52 Ancestors: More Than a Name

I’ve adapted Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.
Each week I follow my children’s ahnentafel numbering to select the featured ancestor, ensuring no one through the mid–sixth generation is left behind.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2026 Week 36: More Than a Name

Who was Samuel Frank?

My Week 36 ancestor is Samuel Frank. His son Joseph Frank, who was Jewish, immigrated from Russia in 1872. Joseph’s marriage names his father as “Samuel” and his death record names his father as Samuel born Russia.  

Identifying Samuel Frank

Research questions may be around relationship, identity, or event. To work on Samuel’s identity, we must understand the records we have for him – which are precious few. Without knowing where in Russia Joseph came from, or Joseph’s original name, it will be difficult to identify his father Samuel.

A Bonus Clue

Luckily for me, Jewish headstones often name the father – so I get confirmation AND a little more information.

Joseph is buried in Washington Cemetery, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.

On Facebook, Simon Philip Jackson translated the Hebrew inscription on his tombstone, which identifies him as ‘Mr. Yosef son of Mr. Shmuel David’. So I have indeed confirmed Samuel and added an additional given name.

The inscription connects Joseph to his father and to his family’s religious naming tradition. And Samuel is no longer simply a name recorded on his son’s marriage and death records. Even though I still know very little about him, seeing Shmuel David preserved on his son’s gravestone makes him a little more real to me.

What This Clue Gives Me

Sometimes all we have are straws to grasp at. But this one is tantalizing. Samuel now has another name: Shmuel David. It isn’t enough to identify him, but it is enough to make him a little less anonymous—and enough to keep me searching.

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

Next Week’s Topic: A Small Detail I Love