INDEPENDENT ZVILLER CEMETERY IN BOSTON
Novograd Volynsky, formerly known as Zvyagel, was called «Zwill» in Yiddish. In 1795, Russia annexed part of Poland, along with the town of Zvyagel, where my ancestors lived. The town was renamed «Novograd Volynsky.» The Jews stubbornly continued to call their town «Zwill.» By the end of the 19th century, life in the country was becoming difficult, and many Jews from «Zwill» emigrated to America, settling mostly in Boston.
In 1930, activists from the New Americans purchased a plot of land for the deceased and decided to name the cemetery «Zwiller.»
The cemetery’s founders installed a memorial plaque with their names on the gate columns.
The new settlers, along with the new English names, continued to inscribe Jewish names on the graves of their relatives for a long time. Using these names, I found birth records of the cemetery’s founders in the Zhytomyr Archives’ Registry Books, partially preserved after pogroms and wars.
When translated, surnames were changed according to English rules, and first names were changed at the owner’s discretion. Shmul, Shepsel, Shimon, Shylock—all began calling themselves «Samuel.» The memorial plaque says 5 Samuels!
Look!
OFFICERS
Kalman Freedman /President/
Kalman Friedman was the president of the company that founded the Zwiller Cemetery in Boston. He, his wife Adele, son Max, and daughters Sarah and Rachel are buried in this cemetery in Boston.
Kalman named his son after his father, «Mordko Chaim.»
Max’s memorial stone reads: «Mordko Chaim son of Kalman.» Max’s birth certificate reveals the entire history of Kalman Friedman’s family. It lists his father Kalman’s birthplace, his mother’s maiden name, and even her nickname: «Baba.»
Kalman named his son after his father, «Mordko Chaim.»
Max’s memorial stone reads: «Mordko Chaim son of Kalman.» Max’s birth certificate reveals the entire history of Kalman Friedman’s family. It lists his father Kalman’s birthplace, his mother’s maiden name, and even her nickname: «Baba.»
Samuel Weiner /Vice Presisident/, David Weiner /Treasurer/
Vice President Samuel Weiner’s monument inscription almost matches the records in the register, except that the monument’s name is «Joseph Judah,» while the register lists his father’s name as «Joseph Leib.» It should be noted that this is a common substitution of the name Leib for Judah. Below, on the monument of Samuel’s brother David, their father’s name is written as in the register, «Joseph Leib.»
The register of births for Oct 20, 1872 states: » Shmuel was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Josef Leib, the son of Evshiy Vainer from the town of Olevsk, and his wife Sheina Liba, the daughter of Azriel»
Solly Alperin /Secretary/
Solly Alperin’s family originates from the town of Mezhirichi in the Rivne Governorate, located near Novograd-Volynskyi. Solly’s Hebrew name is «Shlomo Eli» in honor of his great-grandfather. Solly’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all bore the surname «Galperin.» Solly’s siblings were also Galperins. Only his uncle, Gersh, his father’s younger brother, was listed as an Alperin. His descendants, also buried in Zwiller Cemetery, inherited the Alperin surname, and others began using this spelling in America.
The register of births for Jan 8, 1891 states: » Shlomo Ely was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Maier Galperin, the son of Shmuel Leib from the town of Mejirichy, Rovno province and his wife Reizl, the daughter of Nahman.
Zozulya, Solli’s mother’s maiden name, appears only in the 1896 birth record of Khai (Solli’s sister). Their surname is now spelled «Zoly.» Members of their family are also buried in the Zviller Cemetery.
The register of births for Jan 7 1896 states: » Chay was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Maier Galperin, the son of Shmuel Leib from the town of Mejirichy, Rovno province and his wife Reizl, the daughter of Nahman Zozuly.
Samuel Alperin (Smuel Iehuda) 1901-1977
This is a monument to Samuel Alperin, Solly’s cousin and the son of Gersh Alperin’s uncle. The name Gersh (deer) is often translated into Hebrew as «Tzvi,» as can be seen here. Following the name is the inscription «Levi,» and a depiction of a pitcher of water—a symbol of the Levites.
The register of births for Jul 16, 1891 states: » Shlomo Ely was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Hersh Alperin, the son of Shmuel Leib from the town of Mejirichy, Rovno province, and his wife Menyl, the daughter of Lazor Leib MAISTER.»
Solly’s relatives, Maister, are also buried here.
BOARD OF DIREKTORS
Louis Andrews /Андриевский/
A large family of Avrum Andrievsky’s (1777-1825) descendants lived in Novohrad-Volynskyi. Many of them suffered during the pogroms and the Holocaust. No one from their family lives in the city now.
Louis Andrievsky was born in Novohrad-Volynskyi, and upon arriving in America, he changed his surname from Andrievsky to Andrevs. From his double name «Avrum Leib,» he used the middle name «Leib,» translated it as «Louis,» and was always listed as «Louis.» On Louis’s tombstone, relatives wrote the incorrect Hebrew name «Yehuda Leib» instead of «Avrum Leib.» The rest of his birth certificate matches his birth certificate.
