In 1941 an official document was filed in Los Angeles, California by Rachel Gottlieb. In it, the applicant, also known as Ray Harris, Rachel Harris and Rachel Bovshoveroff, told the truth at last about all her identities. [Large image below.]
She tipped us off about all the surnames in play.
We first became aware of “Rachel Gottlieb, aunt/sister” in border-crossing documents when Helen Lipsett and son Samuel came to Montreal to visit brother/uncle Sol in 1933. [image right]
Knowing that Rachel Gottlieb and Helen Lipsett are sisters, and that the family name is “Bovsheveroff” or “Bovshirmer”, we were intrigued. We should be able to find a hint of that name in Helen’s records. Yes!
Here it is, almost impossible to find and see. The name was lurking in a lengthy 2-page border crossing document in November 1912. Helen and young Sam were on their way from Winnipeg to Baltimore to visit an aunt, for a funeral. One column says “Name and complete address of relative or friend in country whence alien came“. Bureaucrats gone wild! Helen’s answer: “Bro Max Bovshirmer, Odessa, Russia, Uncle“[for Sam] [Image below, and that’s only half of it]
So we have confirmed the Bovshoveroff/Bovshirmer connection. The family was from Odessa, on the Black Sea.
Part 2 of Rachel Gottlieb’s 1941 petition
Next on Rachel Gottlieb’s document, she identifies a marriage on 27 Jan 1927 in Los Angeles to one Max Gottlieb, of New York City. This marriage lasted only about ten years, but that information was not needed on Rachel’s document.
Her daughter “Cecilia” (above), was born in Norwich, UK, 1 Aug 1901. This is her only child.
Yes, there are two “Cecilia” daughters:
#1 Cecilia Lipschitz, born in London (Bethnal Green) on 26 Oct 1891, is the daughter of Aurial Joseph and Helen Lipschitz. Aurial was born in 1869 in Mglin, Russia. He emigrated from Russia to England in the late 1880s. By 1891 he had recently married Helen (Helena) Bovshaw (or Bovsheveroff), also Jewish, born in Odessa (Ukraine). This Cecilia is the first-born of the Aurial-Helen family. Her brothers Solomon and Samuel were born in 1900 and 1910. The birth registration shown below is in the first quarter of 1892, a few months after the actual birth.
#2 Cecilia Harris, born in Norwich, 1 Aug 1901, the daughter of Unknown husband Harris and Rachel Harris. Here is the 3rd-quarter record, under the surname Harris.
To find out more would require ordering an expensive birth certificate from the UK.
To confuse us more, both families went first to Winnipeg.
∼ Cecilia Lipschitz married in 1916 (age 20) and stayed in Winnipeg. Her husband, Thomas Emerson Moffat, is the fellow whose war experiences are in another post. He suffered “shell shock” during his service in WW1 in Europe. Cecilia and Thomas Moffat stayed in Winnipeg.
∼ Cecilia Harris left Winnipeg, age 19, in Dec 1920 with her mother “Rachel”, bound for Pasadena (document is in this post). In 1922 she married Bernard J. Glickman in Los Angeles.
Part 3 of Rachel Gottlieb’s 1941 Petition
Rachel Gottlieb lived in Winnipeg before she departed for California. On May 26, 1920, she crossed the border into the United States, under the name of “Rachael Harris” at Noyes, Minnesota, the US side of the border crossing.
Part 4 of Rachel Gottlieb’s 1941 Petition
On the second page of Rachel Gottlieb’s document, note that one of the witnesses is Mollie Lipshitz. This is Mollie Krupp Newkrug, second wife to Aurial Joseph Lipschitz. They married in 1929. Her address in Los Angeles is familiar.
Solomon Lipsett’s birth certificate
One more clue about the family surname in Russia appears in Solomon Lipsett’s birth certificate.
We ordered a copy of it, and it arrived today (March 24, 2022). Helen Lipschitz, his mother, was formerly “Boffshaveroff”.
The full certificate is on Solomon’s post.
1907 Rachael and Cecilia’s earlier history
Some more sleuthing revealed that Rachael (age 30) and Cecilia (age 6) left England in 1907. They sailed on 10 Aug 2007 from Liverpool on the S.S. Lucania. They arrived in New York on August 17. Their destination was Baltimore, where there was an aunt. Sister Helen Lipschitz is the relative back in England.
Rachael and little Cecilia go back to England, and then back again from Liverpool to Canada, this time with a new baby sister called Vera. They will go to Winnipeg. Little Vera dies in Winnipeg at age 5. We never have in fact encountered the father! On we go.
Dec 1920, Rachel and Cecilia Harris
“Rachael” Harris, age 40, dressmaker, and daughter Cecilia, age 19, stenographer, nationality “ditto” (= Canadian) are bound for Pasadena, California. Their last address was 569 Alfred Ave, Winnipeg.
Rachel names sister Mrs. R. S. Arlin, 481 Clarke St. Montreal as her nearest relative in the country she is leaving. Another “Bovsheveroff” sister? Need to check that out.
In the travel document, Rachel’s place of birth is Odessa, Russia, and Cecilia’s is Norwich England.
Rachel and Cecilia plan to visit Cousin Mrs. R. Meinheit, 960 Morton Avenue, Pasadena for 5 months.
Both Rachel (Ray…) and daughter Cecilia in fact remain in California. They do not go back to Winnipeg.
24 May 1922: Cecilia Harris marries
Cecilia Harris, age 21, married Bernard J. Glickman in Los Angeles. They had a family of two. Later, in 1937, Cecilia Glickman applied successfully to be naturalized, a few years before her mother Ray’s application.
27 Jan 1927, marriage Roya Harris & Max Gottlieb
Our Rachel Harris likes to use a number of variations on her first name. See last row.
1930 US Census, Ray and Max Gottlieb, Los Angeles
“Ray” has decided that she should say she is from “France”. Their address is 600 St. Andrew Place, Los Angeles.
1940 US Census, Ray and Max have separated
In the 1940 US Census, Max Gottlieb, age 53, has gone back to live with his parents in their Los Angeles address. His marital status: “D” for divorced. His occupation is “Repairer of musical instruments”.
Look what happened to the record for Rae Harris on the 1940 Census. The notation says “Cancel Inumerate (?) Inf”. Did she send the enumerator away?
13 Jun 1941, Ray’s Naturalization Petition is successful
Here is the certificate issued to Ray for her successful petition.
