Several months ago I requested suggestions, on Jewishgen, for resources on the
Net where I might find help in the interpretation of the Captain's Notes for
the crossing of the "Umbria" (Cunard Line) >from Liverpool to N.Y. in July,
1903. It was this crossing that brought my grandmother, Basie SOSNOVSKY to
America with her four young children; the youngest of which was an 11 month
old baby - my father. Thus, began my first truly successful "all Internet"
research!

I received some excellent suggestions as a result of that posting, as usual,

from the group. One such suggestion, >from John Weiss, was to subscribe to the

Marine History Information Exchange Group
< MARHST-L@POST.QUEENSU.CA > and pose the question there.. I did that, but
even before my subscription kicked in, one of their members, who regularly
monitors Jewishgen, Harry Dodsworth of Toronto (not Jewish but is interested
in the questions pertaining to Passenger Liners that are posted here)
contacted me privately offering to help. He spent hours interpreting the
abbreviations used in the notes, some which looked like scribbles to me <G>
but which, in fact, had definite nautical significance.

In the course of events I was contacted by the former Head Archivist of the
Cunard Archives at the University of Liverpool, Edwin King, and several other
extremely knowledgeable marine historians. In addition to Harry Dodsworth,
there was Dana Netherton, who between them, interpreted, in infinite detail,
every recorded moment of the voyage, including geographical markers along
the Mersey River while departing Liverpool, the crossing of the Irish Sea and
entry into the port of Queenstown (the port for Cork, Ireland, now called
Cobh.) Even the number of mailbags taken on in Queenstown. Passing the
lighthouse while rounding the southern tip of Ireland and then heading out
into the Atlantic. The weather, the winds, the health of the passengers, and
a wealth of nautical details including the number of miles covered each day
and the amount of coal used.. But, the best part is the arrival at Sandy Hook
(off the coast of NJ where they anchored for the check by the Quarantine
Station. The description of the markers along the lower NY bay and through
the "Narrows" into the upper NY bay (where the passengers would get their
first glance at the Statue of Liberty.) >from the time entries, one can
actually calculate the time in which they would have passed the statue in
route to the Cunard Co. berth on N.Y. side of the Hudson River. All this from
one page of meticulous notes obtained >from the University of Liverpool, which
I found referenced at the Cunard website!

But the best was yet to come. In the course of my correspondence with Mr.
Edwin King, the former Cunard archivist, (who gave me a thorough explanation
of the Liverpool harbor in 1903 and it's "Landing Stage" >from which the
ocean liners departed) I mentioned that my grandmother's route was from
Hamburg to the port of Grimsby on the E. coast of England and then presumably
to Liverpool by railway. He told me that the trip >from Hamburg to Grimsby
would have been on a steamer/ferry line owned by the Great Central Railway
which would then have provided the connection at Grimsby for at least the
Grimsby to Manchester portion of the rail transport.

After the thrill of reaching back ninety-five years to capture the details of
the ocean portion of the trip, I couldn't resist searching the web for some
information on the Great Central Railway which might detail the Hamburg to
Liverpool portion of the trip.

By pure serendipity, I happened upon the website of a railway history
enthusiastic in the UK, Mr. Christopher Tolley. Because he had an
interesting, attractive and well organized website, I sent him an e-mail
message requesting his suggestion for a way to obtain more information on the
GCR's ferry line on which my grandmother crossed the English Channel in route

from "Russia" to the US in July 1903. He replied that he knew little about

the sea operation, BUT just happened to have a copy of the Timetable for the
Ferry and the Railway for July, Aug. and Sept. 1903! Not only did he have it
but he put up a temporary link to his webpage >from which I could view the
cover. (The timetable is actually a 96 page book with a gorgeously
illustrated cover showing the trains, boats and hotels owned by the GCR.)

When, in the course of further communication with Chris Tolley, I asked for
permission to mention this on Jewishgen, he volunteered to put up a series of
pages linked to his website, which show the many routes of these ferries from
N. Sea ports to Grimsby and Hull, in route to Liverpool. So, for anyone
whose ancestors took the indirect route >from northern Europe to Liverpool and
then across the Atlantic, I suggest taking a look at Chris Tolley's wonderful
website:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/gcr-190307-mig.htm

Lois Sernoff [Philadelphia, PA]
<JGLois@aol.com>

Researching:
FRIEDMAN >from Beltsy (Bessarabia) Moldova to Phila.
KUSHNER >from Tomashpol & Yampol (Podolia Gub), Russia to Phila.
MEZHIRITZKY (SP?)[MERITZ][MARRITZ][MARRITS] >from Korsun (Kiev
Gub),Russia to Phila.
SOSNOVSKY/SOSNOWSKY, >from Gorodishche (Kiev Gub, Cherkassy d.),Russia to
Phila.
SHAROVSKY, SWOEJETSKY/SWOYETSKY >from Gorodishche (Kiev Gub, Cherkassy
d.),Russia to Phila.

