Jewish Roots - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Cemetery Plaque: Holocaust Victims in Wertheim, Germany

mensa73 — 2013-03-30 20:18:37Z

Welcome to the board. You will be an excellent addition to our brain trust!

Re: Early English Jewish Families

mi2early — 2013-03-19 19:42:20Z

Where in England did they live?

You might try the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (www.jgsgb.org.uk/) and the Moving Here site (http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/jewish/jewish.h...)

Early English Jewish Families

matthewparsnick — 2013-03-18 15:36:12Z

I am looking for information on Henry Morris Ritterband (born about 1797 in Poland and immigrated to England) and his wife Hannah/Anna (born about 1810 in England). They had a daughter named Rosetta (born about 1828 in England). The family immigrated to the United States sometime in the early 1830s. He had a brother named Leon Maness Ritterband.

I am also looking for information on Joseph Jackson (born about 1792 in England) and his wife Hannah (Abrams) Jackson (born about 1800 in England). They immigrated to the United States as well. I found a information in First American Jewish Families that Joseph and Hannah were married in London on 30 November 1814 but I have no other documentation to substantiate this. They probably immigrated to America in the late 1810s or early 1820s.

Both families were Jewish. I would appreciate any information that anyone may have.

Re: Cemetery Plaque: Holocaust Victims in Wertheim, Germany

shimons95 — 2013-03-18 00:03:05Z

Nice of you to call attention to Wertheim's ancient cemetery etc., that the city now claims may be as old as the one in Prague, Europe's currently claimed oldest....

However, Wertheim is along the Main River, not "...along the Rhine...", as you stated. I was born in Wertheim, and I, along with other mischievous children, often "stole" the logging rafts moored next to a tavern, while the raftsmen drank beer, and steered them downriver on the Main till they made land, then jumped off and disappeared!

Shimon

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

Stevenelsonw — 2013-03-14 18:08:44Z

You are right. I found the hole and looked this information up. Thank you so much.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

MitchHollander — 2013-03-12 21:04:31Z

@stephiewood - I don't believe you can search for surnames at the cjh.org site. You need to search one of the Ancestry collections, for example:
U.S., WWII Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942-1947
http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2125

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

MitchHollander — 2013-03-12 20:58:12Z

@mensa73 - A Google search for "National Jewish Welfare Board" located the finding aid document relatively quickly.
There are a number of references in the document to records of non-Jewish servicemen. There is also this statement, in the description of Series VI:
"The BWR transcribed information on the master card forms using several encoding schema. In one encoding scheme, labeled the Master Card Symbols, ... punched a hole in the card to indicated that a soldier is not Jewish; stamped the word "authenticated" in a box if the information is verified"

On Pvt. Besch's card, there is what could very well be a punched hole at the upper left.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

stephiewood — 2013-03-12 17:02:24Z

This site looks potentially very interesting but I can't work out how to search for specific surnames!

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mensa73 — 2013-03-12 16:38:44Z

i looked under series 3 and 4 suberies a and B .
which heading is it under ?

How did you ever find this site ? If all else fails I would emailthem with the problem and see what evidence they are using if there is a cross and he is protestant on other records.

Re: Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers

kafheytav — 2013-03-11 17:49:08Z

Thanks for your input. It was suggested to me that the "A" in Henry A. Gabay's name could be Aben, meaning 'son of'. Interestingly, I found there is a Gabbai rug or carpet having origins in Persia. The things we find out, eh?

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

MitchHollander — 2013-03-11 17:16:28Z

If you review the information here:
http://digifindingaids.cjh.org/?pID=360439
you will find that records for non-Jewish servicemen are also included in this collection.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mensa73 — 2013-03-11 16:23:41Z

fyi Sephardic Jews name after the living but not Ashkenazi -not out of lack of respect but do not use same name out of superstition.

It is very rare to find a Jr in Judaism.

irregardless, you will have to use some other source for verification.At that time p eriod, if the mother was not jewish and did not convert before the child's birth, the child would not be considered jewish.
recently, if the father is Jewish so is the child in very reform congregations but not the norm.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish?

minlot — 2013-03-11 02:34:09Z

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12043486/person/-342009753
Have a look and see if there is any connection to you. Look forward to seeing if you are.

