East of London Group
East of London Group
updated May 2009
Contact: Raymond Montanjees or Ida Laurence
The JGSGB East of London group is based in Redbridge, Essex and meetings are held on Monday evenings, every three months, at Ilford Synagogue, 22 Beehive Lane, Gants Hill. We try to cover every aspect of Jewish genealogy and our meetings are not restricted to local research but worldwide. Each meeting contains items of interest for both new family researchers and the more experienced genealogists. This is very much a self-help activity and although so much is now available on the internet we enjoy bringing people together and putting them in touch with each other. We have found members who share the same interests, both in family names and towns and on occasion, even relationships. We try to provide guest speakers who are able to give informed information regarding source material and there is always an opportunity to ask questions and socialise over tea and biscuits. For details of future meetings please see the programme section on the website.
Committee members: Shirley Collier, Ida Lawrence, David Miller and Raymond Montanjees
OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS HAVE INCLUDED:
JEWISH GENEALOGICAL WORKSHOP
Richard Pearlman. This was our inaugural meeting and topics covered included tips for both Ashkenazi and
Sephardi family tree research with member participation
QUESTION TIME
The JGSGB's own experts: Doreen Berger (Anglo-Jewry), Richard Cooper (Poland), Elliott Porte (Lithuania),
George Rigal (Anglo-Jewry and Insurance researcher)
JEWISH GENEALOGY ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Using local resources for family research, including a section on computer
access, with a huge range of books and leaflets to browse through.
"TELL US YOUR FAMILY HISTORY"
Special guest JGSGB member and journalist Francis Beckett, son of former
Labour MP turned Mosley blackshirt, John Beckett.
GENEALOGY IN THE BALTICS
Saul Issroff, a retired medic, author and Baltics' genealogy guru, gave a
jam-packed rundown of the resources available.
MIGRATION AND THE PORTS OF LONDON
Academic Nick Evans showed the routes by which our ancestors reached the
Ports of London and Hull from former homelands.
"WE DON'T SPELL OUR NAME THAT WAY"
Sue Fifer showed how to use spelling of surnames to unlock Eastern European
ancestry.
HOW CEMETERIES KEEP OUR ANCESTORS ALIVE!
Elliott Porte. Uncovering Jewish family history in graveyards which can give can give
precious clues to a family's past.
.
RICHARD PEARLMAN'S GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY
Richard brought his magnificent library of reference books and other
material.
PRESERVING THE HERITAGE OF THE JEWISH EAST END
Clive Bettington, founder of the Jewish East End Celebration Society, spoke
about his efforts to save the heritage of the Jewish East End
JCR-UK (JEWISH COMMUNITIES RECORDS IN THE UK)
Louise Messik - The recording of Jewish communities which might otherwise be lost forever.
EXAMINING THE ARCHIVES HELD AT TOWER HAMLETS LIBRARY
Malcolm Barr-Hamilton, Archivist of the library in Mile End which holds the complete JC on microfilm, Poor Rate Books,
Land Tax, etc. and over 25,000 photographs.
FINDING YOUR FAMILY RECORDS AT THE FAMILY RECORDS CENTRE (now removed to TNA at Kew). Guest speaker Gerry Toop
"DAVID BADDIEL AND ME"
Modelled on the BBC "Who Do You Think You Are" and presented by Alice Josephs
THE USE OF COMPUTERS FOR ACCESSING CENSUS RECORDS - David Annal from the TNA
“SEX, LIES AND CIVIL REGISTRATION” - Audrey Collins from the TNA
THE YAD VASHEM NAMES RECOVERY PROJECT – Linda Paterson
BOTH SIDES OF THE BOSPHORUS – Tradition and Culture in Turkey – George Anticoni
BRICK LANE : Historically, and Present Day – Naomi Fellerman
RESEARCH MATERIAL AT THE LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES- Linda Carey
IMMIGRATION - Roger Kershaw from the TNA
Links:
Jewishgen
http://www.jewishgen.org
East of London Family History Society
http://eolfhs.rootsweb.com/
East London History Society
http:// www.eastlondonhistory.org.uk
Essex Society for Family History
http://www.esfh.org.uk/contents.htm
List of Names from "East End 1888"
http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/LND/Indexes/EASTEND.txt
London Ancestor
http://www.londonancestor.com/
London Jews Database. Jews living in London in first half of 19th century
http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/UK/londweb.htm
London Look Up Exchange. Free look ups by volunteers.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bpefisk/fh/LUE/london.htm
London Metropolitan Archives
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/libraries_archives_museums_galleries/lma/index.htm
Cyndi's List - Essex resources
http://www.cyndislist.com/eng-ess.htm
Essex Record Office
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/heritage/ero/familyhistory/esfh.htm
Essex Society for Family History
http://www.esfh.org.uk/contents.htm
Lal and Amy's London Pages
http://www.lalamy.demon.co.uk/plaistow.htm
Old Jewish Cemeteries and Synagogues
http://www.rigal.freeserve.co.uk/old_sites.htm
Sources for the History of Synagogues and Mikvehs
http://www.building-history.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Buildings/Synagogues.htm
