Wednesday 7 September 2011

On this day – 7th September

In 1775 Jacob Martin (Nunes Martinez) was born to Isaac Moses Martin (Nunes Martinez) and Abigail Mendoza. He married Rebecca Emanuel on 10th January 1796. Jacob was Diane’s 3 x greatgrandfather.

Monday 5 September 2011

On this day – 5th September

In 1862 Jacob Bittan was born to Abraham Bittan and Miriam Solomons. Abraham was the son of Joshua Bittan and Phoebe Martin (Nunes Martinez) who were Diane’s great great grandparents.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Birthdays

September is always a busy month for birthdays in our family, especially the first 5 days.

On the 1st it was my 75th birthday
On the 2nd it was my number 2 grandson’s 21st birthday
On the 4th it will be my middle son’s 45th birthday as well as his 3rd wedding anniversary
On the 5th it will be my oldest son’s 48th birthday.

An expensive time for all the family.

Friday 19 August 2011

On this day – 19th August

In 1912 my father Simon Belson was born to Harry and Dora Belson. Sadly he died in 2002, shortly before his 90th birthday.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

On this day – 17th August


In 1902 Esther Feinson was born in Russia (now part of Poland) to Lewis and Cecilie Feinson. She came to England in 1904/5 with her parents and older brother Jack. She was my mother’s sister.

Monday 15 August 2011

On this day – 15th August

In 1848 Samuel Bittan was born in Spitalfields to Joshua Bittan and Phoebe Martin (Nunes Martinez). He was one of 11 children. He was the brother of Diane’s great grandfather Benjamin.

In1930 Alma Annie Rubinstein was born to Max And Lily Rubinstein. She was Diane’s sister. Alma married Paul Emin and they had 2 children. Alma died on 17 August 1993. She is greatly missed by Diane.

Thursday 11 August 2011

On this day – 11th August

In 1835 Benjamin Bittan was born in Spitalfields to Joshua Bittan and Phoebe Martin (Nunes Martinez). He was one of 11 children. He was Diane’s great grandfather.
He married Esther Levy on 10 February 1857 at 3 Cope’s Square, Middlesex Street. Their daughter Dinah married Aaron Hart. They had 8 children, one of whom Leah (Lily) was Diane’s mother.

Wednesday 10 August 2011

It's not all about Blogging

I have been very lax with my blog recently.

In part this is due to watching Sky News on television for far too long over the past 4 days. Many of us have been amazed how these riots have happened and worried that they don't reach our local area. Living in North West London, one realises that it can happen anywhere.

Another reason is that I have been involved in setting up a new blog called Jewish Ancestors? for which I and the Chairman of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB) will be writing posts. This can be found at www.jgsgb.org.uk/blog. It will be worthwhile following.

The final reason, which is the most likely, is that I am just lazy.

So from tomorrow I hope to get back on track.

Sunday 31 July 2011

MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER

The only thing I have of any of my grandparent’s possessions, apart from a few photos, is my maternal grandmother’s Identity or Aliens Book.

This was probably issued to her in 1914 at the start of the First World War. According to this she was unable to write and signed it with a cross and a thumbprint. Whether she was actually unable to write anything, or just unable to write in English we will never know. The Book was also used after the war and during World War 2.

According to her Book she was born Cecelie Walbaum to Woolf and Sara Walbaum in Bialystok in Russia (now in Poland) probably in 1877. She married Lewis Feinson in about 1899 in Russia and came to England in about 1904 with her husband and 2 children. My mother the youngest child was born in England, as were 2 other children.

How they got to England I do not know, but in all probability they came by boat via Libau in Latvia or Hamburg in Germany.

Again according to her Book she came to England on a Russian passport, number 2176, issued by the Russian Police in Bialystok in 1904.

Aliens were required to register with their local police every time they left the area overnight and register with the local police in the area they were staying.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 56 Lindon Buildings, Bethnal Green. In 1912 when my mother was born, they were living at 7 Whitby Street, Bethnal Green. In 1934 the family moved to 50 Graham Road, Dalston, London, E8 and in September 1940 my grandparents moved to 34 Springfield Road, Windsor where my parents and I also lived. On 8th December 1940 my grandmother was given permission to visit 50 Graham Road until 14th December.

She died on 18th December 1940 in the King Edward Vll Hospital in Windsor from Cerebral Haemorrhage and Hypertension, when I was 4 years old.

Thursday 21 July 2011

On this day - 21st July

1940 - My brother Michael Jeffrey was born at the Bearstead Memorial Hospital, Hampton, Twickenham, Middlesex. At the time, my parents and I were living at 150 King Edward Road, Hachney, London, E9.

