Elberfeld, Rheinland

[qtonenz]

I have a relative who was born in Elberfeld June 1837. Does anyone know how I can get details of his parents born in the early 1800's  in Prussia. I understand that there is some Jewish connection in his ancestry.

[JustinL]

Prior to the unification of Germany in 1871 there was no civil registration of births, marriages and deaths. Even to this day there is no centralised register office as in the UK.

Copies of the registers of the Jewish community of Elberfeld are held at the Centrum Judaicum in Berlin, The Jewish Museum in Frankfurt and one of the state archives in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Christian registers will be held in separate church archives.

Could you perhaps tell us a bit more about this relative/ancestor? What makes you think that there is a Jewish connection?

Justin

[qtonenz]

Thanks for the information concerning the possible sources of infiormation concerning my relative's paents.
His name was Charles Eberhard Penningroth and he was born in Elberfeld, Rheinland, Prussia on 5 June 1837 and baptised on 10 July 1837, in Evangelisch, Elberfeld.
I have tried familysearch.org but all this gives is the names of his parents, Gerhard Heinrich Friedrich Christian Penningroth and Wilhelmine Mueller. Upon looking them up on familysearch, no further details are available hence this enquiry on this site.
The possible Jewish connection has come about as the name Penningroth apppears in the British Jewish Society records.

Qtone

[JustinL]

The parish registers (Kirchenbücher) of the Evangelical (i.e. protestant) Church of Elberfeld are held at the State Archives of Nordrhein-Westfalen. Here's a link to actual department within  those archives located in the city of Brühl:

http://www.archive.nrw.de/lav/abteilungen/rheinland/bestaende_bruehl/index.php?lang=deu

The registers have been fully digitalised and can be purchased on DVD, but they are not cheap! See here

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0mba/

By British Jewish Society, do you mean the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain? Can you tell me what reference you have found? Having spent 10 years now researching my own German-Jewish ancestry, I would be most suprised if the Penningroths were at any time Jewish.

BUT, I may have just established the 'Jewish connection'. In the 1860s, Charles was in business in London with a Maurice Mayer aka Moses Mayer, who was more than likely Jewish. Search for Penningroth at www.london-gazette.co.uk and you can read the details yourself.

Justin

[Gaie]

Hi

The name Penningroth does appear in the JewishGen records, both in the UK (Bradford) and German (Wuppertal, which encompassed Elberfeld in 1926) sections, but only as a name being researched by one member.  I cannot find reference to any paper records.  The member only seems to have made these "I am researching" posts on 7th May 2012.

Qtone, if you haven't already done so, I suggest you join JewishGen (it's free to join) and contact the member to see what they know.

KR
Gaie

Added:  I've just realised, the researcher might be you! 

[koschi]

I accidentaly noticed your discussion dated 2012, so I might be a little bit late.
I have got some information about "Penningroth".
Peter Penningroth born 1808/09 and according to the membershiplist in 1846/47 he joined the Freemason Lodge "Hermann zum Lande der Berge" in ELberfeld.
In 1851 his first name was changed from "Peter" to "Heinrich".
He left the lodge in 1857/58, reason is unknown.
It might be very interesting if  he was jewish as in the 1840´s  there were only few jewish bretheren in German freemasonery and discussion was helt to accept more.
Do you have probably more info concerning  "Peter Penningroth" and his family.

greetings
koschi

[qtonenz]

 Hi there, Koschi

Many thanks for your note regarding Penningroth. I  don't think it is my Penningroth but it is worth following up as there would not have been too many Penningroths living in Elberfeld at that time. Do you know if Peter (Heinrich) had any relatives alive at that time as they may have distant links with my one. It was quite a large familywith roots going back some way.
 Thanks again

Qtone