Poles and Russians !!!

[Valigene]

Its like a puzzle and we are slowly getting the pieces together. I am so glad I found you here, I had no idea how to go further back. I have been looking at the Kovno records and Cravitz is also spelt Kravitz/Krelitz.
I did find a Moshe and Lebe in Jurbarkas Kovno but have no dates. I know Moshe is Morris.
Not sure where else to search
Val

[JustinL]

Well done, Gaie. I should have thought of that.

Kravitz is derived from the Polish word for tailor = krawiec.

The Yiddish word is shneyder, and that is the more common surname, spellt Sznajder in Polish.

Do you know where and when Michael and Fanny married?

My thinking is that Fanny come from Poland, i.e. not Kovno, where Shneyder is the more common name, although I have also seen Kravets and Kravitsky.

Justin

[JustinL]

Incidentally, Fanny's Yiddish name was probably Fayga / Feiga / Feige which is derived from the word for 'bird' (cf. Vogel in German, pronounced Fogel).

The Yiddish name is in turn a translation of the Hebrew name Tsipporah/Ziporah = bird.

Justin

[Valigene]

Thanks both for everything. So I will put what information I have.
Michael Sadaski was naturalized in 1914, having been in the country for 27 years. That means he came to Uk in 1887. Sarah was born in 1888, so I would imagine they were married when they came to England. I have checked the ancestry records and cannot find a marriage. Sarah wasn't born until August.
Val

[Valigene]

Today I received Gershons naturalisation papers, it looks like I am not Polish but half Russian.Gershon Brown was born in Pickelyn in the Province of Kovno, Russia 30.07.1878. His dad was Woolff and mum Sarah(nee Kirsovitz).
Gershon came to England in 1897.
In 1922 dad was dead but mum still lives in Pickelyn.
I now want to try to find records in Zaga and Pickelyn, do I have any chance of finding anything?
Any help would be great,
Val

[JustinL]

Hello Val,

The province of Kovno corresponds to much of Lithuania. Kaunas being the Lithuanian name for Kovno.

I'll have a look through some databases over the weekend, I would rate the chances as quite high of finding out more.

Justin

[Valigene]

Thanks I will look forward to hearing from you
Val

[JustinL]

Hello Val,

Gershon was born in what is now called Pikeliai on the northern Lithuanian border.

As far as I can see no birth records prior to 1918 have survived (or ever existed). That could mean that BMDs were ecorded in t he registers of a larger nearby town, e.g. Telsiai seat of the local rabbinate.

Not good news, but I'll see what else I can find.

Are you certain about his mother's surname? Could the K be an H?

Bernstein (Bernshteyn or Berenshteyn) only occurred in the towns around Raseiniai in 1816.

Justin

[JustinL]

Val,

In genealogical terms, Jews fom this part of the Russian Empire are described as Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks.

Jewishgen has a special interest group (SIG) called LitvakSIG which provides invaluable information for genealogists.

For each district (uyezd) there is a research group. I would urge you to contact the coordinators for the Telsiai and Šiauliai districts.

http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/research.htm
You would probably have to join the research group and contribute financially to  the voluntary work of the group - but it would be fascinating.

Let me know if you are unable to access the page.

Justin