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Subject:  abrahams; mendelssohn; sonnenberg
G'day from Oz,
I am trying to source general information such as BMD of some of Dad’s cousins and their children if any. (my second cousins). See names in inverted commas below.                                                                             
Their parents were born in the USA and South Africa, or perhaps England.
The family name is “abrahams”, they immigrated to South Africa around 1878 - 1880 from the USA. The family originated from present day Lithuania settling in St Louis MO. USA 1869.
I believe the family settled firstly in Beaufort West, then Kimberley. Their father Reuben Abrahams (GGF) and wife Miriam later settled in Johannesburg. They had 5 known children: Lillian, Lionel, Alfred (GF): Arthur, Rosalie.
“Marjorie Sonnenberg” (b.m.d.) W&W??*; & “Mervyn Julian Sonnenberg” b. 1895, Kimberley; d. 1956 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; m. “Isabel Hendrie”, W&W ??;                        Parents, Harry Joseph Sonnenberg & Rosalie (Rosie) Abrahams.
“Mary L. Abrahams” b.1912 Kimberley (TBC) m.d. W&W??                                                      Parents, Lionel Abrahams & Mabel Davis.
“Ruth Abrahams” b. 04/12/1912, wiSA? m. “unknown Belcher” W&W??; d. W&W??;and “Rupert Abrahams” b. 17/02/1915. W&W??; m. “Yvonne Beryl Silbert”, W&W??;                                                                                          Parents, Arthur Abrahams & Betty Israel.
                                                                                                                                                       
*W&W?? = Where & when unknown; TBC = To be confirmed; wiSA? = where in South Africa unknown;
Additional information:
Lillian Charlotte Mendelssohn (nee Abrahams) b. St Louis MO. USA; d.1956 Putney, London, England; m. Maurice late 1890s. Cape Town. 3 children: Vera, Gerald & Clive. The Mendelssohn family moved to London in the mid1900s.
Alfred Abrahams (gf) b. 1881 where unknown d. 8th February 1945. (Johannesburg) m. 15/4/1911; Elizabeth Kate (nee Durham), Jeppe Synagogue, Johannesburg. 2 children Mary Henderson (nee Abrahams) and Joseph L. Abrahams.                                                                                      
The family ran a general store in Kimberley called Abrahams & Co. American
Stores on Dutoitspan Road.                              
Alfred and Arthur ABRAHAMS served in Europe with the South African Infantry
during WW1. Arthur was POW at war's end.

Arthur was disinherited by his father Reuben ABRAHAMS, but not his wife and
children.                                                                                                                   

Both Alfred and Lionel were Freemasons in the early 1900s for about 10yrs. Alfred was in the Mendelssohn Lodge, Sidney-on-Vaal, Northern Cape and                                                                                                    Lionel the Henry B Loch Lodge, Kimberley, Northern Cape.
The bulk of the above data came from the Last Will of Rueben Harris Abrahams (ggf) via Ancestry24, SA Rootsbank, Ancestry.com and Myheritage.com.
Any help/ pointers to fill the above gaps or additional information is gratefully appreciated.                                                                                              Good Health for the remainder of 2017 and Sincere Thanks in advance.

D. H. A.
Qld 4350
Australia

Hi Annie,
Have just noticed the footnote on your correspondence of family names you are researching. I am a Steele on my Mother’s side. (Edinburgh & Lanarkshire).
Please see below information pertaining to my GA family.
Unfortunately we know basically nothing about Robina Neil’s fiancé. Just the Regiment!
Why research such an enigma? (Words as written on the back of a photo) “Aunty Bobby’s fiancé”: To ensure he receives or has received the correct recognition that he deserves! If and when we find a name we can obtain a regiment number and badge number. From that we can trace where he was serving, injured or KIA. Perhaps find his name on a war memorial.
With respect to the photo of the group of Ladies? I thought if I was able to identify them and trace respective families it just might lead to the identification of Robina Neil fiancé.
A very slim chance of success but worth a try!!
Robin Neil b. Arngask, Perthshire 1892 D. Edinburgh;
1911 Census. Aged 19yrs Occupation: Woollen Hosiery Manufacture (Looker & Mender);
Parents: John Neil b. Dolphinton Lanarkshire 1851 d. When and where unknown; m. April 14th. 1876 Stow, Midlothian;                                                                                                                                           Isabella Mitchell b.1849 Stow Midlothian d. 1910 where unknown; Siblings:                                                                                                   James b. 1876 Muckhart, Perthshire d. when & where unknown;                                                          Isabella b.1878 Muckhart, Perthshire d. March 1933, West Kent General Hospital, Maidstone;                                                                                      Margaret (Maggie) b.1881 Muckhart, Perthshire d. when & where unknown;                                                                                                      Janet b.1884 Duncrievie Perthshire d. 1947 Edinburgh     
Many thanks for your advice and time.
David                                                 

Hello from Oz,
Where can I find additional information on Pte Samuel Knight. Enlisted Jan 1917 Discharged July 1917. {392(xvi) Kings Regs}
Badge # 212264
Regiment # TR/7/17819

What was his parents names?
If married, spouses name?
Where and when born?

He may be my wife's GF known as Samuel Belamy Knight??!

All suggestions and help appreciated

Regards & Thanks
David in sunny Qld

Trying to identify (name) my Great Aunt's Fiancé and ensure he and his comrades in arms receive proper recognition.
Unfortunately we have no name or service number but from the photographs (P1 - P3) and attached we believe he served in the Royal Field Artillery and was initially based  and trained out of the Piershill Barracks Edinburgh.
Identification of his other comrades in arms may just help to provide a names for my GA Fiancé.
Photo1; Great Aunt's Fiancé. (GAF) Photo taken at Piershill Studio Edinburgh. Photo reorder number 46886
Photo 2; GAF. Sitting, left facing. Photo taken at Morrisons Studios 137 Leith Street Edinburgh. Photo  reorder number 56856
Photo 3; GAF. Standing Right Facing
To date have had no success in establishing when the photos' were taken and with respect to P3 where  as well? perhaps overseas.
The 3 soldiers in P3 look "worn out", perhaps not the right expression, perhaps exhausted is more appropriate!
Have put the photos in the order that I feel that they were taken based on the facial looks of my GA Fiancé.
Any help suggestions ideas which may help to solve this exceedingly difficult conundrum gratefully appreciated.
Sincere Thanks and Regards David Abrahams Qld Australia.