Dear Mates,

I am looking for ane records related to my GF and GGF in Berdyansk and Melitopol areas (UEZD) in Taurida Gubernia from 1870 on.
I mean metric records or any other types of information.
My GGF Gersh Abramovich GIRSHOVICH worked as a local paramedic in Halbshtadt (Molochansk after 1914) in Berdyansk Uezd from 1873.  I definitely know that in 1919 he was already a pensioner.
His son Elkhonon GIRSHOVICH (other given names Ilya, Khonon) was born in this area in 1880-1885 and died circa 1924 in Melitopol. I have his photo made in Tokmak (then Bolshoy Tokmak) - a town in a few km from Halbshtadt.

Since my grandparents divorced circa 1917, I don't have any other information about GF and his family. The most burning questions are:

• From where did my GGF Gersh Abramovich GIRSHOVICH come to this region? This area was not Pale of Settlement, and Jews migrated there from other regions looking for better economic opportunities. The government gave incentives to those coming to colonize these ex-Turkish territories. To my understanding, the family origins are in Belarus and Lithuania.
• What was my GGM's name? I have only a photo without any inscription, believed to be Elkhonon's mother.
• What happened to the family after 1917-1919?
• Were there any additional relatives with possible descendants?

Appreciate any help, guidance, or ideas to break through this brick wall.

Alex Girshovich
agirsh1@...
MODERATOR NOTE: Please reply privately with family information

There are records from Berdiansk and Melitopol on FamilySearch, including ones from 1917. These are digitized microfilms, so you'll need to be able to recognize how names are written by hand in Russian.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=890650&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Russia%2C%20Tavrida%2C%20Melitopol′%22&subjectsOpen=1059928-50,1190711-50,1059930-50

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=890652&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Russia%2C%20Tavrida%2C%20Berdi︠a︡nsk%22&subjectsOpen=1059928-50,1190711-50,1059930-50

--