). The grain trade and sugar industry contributed to Belaya Tserkov’s growth during the 1800s. There was a pogrom in 1905. During the 1919-1920 civil war, Ukrainian and White Army troops killed about 850 Jews there.
Germans occupied Belaya Tserkov in August 1943 and killed the approximately 3,000 Jews living there.
"In Jewish folklore Belaya Tserkov is also referred to as the ‘Black Abomination’ (Yid. Shvaryse Tume), a play on its name in Russian (‘White Church’)."
Source: Encyclopeadia Judaica, vol 4: 413.

⁴The name Bochcsinkon is unusual. Alexander Baider, an expert on Jewish surnames in the Pale of Settlement, suggests that Bochcsinkon may be a corruption of Borshchagovsky, a name found in the town of Vasilkov just north of Belaya Tserkov.

⁵Interview with Bette Melowsky, May 13, 1990.

⁶S.S. Amerika was built in 1905 at Belfast, Ireland by Harland & Wolff, Ltd. It was owned by the Hamburg America Line. Tonnage: 22,225. Dimensions: 668.8 x 74.3 x 47.8. Twin-screw, 18 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Passengers: 386 first, 150 second, 1,970 third. Maiden voyage Hamburg-New York, October 11, 1905. First voyage Hamburg-Boulogne-Southampton-Boston, June 10, 1914. Interned at Boston in 1914. Converted into an American troopship in 1917. Renamed: America (1917). Acquired by United States Mail Steamship Company in 1921. First sailing as an American passenger liner, June 22, 1921. Laid up as a reserved transport in 1932. Commissioned as the troopship Edmund B. Alexander in 1941. Reconditioned in 1942 and a large single funnel replaced the original two. Scrapped at Baltimore in 1957. Smith, Eugene W. Passenger Ships of the World Past and Present. George H. Dean Company, Boston, 1978. p. 8 and 10.

⁷The S.S. St. Louis was built at Philadelphia, PA, by Wm. Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Owned by American Line. Tonnage: 11,629. Dimensions: 535.5 x 63 x 26.8. Twin-screw, 21 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels. Launched November 12, 1894. Equipped with ten boilers, which had a total of 64 furnaces. Passengers: 320 first, 210 second, 800 third. Maiden voyage: New York-Southampton, June 5, 1895. Renamed: Louisville (1917) and St. Louis (1920). Served as a troopship in World War I. She caught fire while refitting in 1920. The scuttled liner was refloated, but the rusting burned-out liner remained tied up in New York for four years. In 1925, it was towed to Italy where it was dismantled by ship breakers. Smith, Eugene W. Passenger Ships of the World Past and Present. George H. Dean Company, Boston, 1978. p. 233.

⁸U.S. Social Security Administration. Form SS5, Application for Account Number, by Harry Molefsky, November 24.1936.

⁹This society was organized January 26, 1894 and was dissolved by the New York State Department of Insurance in 1988.

¹⁰New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records. Certificate of Death 63103. November 21, 1991. The death certificate incorrectly has his marital status as widowed. Sam never married.

¹¹Kaganoff, Benzion C. A Dictionary of Jewish Names and Their History. New York, Schocken Books, 1977. p. 131.

¹²ibid., p. 138.

¹³See Note 3.

¹⁴These relationships are somewhat speculative. It is known that Joseph Baltman was Lena Baltman’s uncle and Abraham Leib Bortman was Lena Baltman’s father. Therefore, Joseph and Abraham Leib should be brothers. Joseph Baltman's headstone and death certificate identify Anshel Moses and Anne as his parents, presumably they are also Abraham Leib’s parents as well, but that cannot be proven. It is possible, for example, that they had different mothers.

¹⁵See Note 4.

¹⁶See Note 7.

¹⁷The S.S. Zeeland was built in 1901, at Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland by John Brown & Co. for the International Navigation Co. Owned by Red Star Line. Tonnage: 11,905. Dimensions: 561.6 x 60.2 x 38.2. Twin-screw, 15 knots. Four masts and two funnels. Service: Antwerp-New York. During 1910-1911 period ran for White Star Line. Renamed: (a) Northland (1915), (b) Zeeland (1919), (c) Minnesota. Sold for scrap in October 1929. Smith, Eugene W. Passenger Ships of the World Past and Present. George H. Dean Company, Boston, 1978. p. 283.

¹⁸New York City Department of Health. Certificate and Record of Marriage 6701. May 9, 1917.

¹⁹His headstone reads (in Hebrew) Eleazer son of Eleazer.

²⁰Interview with Bette Melowsky, May 13, 1990.

²¹This correspondence is not on file at the U.S. National Archives. Vandereedt, John K., Civil Reference Branch, National Archives. Letter to Barry Molefsky. June 5, 1990.

Copyright © 1992 & 1995 Barry Molefsky. The genealogical information on this page may be reproduced freely with appropriate attribution.