Russia: Bernitz

[linmey]

Hi,
I am new to this board because my ancestors never left Bedfordshire  but in the family tree of my 2 sons there is an Isaac Bernitz who was born in about 1863 in Russia. He immigrated to England presumably during the pogroms. I would like to know where to look to find out anything further about his arrival in the UK. I have the family on the 1911 census.

Many thanks.

Linda.

[jorose]

Hi there, Linda.

I've moved your post from the Europe - Resources board to the main Europe board where it will hopefully get more attention. Unfortunately, shipping lists for ships arriving from Europe were not kept in the UK.

Do you know the maiden name of his wife? If not, it would be worth purchasing the birth certificate of one of their children.

jorose

[linmey]

Thank you jorose, sorry to have posted on the wrong board.

Thank you for the tips, I will order the cert.

Linda 

[Bookbox]

There's a marriage in Sep Qtr 1884 in London City with Isaac BERNETTS and Jane GREENSPAIN on the same page. Worth bearing in mind if the child's birth certificate supports that name (or perhaps GREENSPAN) for the mother.

[linmey]

Hi Bookbox,
Thank you very much. That is indeed them. I have just been given the birth certificate of their eldest son David who was born the following year. On the birth certificate the parents names are Bernitz and Greinspan, both born in Russia. We think they were from Lithuania but don't know if they were from there originally or if they moved there during the pogroms.

Best wishes,
Linda.

[garstonite]

Hiya Linda - 1901 census says b 1862 in Russia for Isaac Bernitz
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X9DM-QC6

Jane is born 1863 Russia
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X9DM-QCX

looks like all the kids
https://familysearch.org/search/record/results#count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3Abernitz~%20%2Bresidence_place%3Alondon~%20%2Bresidence_year%3A1901-1901~

[jorose]

The marriage certificate should give you their fathers' names.  If it turns out they married in a synagogue, there may be additional records that can be accessed (not an expert but there are a few posters around who know about these things).

They were probably either born in or resident in of the Pale of Settlement, which did include parts of present day Lithuania.  Considering the timing, Isaac, Jane, or both might have been fleeing violence if they arrived between 1881 and 1884 - there were widespread pogroms in Russia following the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, due to false rumours blaming the Jewish community for the attack.

[linmey]

Thank you all very much for your help with this. I think applying for the marriage cert of Isaac and Jane is my next task. Lucky they were married in the UK.

Many thanks, Linda.

[JustinL]

Hello Linda,

The additional records to which Jorose referred include the socalled marriage authorisation, which was issued by the rabbinical court (Beth Din) authorising the couple to marry in a synagogue in accordance with Jewish rites and customs.

The databse of the United Synagogue can be aearched here

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

and reveals that Isaac (recorded with surname Barnett) married Jane on 27th August 1884 in the Princes Street Synagogue.

The marriage authorisation should/could reveal the places of birth of both bride and groom was well as their full Hebrew names and thoses of their fathers.  Although the MA does not always state the places of birth, it is a valuable document to have - genealogically speaking - and I would urge you to order it from the US site.

I'll be able to read the Hebrew entries for you.

Take care, Justin