Vor einigen Monaten wurde in Manhattan, im Herzen von New York, das 100-jährige Jubiläum der Altman-Stiftung gefeiert. Benjamin Altman (1840–1913), dessen Mutter als Celia FRIEDSAM in Memmelsdorf (Bayern) geboren wurde, war Inhaberin des berühmten Altman Department Store, das sich später in Manhattan an der Ecke 361 Fifth Avenue/ 34th Street befand und den deutschen Namen berühmt machte. Das Bild zeigt das seit dem Jahre 1914 so aussehende renommierten Kaufhauses B. Altmann & Co., das auch in den nächsten Jahren noch deutlich erweitert wurde.
Die Namen ALTMAN, aber besonders FRIESEM/FRIEDSAM spielen insofern eine Rolle, als sie mit der Genealogie der aus Friesheim stammenden Juden in Verbindung stehen. Und dieser Bereich gehört zu meiner regionalhistorischen Homepage. Offenbar gibt es nur wenige jüdische Friesem-Familien, und diese haben im ähnlich lautenden Dorf Friesheim – heute ein Ortsteil von Erftstadt – ihre Wurzeln.
Da die genealogischen Spuren von FRIESEM/FRIEDSAM auch nach Friesheim gehen und somit meine regionalhistorischen Arbeiten tangieren, publizierte ich am 15. Juni 2010 einen Online-Artikel, in dem ich die bisherigen Ergebnisse der Friesem-Friedsam-Forschung bekannt gab. Sie befassen sich u.a. auch mit Bodendorf, Sinzig, Remagen, Niederzissen, Burgbrohl und Memmelsdorf (Bayern). Diese Forschungen gehen auf den in den USA bekannten Genealogen Leo Hoenig (*1937) zurück, über den ich auch schon in meinen NEWS vom 01. März 2008 berichtete. Die Veränderung des Namens scheint wohl auf eines der Friesem-Kinder zurückzugehen, das sich seit Jahre 1808 in Bodendorf – in der Nähe von Sinzig – FRIEDSAM nennen ließ. Eine weitere FRIEDSAM-Familie wurde in Memmelsdorf, Unterfranken (Bayern) lokalisiert. Aber auch diese Spur lässt sich nach Friesheim verfolgen. Leo Hoenig teilte mir mit:
Celia Friedsam, eine Tochter von Moses Hirsch Friedsam, wurde etwa im Jahre 1805 in Memmelsdorf geboren. Während der Zeit zwischen 1830 und 1835 heiratete sie einen Philip Altman, der offenbar in Bayern geboren wurde. Celia und Philip emigrierten etwa 1835 nach New York City, wo sie drei Kinder bekamen. Sie bauten hier ein Kurzwaren-Unternehmen auf, das sich zu einem der größten und berühmtesten Kaufhäuser von New York entwickelte.
Nach dem Tode des geschäftstüchtigen Benjamin Altman (1913) wurde sein Verwandter, Michael Friedsam, Präsident der großen Firma. Der Genealoge Leo Hoenig wiederholt, dass seiner Meinung nach alle FRIESEM/FRIEDSAM-Familien, die auch in den bereits erwähnten Orten Memmelsdorf, Niederzissen, Burgbrohl und Bodendorf nachweisbar sind, ihren Ursprung im rheinischen Friesheim (Erftstadt) haben. Allerdings werden immer noch weitere Beweise gesucht, ganz besonders die französische Liste von 1808, in der die angeordneten, endgültigen Namen der hier beheimateten Juden festgehalten wurden.
Vorläufig sind diesbezüglich – gemäß eines Patent-Aktenvermerks vom 25. August 1808 - bekannt:
Noms Prénoms Genre de Commerie
1. Cain Natan Joseph Bourgher
2. Levi Hirsch Revendeur
3. Salomon Heumann Revendeur
4. Abraham Samuel Revendeur
5. Hertz Meijer Revendeur
Nachdem das renommierte Altman Department Store im zentralen Geschäftsviertel von Manhattan vor einigen Jahren seine Toren schloss, entstand die Altman Foundation. Diese gedachte vor einigen Monaten in einem feierlichen Festakt der Gründung von Altman & Co. Store (1913).
