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Archiver > YORKSGEN > 2006-02 > 1138835647


From: Elaine Bush <>
Subject: Jewish ancestry in Leeds, Yorkshire
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 15:14:07 -0800
References: <200602012200.k11M0SJJ008208@lists5.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200602012200.k11M0SJJ008208@lists5.rootsweb.com>


Hello,

I am new to this list and am following a lead, albeit a faint one!
My REST family came to the USA from Lithuania around 1900. The
family lore has it that this Jewish family was Sephardic in origin--
from Spain or Portugal-- and at some point lived in England. They
were invited to move to Lithuania by a count who required their
expertise in the flax/linen trade. The family also was in the
business of horse trading. The family apparently was in Lithuania by
the late 1600s or early 1700s. It is possible that some of the
family remained in England.

I found a family of RESTs on the FreeBMD index with given names which
ran in my family. I am wondering how I might go about finding out
more about this family-- their origin, occupations, etc. I have
been in contact with a Leeds resident who has not found any RESTs in
the Jewish cemetery and believes that this family was not Jewish.
However, I would like to pursue this further-- the family could
easily have converted many generations ago. Thanks in advance for
your help.

Elaine Bush
Pleasant Hill, CA USA

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