Cheers Tina Gillard

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

stephiewood — 2013-03-10 19:33:04Z

'are both father and son named Philip? If so it is doubtful that they are jewish unless father died before his birth'

Some Jewish families do specifically name after the living to show respect; others don't name after the living but only after deceased people, also to show respect - so I don't think that the fact that the son had the same name as the father proves anything.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

Stevenelsonw — 2013-03-09 22:13:26Z

Yes there is a cross on headstone. And yes it is the same Philip on the Jewish Card as my uncle. Gives his fathers name and address in Seattle and it's the correct address where my grandfather lived. I'm baffled.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mensa73 — 2013-03-09 20:37:30Z

is there a way to check the name and social security # as there may be 2 with same name.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mensa73 — 2013-03-09 20:35:39Z

are both father and son named Philip? If so it is doubtful that they are jewish unless father died before his birth. Is anyone in the family interred in a jewish cemetery or have any jewish symbol asociated with it?

Is there a cross on the french headstone?

ido not see whwere it is listed he is jewish -do you have an obit?

Re: If you want to know more about researching Jewish ancestors...

KChestnut2013 — 2013-03-09 05:58:37Z

Interesting list of given names. I have these - Israel STRAIT, Hulda ZOLLER, Jerusha FISH, Amos WILLIAMS, Asa WILLIAMS, Lucretia BARKLEY, Cyrus David GAULT, Isaac don't recall the last name, Mercy SHREVE, Elvira STRAIT, and Olive MYERS.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

Stevenelsonw — 2013-03-06 23:18:56Z

Thank you but I knew this. I have visited his grave in St. Avold France. I know his date of birth and the date he died. I also know where he was born. During my childhood nothing was ever mentioned about being Jewish. In fact the US Roster of World War II Dead it lists him as "Protestant". But then I found another form from the National Jewish Wefare Board where it lists him. So I'm confused as to why he would be listed on there. The information provided to the Jewish Welfare Board was given to them by his father a year after he was killed. Under Source of Information (I'm assuming to verify he was Jewish) it says OWI Ser. #50-pg. 2834. I've attached a copy of what I found

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mensa73 — 2013-03-06 19:16:38Z

: Philip M Besch KIA 4/13/1945 by Carol Besch of 22361
IS this the one??

Private Philip M. Besch, 39 475 959, Army of the United States is interred at American Battle Monuments Commission Lorraine Cemetery, St. Avold, France.

You can access this info yourself at:

< http://www.americanwardead.com/searchww.htm > (double-click on the address to go there)

The division veterans association may be able to assist in locating one or more who served with him. Here are two addresses:

Society of the 3d Infantry Division
163 Lyman Street
Westboro, Massachusetts 01581-2619

Society of the 3d Infantry Division
201 Cherokee Trail
Hinesville, Georgia 31313-5701

The society maintians a website featuring a personal locater service at:
< http://members.home.net/3rdiv/index.htm >

You can also order his deceased file. You'll find instructions at Message #2112.

Re: Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

mi2early — 2013-03-06 18:48:28Z

Admin note:

It would be easier for someone to help you knowing what specific help you're seeking and your uncle's full name, birth date and place.

Just found my father's brother listed on National Jewish Welfare Board

Stevenelsonw — 2013-03-06 18:34:12Z

I was looking up my "maiden name Besch" and found my father's brother listed on "Death" National Jewish Welfare Board. He was KIA during WWII and I visited his grave in St. Avold, France. When I visited his grave he had no "Star of David" on his headstone and I have never known of any Jewish people in our family. Besch also, doesn't seem like a Jewish name and I can trace my great great grandfather back to Germany. It's listed on Ancestry.com WWII Jewish Servicemen. Can anyone help me with this.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

mensa73 — 2013-02-20 18:17:27Z

i think all of the emails are coming to me by errror.
can only do usa lookups on census.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

minlot — 2013-02-20 09:11:43Z

Just another thing, Matilda was my grandmother's mother. My grandmother's name was Doreen Ellen Edwards. Hope to hear from you soon.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

mensa73 — 2013-02-19 20:46:57Z

i had relatives in p ortland maine with surname bell which i was changed from something like warchofsky.
both sister and brother had different surnames thereore.
they are related to the late atty wolf , atty for the boston celtics .
ancestors were from russia -sorry no nz connection

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

minlot — 2013-02-18 03:22:26Z

Hi Andrea,
Sounds like the same guy, and I think I have the same photo, they have funny fur hats on, I think the older guy is his father inlaw from what I've been told. Are you on facebook? Matilda is also related to me. I was actually adopted as a young child, but have since found my parents and these William is my fathers, mothers grandfather. I have quite a lot of info about him, but am unsure if there is a jewish connection. I would be thrilled if there was, I have always had a special place in my heart for the Israeli people.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12043486/person/-342009753

hope this address will take you to some info my birth father's wife has got together.

