Hi Ruth,
I am now back, so here is the information you need.
This is where I have traced back to......
Ajzyk Bernsztock/Bernstock. The spelling of his name could be Polish/Russian for Isaac.
No date of birth but guess around the 1790's, I have him living in the Pale of Settlement, at that time under Russian control (since around 1700) and would later become part of Poland.
The largest settlement of Jews were in the Pale of Settlement, numbering 219,149
He was married to
Szandla Bernsztock/Bernstock
no maiden name at this stage again she was born in the same area and around the same time period.
One of the children I have found so far is....
Woolf Jakub Bernstock 1842-1908
Married on 5 June 1864 in Warzaw, Pale of Settlement
Sara/Sura Lewengrub 1840-1924
Their children were....
If unsure of place of birth have just left it as the Pale of Settlement.
Anne 1863-1943 date of birth could be wrong but I am running with it at this time, born in the Pale of Settlement.
Joseph 1868-1928 born in the Pale of Settlement
Hyman 1870-1944 born in Warzaw, Pale of Settlement
Married to Sarah Posner circa 1883 Pale of Settlement
= married 1905 in City of London. There is a synagogue known as Bevis Marks which may hold more information but it is only a guess at this stage.
Kate 1875-? born in the Pale of Settlement
Leah 1877 born in Portsmouth, Hampshire
Fanny 1893-1959
Hyman and Sarah had the following children (which is where my connection comes in.)
Lena Annie 1906-?
Nathaniel 1908-?
Lena married Frederick Alford a widower, she was a spinster on their marriage on 17 April 1939 in Staines, Middlesex in the Parish church.
Frederick's first wife was Minnie Elizabeth Chilvers, they married on 31 August 1919 at Marylebone Parish church in London.
Minnie died in 1934 no children and none with Lena
Frederick died in 1966.
Now it is through the Chilvers that I became interested in who the Bernstocks were and thus I found the details I have given. My sister-in-law is a Chilvers descendant and while researching her ancestry I came across the Bernstocks. My interest was aroused because I have Jewish blood in me on my father's side both maternal and paternal. My sister looks more Jewish than I do, but when I have visited Synagogues with my Jewish friend Baruch, when I put on the Kippah (my own) Jewish people think I am a rabbi, especially with Kippah and wearing a dark suit - I can speak a little Hebrew and try to use it now and again.
Now to trace further back the Bernsztock/Bernstock line in what is now Poland, you would have to visit Warsaw and find the Jewish records office to continue the search. I know from watching a TV programme called "Who do you think You are?" some of the celebrities who take part in the show are of Jewish origin and they often go to either place of birth and find that either the Polish authorities of the town or city hold the records or the capital city does. The records are really spot on they give so much detail.
If I find out any more regarding the Polish/Russian Jewish side I will get back to you.
Regards.
Ken (Jeffries)
Beckenham
England