Dear JewishGenners,

I'm just starting on my own family odyssey and I am amazed at both how little
and how much I know of my family.

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide with information on my
grandparents and great grandparents.

My great grandfather was Saul (Soil) BLUMENFELD). He was born in Iasi,
Romania around 1865. He had at least two children - Bertha (Berta) and Joseph.

I am also looking for information on my grandmother - Kate ROSE, daughter of
Hyman ROSE and Ida BEEK of Russia (sorry - that's the best that I can do).
She was born on June 5, 1894. I know that when she and members of her family
arrived in America, that she stayed in New York and the rest of her family
went to Boston.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Several months ago I requested suggestions, on Jewishgen, for resources on the
Net where I might find help in the interpretation of the Captain's Notes for
the crossing of the "Umbria" (Cunard Line) >from Liverpool to N.Y. in July,
1903. It was this crossing that brought my grandmother, Basie SOSNOVSKY to
America with her four young children; the youngest of which was an 11 month
old baby - my father. Thus, began my first truly successful "all Internet"
research!

I received some excellent suggestions as a result of that posting, as usual,

from the group. One such suggestion, >from John Weiss, was to subscribe to the

Marine History Information Exchange Group
< MARHST-L@POST.QUEENSU.CA > and pose the question there.. I did that, but
even before my subscription kicked in, one of their members, who regularly
monitors Jewishgen, Harry Dodsworth of Toronto (not Jewish but is interested
in the questions pertaining to Passenger Liners that are posted here)
contacted me privately offering to help. He spent hours interpreting the
abbreviations used in the notes, some which looked like scribbles to me <G>
but which, in fact, had definite nautical significance.

In the course of events I was contacted by the former Head Archivist of the
Cunard Archives at the University of Liverpool, Edwin King, and several other
extremely knowledgeable marine historians. In addition to Harry Dodsworth,
there was Dana Netherton, who between them, interpreted, in infinite detail,
every recorded moment of the voyage, including geographical markers along
the Mersey River while departing Liverpool, the crossing of the Irish Sea and
entry into the port of Queenstown (the port for Cork, Ireland, now called
Cobh.) Even the number of mailbags taken on in Queenstown. Passing the
lighthouse while rounding the southern tip of Ireland and then heading out
into the Atlantic. The weather, the winds, the health of the passengers, and
a wealth of nautical details including the number of miles covered each day
and the amount of coal used.. But, the best part is the arrival at Sandy Hook
(off the coast of NJ where they anchored for the check by the Quarantine
Station. The description of the markers along the lower NY bay and through
the "Narrows" into the upper NY bay (where the passengers would get their
first glance at the Statue of Liberty.) >from the time entries, one can
actually calculate the time in which they would have passed the statue in
route to the Cunard Co. berth on N.Y. side of the Hudson River. All this from
one page of meticulous notes obtained >from the University of Liverpool, which
I found referenced at the Cunard website!

But the best was yet to come. In the course of my correspondence with Mr.
Edwin King, the former Cunard archivist, (who gave me a thorough explanation
of the Liverpool harbor in 1903 and it's "Landing Stage" >from which the
ocean liners departed) I mentioned that my grandmother's route was from
Hamburg to the port of Grimsby on the E. coast of England and then presumably
to Liverpool by railway. He told me that the trip >from Hamburg to Grimsby
would have been on a steamer/ferry line owned by the Great Central Railway
which would then have provided the connection at Grimsby for at least the
Grimsby to Manchester portion of the rail transport.

After the thrill of reaching back ninety-five years to capture the details of
the ocean portion of the trip, I couldn't resist searching the web for some
information on the Great Central Railway which might detail the Hamburg to
Liverpool portion of the trip.

