STRELECKAJA FAMILY HISTORY
Streleckaja Name and Place Origins
Variations of Streleckaja (Strelits, Streletskiji, Streletsky …) were common in Grodno, Vitebsk and Kobrin and often referred to someone from the village of Strel’tsy.
The Steleckaja family is from RADIN which was a part of the Russian Empire. It is currently called RADUN and is in Belarus, approximately forty miles south of Vilna.
GENERATION No. 1
PLEASE BE AWARE...
Abraham Streleckaja is listed as GEN 1 within the Weller-Zemser family tree. As the Pomerantz & Safer family trees go further back in time, the generation labels do NOT match.
ABRAHAM STRELECKAJA
ABRAHAM STRELECKAJA (pronounced Stre-LETZ-kai-ya) (or perhaps the name was Streletsky) was born before 1842 in Radin, and died after 1913 in Radin. He married twice as he was widowed and then remarried. His first marriage was to WIFE-1 UNKNOWN before 1859 in Vilna. We assume she was born before 1842 in Vilna. They married young and had at least two children before she died. Best guess is that she died sometime before 1880 in Radin. Abraham then married his second wife, FRUMA LIPMANSKY, sometime before 1882 in Radin. Abraham and Fruma had six children. Fruma was born 1856 in Wilno (Vilna) and she died about 1938 in NYC. Upon immigration, the name STRELECKAJA was changed to STRELSER. (Sources: immigration records state Fruma was fifty-seven in 1913; Judy Conway remembers visiting Fruma in a nursing home when Judy was six or seven years old. As Judy was born 1931, we assume Fruma died about 1938. NOTE: The marriage record of one of her sons lists her maiden name as LIPMANSKY.)
After all her other children had immigrated to the US, FRUMA (LIPMANKSKY) STRELETSKAJA immigrated with her daughter SOPHIE on the ship CZAR. They arrived in the US on 06 Jul 1913.
Considering the US trayfe, ABRAHAM STRELETSKAJA choose not to leave Radin and died there within a few short years of FRUMA and SOPHIE emigrating.
Children of ABRAHAM STRELECKAJA and WIFE-1 UNKNOWN are:
i. MARIASHA (STRELECKAJA) ZEMSER, b. about 1867, Radin; d. about 1919, Vilna.
ii. MORDECHAI STRELECKAJA, b. after 1867, Radin.
NOTE: Based on immigration information that Fruma (Abraham’s 2nd wife) was fifty-seven when she arrived in the US in 1913 and the supposition that Mariasha had her first child after she was at least sixteen, it seems that Fruma was not much older than Mariasha, Abraham’s oldest daughter.
Children of ABRAHAM STRELECKAJA and FRUMA LIPMAN are:
i. SAM STRELSER, b. about 1884, Radin; d. New York
ii. LENA STRELSER, b. about 1889, Radin; d. about 1920, at age 31, of cancer
iii. ISRAEL (aka Big Izzy) STRELSER, b. 15 Aug 1893, Radin; d. Nov 1977, Orange, NJ.
iv. ROSE (SORE RAISEL STRELSER) SCHMUCKLER, b. 13 JAN 1894, Radin; d. Feb 1980, Far Rockaway, NY
v. CHARLES STRELSER, b. 12 May 1895, Radin; d. 19 Apr 1982, FL.
vi. SOPHIE (STRELSER) ROSENMAN, b. 04 Apr 1896, Radin; d. 17 Aug 1979, Great Neck, NY.
NOTE: Mariasha’s daughter, Bessie Zemser was Sophie Strelser’s niece – in spite of the fact that Bessie was older than Sophie!
GENERATION No. 2
MARIASHA STRELECKAJA (aka Mariasha Zemser) (child of Abraham's 1st wife)
MARIASHA STRELECKAJA (ABRAHAM 1) was the daughter of Abraham and his first wife. She and her brother were the only of Abraham Streleckaja's children who did not immigrate to the US. Mariasha was born about 1867 in Radin and died about 1919 in either Radin or Vilna. She married JACOB/RAPHAEL ZEMSER, son of UNKNOWN ZEMSER and UNKNOWN UNKNOWN. He was born before 1867 in Radin or Vilna and died about 1919 in Radin or Vilna. They were innkeepers in Radin or Vilna.
