Context breathes life into names and dates making ancestors real people. When trying to figure out where & how to search context is what provides direction. It's in the context and stories where genealogy researchers bring ancestors to life.
When I first found out that my grandfather was not Scottish I would say his family immigrated from THE UKRAINE to Saskatchewan, Canada in 1909. I didn't understand why dropping THE was so important.
Context provides the historical reasons for why it's just UKRAINE. When under Soviet rule by the Russians Ukraine was referred to as THE UKRAINE. Now their own country removing THE is part of celebrating their independence.
I grew up not knowing my cultural background or hearing family stories. It seems that some cultural preferences are inborn. I remember coming home from school in about grade 1, and asking my mom for boiled cabbage with butter and vinegar for my after school snack.
My dad grew up Scottish. My mom grew up Scottish & English. Cabbage was not a part of their growing up. I loved cabbage prepared in any form from a very young age. My body knew my cultural heritage long before I did.
Context is an important part of understanding your family's history.
When trying to figure out why my grandfather changed his name, nationality, and birthplace I researched the persecution of Ukrainian people in Canada. My ancestors were not interned during World War 1, but many Canadian Ukrainians were. Although not interned they would have been registered as enemy aliens. Having recently left Ukraine where they faced hardship the family must have been terrified. This was likely why my grandfather and his younger siblings appear to have never had their home births registered. My grandfather was a young child growing up in a country where Ukrainian people were persecuted during his early formative years. Worldwide Ukrainian folks were persecuted. Historically it appears as though the Scottish people were accepted. It's not a surprise grandpa would choose to be Scottish.
My family followed the Ukrainian Orthodox Greek Catholic faith in Canada. Ancestry DNA showed European Jewish for at least one of his parents. When I compare my DNA matches in Ancestry I believe Alexander's ancestors were Jewish, but without knowing the history of my family I have no context to be sure. I am left making guesses.
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| Alexander & Mary (nee Maximiw) Pellack My great grandparents |
In the 1926 Canadian Prairie census I found my grandfather with his usual residence listed as Edenbridge. Edenbrige was a Jewish community that had about 50 families in the 1920s.
Who exactly Grandpa was living with is a mystery.
His family also listed him as residing on the farm in nearby Gronlid (Willow Creek). I'm guessing the census taker asked who usually resided there, and his parents recorded him. Possibly he didn't reside at Edenbridge full-time? Maybe he was visiting family?
Grandpa's mother tongue residing with his parents was recorded as Ukrainian. With Edenbridge as his usual residence English was listed as his mother tongue.
Already beginning to distance himself from his Ukrainian heritage? To the best of my knowledge he never spoke Ukrainian after meeting grandma in 1939. My dad never knew that his father wasn't Scottish. When my Ancestry DNA came back showing I was 14% European Jewish dad was confident it wasn't from his side of the family. A few months later when his results came back with 27% European Jewish he was shocked. Dad immediately embraced his heritage. Dad never knew before receiving the results.
Grandpa left home about 1930 with one name, and met Grandma in 1939 with the other. Where he was those missing almost 10 years is a mystery. How he chose the name - a mystery.
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| Clyde Robertson (Max Pellack) and Mary Elizabeth Thomson abt 1939 |
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| Clyde & Mary (nee Thomson) Robertson aka Max Pellack |
Grandpa never talked about his childhood. He never talked about being Jewish or Ukrainian. He claimed Scotland for his heritage. Grandpa died before any of us could hear his story.
Born Ukrainian in Gronlid Saskatchewan as Max Pellack.
Clyde Robertson.
He was my grandpa. I loved him. I will never have enough context to truly understand grandpa's story.
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| Me with my dad & grandpa Clyde Robertson (Max Pellack) I was 3 years old |
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| Me with my dad, grandpa and grandma Clyde Robertson (Max Pellack) I was 9 years old |
Collect the stories & context before it's too late!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
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Edenbridge Saskatchewan, Canada, JewishGen,, Retrieved October 5th 2019 from
https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Edenbridge/
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
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Hello. Just found this, Clyde (Max) - his father was brother to Mikita, my Great Great grandfather, not sure if anyone from our branch has reached out to you? Would be pleasd to discuss should you wish. Kindly, Jordan
ReplyDeleteHello cousin
DeleteI would love to connect
somehowrelatedblogspot@gmail.com
Deb