My object is a Russian samovar. It was made sometime in the 1860’s/70’s in the Batashev factory in Tula, Russia. It is made out of brass, and it is designed for heating up water, especially for tea. An item like this would be at the center of a family gathering, with its mix of functionality and design. It was carried over by my great-great-great-grandfather, Hirsch Yehudah Klevan. He was a jeweler in the Russian city of Klevan before he left. Because of his profession, he had enough money to pay for his whole family to go to America. In 1880, he left his hometown with his wife and young son, and left on a boat to leave Europe. However, all was not well. After leaving port in Germany, his wife died on the boat. We are not sure the exact reason why, but the boat had a stop in Britain. His wife was buried in England, and he and his son got off and returned to Russia. He did not want to go to America with his son and no wife. After returning to Russia, he remarried. He then left for a second time, this time with his son, and his new wife, Sarah. They settled in Philadelphia, and raised their son, who I call my great-great-grandfather. 

– JPL

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more