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Nathan and Sonia Dorson Schorr Gass:
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Nathan Paul (Nochem) Gass was born in Turiysk on October 28, 1888. At age 16, he followed his older brother Samuel to the United States, sailing on the S.S. Saxonia from Liverpool, England, on November 29, 1904, and arriving at the Port of Boston ten days later. [1]
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Nathan Gass |
In Russia, Nathan's surname was "Goos," but as happened to many immigrant families, the name was changed by American officials when he entered this country. As Harrison Gass, Nathan's son, explained:
"Our last name was changed several times. When my father came over, an immigration official said, What's your name?
My father answered, Nathan Goos.
So the official said, That's not a good name for an American.
What's a good name? asked my father.
Stone, came the answer. So my father became Nathan Stone.
“After a few years Nathan went to night school to learn English. After he learned some English he applied for naturalization papers. The immigration official asked him his name.
Well, he says, It's Goos, but they changed it to Stone on me in Ellis Island.
The official said, That's not legal, it's too different. You can't jump from Goos to Stone.
What's legal American? asked my father.
Gass, replied the official. So then my father became Nathan Gass."
According to the manifest: Nathan sailed in steerage, he had resided in England for six weeks before departing for America, and he was planning to join his brother Samuel Gas [sic] at 42 W. Third Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Nathan was age 16 years, single, and worked as a tailor. He had about $5.75 in his possession when he arrived in Boston and he had never been in the United States before.
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Nathan Gass sailed to the United States on the Cunard Line’s SS Saxonia, which embarked from Liverpool, England on 29 November 1904 and arrived at the port of Boston on 10 December 1904. The manifest listed him under the name “Nochem Gus.” |
When Nathan Gass immigrated to the United States, he spent six weeks in England. Did he see the White Cliffs of Dover as his ship approached Great Britain?
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The Cliffs of Dover Credit: ©between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900 Detroit Publishing Company. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsc-08355] |
Perhaps Nathan spent some time exploring London. If so, these are some of the sites he could have seen:
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Cheapside, London
Credit: ©between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900 Detroit Publishing Company. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsc-08576]
Nathan left England through the Port of Liverpool. These are some places he may have visited in Liverpool:
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St. George’s Hall, Liverpool
Credit: ©between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900 Detroit Publishing Company. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsc-08555]
[1]Passenger Manifest for Noachim Gus, SS Saxonia, 9 Dec 1904, Microfilm Series T843, reel 79, vol. 2, p. 52. National Archives, New England Region, Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA.
