Solomon Moses Rafalovich

In archive documents on Solomon Moses (Shlema Moshkovoch), Alex P. Rafalovich found that Solomon was a close relative to Odessa's banker Abraham. This means he was a sister, brother, first cousin etc. Alex guesses they were brothers and doesn't call them that because of Abraham's Christian wife and children. Solomon was an Orthodox Jew and if a Jew converted to Christianity he/she became a dead person for the relatives. Thus, their connection cannot show to outside world. Solomon came to Nikolaev from Mogilev in 1825 by invitation from his wife's sister Y. M. Grieg (July Michel Greg, maiden name Lea Mihel Stalinskaya). Mrs Greig was the wife of Nikolaev military governor admiral A. S Greg. Soon Solomon became head of Jewish community. Initially he traded timber for shipbuilding then in 1836 won a bid for building 2 ships for Russian navy. By 1846 he had built 5 ships with 84 cannons on each ship....after his death business was headed by eldest son Alexander and Solomon's widow Rivka. By 1860 they built at least 13 more ships including the largest sailing ship the 135-cannon "Tsesarevich." Altogether Rafaloviches built 25% of Russian Navy ships (18 out of total 66 large navy ships) over 22 years. 2 books about Rafaloviches pub in Nikolaev last year: in serial "Legendary names" "Shipbuilders Rafalovich" and second, "Venture's - Shipbuilders Rafaloviches."

Родовод http://ru.rodovid.org/wk/Запись:868223

Глава семейства – могилевский купец Шлема Мошкович (Моисеевич) Рафалович (ок. 1790 г. – 1846 г.) переехал в Николаев из Могилева в 1825 г. по приглашению свояченицы Ю.М. Грейг, жены николаевского военного губернатора. Близкий родственник основателя одесской династии Рафаловичей – Абрама Рафаловича. В 20-х – 30-х годов занимался поставками различных товаров (в основном судостроительного леса) для обеспечения нужд Черноморского флота и адмиралтейства. Был главой еврейской общины города Николаева. Ввиду выселения евреев из г. Николаева по указу Николая I от 20 ноября 1829 г. подал прошение о переезде с семьей в Одессу, однако, в 30-х – 40-х гг. продолжал проживать в Николаеве.

http://history.mk.ua/rafalovich-rafalovichi.htm