Most of the Bezbrozh's left for America in the 1920s, but a few early adventurers left between 1910 and 1913.
The First Early Travelers to America
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The first Bezbrozh to arrive in the United States was Avram Bezbrozh, the son of Noech and Rivka. According to Avram’s wife’s naturalization papers, he arrived in 1910. In the 1920 Census, his family reported that he arrived in 1912, but regardless, he was the first.
Avram decided that Bezbrozh was not a very American sounding name and changed his name to Abe Bernstein.
Abe was single and according to Abe's grandson Len Doberne, Abe came to the United States to avoid being drafted into the Tsar's army. He also may have tried to injure himself to avoid being drafted. Abe traveled through Hamburg, Germany on his way to America. Once in the U.S., Abe saved up money for many years to that he could send for each of his brothers and parents to come to America. All of us Bezbrozh descendants in America owe a debt of gratitude to Abe Bernstein.
Abe Bernstein
Sam Bernstein
Click left icon to see page 1 of the ship’s manifest of the S.S. Wittekind. Shulem is on line 4 which shows that he is leaving his wife Sura back in Medwyn. Click middle icon to see page 2 of the manifest. Click the right icon to see his naturalization papers.
The S.S. Wittekind
The next to arrive was Shulem Bezbrozh who arrived on April 19th, 1913 on the S.S. Wittekind sailing from Bremen, Germany. Shulem left behind his wife Sura (Sarah) who was pregnant with their daughter Anna (later called Anita.) Shulem changed his name to Sam Bernstein. His wife and children wouldn’t join him until nine years later in 1922.
Morris Bernstein
Click to the left to see Morris’ Bernstein’s naturalization papers, which lists his date and place of birth, the date and ship he arrived on, and other interesting facts. Notice that he listed his place of birth as Kiev. Lysianka was in the Kiev Gubernia (“Governate”), and many of the Bezbrozhs put down “Kiev” instead of “Lysianka” as their place of birth or residence.
The S.S. Chemnitz
The last to come to the United States during this period was Noech and Rivka’s son, Moshe Bezbrozh, who arrived in Baltimore on February 19, 1914 on the S.S. Chemnitz. Moshe had married Bessie Selzberg and they had a daughter, Leah, who was born in Medvin in about 1914. Moshe left for the United States before his daughter was born, leaving his wife and daughter behind - a practice that was not uncommon at that time. When Moshe arrived in the U.S. he changed his name to Morris.
Once in New York, Morris lived with his brother Abe and Abe's wife Dora. Abe's worked as a machine operator in a dress factory. Morris worked as a fish peddler. Click to the left to see the 1920 U.S. Census listing them as living at 173 St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan.
There were no more Bezbrozh immigrations to the U.S. until 1921. Morris wouldn’t see his wife and daughter for eight years and Sam wouldn’t see his wife and children for nine years.