Notes, Sources & Assumptions:
- JACOB vs. RAPHAEL ZEMSER: Flora Weller recorded Bessie's father's name as JACOB. Bessie and her brother Sam's marriage certificates both state Mariasha's husband was JACOB. However, Frances Albertson's records and Shirley Strassler's recollection concur that Mariasha's husband was RAPHAEL! ...Hmmm....
- Birth dates for Mariasha and Jacob/Raphael have been assumed. Their oldest child, Hymie was born in 1884. Believing the earliest age for child bearing to be about seventeen we calculated Mariasha and Jacob/Raphael were about that age at the time of Hymie’s birth. Given Abraham's second wife, FRUMA was born about 1857, she would have been about ten years older than Mariasha.
- Death dates for both Mariasha and Jacob/Raphael were assumed based on Shirley Weller-Strassler’s recollection that her mother, Bessie cried upon receiving news of her parents’ death when Shirley was nine or ten years old. It is possible they both died about 1918 in the influenza epidemic.
Children of MARIASHA STRELECKAJA and JACOB/RAPHAEL ZEMSER are:
i. HERMAN (HYMIE) ZEMSER, b. 1884, Radin/Vilna; d. before 1952 in the US.
ii. ESTHER (ZEMSER) STERN, b. 1887, Radin/Vilna, d. in the US.
iii. BESSIE (ZEMSER) WELLER, b. 1888, Radin/Vilna; d. 01 Jun 1972, New York, NY .
iv. SAM ZEMSER, b. about 1892, Radin/Vilna; d. Mar 1952 in the US.
MORDECHAI STRELECKAJA (child of Abraham's 1st wife)
MORDECHAI STRELECKAJA (ABRAHAM 1) was the son of Abraham and his first wife. He and his sister, Mariasha, were the only children of Abraham Streleckaja who did not immigrate to the US. We believe Mordechai was younger than Mariasha and was born after 1867 in Radin. He married SARAH RACHMALEVITZ in Radin before 1883. MORDECHAI and SARAH, and all their descendants still living in Radin, were murdered in the Holocaust. History reports the Jews in Radin were rounded up and brought to the Jewish cemetery where they were shot and buried.
Children of MORDECHAI STRELECKAJA and SARAH RACHMALEVITZ are:
i. ISRAEL STRELECKAJA (aka Little Izzy), b. 1895, Radin; d. 7 Nov 1977 in West Hartford, CT.
ii. UNKNOWN STRELECKAJA, b. Radin; murdered in the Holocaust
iii. UNKNOWN STRELECKAJA, b. Radin, Poland; murdered in the Holocaust
iv. BUBKA STRELECKAJA, b. Radin; d. in childbirth in Argentina
v. DVORCHE STRELECKAJA, b. Radin; presumably murdered in the Holocaust
vi. MARIASHA STRELECKAJA, b. Radin; presumably murdered in the Holocaust
NOTE: There may have been as many as nine children.
SAM STRELSER (child of Fruma)
SAM STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born 1882 in Radin. He married ASSNEH BREMBERG, daughter of JOSEPH BREMBERG and BESSIE MOZRERE on 4 Jan 1906 in NYC. ASSNEH was born 15 Dec 1883 in Russia. As per their marriage certificate, they were both twenty-one years of age when they married, implying a birth year of 1885. As per census records, SAM and ANNIE both immigrated to the US in 1902.
AGE ISSUE: 1910 Census records imply Sam's birth year was 1885; 1920 Census records imply his birth year was 1882.
In 1910, Sam and Annie STRELETSKY were living on S. 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY. In 1920, the STRELSER's were living on 45th Street, Brooklyn, NY and were next door to Annie's parents, Joseph and Sarah (?) BRIMBERG who also had Annie's brother, Irving (age 28) and their grandson, Jacob (age 12) living with them.
Children of SAM STRELSER and ASSNEH BREMBERG are:
i. MILDRED STRELSER, b. 1907.
ii. MIRIAM STRELSER, b. 1912.
iii. JEANETTE STRELSER, b. 1915.
LENA STRELSER (child of Fruma)
LENA STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born about 1889 in Radin, and died about 1920 in New York at age thirty-one, of cancer. (Source: 1910 US Census, states Lena was about 21 in 1910 and living in the 7th WD in Manhattan.) This presumes Lena immigrated to the US prior to 1910. To date we have been unable to find her immigration records. Unfortunately, we have no additional information about LENA.