Michael was very ill from birth and eventually died on 8th June 1941, aged just 10 months, in the County Council Emergency Hospital, Old Windsor. The cause of death is recorded as:
1 (a) Cardiac failure
   (b) TB Meningitis
2       TB Broncho Pneumonia

At the time of Michael's death we were living at 34 Sprinfield Road, Windsor wth my grandfather on my mum's side. My grandmother having died on 18th December 1940. It must have been a very painful time for my mother.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

HOW THE INTERNET BEGAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that one shouldn't plagiarise, but as I don't know where this originated from, I thought that I would take the liberty of posting it.

With apologies for offending anyone and everyone. Remember it is only a bit of fun.

In ancient Israel , it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.

And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy
tent?" And Abraham did look at her - as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load - but simply said, "How, dear?"

And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. The sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."

Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent.

To prevent neighbouring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was called Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures: Hebrew To The People (HTTP). But this success did arouse envy.

A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham's drum and began to siphon off some of Abraham's business. But he was soon discovered, arrested and prosecuted for insider trading.

And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.

And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the
deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And he did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drum heads and drumsticks.

Lo, Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others!" And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel , or eBay as it came to be known, he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are." And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham. And because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.

Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside. It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything(GOOGLE)
And that is how it all began. 

 AS IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBTS !!!!!

Thursday 7 July 2011

TRUE LOVE


On the 16th April my wife Diane’s Aunty Milly died aged 98. She was Diane’s dad’s youngest sister. 8 weeks later on the 11th June her husband Jack died.

Milly and Jack originally met and fell in love in the early 1930s. However, the path of true love never runs smoothly. Milly’s parents did not approve of Jack because he was only a butcher. In those days, unlike today, girls didn’t very often go against their parents wishes, and in 1936, aged 24, Milly married Morry who was a tailor and whose parents had a menswear shop.

Jack was always a close friend of the family and Diane always referred to him as Uncle Jack. When I joined the family and called him Jack, he very quickly put me right and said it’s Uncle Jack to you. Jack was at our wedding, our three sons’ barmitzvahs and weddings.

In 1984 Uncle Morry died

Even though she was now free to marry “Uncle” Jack, she wouldn’t whilst Diane’s dad was still alive. He died in January 1989.and later that year Milly and Jack married, over 50 years after they first fell in love.

During the last few years they were in an old age home together, always arguing but still very much in love.

When Milly died, Jack couldn’t carry on without her.

On this day - 6th July

1712 - Abraham Rodriques-Ribera married Paloma Mizrahi at Bevis Marks Synagogue. He was born in 1690 He was Diane's 6 x great grandfather on her mother's maternal side.

Saturday 2 July 2011

On this day – 2nd July

In 1837 Abraham Bittan was born to Joshua Bittan and Esther Martin (Nunes Martinez). He was one of 11 children. His brother Benjamin was Diane’s greatgrandfather on her mother’s maternal side.

On this day – 1st July

In 1838 Moses Hart died.  He was Diane’s 2 x great grandfather on her mother’s paternal side..

Wednesday 29 June 2011

COINCIDENCE

Looking in the diary, I noticed that a year ago (or to be precise 52 weeks ago on Sunday) we attended the wedding of the daughter of close friends.

The wedding ceremony (Chupa) took place in an Orthodox Synagogue in North West London. The Chupa was a wonderful occasion and the Rabbi in his speech to the newlyweds managed to bring in the disappointment the whole country felt at England being knocked out of the World Cup by Germany.

After the Chupa we then had to drive to the outskirts of North London to a restaurant where the reception and dinner and dance were being held.

It was a very hot day and the reception was held in the open air.

Following the reception we all (about 120) went to the function room which was above the restaurant. 
We were seated at round tables of 10, and all those on our table were friends we had known for over 30 years. Unfortunately one couple couldn’t make it because of illness so the table was only set for 8.

We were having our starter, when the head waiter came over and asked my wife Diane if she minded if they put someone next her as we had room on our table. Obviously Diane said to was ok.

We were then joined by, to me, a young woman in her early 40’s named Lisa. She explained to Diane that she lived in Brighton, and that a friend of hers, who was a friend of the bridegroom, had been invited with her son. The son couldn’t make it, and she had asked Lisa to go with her so that she wouldn’t have to travel on her own. It so happened that the son was supposed to sit on the children’s table and that’s why Lisa ended up next to Diane.

My wife, always on the look out to matchmake, although our 3 sons are all married, asked Lisa about herself. She said that she was a widow with 2 teenage daughters and found it very hard to meet Jewish men in Brighton. She stayed in Brighton only because her parents lived there.

Hearing part of the conversation, a sudden thought passed my mind. I leaned across and asked Lisa what her surname was. The answer she gave meant nothing to me. I then asked what her maiden name was. The answer was Feinson, and I replied that her dad Paul was my first cousin and that Paul’s dad and my mum were brother and sister. Lisa immediately phoned her dad, who I hadn’t seen for a few years.

I  know it’s a long story, but the amazing think is that she could have been put on any table and anywhere on our table.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

On this day – 21st June

In 1857 Joshua Bittan was born in Stepney to Abraham Bittan and Miriam Solomons. He was a Cigar Maker and later a General Dealer in Clothing.