Trotz seines wirtschaftlichen Erfolges und Reichtums der Firmeninhaber gab es bisher keine historische Darstellung von Benjamin Altman. Erst jetzt konnte die mit Hilfe von Frau Prof. Jeanne Abrams von der Universität Denver (Colorado) – rechtzeitig zum 100-jährigen Firmenbestehen - eine wissenschaftliche Darstellung vorgelegt werden, an der auch mein Mitarbeiter Leo Hoenig aus New York beteiligt war. Das Foto zeigt den bekannten amerikanischen Genealogen (l.) mit Professor Jeanne Abrams bei der Altmann-Jahrhundertfeier in New York.
Da Leo Hoenig auch die hiermit eng verbundene, eigene Genealogie fortsetzen möchte, publiziere ich gerne seinen Aufruf:
(English Version)
Genealogist Leo Hoenig of New York is still trying to connect his Friedsam ancestors in Memmelsdorf, Lower Franconia, Bavaria with his Friesem and Friedsam ancestors who moved in the mid to late 1700s from Friesheim to Niederzissen and Burgbrohl where in 1808 they took the family name Friesem, and to Bodendorf near Sinzig where in 1808 they were given the family name Friedsam. Leo's maternal grandmother was a born Friesem from Burgbrohl and the mother of his maternal grandmother --- his great grandmother --- was also a born Friesem from Burgbrohl. Also, his aunt, born Selma Hirsch in Polch, married a distant Friesem cousin.
The father of the Friesems and Friedsams who moved to Niederzissen, Burgbrohl and Bodendorf was named Moses Andreas and he was born in Friesheim and he died in Bonn on September 5, 1781. Moses Andreas was the son of Andreas from Friesheim, who must have lived there in the early 1700s and possibly the late 1600s.
It is strongly believed --- but not yet documented --- that Andreas had another son named Hirsch. Hirsch had a son named Moses Hirsch, born c. 1766, who it is believed migrated south from Friesheim toward Bavaria during the 1700s. In 1789 Moses Hirsch made a land purchase in the former vineyard mountain village of Riedenberg (old district Bad Brükenau) in Bavaria, where he lived, according to the Würzbug Archives number 252. "Moises Hirsch" was registered in a survey [census] "with protection" [von Lichtenstein Schutz for Memmelsdorf] as far back as 1795, as mentioned in the bishopric of Würzburg. He is also listed as living in house number 27 in Memmelsdorf, Lower Franconia, Bavaria. He took the family name Friedsam in Memmelsdorf on April 30, 1817, and he was a 52-year-old watchmaker and a teacher. Moses Hirsch Friedsam died in Memmelsdorf on September 28, 1826 and he is buried in the Jewish cemetery in Ebern as the one in Memmelsdorf did not open until 1835. Moses Hirsch Friedsam was married twice, first to Babet and then to Madel (c. 1768-January 28, 1829/Memmelsdorf).
The problem is trying to locate documentation connecting Hirsch in Friesheim with Andreas and Moses Andreas in Friesheim.
THERE WERE FIVE JEWISH FAMILIES LIVING IN FRIESHEIM IN 1774
(Fundstelle: Personenstandsarchiv Brühl):1. Moses Andreas (Avraham Asher) (17??/Friesheim-9/5/1781/Bonn). Lived in Friesheim in 1774 as one of five Jewish families.
Married in c. 1766-1765 or 17??/? to Clara Grau (some read it as Gran), who died in Niederzissen after 1782. She may have moved from Friesheim to Niederzissen in 1782, following Moses Andreas’ death. Moses Andreas was a bookkeeper for Baron Ferdinand von Burscheid, who lived in and owned the castle in Burgbrohl. IN 1808 THIS FAMILY TOOK ON THE NAME FRIESEM. Brunhilde Stürmer of Niederzissen wrote to me: During the name renaming of 1808 appears at the family of Claud Friesem on same side: 1) Haffel Hirsch, Widow of Moyses Leib, takes the name Eve Haupt. 2) Gendel Leib, Widow of Moyses André, takes the name Claire Gran/Grau. I do not find Gudula Levi.
