Russian Naturalized British Citizen

[josenrab]

Hi, wonder if anyone can help. 

Trying to find out what to do next.  My gggGrandfather was born in Prebun-Germany/Russia in 1828.  His name was Solomon Woolf/Wolf and is showing on UK Census's from 1851.  How do I go further back, and find his parents and when he came to England.  At a loss of where to go from here.

Any help much appricated.

Thanks
Jo

[loo]

You might get lucky with passenger records from Hamburg to Southampton.  I think they start in 1848?  LDS centres have this, and ancestry is supposed to, but I can't get the latter to work.  It's unlikely he came directly from Russia to England.

"Prebun" may be "Prussia".  What looks like a "b" = "ss" in old German script, and there may be other misspellings in the word.  It's possible there is a town called Prebun, but I don't know.

Also, I would try some of the Jewish genealogical sites.  Search rootschat for links on this.  He was almost certainly Jewish, judging by the name and emigration path, as you may know.  If he was religious, there are some synagogue records available, but many Jews melted into the English general population.  However, tracking Jews down in old Russia can be very difficult, as so many communities were wiped out in various pogroms.  Have you located and interviewed all surviving family members to see if anyone has any stories or records?

Did he marry in England?  If so, you should order his marriage cert, which should show his father's name and occupation, and may show if he was deceased at the time.

Check the National ARchives, if you have not already, for naturalisation records, which may include info on origins.

[josenrab]

Loo

Many thanks for your help.  Yes he was married in England, will order cert, and see where I go from there. 

Many thanks
Jo

[loo]

Ah, good.  It will also tell you where he got married, which could be a clue too.  Let us know how you get on.

Bear in mind, too, that Wolf could have been shortened from some other name, Wolfowitz or whatever.  You don't say if you agree that he would likely have been Jewish, but, if you are not familiar with Jewish customs, there is a lot to learn.  He could have used more than one forename as well. 

If you know what he did for a living, there may be some relevant records there also.  If he was in London, try the London Metropolitan Archives.

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Jo,

Welcome to RootsChat 

"Prebun" may be "Prussia".  What looks like a "b" = "ss" in old German script

Taking advantage of my german keyboard here:

the german "scharfes S" is written as ß or sometimes ss.
and in german, Prussia is Preussen or Preußen.

A handwritten ß does look very like B

(At one time I wrote my name BOB for an address list and it got printed as Boss    )

I've moved this topic to "Immigrants".
Have a look at the Immigrants and Immigrants Resources boards for more tips.

Good luck,
"Boss"

or for RootsChatters,
Bob

[josenrab]

Loo and Bob

Thank you for your help, I dont know if he was Jewish or not, but on census records his occupation was Hat/Cap fitter.

Once agin Many thanks
Jo

[loo]

Yes, that fits, capfitter.  Could very likely be a trade within the Jewish community, as they often worked in the garment industry, from tailoring on.  Wolf is a common Jewish surname, to this day.  And Solomon is even more of a "dead give-away" name. 
It's very common for people to not realize that they have Jewish ancestors.  I can't prove it, of course, and it is not my concern, but it's always wise in genealogy to consider all likely possibilities, because other clues will come that you might not otherwise recognize.

From the census, can you say where he lived?  That might be a clue as well.

 

[selegend]

Hello Joanne

Soloman was also my 3XGreatGrandfather I would be very interested to hear from you.

Steve Edwards