Introduction
It is difficult to say exactly when the Ferdinand(o) family arrived in the UK.
The records show them "just appearing" at the end of the 17th Century when we
come across Isaac, the Blacksmith, who was recorded as becoming an Apprentice to George
Gilbert in 1693. His Father, also Isaac (a Merchant), had been dead for about 10
years and so we can safely assume that the name Ferdinando was in evidence in London from
about 1670 or so.
Isaac was Apprenticed on the 3rd November 1693. He signed his indentures, with
his mark, and began training. In 1701/2 Isaac Married Mary Humphries at Saint Giles
Cripplegate (the Church exists, rebuilt after WW II bombing and now surrounded by the Barbican development). He had his own Apprentice, Aaron Walker (bond 1704), and was granted
the freedom of the Blacksmith Company on the 3rd April.1701 (and of The City of London).
The family tree shows a number of descendants from Isaac, keeping possible Sephardic
names through the first two or three generations. Gradually the forenames take
on more familiar patterns following Royal & fashionable names.
With some 2000 names now identified and shown on the tree, many descendants
are still here in the UK and recent migrations have taken us to the USA,
Australia, New
Zealand, Canada, Holland and Spain.
Many of our ancestors lived in and around the East End of London, famed for its poverty
and high attrition rate amongst its population. Infant and Adult mortality were high
and the Workhouse was often the final stop in their lives. Many of the family were
involved in the weaving trades (Velvet & Silk being recorded). Details
about the weaving trade in London can be found by following the Occupations link
above.
There are a number of good books available about London's East End and the conditions of
the people who lived there. There are also some links in the "links" page
taking you to some on-line information.
Back to Top
Remainder of this Section
The rest of this section of the site includes:
| Certificates |
Scans
of some certificates held |
|
|
| Memorial |
An area
to remember members of our family |
|
|
| Churches |
A look
at the churches our ancestors were christened, baptised, married or buried
in |
|
|
| Can you Help |
Areas
where we are stuck |
|
|
| Time Line |
An
historical review of the years with some context to the family. This
area has been speeded up through breaking the indexed dates into smaller,
faster pages. There is
also a further page looking at ancestor's Birthdays. |
|
|
| World Locations |
Flags
of those nations we know there are descendants in or from (This page
downloads slowly). Also the Provincial
page (States and Countries within Countries) |
|
|
| Origins - The Portuguese Connection
|
The case for a possible Portuguese connection |
|
|
| Occupations |
What did
our ancestors do? With some details on certain occupations |
|
|
| Abbey Street Sunday Schools
|
An indexed resource of this book looking at the History of the Abbey Street
Sunday Schools in Bethnal Green. This page downloads slowly due to
indexing. |
|
|
| Family Traits |
Artists and Musicians abound - can you provide any details
from your family history? |
|
|
| Simon Ferdinando |
Could this man be our ancestor - read on and find out |
|
|
| So Just How Do You
Spell It |
How on earth do you spell Ferdinando without making any
mistooks! |