ISRAEL STRELSER (aka Big Izzy) (child of Fruma)
ISRAEL STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born about 1893 in Radin and died 1959 in New York. He married REGINA NATH, daughter of NATHAN NATH and ETHEL RACHENHAUR, on 8 JUL 1929 in NYC. REGINA was born in Krakow and was a friend of Israel's sister, Sophie. At the time they married, Izzy was living at 2109 E 14 St, Brooklyn and Regina was on 31 St. Marks Place. REGINA stated she was thirty-one on her marriage certificate, implying a birth year of 1898 and Izzy stated he was thirty-six (confirming his birth year as 1893). Izzy listed his mother as FANNY LIPMANSKY on his marriage certificate.
ISRAIL STRELETSKY immigrated to the US at age fourteen (also confirming 1893 as his year of birth). He arrived on the 12 Apr 1907. He is listed as traveling with his sister SORE [Rose] STRELETSKY who was eighteen and a tailoress. They both listed their last residence as Pradir or Pradin (Radin?) and stated they were going to their brother MR. [Sam] STRELETSKY at 315 Lispenard, NY. They were both of light complexion, he had brown hair and eyes, she had black hair and brown eyes.
The 1910 US Census indicates ISADOR STRELSER, age eighteen, was living in Jersey City with Herman and Bessie Zemser (not the Bessie Zemser listed above!) and their one year old son, Philip. He was a tailor. (Apparently at the age of seven, he was sent away from his family to live with a tailor, and that is where he learned his trade.)
Izzy lived at 274 S. 2nd St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when his mother Fruma arrived with his sister Schiene in 1913 as they gave his address as their destination.
He was naturalized 13 Sep 1913 in New York. His witnesses were Sam Strelcer - 521 W. 125th St and Herman Zemcer - tailor, 772 Westside Avenue, Jersey City. His certificate says he was 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighed 123 lbs. and had brown hair and gray eyes.
He served in the army during World War I. His Draft Registration on 5 JUN 1917 states:
- his birthdate was 12 Dec 1888 (in conflict with everything else that implies 1893)
- he was living at 274 S. 2nd Street in Brooklyn
- he was naturalized
- he was from Vilna
- he was a tailor
- his tailor shop was called Strelser & Goldstein and was at 127-131 West 25th St, NYC
- he was single and supporting his mother
- he was of medium build and medium height, had gray eyes and brown hair
He was slim and slightly built (despite the fact that he was known as Big Izzy!) and he had flat feet. While serving in the army, a sargent ended up carrying him after some march because he could not walk. His wavy hair turned grey early.
Israel and Regina are buried in the United Hebrew Cemetery, Radiner Society section, Staten Island, NY.
Child of ISRAEL STRELSER and REGINA NATH is:
i. NATALIE STRELSER, b. New York.
ROSE STRELSER (child of Fruma)
ROSE (SORE RAISEL) STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born 13 JAN 1894 in Radin, and died Feb 1980 in Far Rockaway, NY. She maried SCHOLEM SCHMUCKLER.
Children of ROSE STRELSER and SCHOLEM SCHMUCKLER are:
i. MIRIAM SCHMUCKLER.
ii. UNKNOWN SCHMUCKLER.
CHARLES STRELSER (child of Fruma)
CHARLES STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born 12 May 1895 in Radin, and died Apr 1982 in FL. He married ANNA BECKER, daughter of DAVIS BREMBERG and ESTHER KLEINMAN, on 6 JUN 1926 in NYC. ANNA was born 15 Feb 1905, and died 14 Jan 1997 in MD. At the time they married, Charles was living at 1143 43 St, Brooklyn and Anna was living at 5215 15 Ave, Brooklyn. Anna was twenty-one and Charles was thirty-one when they married.
Children of CHARLES STRELSER and ANNA UNKNOWN are:
i. RHODA STRELSER, b. 1922, New York; d. 1958, New York.
ii. ALAN STRELSER, b. 1930, New York.
iii. MARTIN STRELSER, b. 21 Feb 1936, New York; d. 04 Jan 1992, FL.
