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.

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 8^th December 1940 my grandmother was given permission to visit 50 Graham Road until 14^th December.

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

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.

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.

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 25^th 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.

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 5^th 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 31^st 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 2^nd 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.

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.

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