Joshua married Esther Martin at Bevis Marks Synagogue on 8th August 1876.

In 1883 Joshua and his family moved to New York and 2 of his 8 children were born in New York. By 1901 the family was back in London.

Joshua’s uncle Benjamin is Diane’s Great Grandfather on her mother’s maternal side.

Thursday 16 June 2011

On this day – 16th June

In 1819 Eve Joshua married John Isaacs at the Hambro Synagogue, London. They had 3 children, Isaac, Elizabeth and Leah.

I believe that Eve and John were Diane’s 2 x great grandparents on her mother’s paternal side.

Saturday 11 June 2011

Wednesday 8 June 2011

On this day – 8th June

In 1891 Dora Godalski was born, at home at 44 Brick Lane, Mile End, to Solomon Godalski and Yetta Miller. She was one of eleven children.

In the 1901 census she is shown living with her parents and her 10 brothers and sisters at 106 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool..

In the 1911 census she was back in Whitechapel, London with her mother and 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Her father died in 1910 and 2 brothers and 3 sisters were married.

She married Harry Belson on 25th April 1925. Their first child Simon was my father. They had 5 children in total.

My grandfather Harry died in 1947 and my grandmother remarried. She died about 1955.

In 1941 my brother Michael Jeffrey Belson died of TB aged 10 months. I was 4 years old at the time and have no recollection of him and my parents never ever mentioned him to me, or my sister.

Sunday 5 June 2011

We are the Survivors

This is a blog for those born before 1940 in the UK and was passed to me by a friend. A lot has changed since this was originally written.

We were born before television, before penicillin, polio shots, frozen food, Xerox, cotantact lenses, videos, DVD's, frisbees, freebies and the pill. We lived before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and the ball-point pens, before dishwashers, tumble dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes and before man walked on the moon.

We got married first and then lived together. We thought a "Big Mac" was an oversized raincoat and crumpet we had for tea. We existed before house husbands, computer dating and dual careers; when a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins and sheltered accommodation was where you waited for a bus.

We were before day care centres, group homes and disposable nappies. We had never heard of FM radio, electric typewriters, electric typewriters, word processors or computers. Nor artificial hearts or yoghourt and young men wearring earings. For us "time sharing" meant togetherness, a chip was a piece of wood or a fried potato, hardware meant nuts and bolts, and software  wasn't a word.

Before 1940 "Made in Japan" meant junk, the term "making out" referred to how you did in your exams, a stud was something that fastened a collar to a shirt, and "going all the way" meant staying on the double decker bus until it reached the depot. Pizza, McDonalds and instant coffee were unheard of. In our day cigarette smoking was fashionable, grass was mown, coke was kept in the coal house, a joint was a piece of meat and a pot was something you cooked it in.A gay person was the life and soul of the party and nothing more, and aids just meant beauty treatment or help for someone in trouble.

We who were born before 1940 must be a hardy bunch when you think of the ways in which the world has changed and the adjustments we have had to make. No wonder we are so confused and there is a generation gap.

But we have survived.

Saturday 4 June 2011

On this day – 4th June

In 1861 Sarah Betan (Bittan) was born in Whitechapel to Joshua Betan (Bittan) and Phoebe Martin (Nunes Martinez). She was the youngest of 11 children and was the sister of Benjamin Bittan who is my wife Diane’s maternal great grandfather.

She married Abraham (Alfred) Levy on 9th March 1880 at the Princes Street Synagogue, London. They had 7 children

In the 1891 & 1901 census’s she is shown as living with husband and children at 84 Oxford Street, Whitechapel and in 1911 living at 20 Alderney Road, Mile End. London.

Sarah died on 15th January 1912, aged 51, in London. 
Jewish Chronicle Announcements on her death-

Levy -- In ever loving memory of our darling wife and mother Sarah Levy who departed this life on Jan 15th 1912. Gone but not forgotten. G-d rest her dear soul in peace. Amen. From her ever loving husband, Abraham, daughter and son, Fanny and Sam 20 Alderney road, Mile End E.

Levy - in ever loving and lasting memory of my darling mother Sarah Levy who passed away on Jan 15th 1912. Sadly missed by her son, daughter in law and grandchildren. May G-d rest her dear soul in peace. Amen - Mr. Ralph Levy 77 Harford street, Mile End, E.

Levy - In ever loving memory of my dearly beloved mother Sarah Levy who departed this life on Jan 15th 1912, Sadly missed by her daughter, son in law and grandchildren. May G-d rest her dear soul in peace amen - Mrs. N. Crabb 44 Great Queen St. Kingsway WC.

Levy - in ever loving memory of my dearly beloved mother Sarah Levy who departed this life on Jan 15th 1912. Sadly missed by her daughter Dinah. May G-d rest her dear soul in peace Amen, Mrs. G. Cohn 148 W. 143rd street NYC USA. American papers please copy.