If you would like to email me, my address is minlot@enternet.co.nz

Look forward to hear back from you. Let's know if you can get to the link I've given or not.

Cheers Tina Gillard
ps if you are on facebook my name is Tina Gillard from Tauranga New Zealand.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

andreagaye — 2013-02-17 13:25:43Z

Hello, we may be related. My great grandfather was also William Bell who eventually migrated to NZ from Prussia. I have been trying to find out more about him, and am wondering about a Jewish connection.

I have a copy of an old photo of him, his father and some children in NZ - one of whom is my great grandmother, Matilda. The mens' costumes, hats and beards have always intrigued me - I grew up being told they were Germans but they definitely don't look German! Jewish perhaps, and/or maybe Eastern European.

I would love to hear from you, and any information you have found out about William Bell.

Regards
Andrea McCallum (Perth, Australia)

Re: Finding Jewish Records for Croatia

anasilver — 2012-12-11 11:49:13Z

Hi Lisa. Wondering if you had any luck of finding anything on Sivak in Zagreb? My family tree is Sivak and they all lived quite close to Zagreb but there is no Jewish connection. I didn't think that Sivak was a common name in Croatia/Yugoslavia

Re: Mendelson's Of Shklov & Mogilev-Belarus, Russia

mensa73 — 2012-12-04 20:51:13Z

May i ask what type and where are the records you found back from 1850-1700? I have not been able to penetrate the russian govt. and thought jews did not have surnames in 1700. correct me if i am wrong.

Re: Help with understanding my jewish ancestors from Europe

cyndi308 — 2012-12-04 05:54:31Z

Welcome to the wonderful world of Central and Eastern European national boundaries. Every one of those nationalities you mention is probably the truth, for the year in which it was stated. Those of us with family from those regions will see it over and over again.

My grandfather was born in Warsaw, which you and I might unambiguously say is in Poland, right? He was born around the turn of the century and came to the US as a teen. He grew up speaking both Polish and Russian. One day I referred to him as being Polish. He said "Polish, Russian...depends on the year." In other words, even people living in those places during those times were quite aware of the changes.

Another example? My mom's family is 100% Hungarian. Except that both her parents are actually Slovakian. When they weren't Austrian or Austro-Hungarian or Czechoslovakian. They mostly spoke German. One of my Hungarian great uncles was born in what is now Romania. Other Hungarians were born in what is now the Ukraine.

Cyndi

Re: Help with understanding my jewish ancestors from Europe

MitchHollander — 2012-12-03 23:49:17Z

Here are some possible explanations:

- In census records, the information is only as good as the knowledge of the respondent (the person who spoke to the census taker may have been guessing).
- Borders and/or sovereignty changed over the years, and the person may have answered in terms of the then-current location of the birthplace.

Good luck in your research!

Help with understanding my jewish ancestors from Europe

ericf77 — 2012-12-03 21:53:06Z

I am new to studying ancestry and I am dealing with some confusion. My jewish ancestors arrived in America in the mid 19th century. I have found them on the 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 census. On one census, it will say that an ancestor was born in Prussia. Then on another census the same person was born in Poland, and on another, Germany. I've even seen an early 20th century census of a great aunt that says her mother (my great grandmother) was born in Russia, but every census in the 19th century says she was born in Germany. Has anyone else had this issue? If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.

Thank you,
Eric

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish?

gr8tree — 2012-11-27 14:00:15Z

Interesting, I would love to learn more! Do you have a family tree? Any connection to North England.

Re: MARTIN or BELL surnames Jewish???...

minlot — 2012-11-25 09:57:01Z

Hi, my great great grandfather William Bell, was born in Cologne Prussia in 1830, and I too am wondering if he was jewish also. He went to Australia to the gold mines in about 1845 and then to New Zealand.

Re: Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers

Howard_Hujsa — 2012-11-15 02:54:52Z

Good evening. I don't want to cover familiar territory for you, but have you looked at the Dutch Jewish Genealogical Database (dutchjewry.net)? There is a great deal of information relating to the Portuguese Jewish Community in Amsterdam, particularly the Portuguese Cemetery records. There are a number of "Gabays" appearing in various "formats," such as Gabay, Gabai, Gabbai, Siprut de Gabay, Gabay Henriquez, Gabay Correa, Abengabay, Gabat Faro, etc. That may be the hard part--figuring out whether your Gabay was a variant of one of these other variants. It is my understanding that the surname comes from Hebrew--meaning a trustee of a community. Ibn Gabbay was a jewish family name in Arab lands (Abengabay is a variant, I think). Hope this helps.