I believe that Leib Levi (Eve’s husband) and Gendel Leib (Claire Grau) were sibings in Niederzissen, and the children of Leib of Niederzissen. I so informed Brunhilde on 1.19/13. Leib Levi died in his house in Niederzissen on May 5, 1808 at the age of 83 (born 1724-25). That is why six months later, on November 16, 1808 Gendel and Haffel appear under the same household.
2. Solomon Moyses. One of the three Jewish families living in Friesheim in 1798- 1801. Born c. 1720, age 78 and lived with his son, Michel Heumann, in the Platzgasse. Solomon Moyses was the son of Moyses Jonas and Clara Salm. He died on 6 Prairial 12, or May 25, 1804, in Friesheim. He was married to Goet (Gudula) Abraham (Heimann). They had the following children: 1. Heymann Salomon (Michel Heumann), born c. 1766 in Friesheim. 2. Nathan Salomon (Salomon Nathan). 3. Joseph Nathan born November 2, 1767 in Friesheim. THE DESCENDANTS OF THIS FAMILY TOOK ON THE FAMILY NAME HEUMANN.
3. The father of Salomon Moyses was Jonas (born around 1690? 1670-1700?)
Salomon Moyses’ (1720-1803) son was Heymann
Heyman, who became Michael (Michel) Heumann (1766-1814), had a son named Jakob Heumann (1797-1867).
Jakob had a son named Salomon Heumann (1829-1918).
Salomon Heumann had two sons named Jonas Heumann and Markus Heumann.---- Samuel son of Abraham. One of the three Jewish families living in Friesheim in 1798-1801. Textile dealer. In 1808 he took on the name Abraham Eckstein. According to Kurt Kleemann, Abraham Eckstein married (in Düren?) Breine Oster from Wittlich on November 21, 1825 in Remagen. She was the widow of Adam Fassbender, who died on April 26, 1824. Abraham Eckstein and Breine Oster had a son, Salomon Eckstein, who was born in Remagen on January 25, 1826. They moved to Friesheim after 1826. THE DESCENDANTS OF THIS FAMILY TOOK ON THE FAMILY NAME ECKSTEIN.
4. Hirsch. One of the three Jewish families living in Friesheim in 1798-1801. He was
also known as Hirsch Leve and Jud Hirsch. The butcher, slaughterer and revendeur in the
Niederweg. Born c. 1759, he married Jackel Joseph Cain, who was born c. 1761 in
Friesheim. Jackel was the daughter of Joseph Cahn (also known as Cahen, Cain, Joseph) and Helene Coppel (Kappel) in Friesheim. Hirsch and Jackel had four children:
1. Joseph, born in 1798.
2. Louben, born 20 Frimaire 11, or December 10, 1802 in Friesheim.
3. Falk, born 20 Germinal 13, or April 18, 1805, in Friesheim.
4. Rose, born December 12, 1807 in Friesheim.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FAMILY NAME THEY TOOK ON IN 1808.5. Joseph Cahn (also known as Cahen, Cain, Joseph) and Helene Coppel (Kappel) in Friesheim. --- Jackel’s parents --- had five children:
