Why Winnipeg? Why 1912?
“Jewish immigrants to the West came in large numbers, but did not settle in rural areas permanently. As most Jews were employed in retail and other urban businesses, Jews tended to congregate in cities. Winnipeg became a centre for Jewish immigrants.”
https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/settling-west-immigration-to-prairies
1912: The Lipschitz family come to Winnipeg
On 10 Feb 1912, Aurial Joseph Lipschitz arrived alone in Portland Maine, on his way to Winnipeg. He listed his occupation as “Merchant Builder”.
“Awriel” Lipschitz, Age: 42, Birth Year: abt 1870, Departure Port: Liverpool, England. Arrival Date: 10 Feb 1912, Arrival Port: Portland, Maine, USA, Vessel: Dominion
Helen and the three children came over five months later, on 3 Aug 1912.
Helen Lipskitz, Arrival Age: 40, Birth Year: abt 1872.
Departure Port: Liverpool, England. Arrival Date: 3 Aug 1912.
Arrival Port: Quebec. Canada. Vessel: Teutonic
Cecilia, age 20, is a “Teacher”, Solomon, age 11, is a “Scholar” and Samuel, age 2 is an “Infant”. Since they are coming into Canada as settlers, they need to bring some money with them. They have $100.00.
The Lipschitz family are now all in Winnipeg, in the summer of 1912.
1912, a trip to Baltimore
On November 15, 1912, Helen and baby Samuel cross the border from Winnipeg, Ontario to the United States, on their way to Baltimore. This lengthy and almost illegible record is full of new information about the family history.
We highlight some interesting bits.
Her last permanent address was 789 Redwood Ave, Winnipeg Manitoba.
Her brother (and Sam’s uncle) Max Bovshimer of Odessa, Russia is in the column for the “Complete address of nearest relative in country whence alien came.”
Helen and baby Samuel are on their way to Baltimore Maryland because of the death of aunt Sofia Manwitz.
Surprises and new information are hiding in the next columns of this record.
1. Helen is blind in her right eye, according to this document.
2. Her place of birth is (Oznigrad?), Russia (ditto). 
We have not yet been able to identify this city in Russia.
1914 Canada at war:
Meanwhile, between 1912 and 1914, the world had changed in a frightening way.
When, on 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany, Canada, as a British Dominion, was also at war with Germany.
1916: A Wedding and a War
On 5 Feb 1916, Cecilia Lipschitz and Thomas Emerson Moffat marry in Winnipeg.
The marriage record is very minimal: the two names and the date. Thomas Emerson Moffat was born on 17 May 1886, in Franklin, Manitoba.
Three months after his wedding to Cecilia, Thomas Emerson Moffat signed up in Winnipeg, on 15 May, 1916, for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force.
On 16 Sept 1916, he sailed from Halifax, on the S.S. Olympic, as a member of the 107th Regiment.
June 1, 1916, Manitoba Census
Meanwhile, back in Winnipeg, on the day of the Manitoba Census of 1916, the Lipschitz family are living at 684 Anderson Street, Winnipeg. Joseph, Helen, Solomon (age 15) and Samuel (age 6).
Cecilia, now a soldier’s wife, was living in the Rose Apartments in Winnipeg (from her husband’s war records).
1917: Thomas Emerson’s War
Thomas Emerson’s Regiment trained at Witley Camp in England.
In March 1917, his battalion, the 107th, disembarked on the “Boulogne Field”.
On August 6, 1917, he was wounded in action.
Here is the script for our 1917 war movie:
Aug 8, Evacuated from France, treated at the Swedish Hospital in the UK, discharged;
Aug 23, granted leave to proceed to Canada;
Nov 11, granted extension of leave; Dec 23, being retained in Canada.
Cecilia (Lipschitz) Moffat’s new husband is home from the war. But he is not well.
1 Nov 1917: report on Lieut. Moffat’s condition
Read the vivid and compassionate description of the Shell Shock that Thomas Emerson Moffat was suffering from.
“Reboarded” means that a soldier needs to be retested for his fitness, weight and height again.
We do not have records of whether he had other assignments. He stayed in Winnipeg.
By the 1921 Census of Canada, Thomas and Cecilia have two young children, Thomas J. age 3 and Mary age 1.
Next post:
Helen and Sam’s story: https://artword.net/lipsett/?p=176
