Genealogy Chat

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I've been doing family research for a couple of years now, but, strangely enough, i still don't know the names of all my Dads brothers and sisters. Now my dad said he had 10 siblings (including himself) but i think there may have been ones he didn't know about. I have found 8 definates, but am at quite a loss to how to find the rest. My grandfather was Barnett Solomons, and had 6 children with my grandmother Elizabeth Jacobs (they didn't marry). Elizabeth before meeting Barnett, had children with a man named Samuel Levison, (the ones i know of are Nancy and Sidney). Now, recently i have found out that Barnett was also previously married to a woman named Kate Abrahams in 1905. I have found dozens of references to possible children, but how do i find the correct ones without spending a fortune? Any opinions welcome!!! Liz

Liz I don't think I can help, but see your problem - the number of Solomans' marrying Abrahams' is phenomenal, & seemingly all in the same area of London! I see that Barnett & Kate were married in Whitechapel, but you can't assume that all Solomons/Abrahams children registered in that district were theirs. When/where did the second marriage take place? How about checking electoral rolls to see where they were living? Angela

Thanks for your reply Angela. I have yet to get the certificate for Barnett and Kate's 1905 marriage, but have Elizabeth's and Samuel's from 1904. I would have thought Eliz + Sam would have had more children than just Sidney in 1911 and Nancy 1916, but as you can see, its difficult to find the right people. Also, annoyingly, the same applies for Barnett and Kate! I have checked Electoral roll for Barnett and Elizabeth's home 4a Whites Row. But unfortunatley, since Barnett deserted in WW1, he is listed as Elizabeth's previous hubby Samuel. Complicated isn't it!! I have got an address for Barnett from his service record. Spose i could give that a shot. Liz

The Marriage of Barnett And Kate. View Record Kate Abrahams 1905 Oct-Nov-Dec Whitechapel London, Middlesex View Record Barnett Solomons 1905 Oct-Nov-Dec Whitechapel London, Middlesex

Hi Liz, You might be able to track the children through the parish registers - if they were christened. You'd need to know an area to get the likely churches and then visit the LMA to do the searches. Janice

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983 about Betsy Jacobs Name: Betsy Jacobs Year of Registration: 1904 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Whitechapel County: London, Middlesex Volume: 1c Page: 449 (click to see others on page) England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983 about Samuel Levison Name: Samuel Levison Year of Registration: 1904 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec District: Whitechapel County: London, Middlesex Volume: 1c Page: 449 (click to see others on page)

Janice, i wish i could look at the parish records! But alas, they were of the Jewish persuasion! Liz

Ooops! With names like Solomon and Abraham I should have been able to work that out!!! Aren't there Jewish records anywhere? This is unknown territory for me. Janice

Well i don't believe they were that strict on registering children with the synagogue....or even that religious in the first place! Liz

Liz Your mention of WW1 gave me an idea. Is there a record of Barnett in the WW1 records on ancestry? My husband's g/grandfather had his dependent children listed on his record on there. Angela

Angela, i haven't found a record for him. I wouldn't have thought he'd have got a pension, as he was declared a deserter in 1917. This is one of the reasons i believe there could be more than the 10 children that my father thought. Obviously, since Barnett was 'evading' authority he wouldn't have gone back to his family with Kate. What do you think? Maybe im clutching at straws abit?? Liz

Just did a quick google on Barnett Solomons. Quite a few things up there, but obviously I don't know what you've seen and what you haven't. I don't know how common a name like Barnett is but is it possible that it was a family name that was passed down? There's an old bailey record for a Barnett Solomons dated 1799, and someone with a tree with Barnett Solomons on, etc.

Thanks Summer, i have got quite far back on Barnett's side of the family, which makes it quite ironic that i can't piece together his immediate family!! Thanks to all that have replied, and incase there is anyone who can give me any advice at all, ill nudge this up. Liz

If you found school log records for the various families, you may be able to check for siblings there. This would depend on you knowing which ones were likely though.....birth certs may help. Would they have gone to Jewish schools?.... I have no experience with these. Gwyn