ERLICH (Эрлих) / GOLDBERG (Голдберг)


Abraham ERLICH, son of Izrael, son of Jankiel, and Chaja, first married Leja, daughter of Dawid, and had children: Dawid (1790) and Szandla (1802). After Leja died, Abraham married Bajla WEINMAN, daughter of Jankiel and Ryfka, and had children: Izrael (1822). Abraham died in Lukow in 1839 followed by Bajla in 1845.


Research Notes

1. Dawid Goldberg's death record confirms that his father had the different surname of Erlich. The reason for the distinction is unknown; however, since Dawid had his own family by the time permanent surnames were adopted in the early 1820s, he likely had the option to choose his own surname.

2. It is known from Chaja's son Wolf Latowicki's 1891 death record in Stoczek that Chaja had the maiden surname of Goldberg. She was the second wife of Wolf and appears to have begun having children in 1844. Therefore, it is hypothesized that she was born in the 1820s (her birth record has not yet been found). Wolf's sister Ryfka married Dawid Goldberg, son of Abraham Erlich (see 1816 marriage record above). This suggests that Chaja's birth family is likely connected with Dawid (as seen above, there were often multiple marriages between families). Another piece of evidence is that the name of Chaja's apparent first son in 1844 is Abraham, likely named after a maternal ancestor (Dawid's father Abraham died in 1839). Because of this, Chaja was originally thought to have been a daughter of Abraham. However, Abraham's other children used the surname Erlich. Therefore, it is now hypothesized that Chaja Eta was, in fact, a daughter of Dawid and Ryfka Goldberg (possibly born around 1826), providing her maiden surname of Goldberg. Note that Abraham Erlich's mother was named Chaja, so it is likely that Dawid would have had a daughter named after his paternal grandmother. Also, the apparent first born daughter of Chaja's son Wolf Latowicki was named Lea Riva, likely named after Chaja's mother, Ryfka Lea.
    While her birth record has not been found, it is noted that Chaim Szulim and Moszko Goldberg, known sons of Dawid and Ryfka, born about 1829 and 1833 in Lukow, respectively, appear only in their marriage records (their birth records also do not appear to have been recorded in the records of Lukow). There are many instances of births not being recorded for various reasons (e.g., sickness of the parents).
    This relationship, if correct, would have made Chaja the niece of her husband Wolf (daughter of Wolf's sister Rywka) -- nevertheless, this was not unheard of for the time.