By pure serendipity, I happened upon the website of a railway history
enthusiastic in the UK, Mr. Christopher Tolley. Because he had an
interesting, attractive and well organized website, I sent him an e-mail
message requesting his suggestion for a way to obtain more information on the
GCR's ferry line on which my grandmother crossed the English Channel in route

from "Russia" to the US in July 1903. He replied that he knew little about

the sea operation, BUT just happened to have a copy of the Timetable for the
Ferry and the Railway for July, Aug. and Sept. 1903! Not only did he have it
but he put up a temporary link to his webpage >from which I could view the
cover. (The timetable is actually a 96 page book with a gorgeously
illustrated cover showing the trains, boats and hotels owned by the GCR.)

When, in the course of further communication with Chris Tolley, I asked for
permission to mention this on Jewishgen, he volunteered to put up a series of
pages linked to his website, which show the many routes of these ferries from
N. Sea ports to Grimsby and Hull, in route to Liverpool. So, for anyone
whose ancestors took the indirect route >from northern Europe to Liverpool and
then across the Atlantic, I suggest taking a look at Chris Tolley's wonderful
website:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/gcr-190307-mig.htm

Lois Sernoff [Philadelphia, PA]
<JGLois@aol.com>

Researching:
FRIEDMAN >from Beltsy (Bessarabia) Moldova to Phila.
KUSHNER >from Tomashpol & Yampol (Podolia Gub), Russia to Phila.
MEZHIRITZKY (SP?)[MERITZ][MARRITZ][MARRITS] >from Korsun (Kiev
Gub),Russia to Phila.
SOSNOVSKY/SOSNOWSKY, >from Gorodishche (Kiev Gub, Cherkassy d.),Russia to
Phila.
SHAROVSKY, SWOEJETSKY/SWOYETSKY >from Gorodishche (Kiev Gub, Cherkassy
d.),Russia to Phila.

Dear JewishGenners,

I'm just starting on my own family odyssey and I am amazed at both how little
and how much I know of my family.

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide with information on my
grandparents and great grandparents.

My great grandfather was Saul (Soil) BLUMENFELD). He was born in Iasi,
Romania around 1865. He had at least two children - Bertha (Berta) and Joseph.

I am also looking for information on my grandmother - Kate ROSE, daughter of
Hyman ROSE and Ida BEEK of Russia (sorry - that's the best that I can do).
She was born on June 5, 1894. I know that when she and members of her family
arrived in America, that she stayed in New York and the rest of her family
went to Boston.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Upon receiving a list of ancestors buried in the Krakow cemetary, I
noted that several graves contained two bodies. I was most surprised
about this and contacted the relative who sent me the list ...he
confirmed it.

Several questions arise:

As far as I am aware, Jewish Halacha forbids such practice. I thus
assume that it was only practiced under extraordinary circumstances.
What were the circumstances of such "double burials", and at what period
did they occur? Also, did the burials take place simultaneously, or did
several years seperate the burials? Were such burials usually >from the
same family? (In my case, they were). Finally, did the tombstones bear
any inscription indicating which was the upper (or later) burial?

I have subsequently heard that there are also numerous double graves in
the Prague cemetery.

Julian SCHAMROTH

Seeking families of TUMARKIN rabbis:

Joseph in Kremenchug
Dan in Rogatchov
Zvi Hirsh in Dubrovno and Kremenchug
Rayeh Leib in Borisov

George Sackheim
<ZeraKodesh@aol.com>

Upon receiving a list of ancestors buried in the Krakow cemetary, I
noted that several graves contained two bodies. I was most surprised
about this and contacted the relative who sent me the list ...he
confirmed it.

Several questions arise:

As far as I am aware, Jewish Halacha forbids such practice. I thus
assume that it was only practiced under extraordinary circumstances.
What were the circumstances of such "double burials", and at what period
did they occur? Also, did the burials take place simultaneously, or did
several years seperate the burials? Were such burials usually >from the
same family? (In my case, they were). Finally, did the tombstones bear
any inscription indicating which was the upper (or later) burial?

I have subsequently heard that there are also numerous double graves in
the Prague cemetery.

