It’s been a really, really long time since I continued the story of the children of my four times great-grandparents Abraham Blumenfeld and Geitel Katz (other than with the updates about those I’d already discussed). I left off with the story of the ten children of the second child (Isaak Blumenfeld I) of the oldest child (Moses Blumenfeld I) of the six children of my four-times great-grandparents.
Here’s a chart showing where I am in reporting on the descendants of Abraham and Geitel. As you can see, I have a long, long way to go.
I am now up to Isaak Blumenfeld’s eighth child, Rebecca Blumenfeld, who was born on August 23, 1856, in Momberg Germany.
LAGIS Hessen Archives, Geburtsregister der Juden von Momberg (Neustadt) 1850-1874 (HHStAW Abt. 365 Nr. 608), p. 4
On August 9, 1881, she married Mendel Rosenberg, son of Jacob Rosenberg and Betti Kaufmann. Mendel was born in Rosenthal, Germany, on May 19, 1854, and was the uncle of Emanuel Rosenberg, who later married Katinka Blumenfeld, Rebecca’s niece (her brother Gerson II’s daughter).
Rebecca Blumenfeld and Mendel Rosenberg marriage record, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Bestand: 915; Laufende Nummer: 6491, Year Range: 1881, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Marriages, 1849-1930
Rebecca and Mendel had five children.
Blanka was born in Rosenthal on July 9, 1882.
Blanka Rosenberg birth record, LAGIS Hessen Archives, Standesamt Rosenthal Geburtsnebenregister 1882 (HStAMR Best. 922 Nr. 9638)AutorHessisches Staatsarchiv MarburgErscheinungsortRosenthalErscheinungsjahr1882, p. 35
Joseph was born in Rosenthal on February 4, 1886.
Joseph Rosenberg birth record, LAGIS Hessen Archives, Standesamt Rosenthal Geburtsnebenregister 1886 (HStAMR Best. 922 Nr. 9642)AutorHessisches Staatsarchiv MarburgErscheinungsortRosenthalErscheinungsjahr1886, p. 7
Moritz was born in Rosenthal on September 15, 1887.
Moritz Rosenberg birth record, LAGIS Hessen Archives, Standesamt Rosenthal Geburtsnebenregister 1887 (HStAMR Best. 922 Nr. 9643), p. 40
Willi was born in Rosenthal on April 24, 1889.
Willi Rosenberg birth record, LAGIS Hessen Archives, Standesamt Rosenthal Geburtsnebenregister 1889 (HStAMR Best. 922 Nr. 9645)AutorHessisches Staatsarchiv MarburgErscheinungsortRosenthalErscheinungsjahr1889, p. 17
And finally, Isaak was born in Rosenthal on June 15, 1892.
Isaak Rosenberg birth record, LAGIS Hessen Archives, Standesamt Rosenthal Geburtsnebenregister 1892 (HStAMR Best. 922 Nr. 9648)AutorHessisches Staatsarchiv MarburgErscheinungsortRosenthalErscheinungsjahr1892, p. 32
For now I will just identify the spouses of those children and their marriage dates, and then I will return to their stories in subsequent posts.
Blanka married Hugo Blumenfeld on July 23, 1907, in Frankenau, Germany.
Marriage of Hugo Blumenfeld and Blanka Rosenberg, Arcinsys Hessen Archives, HHStAW Fonds 365 No 175, p. 11
Joseph married Bella Oppenheim on February 21, 1913, in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. They had one child, a son Kurt, born on April 20, 1914, in Sobernheim, Germany,1 a town in the Rhine Palatinate region of Germany about 160-170 miles from Bad Hersfeld and Momberg where Bella and Joseph were born, respectively.
Marriage of Joseph Rosenberg and Bella Oppenheim, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Bestand: 907, Year Range: 1913, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Marriages, 1849-1930
Unfortunately, Rebecca and Mendel’s family then had two losses over the next two and a half years. Willi Rosenberg was only 25 when he died on December 31, 1914. I wondered whether he was killed fighting for Germany in World War I, but I’ve found no record indicating that that was the case.
Willi Rosenberg death record, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Personenstandsregister Sterberegister; Signatur: 9757
Source Information
Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Deaths, 1851-1958
A year and a half later Rebecca Blumenfeld Rosenberg died in Rosenthal on June 6, 1915. She was 58 years old.
