Person:Benjamin Bogdonoff (1)

Various birth date & emigration possibilities: 1899 naturalization: b. 25 Oct 1870; arr Boston 20 Oct 1887 1900 census: August 1863; emig 1885 and naturalized 1910 census: 1862; emig 1884 or 1894 1920 census: 1865; emig 1884; nat. 1899 1930 census: 1863; emig 1887 2 Jan 1931 death certificate: 1862

Per 1900 US Census, he emigrated in 1885; per 1910 and 1920 US Census, he emigrated in 1894 (and that wife and children followed in 1895). Given that the 1910 and 1920 Census also have the first three children born in England, and according to the 1900 census, they were born between 1890 and 1893, I'm guessing that they *left* Poland/Russia in 1885/6, went to England, had their first three children, then came to the U.S. in 1894 and 1895. Husband, wife and first three children were naturalized in 1899.

April 2005: Requested and received citizenship papers of Benjamin Bogdonoff from Waltham NARA. Information contained therein indicates that: Benjamin Bogdanoff (that spelling), peddler, was born on 25 October 1870 [note difference from Aug 1863 date in 1900 census], and that he arrived in Boston, MA on 20 October 1887 [age 17], and that he was born in Russia, and that he was granted citizenship on 26 Jun 1899. I am not sure that this is the same Benjamin Bogdonoff. But I'm not sure who else it could be...

My current theory is that Benjamin lied about his age on his citizenship papers; on these he claimed he was born 25 October 1870. This would make him an under-age minor upon his 20 October 1887 arrival (per his papers). I can only imagine that there was some benefit to him being a minor upon arrival—perhaps it made obtaining citizenship easier or quicker. He appears to have been granted citizenship within one month of requesting it.

1900 census: 6 Fitchburg Street, Somerville, Middlesex Co., MA: Bogdonow, Benjamin, b. Aug 1863, 36; m12 years; b. Poland (Russ)... emig 1885; in area 15 years; naturalized; junk dealer -, Lena, wife, b. Sept 1864, 35, m12 years; 5/5 births/living; b. Poland (Russ); emig 1886; in area 14 years; -, Harry, son, b. July 1890, 9, single, b. Massachusetts... -, Kate, dau, b. Mar 1892, 8... b. MA -, Maurice, son, b. Oct 1893, 6... b. MA -, Jacob, son, b. Jan 1896, 4... b. MA -, Philip, son, b. Apr 1899, 2... b. MA

1910 census: Bank Street, Chelmsford Town, Middlesex Co., MA: Bogdonoff, Benjamin, 48, m21 years, b. Russia-Yiddish; emig. 1894; na; Junk & Antiques/Furniture Dealer -, Lea, wife, 47, m1 21y, 6/6 births/living, b. Russia-Yiddish; emig. 1895 -, Harry, son, 19, single; b. Eng-Yiddish; emig. 1895 -, Katherine, dau, 18, single, b. Eng-Yiddish; emig 1895 -, Morise, son, 16, single, b. Eng-Yiddish; emig 1895 -, John [Jacob], son, 14, b. Massachusetts -, Philip, son, 12, b. MA -, Max, son, 9, b. MA

1920 U.S. Census: 42 South Walker, Lowell City, Middlesex Co., MA (owned, not rented) Bogdonoff, Benjamin, 55, Benjamin and his wife had the native tongue of "Jewish".

Per Cynthia Bogdonoff Wheeler (February 2000), Benjamin and Leah had a son who died of the 1918 flu epidemic.

Certificate of record of death obtained from City Clerk, Lowell, MA October 2005: Benjamin Bogdonoff, age 69 Date of death: January 2, 1931; date of record: January 6, 1931, File #10 Male, White, Married Residence: 42 So. Walker Street., Lowell, MA Place of death: 42 So. Walker St. Lowell, MA Name of Spouse: --- Occupation: Cattle Dealer, b. Russia Name of Father; Morris Bogdonoff, b. Russia Maiden name of Mother: Anna, b. Russia Disease or Cause of Death: Myocarditis.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} 1900 U.S. Census - MA
   Roll #665, ED 926, Sheet 11.
2. ↑ Lowell Death Index
   http://libweb.uml.edu/clh/Dea1931/DeB1931.Html.

   Bogdonoff, Benjamin; d. 2 Jan 1931, age 69.

3. ↑ Lowell (MA) City Directory
   1932, p. 333.

   Bogdonoff, Benj (Leah), died Jan 2, 1931

4. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census - MA
   Roll 665, ED 926, Sheet 11.

   Spelled "Bogdonow"

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} 1920 U.S. Census - MA.
6. ↑ (on 1900 USCensus)