A cousin of mine just sent me these precious photos of my maternal great-grandmother and great-grandfather, as well as other family forbears, and I’d love to share them with you.
My mother’s grandparents, Esther and Matisyahu, managed to make it to Canada – from Bessarabia, I believe – and proceeded to establish a large, loving family, as you can see below.
Matisyahu (1845-1923) and Esther (1855-1939), middle row centre, pose with their six sons and one daughter, and their families. Their surname “Merovitz” somehow morphed into “Merovitch” in a few of the families. (I’ve also seen Mayerovitch, Meyerovitch, Marovitch, LOL; I think all the varieties are related!)
My grandfather David is in the top row, far right; my grandmother Libba sits at the end of the middle row, with baby Gertie on her lap. I’m always amazed when I contemplate the eight children they had so close together. The oldest was born in 1905; then 1907, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1917, 1918 and 1922.
I think Libba must’ve spent an awful lot of time in the kitchen, cooking! But my mom told me they all pitched in and helped in any way they could, the older kids dressing the younger ones, assisting with homework, and enjoying happy times with singalongs around the piano, later on playing canasta and bridge, and so forth. My mother had six sisters and one brother, Mel, the little lad sitting on the floor at the far right in the photo. Who knew he would grow up to father five children himself one day?!
By the way, in that same photo, my own mother, Ida Merovitz, is sitting cross-legged on the floor, third from the right. She would have been around 6 or 7 then. Note the big bow in her hair? You’ll see the same one in the family pic, below – which shows her with her immediate family: my grandparents, aunties and one uncle!
There’s that huge bow in Ida’s hair again. How it stayed on I’ll never know! Maybe that’s why she looks unhappy… maybe she’s worried it’ll fall off? 😀 It’s ok, Mom! You were cute then and stayed cute for all of your 92 years!
Do you notice how serious everyone looks, for the most part? I’m guessing that in 1919 perhaps photography wasn’t very commonplace. That would certainly change!
Thanks for joining me on this little stroll down Memory Lane!
Crossed Eyes and Dotted Tees 
What a wonderful gift to receive! Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Bessarabia. I’ve seen lots of those giant bows in photos from that time period. I wonder what prompted that fad?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was thrilled!
Fads come and go, it’s a funny one though, right?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very odd.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, these are so fabulous, Ellie! So happy you were given this treasure!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, me too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love the family photos! The one with everyone is amazing as I don’t think it was easy to get everyone together in one place. My mother’s father was from Bessarabia. I don’t know anything else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed ‘em! My guess re the big one is that it was to celebrate a big milestone – wedding anniversary of Esther and Matisyahu, perhaps… Still a feat to collect everyone!!
Did your grandfather make it to North America?
LikeLike
What treasures those images are! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure, so glad you liked them! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Early photography required the person to be very still. In fact, they were often braced from behind with ties to keep them immobile. So they were told not to smile because it was harder to hold it than an expressionless face.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, thanks so much for this info!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t realize I had at least one set of great-great-grandparents who emigrated to Canada, thought it was only the great-grandparents. Wow! Were Libba & David both born here?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, amazing, I hadn’t realized it either. Libba and David (as my mom told me) were not born here, but were sent on ahead by ship here, after a very young marriage (around 15-17 years old)! My mom said it was because their parents Esther & Matisyahu were afraid of violence from the Cossacks over there. I guess they followed here later on. BTW David & Libba got off the ship in Quebec City. They didn’t get to Montreal until my mom was about 7 (in 1919 or so.)
LikeLiked by 1 person