Julian SCHAMROTH

Seeking families of TUMARKIN rabbis:

Joseph in Kremenchug
Dan in Rogatchov
Zvi Hirsh in Dubrovno and Kremenchug
Rayeh Leib in Borisov

George Sackheim
<ZeraKodesh@aol.com>

The following is a list of names on my father's June 1936 graduation
picture >from Baron Byng High School in Montreal. 99% of the names are
Jewish (and my father's, which was HARRIS, was in fact, changed >from KRAWITZ):

Aaron, J.
Abramovitch, Sam (Class representative)
Allister, William
Aronoff, Moses
Belkin, M.
Bercovitch, Meyer
Cohen, L.
Cohen, Philip (Treasurer)
Edgar, Joe
Endler, Herman G.
Endman, Morris
Frank, Arthur
Garmaise, Avram (President)
Gold, Isadore A.
Gralnick, Bernard
Harris, Leonard H.
Israelovitch, Abie
Itkin, Abie
Kirsh, Abie
Klein, Hyman
Kugelmass, Jack
Libin, Isadore
Licover, Morton
Mayman, Abie, I.
Metalin, Gerald
Shagass, Charles
Shapiro, Louis (Class secretary)
Sheinberg, Nyman
Silver, Hyman
Slapack, Saul
Slusky, Melvyn
Weintraub, Lewis
Zuckerman, A.

Please respond via private e-mail if you are interested in receiving copies.

Marion Werle
North Hills, CA
Marion Werle <werle@pacificnet.net>

Searching: MOLCHADSKY (Kossovo, Bereza and Pruzhany, Belarus); RATNER
(Kossovo, Belarus); SKUTELSKI, GETZ (Riebene, Latvia); MINSK (Daugavpils,
Latvia); SKUDER/SCUDER, COHEN (Skuodas, Lith.); KRAWITZ (Mosedis, Lith.)

See the Latvia SIG web site:
http://www.jewishgen.org/latvia

AND the LitvakSIG web site:
http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak

The following is a list of names on my father's June 1936 graduation
picture >from Baron Byng High School in Montreal. 99% of the names are
Jewish (and my father's, which was HARRIS, was in fact, changed >from KRAWITZ):

Aaron, J.
Abramovitch, Sam (Class representative)
Allister, William
Aronoff, Moses
Belkin, M.
Bercovitch, Meyer
Cohen, L.
Cohen, Philip (Treasurer)
Edgar, Joe
Endler, Herman G.
Endman, Morris
Frank, Arthur
Garmaise, Avram (President)
Gold, Isadore A.
Gralnick, Bernard
Harris, Leonard H.
Israelovitch, Abie
Itkin, Abie
Kirsh, Abie
Klein, Hyman
Kugelmass, Jack
Libin, Isadore
Licover, Morton
Mayman, Abie, I.
Metalin, Gerald
Shagass, Charles
Shapiro, Louis (Class secretary)
Sheinberg, Nyman
Silver, Hyman
Slapack, Saul
Slusky, Melvyn
Weintraub, Lewis
Zuckerman, A.

Please respond via private e-mail if you are interested in receiving copies.

Marion Werle
North Hills, CA
Marion Werle <werle@pacificnet.net>

Searching: MOLCHADSKY (Kossovo, Bereza and Pruzhany, Belarus); RATNER
(Kossovo, Belarus); SKUTELSKI, GETZ (Riebene, Latvia); MINSK (Daugavpils,
Latvia); SKUDER/SCUDER, COHEN (Skuodas, Lith.); KRAWITZ (Mosedis, Lith.)

See the Latvia SIG web site:
http://www.jewishgen.org/latvia

AND the LitvakSIG web site:
http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak

Looking for origin and meaning of the name
Mahai. Does anyone recognize thia name?
Thank you.

Looking for origin and meaning of the name
Mahai. Does anyone recognize thia name?
Thank you.

Will a kind researcher with extensive experience in the workings (and
ways to get beyond the bureaucracy) of the Philadelphia City Archives
for birth, marriage and death certificates please respond to me
privately. I am a former Philadelphian residing in Israel who wants to
find the most expedient method of obtaining such records - I have an
extremely long list of requests and fear the clerk in the archives will
be none too happy to complete my request in bulk.

Thank you for your assistance,

David SNYDER, Tel-Aviv
NICHOLAS, SHANKIN, TUROVITZ, Chicago; BORNSTEIN, LADERMAN, SHACK
(SHORE), S(C)HULMAN, STERN, New York; BENN, BERMAN, BRODSKY, BRODY,
BURDITCH, COLEMAN, FEIN, GORDON, ISENBERG, KRAVITZ, MALLIN, MINTZ,
NAIBURG, PINSKY, RUBIN, SILVER, SNYDERMAN/SNYDER, SPELLMIRE, TANNENBAUM,
WEISS, Philadelphia.

