Case Work: Jan 14 – Immigrant Journeys, Hidden Tales & Client Progress

Last Week on Case Work: DNA, Immigrant Journeys & Unfolding Stories

(Week of January 14)

While this past week might have started with me feeling a bit under the weather, I still managed to make significant progress in my client casework. I successfully finalized one case, and the files, report, and work notes are now ready to be sent to the client.

Diving Deep into Ancestral Narratives

I continued dedicated work on a "cleanup" case, involving extensive research for my client. This included a deep dive into "the book Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb" which was sent to me by the client along with notes and family photos. Using the rich information from the book, I began creating detailed stories for these specific ancestors on Ancestry.com and uploading carefully cropped and edited images.

New Horizons: A Dominican Republic Case Begins

I also had an exciting assessment with a new client – a close family friend eager to learn about their family roots. I'm especially thrilled to embark on this journey with her, as this case will take me back to my father's homeland: the Dominican Republic. This particular case begins with a compelling starting point: a grandmother who is one of twelve children! My new client is also interested in having DNA tests completed and added to her family tree once we begin the research.

Discoveries Made: An Immigrant's Perilous Journey

(These notes are taken from the book: Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb)

The book offers incredible insights, including the story of Rose, a Russian immigrant and my client's ancestor. Rose's perilous journey to America, as told to Bess by her grandmother, begins with a train ride from Brest to a Russian town on the Austrian border. There, she met a Jewish man who guided her through a night of walking, never looking back, until her feet bled from the ordeal. He brought her to a checkpoint, leaving her at a "forwarding house"—a place bustling with other Jewish families making the same treacherous journey. Despite harsh words from the woman running the house, Rose knew she was a survivor, recognizing the "improbable" odds she had already overcome.

The next day, Rose, along with two other girls, was placed into a horse-drawn potato cart. They were brought to another "forwarding house," where they received fresh milk and clean clothes. Later, a man woke her and led her and another family to a train station bound for Hamburg, where the boat to America awaited.

CASE FILE:

Date: Unknown, possibly early 1900s

(Photo: Rose Brazel, client's ancestor born in Kletsk, Minsk, Belarus (then Russia))

Interesting Find: The Rest of the Story...

Last month, I shared the tragic discovery of Max, my client's immigrant ancestor, who at 96 years old suffered a fatal street accident. Well, last week, thanks to the very book I'm working with (Nobody Will Tell You This But Me), we learned the compelling backstory. As told by Bess Kalb's grandmother, Max was quite a heavy drinker. Leaving the synagogue after perhaps too much wine and some of his homemade vodka, he was indeed hit while walking home. It's a tragic and sad detail, but it highlights how some stories, even seemingly minor ones, trickle down the family tree, sometimes with a little more "flavor" added over generations.

Do you have any stories trickling down your tree about ancestors? Stories that you are unsure of their validity and want to learn more? Share in the comments below or send a private message! I would love to hear about your family history!

Every update is a testament to the fact that every family tree holds countless fascinating, sometimes surprising, stories waiting to be discovered.

Are you ready to uncover the compelling narratives in your own ancestry?

Contact Marcy today at Budget Genealogy to start your family history journey! Visit my Services Page to learn more!