1. Johanna (c. 1768/ Friesheim-?????), married Gabriel Franken, and they lived in Friesheim.
2. Jackel Joseph (c.1769-?????), married Hirsch Leve of Friesheim.
3. Simon Karl (1/27/1772/Friesheim-2/10/1835/Weilerswist). In 1802 he was a butcher. He was married to Maria Anna Kaufmann (formerly Ester Cain born Mayer), born 7/28/1780 in Weilerswist, died 6/14/1863 in Weilerswist). They had nine children in Weilerswist: Joseph Simon Karl (1/19/1808-2/27/1876), Jakob Karl (6/26/1809-5/16/1829), Michael Karl (9/14/1811-6/8/1831), Friedrich Karl (5/15/1813-1/6/1854), Helena Karl (6/29/1815-????; married on 10/9/1845 in Weilerswist to Michael Cahn (c.1815/Friesheim-?????; son-Joseph Cahn (3/29/1850/Friesheim-1/24/1897/Weilerswist),, married to Bertha Rollmann; twin children-Sibilla Cahn, born 6/8/1878/Weilerswist and Heinrich Cahn), Samuel Karl (12/30/1816-10/11/1899) married #1 to Kunigunde [Carolina] Meyer (1/20/1823/Wesseling-6/11/1860/Weilereswist [daughter of Lazarus and Rosetta Moises Meyer who died before 1860 in Wesseling; married #2 to Henriette Hirzmann (4/28/1833/Rheinbach-6/8/1905/Weilerswist-daughter of Isaac Heumann and Gudula Hirzmann (1791/????-5/28/1867/Friesheim), Regina (Rechel) Karl (11/23/1818) who had a daughter (Johanna Karl born 2/3/1856), Abraham Karl (11/23/1818-7/10/1880 –married to Rosa Sara Sophie Canter [Regina and Abraham Karl were twins], and Nabor Carl [note with a C not a K] (12/8/1821-11/11/1872) married to Petronella Schweitzer.
4. Falk Joseph (c.1773/Friesheim-?????).
5. Nathan Joseph (1770/Friesheim-10/8/1830/Friesheim). He married Gudula Jacob (also known as G. Levi and G. Schloß), (c. 1790/Frechen-2/25/1851/Friesheim). Her parents were Jacob Levi and Bule Michel. Nathan Joseph and Gudula Jacob had seven children:1. Joseph, Nathan (8/10/1808/Friesheim-3/7/1837/Friesheim)
2. Helene (9/21/1809/Friesheim-?????). In 1833 she married Jacob Schlachter from Niddegerbrück.
3. Michael Philipp (12/8/1810/Friesheim-12/13/1899/Friesheim). His first wife was Sibilla Stock (c.1820/Großbüllesheim-5/26/1856/Friesheim), the daughter of Joseph Stock and Eva Meyer from Lommersum. They had three children: Norbert (11/15/1846/Friesheim-?????), Abraham (6/19/1848/Friesheim-?????); Joseph (3/29/1850/Friesheim-?????). His second wife was Carolina Isaak (c.1826/?????-?????). They had seven children: Gudula (8/13/1857/Friesheim-?????); Isidor (3/10/1859/Friesheim-?????); Johanna (6/2/1861/Friesheim-?????) – in 1894 she married Salomon Isaak Cohen of Hengelo; Sibilla (9/4/1863/Friesheim-?????); Moritz (8/29/1865/Friesheim-?????); Friedrich (11/19/1867/Friesheim-9/6/1942/Theresienstadt) - moved to Köln - married in 1934 in Essen; Rosalie (2/2/1870/Friesheim-8/25/1942/Theresienstadt).
Michael Philipp had a patent to be a butcher since 1835, (GET REST FROM BORMANN PAGE 495-496).4. Michael Levi (1/23/1815/Friesheim-?????). Married to Helena Carl (c. 1817/Weilerswist-7/25/1870/Friesheim. She was the daughter of Simon Carl and Esther Kaufmann of Weilerswist. Michael Levi and Helena Carl has four children: Johanna (1/13/1846/Friesheim-???) She had a son, Joseph Cahn (1/21/1871/Friesheim-?????); Simon (4/13/1849/Friesheim-?????); Norbert (8/9/1851/Friesheim-8/5/1877/Friesheim). (unmarried); Gudula (12/7/1853/Friesheim-3/4/1876/Friesheim) (unmarried). The Bormanns wrote: Michael Levi Cahn was a butcher and owned box goods, which he himself used. "Die agriculture can required fur not completely think the family, " his shed burnt down in 1848, uand it was not insured. in 1879, he was elected to the head of the special synagogue community head home, resigned this Office but after four years of Altersschwäche.¨ "