My surname is Aronson and I know very little about my Jewish ancestry. Can
anyone tell if all Aronson's come >from Levi?

Thank for your help.

Rob

Will a kind researcher with extensive experience in the workings (and
ways to get beyond the bureaucracy) of the Philadelphia City Archives
for birth, marriage and death certificates please respond to me
privately. I am a former Philadelphian residing in Israel who wants to
find the most expedient method of obtaining such records - I have an
extremely long list of requests and fear the clerk in the archives will
be none too happy to complete my request in bulk.

Thank you for your assistance,

David SNYDER, Tel-Aviv
NICHOLAS, SHANKIN, TUROVITZ, Chicago; BORNSTEIN, LADERMAN, SHACK
(SHORE), S(C)HULMAN, STERN, New York; BENN, BERMAN, BRODSKY, BRODY,
BURDITCH, COLEMAN, FEIN, GORDON, ISENBERG, KRAVITZ, MALLIN, MINTZ,
NAIBURG, PINSKY, RUBIN, SILVER, SNYDERMAN/SNYDER, SPELLMIRE, TANNENBAUM,
WEISS, Philadelphia.

My surname is Aronson and I know very little about my Jewish ancestry. Can
anyone tell if all Aronson's come >from Levi?

Thank for your help.

Rob

After just two hours in the National Archive office here in Seattle my arm
was sore (and has been sore all day) >from cranking the handle around and
around to get to the records I was interested in. And I'm young, do
push-ups and aerobics in my spare time! What do old folks do? They do have
a machine for the disabled, but I'd be embarrassed to request it when I am
perfectly able-bodied.

And my stomach was ibbeldick -- almostly like a seasick -- >from looking at
the records go by. By the time I learned not to look unless the film was
completely still, it was too late.

Ugh! Any suggestions/tips >from veteran users of microfilm readers how to
make the physical use of these things less bothersome? (not like I'll get
baby-sitting again, and be able to return to the office anytime soon...)

--
Claire Petersky (petersky@halcyon.com)

After just two hours in the National Archive office here in Seattle my arm
was sore (and has been sore all day) >from cranking the handle around and
around to get to the records I was interested in. And I'm young, do
push-ups and aerobics in my spare time! What do old folks do? They do have
a machine for the disabled, but I'd be embarrassed to request it when I am
perfectly able-bodied.

And my stomach was ibbeldick -- almostly like a seasick -- >from looking at
the records go by. By the time I learned not to look unless the film was
completely still, it was too late.

Ugh! Any suggestions/tips >from veteran users of microfilm readers how to
make the physical use of these things less bothersome? (not like I'll get
baby-sitting again, and be able to return to the office anytime soon...)

--
Claire Petersky (petersky@halcyon.com)

My maternal grandmother's ketubah--a document printed in Aramaic on one
side and English on the other--conveniently reflects both the Jewish and
secular date of the her marriage. I checked the JewishGen calendar
converter to make sure that indeed the two dates--October 10, 1920 and 28=

Tishrei 5681--correspond with each other. (Incidentally, I checked both
ways!) The NYC Dept of Records, however, has no record of her marriage i=
n
the year 1920 in the Borough of Manhattan even though she was married at =
a
synagogue in Manhattan (Ohab Zedek Zichron Ephraim) with the officiating
rabbi being the founder of Zichron Ephraim (now the current Park East
Synagogue), Dr. Bernard Drachtman.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why there is no official record of=

this marriage?

Thanks.

Peter Gold
FujiTV@compuserve.com

My maternal grandmother's ketubah--a document printed in Aramaic on one
side and English on the other--conveniently reflects both the Jewish and
secular date of the her marriage. I checked the JewishGen calendar
converter to make sure that indeed the two dates--October 10, 1920 and 28=

Tishrei 5681--correspond with each other. (Incidentally, I checked both
ways!) The NYC Dept of Records, however, has no record of her marriage i=
n
the year 1920 in the Borough of Manhattan even though she was married at =
a
synagogue in Manhattan (Ohab Zedek Zichron Ephraim) with the officiating
rabbi being the founder of Zichron Ephraim (now the current Park East
Synagogue), Dr. Bernard Drachtman.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why there is no official record of=

this marriage?

Thanks.

Peter Gold
FujiTV@compuserve.com