The register of births for Dec 7, 1882 states: » Avrum Leib was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Chaskel, the son of Aron Andriewsky and his wife Ruchel Leah, the daughter of Herson.
Aaron Andrews 1902-1946 (сын Луиса)
The register of births for Feb 26, 1901 states: » Aron was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Avrum Leib, the son of Chaskel Andrievsky and his wife Meny, the daughter of Avrum.
On the grave of Aron, Avrum’s untimely son, is written the Hebrew name of his father, with the usual substitution of «Leib» for «Yuda»: instead of Avrum Leib, it is written Avrum Yuda. The date of birth in the register exactly matches the date on the memorial stone. The gravestones of the other children did not have Hebrew inscriptions.
Joseph Feldstein /Фельдштейн/
Joseph Feldstein’s ancestors came from the town of Annapol, near Novograd-Volynskyi. In 1904, he came to America, where he changed nothing, and his documents are easily found.
The register of births for Jul 29 1882 states: » Ijsef was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Chaim, the son of Iosef Zaidel Feldstein and his wife Tziva, the daughter of Shmuel Leib.»
Everything matches the inscription on the memorial stone, even the month and day, except for the year of birth. Both Chaim and his wife Rosa were creative about their ages, sometimes adding to or subtracting their ages. In censuses, Chaim is sometimes listed as three years younger than Rosa, while Rosa is sometimes listed as five years younger than Chaim. It’s impossible to confuse them with people with the same last name—the names of their four sons confirm this.
In her previous life, Rose was called «Reizl», and her maiden name «Smolyar» can be traced back to Ukraine.
Samuel Hymans /Хайман/
Samuel Hyman’s family originated in the town of Korets. When he moved to America, Shimon changed his name to Samuel, but his surname remained almost unchanged, with the addition of an «S» at the end.
The register of births for Feb 18, 1890 states: «Shimon was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Joseph, the son of Moishe Haiman from the town of Koretz, and his wife Feiga, the daughter of Mendel Pava»
Next to the graves of the Heimans family is the plot of the family of Anna, Samuel’s wife, whose maiden name was Mednik. In America, the settlers changed their surname «Mednik» and translated it as «Magnet.» Relatives of the Mednik family lived in Novograd until the final exodus of Jews.
Hyman Kaufman
Chaim came to America in 1904. His parents and their younger children followed him. Chaim’s parents are buried inсоседнем кладбище.
Next to Hyman, his wife is buried, her Jewish name is Sarah Pina Baratz, she is my relative on my father’s side.
Louis Nasher /Нахшон/
In the center of the Nasher family plot stands a monument to the family’s mother, Eva Nasher. It was one of the first graves in the Zwiller Cemetery. Her sons, Max and Louis, and seven other family members are buried nearby. The Nasher family name does not appear in the parish register. However, all the Hebrew names on the monument match the family name Nahshon.
The register of births for Dec 4, 1894 states: » Twins Mendel and Minzy was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Shlomo, the son of Zaivel Nahson from the town of Zhytomer, and his wife Chava Feiga, the daughter of Avrum Wolf Gohban».
Max’s (Mendel’s) cousin also became Max in America, although his birth name was Mordko Wolf.
He also changed his last name to Nachshon, resulting in two Max Nashers.
The register of births for Jun 10, 1889 states: » Twins Mordko Wolf was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to David Jankel, the son of Zaivel Nahson from the town of Zhytomer, and his wife Bat Sheva, the daughter of Aron»
Samuel Poverman
Samuel Poverman 1876-1954
Yukel Powerman lived in Annopol, a small town near Novohrad-Volynskyi. His son, Moshe Gersh, married Mena and moved to Novohrad-Volynskyi. In 1876, their son, Shepsel, was born. He was one of the founders of Zwiller Cemetery in Boston, where he and seven members of the Powerman family are buried.
The register of births for Dec 4, 1894 states: » Shepsel was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Moisha Hersh, the son of Lukel Poverman from the town of Annopol, and his wife Meny, the daughter of Judel»
The inscription on the memorial stone matches the entry in the Register of Births.
Samuel Smorack
Samuel Shmorak (Shmurak)
In the 1850 census, the family name of Shmuel’s grandfather was written as «Shmaryuk.» However, some of his many children, including Shmuel’s father, began to write it as «Shmurak.» In Novograd-Volynsky, as in America, there are relatives with different, but similar, surnames.
The register of births for Dec 20, 1886 states: » Shmuel Jankel was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Nisim, the son of Mordho Shmurak from the town of Rogachev, and his wife Feiga Miryml, the daughter of Chaim»
Samuel Pravatiner
EX President Samuel (Shmuel) Pravatiner
Former President Shlomo Pravutiner and his wife, Golda, never changed their first or last names; their birth certificates are easily found in old archives. They left Boston and moved to California, where they ended their lives, surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
The register of births for May 21, 1876 states: » Shmuel was born in the city of Novograd-Volynsk to Moisha, the son of Ariy Leib Pravatiner from the town of Koretz, and his wife Gitel, the daughter of Shmuel»