5. Valentin (1/20/1817/Friesheim-?????).
6. Sibilla (9/6/1819/Friesheim-?????). Married in 1848 to Meyer Frohwein of Bleibuir.
7. Abraham (8/26/1825/Friesheim-?????).1806 Okt 20: Erklärung des Natan Joseph Cain, betr. seine Geburt
No. 698
[Deutsche Übersetzung aus dem Französischen und Zusammenfassung:]
„Vor uns, Jean Pick, stellvertretender Friedensrichter, und Jean Baptiste Schutter, Kanzleischreiber, beide in Lechenich, Arrondissement von KÅln, Departement Rur, erscheint Natan Joseph CAIN, wohnhaft in Friesheim, und erklärt, Gudula Jacob, wohnhaft in Frechen, zur Frau nehmen zu wollen.“
Cain kann keine Geburtsurkunde vorlegen, weil die Juden nie ein Geburtsregister geführt haben. Cain beruft sich auf die Artikel 70 und 71 des Code Civil, wonach sieben Zeugen eine Geburt beurkunden können“.Es sind dies:
Mathieu Keller, Tagelöhner, 66 Jahre alt,
Sibille Bruck, Witwe von Theodor Velden, 72 Jahre alt,
Helene Rick, Witwe des Christoph Groth, Bauer, 62 Jahre alt,
Marie Catherine Koep, Ehefrau des Tagelöhners Degenhard Fröhlich, 52 Jahre alt,
Samuel Abraham, Handelsmann, 48 Jahre alt,
Hachette Cain, Handelsfrau, 38 Jahre alt und
Heumann Salomon, Handelsmann, 40 Jahre alt,
alle wohnhaft in Friesheim.Diese bezeugen,
dass der Natan Joseph Cain der legitime Sohn des Joseph Cain und der Helene Capellen, ehemals wohnhaft in Friesheim, Hundsgasse ("Rue des Chiens"), ist und dass er im Januar 1770 geboren ist.
Witwe Groth, Samuel Abraham, Hachette Cain und Heumann Salomon erklären ausserdem,
dass sie bei der Beschneidung ("circoncision", berit mila) des Natan Joseph Cain zugegen gewesen sind, und bestätigen, dass die Juden nie ein Geburtsregister geführt haben.
Diese Erklärungen sind in deutscher Sprache verlesen worden.
Witwe Velden, Witwe Groth, Frau Fröhlich und Frau Cain erklären ferner, dass sie nicht (unterschreiben können.
[Unterschriften]
Oct 20, 1806 Declaration of Natan Joseph Cain on his Birth1
No. 698
[German Translation from the French and summary:]
"Before us, Jean Pick, Deputy Justice of the peace, and Jean Baptiste Schutter, Office scribe,both in Lechenich, arrondissement of Köln, Department Rur, appears Natan Joseph CAIN, resident in Friesheim, and declares, to want to take Gudula Jacob, residing in Frechen, to be his wife.
Cain can present no birth certificate, "because the Jews of the district never got a birth certificate."
Cain refers to Articles 70 and 71 of the civil code, according to which seven independent witnesses can verify a birth.These are:
Mathieu Keller, day worker, at the age of 66
Sibille Bruck, widow of Theodor Velden, 72 years old,.
Helene Rick, widow of Christophle Groth, farmer, 62 years old,.
Marie Catherine Koep, wife of day worker Degenhard Fröhlich, 52 years old,.
Samuel Abraham, tradesman, 48 years old,.
Hachette Cain, trading woman, 38 years old and
Heumann Salomon, tradesman, 40 years old,.
all residing in Friesheim.They testify that Natan Joseph Cain, the legitimate son of Joseph Cain and Helene Capellen, formerly resident in Friesheim, Hundsgasse ("Rue des Chiens"), is and that he was born in January 1770.
Widow Groth, Samuel Abraham, Hachette Cain and Heumann Salomon moreover declare that they have been present at the circumcision ("circoncision", berit mila) of Natan Joseph Cain, and confirm that the Jews have never had a Birth register.
These statements have been read in German language.
Widow Velden, widow Groth, Mrs Fröhlich and Mrs Cain declare also that they cannot write.
[Signatures]
1 Location: civil status archive Brühl.
Now, some of this information may not be completely accurate, especially since so far I have concentrated on the Friesem-Friedsam ancestors while Bob Heuman has worked on his ancestors. Both of us have a feeling that if we could ever find earlier documentation of the Jews in Friesheim we would mostlikely find that originally these different families all came from one family that left Spain during the Inquisition and slowly wandered north to Germany.