SOPHIE STRELSER (aka Sophie Rosenman) (child of Fruma)
SOPHIE STRELSER (ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born 04 Apr 1896 in Vilna, and died 17 Aug 1979 in Great Neck, NY. She married IRWIN ROSENMAN about 1928 in NYC. He was born 1895 in Jerusalem, and died 1952 in NY. Irwin was a retail clothing salesman. After his death, Sophie lived with her daughter Hadassah in Great Neck for the remainder of her life.
Sophie (Schiene) arrived in the US 06 Jul 1913 with her mother, Fruma, on the Czar, that sailed from Libau, Posen, Prussia, Germany. Sophie was about seventeen when she immigrated.
Child of SOPHIE STRELSER and IRWIN ROSENMAN is:
i. HADASSAH LENORE ROSENMAN, b. 13 Aug 1929, NY.
GENERATION No. 3
ISRAEL (Isador) STRELSER (aka Little Izzy) (son of MORDECHAI STRELETSKAJA)
ISRAEL STRELSER (MORDECHAI 2 STRELETSKAJA, ABRAHAM 1 STRELETSKAJA) was born 15 Aug 1895 in Radin, and died 07 Nov 1977 in CT. He married FANNIE BRYNIN about 1921 in New York. She was born about Feb 1894 in London, England, and died 1946. After Fannie's death, Izzy married ESTHER RAYNER in 1950 in New Jersey. ESTHER was born 15 Dec 1900 and died 25 May 1997 in FL.
AGE ASSUMPTIONS: Izzy always said he was the same age as Charles Strelser. Charles Strelser was born in 1895. (Charles Strelser was Little Izzy's half uncle.) Supposedly, Izzy was eighty-two when he died in 1977, implying a birth year of 1895. Fannie's immigration records state she was twenty-seven years and five months old upon immigration 23 Jul 1921.
Izzy was the only one of his siblings to immigrate to the US. He immigrated on the that sailed from Bremen on 14 May 1913 and arrived in Baltimore 9 Jun 1913. He is listed on the ship manifest as SRUL STRELECKI and it states he was eighteen (backing up his birth year of 1895), from Radin, and a tailor. He listed his nearest relative from where he lived as STRELESKI, MO... (his father Mordechai) and he was headed to his uncle, Harry Berman, in Camden, NJ. Mordechai's sister-in-law (Harry's wife) had sent a ticket to Izzy's father hoping Mordechai would come to the US. Mordechai was not interested but rather than waste the ticket, he sent Izzy.
At some point during World War I, Izzy joined the Jewish Legion of the British army to fight for Palestine. He met his future wife, Fanny, when on leave in London. As a way of recruiting men into the Jewish Legion, the British promised them that at the end of the war they would be able to stay in Palestine. However, at the end of the war, the British reneged on that agreement. Unhappy about this, when Izzy's unit was demobilized in Palestine, the group staged a mutiny and determined to stay there rather than leave. Unfortunately, as a result, the entire unit ended up in prison for nine months. At some point, after his release, he returned to the US.
FANNIE BRYNIN immigrated to the US on 23 July 1921 on the that sailed from Southhampton.
Child of ISRAEL STRELSER and FANNIE BRYNIN is:
i. JUDY STRELSER , b. 1931, New York.
HADASSAH LENORE ROSENMAN
HADASSAH LENORE ROSENMAN (SOPHIE 2 STRELSER, ABRAHAM 1 STRELECKAJA) was born 13 Aug 1929 in NYC. She married BEN FUTERNICK 26 Oct 1952. He was born 04 Jun 1916 in NY, and died 09 Mar 1992 in Great Neck, NY. Ben was a physician.
Children of HADASSAH ROSENMAN and BEN FUTERNICK are:
i. GAIL FUTERNICK-GRAUMAN, b. 1954.
ii. RONNIE FUTERNICK-DYNKIN, b. 1956.
iii. CAROL FUTERNICK-ALCALY, b. 1958.
iv. JANICE FUTERNICK-RAITZIN, b. 1961.
NOTE: Hadassah and Ben’s children are in the same age range as me and my first cousins yet they are a generation earlier than us!
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS WORK IN PROGRESS. WE ARE NOT SURE THIS INFORMATION IS ENTIRELY CORRECT, AND WE KNOW IT IS INCOMPLETE. |