Re: Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers

kafheytav — 2012-11-14 19:22:13Z

I came across this thread today. My Dutch cigar makers came to New York and had the name Gabay. I am told that there were many Jewish cigar makers in the Netherlands who came to America, as you likely know. I also find that many with the surname Gabay hailed from Turkey, Iran and Morocco. I'm not sure if the Gabay name connects us to Judaism or Arab roots. Many in our family are amateur genealogists and have pretty much hit a roadblock, being stuck in the early 1800s, and can go no further. I did check all the links in the thread for more information, except for the books mentioned. If anyone has any information to share, I'd love to hear it.

Re: Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers

TAClothier — 2012-11-12 22:08:56Z

Hi Joel,

I have not gotten far on my research. Not much out there that I can find plus I have been fairly busy with work and my seminary studies. I only really know that Isaac learned his trade in Amsterdam, moved to London and then New York. Googling Jewish Cigar Makers brought up the following links:

http://knowlescollection.blogspot.com/2010/09/cigar-makers-o...

http://jewishcurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Jews-Am...

There may also be a book linked to the labor movement: Jewish Workers and the Labour Movement: A Comparative Study of Amsterdam, London and Paris, 1870-1914

Of course there is Samuel Gompers: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/gomper...

Hope this helps! Anything you find out I would be interested in learning.

Happy hunting!

Tamara

Re: Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers

beectreeimages — 2012-11-10 15:22:56Z

Tamara,

Are you still doing cigar-marker research? My great-aunt's daughter married Isaac's son Samuel in New York. I am mostly interested in cigar makers in New York, but would be happy to learn more about Spitalfields or Dutch Jewish Cigar Makers.

Joel

Re: Jewish sea captains

zepphoria_books — 2012-10-13 23:19:51Z

Kosher.Kitty is also our site. First our last name is Cohen. The family history states as follows:

We had pirates/slave traders back in the day. Out of N.C. I have found some information on this at the local library in regards to Jewish slave trades. Not something to be proud of....but it is in the family history....just wanted any feed back from anyone who had any more info on this subject. We were 3 Jewish brothers, married 3 Jewish sisters, out of N.C.; then migrated to Alabama then to Texas.

Thank you Capt for your info...the history s/b a good read.

Re: Jewish sea captains

mi2early — 2012-10-13 16:25:20Z

But what is the connection with the original poster's query about a sea captain named COHEN?

Re: Jewish sea captains

capnrob — 2012-10-13 16:05:38Z

If one were to "start at the top" and go from there, the history of Commdr. Uriah Phillips Levy is an amazing and well documented commercial then Naval career to study. There may well be references or at the least, direction.
Capt. Robert Saul Isenberg

Re: MOSES, HAGER, HANSEMAN from Germany - Jewish?

samson289 — 2012-10-12 01:09:53Z

hi this is jerome moses, i have joshua,jacob,jacob joshua moses,mary lou moses,rachel klein stein ,samuel joshua moses, as relatives come from germany .... i to am looking for info, on jewish descendants....on jewishgen their is surname -moses , it would be hard to find unless there is dna testing , or someone comes up with info, for back 500,yrs ago, i say though we are part jewish and relativies are every where in the world, germany,scotland,welsh,england isreal,etc....
thanks , amen

MOSES, HAGER, HANSEMAN from Germany - Jewish?

Bringerovdawn — 2012-10-12 01:09:27Z

I have a lot of family that came from Germany, and a lot of their surnames can be found in Jewish databes. I'm trying to figure out if I have any Jewish ancestry. Some of the names include:

Joshua Moses - 1647-1711 Grimmen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Jacob Moses - 1687-1728 Grimmen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Jacob Joshua Moses - 1704-1751 Kloster Malchow, Muritz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Henry Hager - 1827-1897 Hanover, Germany

Henry Hanseman - 1828-1885 Unknown City, Germany

Sophia Hanseman - 1831-1903 Unknown City, Germany

Any suggestions on how I can figure out if these people were Jewish would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Josh

Re: Am I jewish?

vzanko — 2012-09-16 04:57:45Z

Thank you very much Nick!