Rebecca Blumenfeld death record, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Personenstandsregister Sterberegister; Signatur: 9757, Year Range: 1915, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Deaths, 1851-1958
Her son Moritz married Berta Blum on August 10, 1919, in Frankenau.
Marriage of Moritz Rosenberg and Berta Blum, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Signatur: 3254, Year Range: 1919, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Marriages, 1849-1930
And then the family suffered another tragic loss when Joseph Rosenberg, the second oldest sibling, died at the age of 36 on May 4, 1922, as seen on his headstone below. Thank you to my cousin Michael Rosenberg for locating this image. According to the headstone, Joseph was a doctor.
Joseph was survived by his wife Bella Oppenheim and their son Kurt. More on their story in a post to come.
Finally, Isaac Rosenberg, the youngest child of Rebecca Blumenfeld and Mendel Rosenberg, married Bella Gans on December 22, 1922, in Niederaula, Germany.
saak Rosenberg marriage to Bella Gans, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Bestand: 907; Laufende Nummer: 3665, Year Range: 1922, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Marriages, 1849-1930
When I look at the names of the daughter and the three daughters-in-law of Rebecca and Mendel—Blanka, Bella, Berta, and Bella—I have to wonder how confusing it must have been when they were all together. I can hear my mother-in-law running through the four names repeatedly before reaching the right one! (Click on the image immediately above to see the names of Rebecca’s family more clearly.)
Mendel Rosenberg died on December 22, 1928, in Marburg. He was 74 and was survived by three of his five children and, as we will see, many grandchildren.
Mendel Rosenberg death record, Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv; Wiesbaden, Deutschland; Personenstandsregister Sterberegister; Bestand: 5732; Laufende Nummer: 915, Ancestry.com. Hesse, Germany, Deaths, 1851-1958
- Kurt Rosenberg, World War II draft registration, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York City, 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147, Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 ↩
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So confusing !!
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This one? Not at all.
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You are stalwart in this research, Amy. Too bad you didn’t find the 1914 death record. There was a gap between the first two children. Might they have lost one?
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I do have the 1914 death record—it’s in the post! But it doesn’t provide information about the cause of death, which is generally true of the German death records. As for a missing child, I have seen no birth record for any other child. Maybe miscarriages? Who knows…
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We have three people named Charles in our family. It can be funny at times when we are all together. So I understand your point about the similar names of the ladies.
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So is one of you Charlie, one Chuck, and one Charles?
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I am wondering if I missed something, I have gone back thru the post and still am missing the answer to my question. Had Blanka married a cousin? Hugo was a Blumenfeld as was Blanka’s mom Rebecca. Also Amy, once I post this question and you answer (or any time you answer) I am unable to respond or add to dialog. Just wanted to let you know I do see your responses every time 🙂
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Stay tuned. All will be revealed in the next post. 🙂 And why are you unable to respond? You can email me and explain if you wish.
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LOL re the daughter/daughters-in-law’s names! We have several Janes in our family, so I know what it’s like! Looking forward to reading more about this family 🙂
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My husband’s family had a two Pauls and a Paula. Thanks, Teresa!
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I agree with you about Willi. Especially with his age and the fact that the war started only months before that date. But then I supposed it could be a coincidence. Suicide because of the war? Did that happen much? I have to believe that there is a record somewhere; the trouble is finding it, of course.
You are so organized that it makes me despair of getting back into my genealogy research because I feel that I have only gotten myself more and more disorganized.
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Don’t despair! I can’t function without structure, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way. I love your genealogy blog, and I hope you return to it.
Well, as for Willi, it also could have been the flu epidemic (though a bit early) or any number of awful things that people died from back then or an accident. I sure wish German death records gave cause of death!
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I wish they did, too! For instance, I would love to know how my great-grandfather’s two little sisters died so close together. The obvious seems diphtheria as it was a plague for children at the time, but I mean it could even have been an accident and one lingered. Very frustrating.
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No way to turn back time and find out though. GRRRR
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Grrrrr is right!
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Hi Amy, so many of your ancestor’s came from around the Momberg area. In my paternal family, in 1922, two great uncle’s both married women named Freda Lees! Confusing!
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It sure is! Thanks, Shirley.
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