Levy - in ever loving memory of my darling mother Sarah Levy who passed away Jan 15th 1912, Deeply mourned by her loving daughter and son in law, Mr. and Mrs, Lawrence Lazarus, 35 British Street, Bow

With many thanks to Brian Whipp and his family history website which can be found at http://www.whippfamily.co.uk/

Saturday 28 May 2011

Even less to do with Genealogy


This was sent to me by a friend. It's not new, but in view of the defence cutbacks etc in the UK and the money we are spending on Libya it is quite relevant. It represents a very cynical view of what goes on in the Civil Service

A Vision of the future - It's 2038. HMS Indefensible has been handed over to the Royal Navy...

Today in a grand ceremony at Portsmouth dockyard HMS Indefensible was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Described as the most stealthy warship in the world, she is now the only vessel in the Royal Navy and replaces 2 mothballed aircraft carriers, 6 destroyers and 4 submarines. Responding to criticism about the shrinking fleet, the MoD replied "It's not about numbers, it's about quality not quantity. HMS Indefensible represents a revolution in naval procurement, stealthy, light and agile she will provide a highly flexible platform. She is invisible to radar and almost immune to torpedo or missile attack. Her shallow draft makes her ideal for work in the littoral (coastal) areas. She is also highly efficient with virtually zero carbon emissions and zero fuel consumption "
Admiral Sir James Bland added "She is ready to respond instantly to events and can be deployed to trouble spots anywhere in the world. The RAF have promised to fly her to wherever she's needed provided (1)They are not busy (2)The weather is OK (3)There is a large airfield provided by a friendly foreign nation close by".
Constructed by Britain 's only ship builder BVATe Systems in Birmingham , taking 8 years to build, and costing just £1.5 Billion she is a triumph of British engineering. Her forward section was built in China in 2 weeks and then shipped to the UK . The forward section was then joined to the stern built in Birmingham and the complex technical systems installed. However the programme was not all plain sailing and has not been without its problems "The original design included an outboard motor but early in the building process the Treasury insisted cost savings had to be made so out went the motor. After some time spent on computer-modelling and research we selected oars" said a BVATe spokesperson.
Although £1.2 Billion over-budget and 3 years late, Secretary of State for Defence, William Bragg says we can all be proud "The Type 48 programme has sustained 10,000 British manufacturing jobs in addition to 30,000 civil servants in the MoD project team. She will represent the leading edge of British manufacturing wherever she goes and is worth every penny" Bragg is also says he is hoping to see export orders soon although as yet there has been little interest.
Some observers have commented that her lack of any armament could be a problem but the MoD answered robustly "The Foreign Office advised us that carrying weapons can be seen as provocative and that actually firing a weapon at someone would definitely infringe their human rights. We considered this advice at an early stage in the design process and together with the fabulous cost-savings, the case for having no armament was overwhelming".
Her commanding officer, Commander Rupert Tubworthy-Pollock said "To be selected from the 1,200 officers still serving in the RN for the only seagoing command available is a great privilege. Bringing her out of build and into commission has been a huge challenge but I'm confident she will prove to be a great asset".
With a crew of just 2, she is a fine example of lean-manning, reducing running costs and lessening the RN's recruitment headaches. Her crew, AB "soapy" Watson said "On my last ship I had to share the mess with 40 other men but on the new Type 48 sharing is far a less of a problem. As I'm now the only rating in the Royal Navy I have a lot of responsibility".
HMS Indefensible is expected to complete sea trials shortly, go to Plymouth for Operational Sea Training, have a short refit in Rosyth and then and be deployed as part of the new Euro-Navy task force.
Today in a grand ceremony at Portsmouth dockyard HMS Indefensible was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Described as the most stealthy warship in the world, she is now the only vessel in the Royal Navy and replaces 2 mothballed aircraft carriers, 6 destroyers and 4 submarines. Responding to criticism about the shrinking fleet, the MoD replied "It's not about numbers, it's about quality not quantity. HMS Indefensible represents a revolution in naval procurement, stealthy, light and agile she will provide a highly flexible platform. She is invisible to radar and almost immune to torpedo or missile attack. Her shallow draft makes her ideal for work in the littoral (coastal) areas. She is also highly efficient with virtually zero carbon emissions and zero fuel consumption "
Admiral Sir James Bland added "She is ready to respond instantly to events and can be deployed to trouble spots anywhere in the world. The RAF have promised to fly her to wherever she's needed provided (1)They are not busy (2)The weather is OK (3)There is a large airfield provided by a friendly foreign nation close by".
Constructed by Britain 's only ship builder BVATe Systems in Birmingham , taking 8 years to build, and costing just £1.5 Billion she is a triumph of British engineering. Her forward section was built in China in 2 weeks and then shipped to the UK . The forward section was then joined to the stern built in Birmingham and the complex technical systems installed. However the programme was not all plain sailing and has not been without its problems "The original design included an outboard motor but early in the building process the Treasury insisted cost savings had to be made so out went the motor. After some time spent on computer-modelling and research we selected oars" said a BVATe spokesperson.
Although £1.2 Billion over-budget and 3 years late, Secretary of State for Defence, William Bragg says we can all be proud "The Type 48 programme has sustained 10,000 British manufacturing jobs in addition to 30,000 civil servants in the MoD project team. She will represent the leading edge of British manufacturing wherever she goes and is worth every penny" Bragg is also says he is hoping to see export orders soon although as yet there has been little interest.
Some observers have commented that her lack of any armament could be a problem but the MoD answered robustly "The Foreign Office advised us that carrying weapons can be seen as provocative and that actually firing a weapon at someone would definitely infringe their human rights. We considered this advice at an early stage in the design process and together with the fabulous cost-savings, the case for having no armament was overwhelming".
Her commanding officer, Commander Rupert Tubworthy-Pollock said "To be selected from the 1,200 officers still serving in the RN for the only seagoing command available is a great privilege. Bringing her out of build and into commission has been a huge challenge but I'm confident she will prove to be a great asset".
With a crew of just 2, she is a fine example of lean-manning, reducing running costs and lessening the RN's recruitment headaches. Her crew, AB "soapy" Watson said "On my last ship I had to share the mess with 40 other men but on the new Type 48 sharing is far a less of a problem. As I'm now the only rating in the Royal Navy I have a lot of responsibility".
HMS Indefensible is expected to complete sea trials shortly, go to Plymouth for Operational Sea Training, have a short refit in Rosyth and then and be deployed as part of the new Euro-Navy task force.