Help: looking for Samuel Jacob (possibly Jacob Samuel) NEMIROVSKY

pschei6821 — 2012-09-13 14:08:23Z

Hi folks,

I am trying to trace my maternal grandmother's father's family. My great-grandfather was Louis Newman, but he was born in Paris in 1893 as Leon Nemirovsky. (I'm guessing they just Americanized...) I know that his father was generally known as Jacob, but both Louis' gravestone (the Hebrew) and a certified copy of his French birth certificate name his father as Samuel Jacob. His mother was Miral or Mirlia, nee Fish, later known as Mary.

I have plenty of information on Louis - he died in 1968 and is buried in Union Field Cemetery, Ridgewood, Queens, NY, in the Niagara Society. I recently found records for Mary: she was born in 1869 ("Russia"), married Samuel-Jacob-Samuel when she was 20, and died in 1942, also buried in Union Field (though I don't know the location). I also found her in the 1930 Census, living with her daughter Sadie and her husband, and listed as widowed.

If anyone can help me figure out ANYTHING at all to trace Jacob, I would greatly appreciate it. I know nothing about his family, no idea when he was born or died (except obviously before 1930), where he's buried (I wrote an email to Union Field which they haven't answered yet), etc. All I can offer is that he and Mary were originally from somewhere in Jewish "Russia" (probably meaning Ukraine or Poland or something) and moved to France to escape a pogrom, apparently returning to "Russia" for a short time before immigrating here in 1905-1906. They had (at least, MARY had) six kids according to her NY Times obit: Morris (can't find anything on him), Sadie (b. 1892 in France, married Morton Ginsberg and died in FL), Louis, Nat (I believe, if I have the right one, b. 1894 in Poland), Jeanette (b. abt. 1900 in France, married Isadore Siegel), and Sam (can find nothing).

Any help either as to where he might have come from or what happened to him?

Thanks.

Jess

Re: Help: looking for Samuel Jacob (possibly Jacob Samuel) Nemirovsky

felice38 — 2012-09-12 23:26:23Z

You and I are related (Nat J Newman, my grandfather) -- pls. contact me felice@felicenewman.com

Re: Am I jewish?

nvaynberg56 — 2012-09-05 23:01:21Z

Western part of Ukraine was under Russia till 1918.1918-1939 under Poland,1939-1941 Russia,1941-1944 Germany. Russian Занко - OBD-Memorial .Ru has 16 people -Zanko, Podvignaroda.Ru -5 people,but no Yevman. Nick.

Re: Am I jewish?

vzanko — 2012-09-05 05:39:12Z

I'm not sure about his dob or place, we have no records and I don't know if it possible to find. The reason is that he leaved (and I think was born) till WWII in the Western part of Ukraine which was probably under Russia or Poland in 1903? So I don't know were to look for records, but we know that his parents or grandparents had moved there from current Belorussia region. His wife name was Ustina Shumakovich, 1905-1955. I don't know if you have access to my family tree, their children are listed there. My grandpa never came back from WWII, his dod or place is unknown. Don't know if it'll help anything to you but I appreciate all your efforts.

Thank you very much.

Ashkenazi mtDNA inheritance - help needed

8caitlin8 — 2012-09-04 17:45:01Z

I have just had my mtDNA checked at 23andme and discovered that my maternal inheritance is Ashkenazi Jewish. The names, birth dates, father first name, and place locations (all in Hessen, Germany) are as follows:

Phillipine Leonhardt (1822)/father Johann, Dreieichenhain, Hessen, Germany
Anna Maria Baronz (1799)/Elias, Offenbach, Hessen, Germany
Sophia Hohlfeld (1771)/Johann, Langen, Offenbach, Hessen
Anna Maria Lohr (1737)/Eobald, Langen
Susanne Wurm (1697)/Anthon, Langen
Catherine Lohr (1670)/Michael Langen
Ursula Schickedanz (1645)/Johannes Sprendlingen, Offenbach, Hessen

I am aware that many of the Jewish families that were exiled from Spain in 1492 went to Austria & Germany as well as Turkey (I also am 10% Turkish which might be from this connection) Does anyone know if any of the above names might have been Jewish?

Thank you for any advice and/or help.
Sharon
PS I also posted this on Jewish American Ancestry - I hope that is OK.

Re: GOTTLIAB possibly a Jewish name?

jgenres — 2012-08-22 22:20:45Z

There both Jewish and non-Jewish people, past and present with the surname of GOTTLIAB.