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[RipleyAnne]

Hi again,

I have both Charlotte's civil birth certificate and a Jewish one written in English. The civil certificate states that she was born on 14th August 1856 whilst the one from the synagogue says 6th August.

They both give her mother's name as Sarah Mendez (Mendes). The civil cerificate lists her mother's former name as Cohen but then in very small print on the side it says Israel.

 In looking at a few family trees on the Ancestry website it is possible that Sarah's mother's maiden name was Cohen ( her name was also Sarah).


Just got your opther reply.. thanks!!

Sandra
Sandra

[JustinL]

Sandra,

Both Joseph and Sarah Mendes [sic!] were buried in the Novo Beth Chaim cemetery in Mile End.

Novo = new
Beth Chaim = House of Life (standard Hebrew name for a cemetery)

The references (serial numbers) are 8950 and 8951 respectively. The archivist should be able to check the burial registers and tell you dates of death and burial.

There is a chance that the graves have survived, although most of the 9,500 stones were cleared during the 1970s.

Justin

[RipleyAnne]

Thank-you Justin. I appreciate the effort you have put into this for me.

Sandra

[RipleyAnne]

I have just received Joseph Mendez and Sarah Esther Israel's marriage certificate and find that I am again confused.

From the details given on the certificate Sarah Esther ISRAEL is 22, a spinster and living at 22 Poplar Place Brighton (or could be Dreighton... very hard to read). Her father is listed as Solomon COHEN, a confectioner.  From what I understood, her mother's maiden name was COHEN and her father's first name was Abraham.

The marriage took place on 7th May 1844 at 31 Dorset St, Spitalfields.. the residence of the groom, Joseph Mendez.

I am, unfortunately, quite ignorant of the Jewish religion but perhaps someone can help me. Is it common for men and women to "swap" or "adopt" each other's surnames?

In the 1841 census I have found a Solomon Cohen, a confectioner, living in Brighthelmstone, with his wife Susan and children - including an Esther.

It is quite on the cards that I have 2 Sarah Esther's and am getting them confused but I would again appreciate any help anyone could offer.


I contacted the Bevis Marks synagogue  approx 2 weeks ago to see if they could supply me with any details of the 2 families but am still awaiting a reply.

Thanks

[JustinL]

Hello Sandra,

That is very odd.

It may have been simple confusion on the part of the clerk(s) recording the events.

Can you scan bits of the various documents and post them here?

I know that several other rootschatters have found that their Jewish ancestors switched their names for no apparent reason.

Can you post the details of the Cohen family in Brighton/Brighthelmstone? Where were Solomon and his wife born? I would be fairly certain that you have the right family?

Justin

[avm228]

I think you can be pretty confident about your 1841 findings in "Brighthelmstone" (the old name for Brighton) because here is what must be the same Solomon in 1851:

20 Poplar Place, Brighton (note how close this is to Sarah Esther's residence at marriage)

Solomon COHEN Head Mar 52 Confectioner London
Sarah* do Wife Mar 50 do Herefordshire Linton
Benjamin do Son U 18 Shoemaker Sussex Brighton

HO107/1646/88/59

ETA: 1841 for comparison

Meeting House Lane, Brighton/Brighthelmstone

Solomon COHEN 45 Confectioner N
Susan* do 40 N
Esther do 15 N
Abraham 12 Y
Henry 9 Y
Benjamin 7 Y

HO107/1122/11/36/20

*NB it definitely says Susan in 1841 and Sarah in 1851 on the enumerator's schedules.

Anna

[JustinL]

Thanks for that Anna,

Pigot's Directory of Sussex (1839) lists:

Solomon Cohen, confectioner, Poplar Place

Pigot's Directory of Sussex (1832-34) lists:

Solomon Cohen, confectioner, 22 Poplar Place

Justin

[JustinL]

Here's a brief outline of the history of Brighton's Jewish community:

From about 1792 (other sources state 1800) - First synagogue in Jew Street, Brighton.

From at least 1808 - Synagogue moved to Poune's Court, West Street, Brighton.

From about 1813 until 1821 - Congregation temporarily dissolved (lack of numbers).

From 1821 - Synagogue re-established in West Street, Brighton.

From 1824 - Moved to Devonshire Place, Brighton (plot purchased in 1823, enlarged 1837 and/or 1867).

1874 - Establishment of Middle Street Synagogue, Brighton

The community was Orthodox Ashkenazi.

Justin

[JustinL]

Back again.

Maybe Solomon Cohen was Sarah's step-father.

Hopefully, the Bevis Marks synagogue can answer the question.

Justin