Nothing to do with Genealogy

Someone sent me this today. For us that are from the "older" generation it all rings true

Ain't it a shame that WE were not GREEN when we were kids?

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. 
The woman apologised to him and explained, “We didn't have the green thing back in my day."
 

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.  The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."
 
He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.  Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the store.  The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
 
But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.
 
In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.
 
But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.
 
Back then, they washed the baby's nappies because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.  Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that old lady is right; they didn't have the green thing back in her day.
 
Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room.  And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the wall ..
In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.
  When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
 

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.  They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
 

But she's right; they didn't have the green thing back then.

They drank from a
bubbler when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.  They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
 

But they didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the
train or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service.  They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.  And they didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks
were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

Thursday 26 May 2011

My Paternal Family

My father’s paternal grandparents Joseph & Leah Balsom came to England about 1888/89 from a part of Russia that is now in Poland. They were probably already married when they left Russia. The reason for leaving Russia was probably due to the “pogroms” against the Jews.

Leah was born Leah Malnick and was born about 1863. Joseph was born about 1862.

The surname Balsom was traced from the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses, but I can find no other reference to this surname, although some children were registered with it. My father never mentioned it and I don’t think he was aware of it.

On 23 May 1890 Joseph and Leah had their first child, Harry who is my grandfather. The birth was registered as Harry Balzum. The family were living at 14 Nottingham Place, Mile End.

At the time of the 1891 Census, which was held on the 5th April, the family was living at 11 Anna Place, Whitechapel, above a Furniture shop. Joseph’s employment is shown as “Carpenter”.

In 1892, Ada Belson was born in Whitechapel
In 1895, Sarah Bulsom was born in Whitechapel
In 1897, Fanny Balsom was born in Whitechapel
In 1901, Myer (David) Balsom was born in Stepney

At the time of the 1901 Census, which was held on the 31st March, the family was living at 110 Stepney Green Buildings, Stepney. Joseph’s employment is shown as “Cabinet Maker”.

In 1902, Rose Bolsam was born in Stepney
In 1903, Eve Balsom was born in Stepney
In 1905, Pincus Balsom was born in Stepney
In 1907, Annie Bellson was born in Stepney

At the time of the 1911 Census, which was held on the 2nd April, the family was living at 30 Dunstan Houses, Stepney. Joseph’s employment is shown as “Cabinet Maker”. Harry is also shown as a Cabinet Maker, Ada as a Clerk/Bookkeeper and Sarah as an Underclothing Machinist. The rest of the children are shown as Schoolchildren except for Annie who was only 4 years old.

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Surnames the end

The next batch of surnames relating to direct ancestors, covers N - Z

Penha – de la Penha – the line starts with Franciscus Fernandez de la Penha born 1550 in Spain. He is Diane’s 10 x great grandfather.

Pereira – this line starts with Isaac Pereira who was probably born about 1780. He is Diane’s 3 x great grandfather.

Printsman – this line starts with Jacob Isaac Printsman possibly born in France in about 1770. He is Diane’s 3 x great grandfather.

Robart – this line starts with Diane’s dad Max who changed the family name from Rubinstein in about 1950.

Rodrigues-Ribera/Ribeiro – this line starts with Abraham Rodriques-Ribera born about 1700. He is Diane’s 6 x great grandfather.

