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From: "BP Bergman & GI Melville" <>
Subject: [British Jewry] From Spain/Portugal to Amsterdam - ?Jewish
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 17:15:36 -0000
References: <000001c2d9f5$35ff3d90$1cd7fea9@susan>


I am researching a family comprising two (probable) brothers born 1797 and
1798 in Amsterdam. Little is known of one, although the 1881 census shows
him living in south London with his wife and his stepson, neither of whom
appear to be Jewish. The other married and had nine children, of whom most
married in church. However most of the nine children had names which would
not have been inconsistent with a Jewish family eg Rachel, Leah, Daniel,
Reuben, and two of the daughters had synagogue weddings.

In later life, the father appears on the 1871 census living with a daughter
who married a Christian, and on the 1881 census he is living with one of the
daughters whose family was Jewish (their children went on to marry in the
synagogue). It would appear to have been unusual for a Jewish father in
the Victorian period to have remained in contact with a daughter (or son)
who married out, and this would seem to suggest that he was not Jewish and
that the two daughters converted to Judaism.

I have been unable to find any details of this family in the Amsterdam
Jewish records, and wonder whether he (and his ?brother) may have been
Marranos. The surname is consistent with a family origin in Spain or
Portugal, and on the IGI most instances of the surname are to be found in
Brazil (some as early as the 17th century).

All theories or ideas as to how to proceed are welcome!

Beverly Bergman

PS I also have a small .jpg file (48k) which includes the Hebrew name of one
of the daughters. It is not easy to read but if anyone who is an expert at
Hebrew script would like to try and decipher it, it would be much
appreciated! Please contact me off-list and I will send it as an
attachment.


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