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.

On this day – 1st July

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

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

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.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/casamendoza/

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.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dutchSIG/

"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.

My wife's family

My wife Diane’s family were Ashkenazi Jews and her mother was born Leah (Lily) Hart. We were both surprised when we found out that Diane’s grandmother Dinah Bittan, was from a Sephardi family. Our 3 sons now want to know if they can have rice at Pesach. The Hart side I have traced back to Diane’s 3 x great grandfather Meir Hart born about 1770.

The Bittan side linked with the Nunes Martinez family in 1834 and with the Mendoza family in 1764 when Abigail Mendoza born in London in 1744 married Isaac Nunes Martines born in London in 1745.

Abigail Mendoza’s father Aaron was born in Amsterdam in 1709 and probably came to England about 1730. Aaron’s father Daniel Mendoza was born in Seville in Spain in 1685. Daniel’s father David was also born in Seville in Spain in 1650. In 1685 he married Abigail Castro de la Penta in Holland. Abigail was born in Seville in Spain in 1665.

David Mendoza’s father the Patriarch de Mendoza was born in Seville in Spain in 1624 and the trail ends there for the time being. Abigail’s family can be traced back to her great grandparents Franciscus Fernandes de la Penta born 1550 in Spain and Bianca Fernandes born 1558 in Spain who married in 1579.

The search continues.