The 1910 Census

The LaBretagne
Photo: Frank Pichardo Collection

In a previous post of mine, I talked about my grandfather, Stephen Motian. Today, I'm going to be talking about where he went after he came to America from Turkey. I can't find any hard evidence about what Stephen did when he got off the ship LaBretagne at Ellis Island. In the ship manifest, it says he was going to Providence, Rhode Island. Did he actually go there? I can't find any records of his location from 1901- 1909. But if Stephen did go to Providence, he went back to New York City at some point.

Books Part 3: Catholic Books

There were quite a few older Catholic books in my Grandmother's box of saved books.

Catholic Prayer Book  no date- old

Leather cover with engraved gold cross/design  metal lock, part missing, taped binding, front pages missing

6 ¼" x 4" x 2 ½"

The Key of Heaven or A Manual of Prayers   1874  NY: Thomas Kelly, publisher

Stamp:  Owen McDonald  Rufus St & Reservoir Ave  Pawtucket, RI

Small, embossed leather cover, lock parts missing, metal edge around cover
4 ¾" x 3 ¼" x 1 3/8"

Books Part 2: Psychiana Religon

My Grandmother, Areknazan Harpootian Motian, had a collection of books about the Psychiana Religion. This mail order religion was started in 1928 in Moscow, Idaho. Dr. Frank B. Robinson, whose father was a Baptist priest, was dissatisfied with "church" religions.  He advertised that you could have a direct connection to God. My Grandmother subscribed to lessons which were received monthly for a couple of years- 1948-1950.  She also purchased almost all of the available books. Was Grandma in a Cult?!

Books Part 1: Armenian Language



A dictionary

English & Armenian, pub. in 1950

  I recently went to a fascinating Symposium on Armenians and the Book at ALMA in Watertown, MA.  One presentation showed books printed in the USA in Armenian for the Armenian immigrant community.  A few years ago, I was cleaning out a closet at my Mother's house, and brought home a couple of boxes of my Grandmother's books. I thought there might be a few books like those presented in the talk, so I got them out for a closer look. I categorize the books into five topics: Armenian Language,  Psychiana Religon, Catholic, Fiction and Nonfiction. I'll write about each category in separate posts. There were 5 books in the Armenian Language:

Not sure what it is, published in 1942

Stephen's Immediate Family



I think a little basic information is in order.  Stephen Motian was the oldest son of Kavork Motian (1855-1909 or 1915) and Varter Bernazian (d.1892).  He had one older sister, Maryam (1875-1968), two brothers, Serop (1890-1943) and Kerop (1892-1959), two half brothers, Hagop (1907-1983) and Armenak (1901-1976) and a stepsister Rebbeca (1892-1978).  His stepmother was "Marne" Varter Kapougian (1874-1944).  I do not know of any photos of Kavork or Varter. 

l to r back Hagop, Rebbeca, Armenak
l to r front Maryam, Marne

This great photo was taken in France around 1925.  Thank you to Rebbeca's son for sending me a copy.  This is the only photo I know of of Marne and Maryam.



Kerop, Stephen and Serop Motian

Above are Kerop, Stephen and Serop taken between 1910 and 1913.  It was popular to put together photos of family members who couldn't be together.  It was the Photoshop of the early 20th century!

The Boyajians- A Sidenote

Who was this Uncle at 422 Washington Street in Providence? I thought perhaps it was a relative on Stephen's mother side.  Her maiden name was Bernazian. According to the 1900 & 1901 Providence directories, this address was a grocery store/residence owned by several Boyajian brothers. This was the first time that I ever saw the Boyajian name as a relation to my family. I'm not sure if this relationship was true or this person was just a friend.  The names and occupations were:  Hovannes Boyajian confectioner, Avedis & Krikor Boyajian, tailors, Andon Boyajian grocer. I researched Boyajian to see if I could come up with a genealogical connection but I didn't find anything. I'm not even certain that my Grandfather went to Providence. There's no evidence of where Stephen was from 1901-1908. In 1910, Stephen was living in New York City. There were two Boyajians in the apartment next to his: Maksukis Boyajian age 48 and his son, Souren age 14. 

Stepan Motian

Stephen Motian

b. 1881 Malatya, Turkey d. 1953 Providence, RI

Growing up, my Grandfather was always a bit of a mystery man.  He died ten years before I was born when my Mother was still a teenager.  He was 20 years older than my Grandmother.  In a bit of scandel, he was paid to go to Cuba and marry her in 1929.  It had become much harder to come to the USA after 1924 when quotas were imposed for immigrants, depending upon the country from which you came. The deal was that they would get divorced asap so that my Great Grandfather could find her a proper husband.  Of course, they decided they liked each other, and stayed married.  He had a reputation as a gambler and a womanizer.  The family grew up poor, struggling through the Depression.

Through the easily accesable internet world of genealogy, I have researched the facts of my Grandfather's life.  The facts do not always support the family stories. The history is obscure.  But I do feel that I know my Grandfather a little better.