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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

Lodz Cemetery

http://www.jewishlodzcemetery.org/

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

http://jewishwebindex.com/poland.htm

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

The Chronicle of Bialystok  (Białystok, Poland)

http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/bialystok/bialystok.html

The history of the Jews in Bialystok until the period after the First World War,

The Polish Genealogy Project

http://polishgeno.com/?page_id=2

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.

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

http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/beyond-the-pale/index.html

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

http://www.polishjewishstudies.pl/index.html

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

http://www.jri-poland.org/

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)

http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Lodz/LARG.htm

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

Jewish Genealogical Resources in England (K to Z)

Moving Here

 

http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/jewish/jewish.htm

Many people mistakenly believe that they cannot trace their Jewish heritage because records do not exist. They are unaware of what is available, where and how to find it, and of issues such as surname changes, patterns of migration and changes in country borders.

Port Cities

 

http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.134/chapte

For many thousands of Jewish immigrants fleeing Russian oppression, the port of London was the point of entry into Britain. For thousands of transmigrants, London was a stopping-off point before moving on to other countries.

Southampton University

 

http://www.archives.soton.ac.uk/jewish/

The Survey of Jewish archives in the UK and Ireland

Synagogue Scribes

http://synagoguescribes.com/

Your one-stop gateway to Anglo-Jewish community records:  Synagogue Scribes offers a unique and fully searchable database of  London Ashkenazi Synagogue records, with the emphasis on pre UK civil registration, which began on 1st July 1837.

United Synagogue

 

http://www.theus.org.uk/support_services/find_your_family/marriage_records/

Marriage Authorisation Certificate Records

The first thing I want to say is that I am very lazy. I think I should rename my blog “The Lazy Genealogist”. Jennifer Shoer at The Scrappy Genealogist very kindly sent me the Ancestor Approved Award, which was begun by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here. She did this on 15^th January and it has taken me till now to respond.

I must admit that I had not come across this award before but it is a great idea. So firstly thanks to Leslie Ann for coming up with the idea and secondly thanks to Jennifer Shoer for thinking of my blog. I know that “An English Jewish Family’s quest for their roots” is a bit of a mouthful but it seemed a good idea at the time and I hope you find it interesting.

The award asks the recipient to list ten things learnt about any of their ancestors that have surprised, humbled or enlightened them. It also asks the recipient to pass the award along to ten other bloggers who they feel are doing their ancestors proud.

So firstly my ancestors and I include my wife Diane’s ancestors in this:

1. I have found that I know nothing about my ancestors prior to them coming to England in the late 19^th century from what was then Russia and is now Poland.
2. Similarly we know nothing about Diane’s father’s family prior to them coming to England about the same time and from the same area.
3. Diane’s maternal grandmother Dinah was Sephardi.
4. Diane’s Sephardi line has been in England for over 300 years.
5. The first recorded marriage in Diane’s family in England was in 1697 in Bevis Marks Synagogue.
6. Diane is distantly related to the actor Peter Sellers, to the first “scientific” boxer Daniel Mendoza and to Rufus Isaacs, first Marquess of Reading and Viceroy of India. 
7. My oldest grandson is a firstborn child as is his father, as I am, as my father was and his father was. Not sure if it means anything but we had a Pidyon Haben for my oldest son and for my oldest grandson.
8. I found that I had a brother who died at the age of 10 months when I was 4 years old.
9. Diane has ancestors from Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, Holland, Argentina, Morocco, Russia and of course England.
10. Diane and I have found cousins so far in Australia and the USA.

Secondly bloggers that I respect. Jennifer obviously has very similar tastes in blogging to me, since 4 of her awards are to blogs on my reading list. So here goes:

1. dearmyrtles-genealogy-blog at http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/
2. Dick Eastmans online genealogy blog and newsletter at http://blog.eogn.com/
3. Geneamusings at http://www.geneamusings.com/
4. Geneabloggers at http://www.geneabloggers.com/
5. Genealogy Blog at http://www.genealogyblog.com/
6. Genealogy Star at http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/
7. Ancestry Insider at http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/
8. Blundering Blindly Backwards at http://blunderingblindlybackwards.blogspot.com/. I wish that I had thought of this name. It sums up everything I do.
9. You Don’t Choose Your Family at http://mikeydawson.wordpress.com/
10. The Wandering Genealogist at http://wanderinggenealogist.wordpress.com/

Times are changing

My mother’s parents were born in Russia but my mother never ever went on holiday outside of England. My father also never travelled outside of England.