Rodrigues – this line starts (and ends) with Bianca Rodriques born about 1587 in Argentina. She is Diane’s 9 x great grandmother.

Rubinstein – this line starts with Diane’s paternal great grandfather David Rubinstein who was born in Russia and came to England in about 1880.

Singer – this line starts (and ends) with Diane’s paternal grandmother Minnie Singer who was born in Russia and came to England in about 1880.

Tubi – this line starts with Abraham Tubi who was born in Livorno, Italy in 1670. He is Diane’s 6 x great grandfather.

Walbaum – this line starts with Woolf Walbaum born in Russia in about 1850. He is my maternal great grandfather.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Surnames Continued

The next batch of surnames relating to direct ancestors, covers I - M

Isaacs – this line starts with John Isaacs born in London in 1796. He is Diane’s 2 x great grandfather.

Joshua – this line starts (and ends) with Eve Joshua who married John Isaacs (see above) in the Hambro Synagogue, London in 1819. She is Diane’s 2 x great grandmother.

Levy – this line starts with Yehuda Levy born about 1780. He is Diane’s 3 x greatgrandfather.

Malnick – this line starts (and ends) with Leah Malnick born in Russia in about 1863. She married my great grandfather Joseph Balsom in about 1888 probably before they came to England.

Martin - Martines – Nunes Martines – this line starts with Jose Nunes Martinez who was born 1690 and was married in Bevis Marks in 1711. He is Diane’s 6 x greatgrandfather.

Mendoza – de Mendoza- Mendosa – this line starts with Patriarch de Mendoza born about 1624 in Seville, Spain. He is Diane’s 8 x great grandfather.

Miller – this line starts (and ends) with Yetta Miller born in Russia in about 1858. She married my great grandfather Solomon Godalski in about 1877 before they came to England.

Mizrahi – this line starts (and ends) with Palmona Mizrahi who married Abraham Rodriques-Ribera. She is Diane’s 6 x great grandmother.

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Surnames continued

The next batch of surnames relating to direct ancestors, covers E - H

Emanuel – this line starts (and ends) with Rebecca Emanuel who married Jacob Martin (Nunes Martines) in London in 1796. She is Diane’s 3 x greatgrandmother.

Fienson – Feinson – this line starts with my maternal grandfather who was born in Bialystock and came to England about 1904.

Fernandez – Fernandez de la Penha – this line starts with Franciscus Fernandez de la Penha who was born in Spain in 1550. He is Diane’s 10 x greatgrandfather.

Godalski – Gold – this line starts with my paternal greatgrandfather Solomon Godalski who born in Warsaw and came to England about 1880.

Gomez – this line starts (and ends) with Abigail Gomez born 1629, who married David de la Penha Castro in 1664. She is Diane’s 8 x greatgrandmother

Hart – this line starts with Meir Hart who is Diane’s maternal 3 x greatgrandfather

Saturday 16 April 2011

Surnames

In our family tree when you include our extended families, there are about 100 surnames. Of these, however, only about 30 are direct ancestors. Over the next few blogs I will go through our ancestors. So lets start with A-D. Actually there are no A’s or D’s.

Balsom – Balzum – Belson - Benson – this line starts with my paternal greatgrandfather Joseph Balsom who came to England from Russia around 1889.

Benjamin – Binjamin – this line starts with Benjamin Benjamin whose daughter Leah married Moses Hart in 1819.  Benjamin was Diane’s maternal 3 x greatgrandfather

Bittan – Betan – this line starts with Yamin (Abraham) Betan who was born in Gibraltar and then moved to Morocco. He is Diane’s maternal 3 x greatgrandfather.

Cardoso – Nunes Cardoso – this line starts with Moses Nunes Cardoso who was married in Bevis Marks, London in 1697. He is Diane’s maternal 7 x greatgrandfather
                       
Chaves – de Chaves – this line starts with Rachel de Chaves who married Moses Nunes Cardoso (see above). She is Diane’s maternal 7 x greatgrandmother.

Wednesday 13 April 2011

My Blog

When I first started to write my blog I never imagined that anyone would actually read it apart from my own family.

Now five months on and 25 postings later, I thought I would go through the audience figures that Blogger provides.

Being based in England I assumed that all my readers would be in the UK. Well, 62% are, with 15% from the USA, 5% from Russia and 3% from Canada. The balance of 15% comes from 22 other countries.

This list of other countries, to me, doesn’t make sense. They are, in alphabetical order, Australia, Bangladesh, France, Georgia, Germany, Holland, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukriane.

I suppose it just proves the power of the internet.

