Difficulty finding sources for birth in Old Jewry, London (West-13658)

Question

I am having a hard time finding good sources for my direct paternal Grandfather Thomas Levi West   (~ 1670 London). There seems like a lot of information posted about him and his family (from Ancestry) but I cannot find any other reference. I have tried all the usual 'free' databases but come up against a brick wall - I can find his children births - but not his.

Thanks in advance,

Answer 1

Have you looked at this site? https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/uk/. 

See also the Metropolitan Archive research guide. https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/RESEARCH_GUIDES/web_detail_rg/SISN+44?SESSIONSEARCH. As you can see there are no records pre 1656 for Jewish communities. This is because in 1290, Jews were expelled from England. It wasn't until 1656 that Cromwell granted the small community of Jewish Merchants from the continent who had moved here to trade  (mostly in London) the   freedom to worship. See https://www.olivercromwell.org/jews.htm

You are right to try to check it out.

To be honest, I'd research the whole line very carefully if it came from an  Ancestry tree. By chance, I have been doing some research on the purported g grandfather and his wife and their son from Towcester in Northamptonshire. (My grandfather and his ancestors came from this town and I was familiar with the records and indeed some of the  family).

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:West_and_Sheppard_Towcester_Northamptonshire

Its not really finished and is in note form for me but  you can probably see there are distinct differences between what I found and the information on the  profiles.

Edit typo

Comments

Wow this is great info thank you. I have found alternate refs for all up to Simeon Levi West though nothing to cross-check the profession details in the bios.  It is also odd to me that some of the grandchildren of a religious scholar signed their wedding records with mark. Still - the were turbulent times I guess.  

Thanks again for the assistance.