Alternatives sources for genealogy in Amsterdam
Beyond the Notarial Archives
The speaker, Ton, begins by highlighting the importance of exploring genealogical sources beyond the well-known notarial archives in Amsterdam. He emphasizes that while these archives are valuable, numerous other resources can provide unique and often overlooked information about Portuguese Jewish families in the city.
Ton's presentation focuses on several lesser-known collections held by the Amsterdam City Archives, emphasizing their potential to enrich our understanding of these families' histories.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Orphan Chamber
A significant portion of the talk centres around the records of the Orphan Chamber, a municipal institution tasked with safeguarding the welfare of minor children, particularly those who lost one or both parents. Tom emphasizes two specific registers within the Orphan Chamber archives that hold significant genealogical value:
Appointments of Guardians: This register meticulously documents the appointment of guardians for minors, often revealing the names of relatives or close associates entrusted with this responsibility. These records offer valuable insights into kinship networks, allowing researchers to connect individuals and reconstruct family relationships.
Guardians' Registers (Marriage Permission Records): These registers, initially misheard as "goddess registers" due to the speaker's Dutch accent, contain records of individuals seeking permission from the Orphan Chamber to marry. These records frequently provide details about the prospective spouses, their families, and their financial standing. Crucially, in cases involving individuals with children from previous marriages, the Orphan Chamber required documentation of financial arrangements to ensure the children's inheritance rights were protected.
To illustrate the practical application of these registers, Tom presents several case studies, tracing the genealogies of individuals like David Cohen Nasi, Isaac Drago, and Abraham Sasportas through the intricacies of these Orphan Chamber records.
Collateral Succession: Tracing Inheritance and Family Ties
The talk then shifts to exploring records related to collateral succession, a legal process that dictates the inheritance of property by relatives other than direct descendants when an individual dies without children. These inheritance cases often resulted in the imposition of taxes on assets like real estate and bonds, generating valuable records preserved within the city archives.
Ton focuses on a specific archival collection (entry number 546) that documents these collateral succession cases. He showcases compelling examples, such as the inheritance of Joseph Pardo's estate, including a plantation in Suriname, by his brother, and the division of Sarah Gomez Caseras's assets among her surviving family members. These records provide a wealth of detail, often revealing the deceased's property holdings, family connections, and the individuals involved in settling their estates.
The Unexpected Genealogical Value of Tax Records
Beyond inheritance records, Tom highlights the often-overlooked genealogical value of tax records, specifically those related to wartime levies imposed on citizens to finance military conflicts. These assessments often listed individuals by name, sometimes including additional information about their occupation or family members.
Ton presents a compelling example: a tax register from 1674 documenting the assessments levied on wealthy Jewish residents of Amsterdam to support the war effort. This register offers a fascinating snapshot of the city's Jewish elite at that time.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Records: Glimpses into Economic Life
The talk then turns to the archive of the Chamber of Insolvent Estates, a treasure trove of records pertaining to bankruptcies and financial disputes. These records offer a unique window into the economic activities and social networks of individuals facing financial hardship.
Ton analyses two specific cases from this archive:
Simon Francisco: This case illustrates a scenario where an individual, struggling with his business, agreed to pay a reduced percentage of his debts to his creditors. The agreement involved sureties, highlighting the role of family and community members in supporting individuals during financial distress.
Samuel Ricardo: This example presents a more dire situation of complete bankruptcy, where the individual lacked the means to repay his debts. The records reveal a network of Jewish creditors, suggesting that Ricardo's business dealings were primarily confined to the Jewish community.
Family Archives: Unveiling Personal Histories
In the final segment of the talk, Ton briefly touches upon the significance of family archives – collections of private documents preserved by families across generations. These archives can contain a wide array of materials, from personal letters and financial records to genealogical notes and photographs, offering intimate glimpses into the lives of individuals and families.
The presentation highlights two key examples:
Netherlands Jewish Family Archives: This foundation houses a substantial collection of family archives, many of which have been digitized and made accessible online.
Specific Family Collections: Tom mentions the availability of digitized materials from families like the Teixeira and de Castro families. He particularly highlights the detailed family tree of the de Castro family, which traces their lineage back to the early 17th century and includes notable figures like Isaac de Castro, who met a tragic end by being burned at the stake in Spain in 1648.
Conclusion: A Call to Explore Alternative Sources
The talk concludes with a strong encouragement for researchers to explore these diverse archival collections, emphasizing their potential to unlock valuable and often overlooked information about the lives and experiences of Portuguese Jewish individuals in Amsterdam. Ton stresses the Amsterdam City Archives' willingness to digitize materials upon request, making these resources more accessible to researchers worldwide.