Thursday 7 April 2011

Cousins again

The time has come to get back to writing about the family. I have been chasing up my cousins to let me have their family info so that if nothing else, my grandchildren will know who their cousins are. When we were young my sister and I were very close to our first cousins, especially on my mum’s side. They all lived in and around Hackney and Dalston in East London. On my dad’s side, they were more spread out in Willesden and Maida Vale in North West London and Barnet in North London, so we didn’t see them as much. My first cousins are my grandchildren’s first cousins once removed and my first cousins children are my first cousins once removed and my grandchildren’s second cousins. At least I think I am right. Now that all my first cousins are grandparents there is a lot of current info to go into the family tree.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Jewish Genealogy round the World Part 4 - More from Poland/Russia

Lodz Cemetery

Cemertery Street, Bracka in Lodz was founded in 1892 . It is estimated that in it are  buried about 160 000 people. Here also are buried the victims of one of the most tragic events in human history - the Holocaust. On the part of the cemetery called " Ghetto Field "are buried about 43 000 victims of the Lodz ghetto who died from hunger and exhaustion.

Jewish Web Index

This is an Index, a Directory of Jewish Genealogical Resources and Links

The Chronicle of Bialystok  (Białystok, Poland)
The history of the Jews in Bialystok until the period after the First World War,

The Polish Genealogy Project


Ancestry the Polish Connection

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~atpc/index-atpc.html

All the research I have done has not helped me in any way to trace my family before they came to England. The only document I have is my maternal grandmother's aliens book which gives details of her Russian passport.

Sunday 20 March 2011

Jewish Genealogy round the World Part 3 Poland/Russia

Following Diane’s emergency operation, things are gradually getting back to normal.

I think the time has come to spend some time researching my family and Diane’s Dad’s family who all appear to have originated from “The Pale” or “White Russia” whatever name you prefer and which is now in Poland.

Over the years we have looked at numerous websites but have not so far been able to trace any of our family beyond the time they arrived in England. Some of these websites are listed below.

 

The History of Jews in Russia

This portrays the history of Jews in Europe and in Russia to help understand their life, religion and culture.

The Institute for Polish-Jewish Studies
This is a non-profit, educational institution devoted to the history and culture of Polish Jewry. It is an associated institute of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

Jewish Records Indexing - Poland

The award winning searchable database of indices to Jewish records of Poland.
Launched in early 1995, JRI - Poland is the largest fully searchable database of Jewish vital records accessible online. 4 million records from more than 500 Polish towns are now indexed. More are being added every few months

Lodz Area Research Group (LARG)
The Group aims to provide researchers with a forum, clearinghouse and resource for the collection and dissemination of genealogical and historical information relating to the Jewish communities of Lodz, Poland, and the surrounding area. This research group is dedicated to the rescue and preservation of materials relating to the Jewish communities of the Lodz area and as a living memorial to our ancestors' impact on, and contribution to Poland's second largest city

Monday 14 March 2011

Health and Living

Nothing to do with Genealogy but all about health and living. I thought that I would write about our experiences this week.

Diane has been a bit down the last couple of weeks with a chesty cough, but was determined to keep going, because we were invited to a big Jewish charity fundraiser on Wednesday 2nd March where the main speaker was the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

We had a great evening but the following morning I dragged Diane to the Doctor. She was told that she had a virus and probably a chest infection and was put on a course of antibiotics.

The coughing continued despite a myriad of over the counter remedies and in the early hours of Monday morning Diane had a violent coughing fit, which affected her stomach badly and she was doubled up in pain. I phoned the emergency doctor who called an ambulance and at 6am Monday morning we arrived at Barnet General Hospital A & E department.

The doctors diagnosed that she had an irreducible mass in the abdomen and decided that she needed an emergency paraumbilical hernia repair. At 11.15am she was taken to the operating theatre. The surgeons then noted that she had low potassium and refused to operate. She was taken back to the ward and put on a potassium drip.

At 6.40pm she was taken back to the operating theatre, the repair was carried out and by 9.30pm was back on the ward. On Wednesday 9th March she was discharged from hospital. The District Nurse has twice been to change the dressing and said that it will take a couple of weeks to get back to normal (whatever normal is) since her body had suffered a trauma. However, on Saturday, she had a high temperature and I called the emergency doctor. He diagnosed an infection that must have been picked up in hospital. But said that the antibiotics given by the hospital would clear it up.

Diane realised that I had suffered a trauma as well, what with hanging around the hospital for 3 days and insisted that I go home and watch my beloved Arsenal on Tuesday night even if they did lose to Barcelona in the Champions League and then again on Saturday evening when they lost to Manchester United in the F A Cup. That was even more trauma for me.

I suppose that we never know what is round the corner and must live life whilst we can.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Jewish Genealogy round the World - Part 2

Whilst researching our family history we have been introduced to three sites which deal with the creators family history and which link into Diane's family tree.

The Lewis Family Tree Project

Within this there is a section on the Mendoza family which links into Diane’s family tree. http://www.tzorafolk.com/genealogy/history/mendoza.htm

The Whipp Family History Project

Within this there is a section on Jewish Roots. This contains many surnames linking to Diane’s family tree.

Robert Orland’s Family History Project

One of the surnames is Nunes Martinez, which links into Diane’s family tree

Sunday 6 March 2011

Jewish Genealogy round the World - Part 1

Whilst researching our family history we have joined three Yahoo Groups, which have helped us to link up with Cousins around the World.