How time changes things.

On Saturday, London was hit with, for us, fairly heavy snow. Enough for me not being able to go to football (that’s soccer for those of you outside Europe) and see my team Arsenal. Also enough to bring our transport system to a virtual halt.

On Sunday, my number 1 son (I have 3 of them) was due to fly to Tel Aviv from Heathrow for a meeting. The flight was cancelled but he managed to get a flight from Luton and arrived in Israel about 6 hours later than originally expected. He flew home on Wednesday.

On Monday, number 3 son was due to fly to Frankfurt from Heathrow for a meeting. The flight was cancelled so he couldn’t travel. On Wednesday he fly to Tenerife with his wife and their 2 children for a week’s holiday.

Next Tuesday, number 1 son together with his wife and 1 of their 2 sons is also going to Tenerife for a week’s holiday.

Number 2 son and his wife are not going anywhere, nor are we.

Growing up after the war one could never imagine the increase in air travel that has occurred.

This has nothing to do with Family History, but it shows how what was once a dream becomes part of everyday life. Television, colour television, Sky Plus, games consoles, computers, laptop computers, mobile phones, Iphone, Blackberry.

The list is endless and my younger grandchildren could not envisage life without them and wonder how my generation survived without them. What we didn't have, we didn't miss.

What's in a name

My father Simon Belson was born in 1912, I had his birth certificate and my parents wedding certificate as well as the marriage authorisation from the Chief Rabbi’s Office in London. From these I knew that my father’s parents were Harry Belson and Dora Godelsky.

Try as I could, I was unable to find my paternal grandfather Harry’s birth certificate or his marriage certificate. I knew that his father’s name was Joseph but could not trace a Belson family in any UK census with a Joseph and a Harry. Eventually I found the family in the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses as Balsom. I still couldn’t find the birth or wedding certificates for Harry who is shown as 1 year old in the1891 census.

I then tried Free BMD looking for a female Godelsky, using Soundex, getting married between 1910 and 1912. From this I found a Dorothy Gudelsky married a Henry Belsom in early 1912. I now have the certificate and they are definitely my grandparents Harry and Dora.

Again I tried Free BMD looking for a male Balsom, using Soundex, born 1890/1891. The only one was a Harry Balzum born in 1890. I have just received the certificate and it shows Harry, born 23^rd May 1890 to Joseph and Leah Balzum.

Checking on the births of Harry’s 8 brothers and sisters, I have found births registered as Belson, Bulsom, Balsom, Bolsam and Bellson.

So, what is my family name. Balsom, Balzum, Belsom, Bolsam or Bellson. Or does it matter. I can only presume that when the births were registered, the registrar wrote down what she/he thought the name sounded like when spoken by someone who only knew Russian or Yiddish and couldn’t read or write in English.

In the beginning

When I first started out on, to quote Tony Blair, “A Journey”, it was in the days of the Commodore 64 and continuous printing paper with green lines.

Over the years I have started and “rested” rather than “stopped” my research numerous times, but I always come back to it. Researching family history has a fascination, which never seem to leave you once you are hooked.

My biggest regrets are not questioning my parents and my in-laws enough before they passed on. I lost the opportunity to find out more about the past. Their lives, where they lived, where they went to school and what they knew of their parents lives. Much of this information is probably lost forever. My research has helped to fill in some of the gaps but not all.

When I started out I knew that my mother’s parents were born and married in Russia (now Poland) and came to England about 1905 with 2 children. My mother was born in London. My father’s parents had the same background although they were both born and married here. Their parents came here around 1880.

My wife parents were both born in England. Her father’s parents came to this country from Russia as an engaged couple with his grandparents. On her mother’s side my wife was brought up believing that her family had been in England for over 200 years. It was therefore this part of our family that I have spent the most time researching and have now been able to trace it back to the 1550’s in Spain. Her ancestors seem to have arrived in England in the early 1700’s.