This is a place for members and descendents of the Sephardi Jewish Mendoza family to share information on their history and genealogy.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harthunters_group/
Researchers interested in the surname Hart. The aim of the group is to try and connect early Hart families settled in England probably before 1851 and any one else researching the name HART. The Hart families would be Jewish or originally Jewish.

"dutchSIG" ~ is the international home for discussions on genealogy and the special interest group on family history for all those around the world with a Dutch Jewish ancestry.

NOSTALGIA and the WEDDING

My wife Diane and I thought we would have a clear out of the garage this week. The first box we came across was marked “Barmitzvahs, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays etc”.

In it was all the details from our 3 sons barmitzvahs, their weddings, birth announcements, engagement announcements, our first grandsons Pidyon Haben, our 25th, our 40th, my 60th and 70th and Diane’s 70th. Diane’s 21st birthday cards. Also the menu from our wedding in 1962.

We also found a copy of our Synagogue magazine from when our youngest son Stephen was married at Northwood United Synagogue in 1998. Northwood is on the North West outskirts of London, bordering onto Hertfordshire.

In the magazine was an article we wrote following Stephen’s wedding, which I think still holds true so far as we are concerned. So I thought I would share it with my readers:

THE PARENTS OF THE BRIDEGROOM

The Wedding from a different perspective


Our youngest son Stephen married Michelle Waxman on Sunday 1st November in Northwood Synagogue, following in the footsteps of his brothers Richard and Robert.

When it comes to a wedding, the general assumption seems to be that the boy’s parents don’t have the same feelings as the girl’s parents.

Why!!!!!!

What is the difference. We are all parents and I am sure don’t love our children any less. Do we not all stand together under the Chupa and participate in the joining together of our children. So, why do people apparently feel this way?

The pleasures and emotions of seeing your child standing under the Chupa are the same for all parents.

When the couple get engaged, the talk very soon turns to what the Bride and the Bride’s mother will wear, and how important it is they both look their best on the day. Which obviously it is. In addition, we hear how proud the Bride’s father will be when walking her into Shul. Again this is obvious.

What needs to be remembered is that this is the joining together of two families, and everyone wants and needs to look their best, especially under the Chupa. All the parents will be proud to see their child married in Shul under a Chupa.

We were very lucky when it came to the arrangements for each of our sons’ weddings. Each of our daughters’-in-law parents has involved us in the arrangements from day one.

Generally, however, people tend to forget, when it comes to organising a Wedding that the Bridegroom’s parents have had previous experience in organising a function – the barmitzvah.

Well the Bridegroom’s parents don’t have to organise the Wedding reception and dinner, but they do have to rely on others to let them know how many they can invite. Something you don’t have to worry about when organising a Barmitzvah. Luckily again this was not a problem for us, but you do hear horror stories.

So what do the Bridegroom’s parents do?

Well!!!!!!

Firstly there’s the Shul to organise, and the officiants – Rabbi, Chazan, Choir etc. Then there are the cars, photography, video and flowers for the Shul.

Then there’s the Aufruf. Kosher catering can be arranged at home on a Shabbat, but it takes a lot of organising and a lot of moving of furniture. Who do we call up in Shul without upsetting the family – not always easy.

What about the men. Well there are morning suits to hire for bridegroom, ushers, best man, brothers, nephews, father of the bride and to pay for it all – the father of the bridegroom. In our case there were 12 suits to organise – make sure everyone went for a fitting, collect the suits, sort them out after the Wedding and then return them.

Comes the big day! Will everything go to plan?

Will the caretaker remember all the instructions from the Wardens on how to lay out the seating in Shul and erect the Chupa? The cars, photographer, florist – will they all turn up on time? Will the ushers and best man be on time? No worry about the best man Richard, Stephen’s oldest brother, or his other brother Robert who is an usher. They have both been through it before.

You still worry.

All the careful planning, however, means that the answer to all these questions is yes.

We arrive at Shul. Rabbi Brawer takes charge, everything goes like a dream and two families become one.

World Book Night

World Book Night represents the most ambitious and far-reaching celebration of adult books and reading ever attempted in the UK and Ireland.
On Saturday, 5 March 2011, two days after World Book Day, with the full support of the Publishers Association, the Booksellers Association, the Independent Publishers Guild, the Reading Agency with libraries, World Book Day, the BBC and RTE, one million books will be given away by an army of passionate readers (including me)  to members of the public across the UK and Ireland.
The book give-away will comprise 40,000 copies of each of the 25 carefully selected titles, to be given away by 20,000 ‘givers’, who will each distribute 48 copies of their chosen title to whomever they choose on World Book Night. The remaining books will be distributed by World Book Night itself in places that might otherwise be difficult to reach, such as prisons and hospitals.
The twenty-five titles were selected by a wide-ranging editorial committee, chaired by James Naughtie.