Jonas (Jonathan) Kohn-Zerkowitz

JONAS KOHN-ZERKOWITZ, aka JONAS LOBL KOHN-ZERKOWITZ, aka JONATHAN ZERKOWITZ, b. Ober Czerekwitz [Horni Cerekev], c1743, son of Lobl [Jehuda Lobl] Kohn-Zerkowitz and wife Fradl; d. in Pressburg, Hungary [now Bratislava, Slovakia], 1826, age about 83 yrs. He was residing in his birthplace of Ober Czerekwitz in Feb 1763 when he was married to his first wife, but lived in her hometown of Patzau [now Pacov] for the first few years of their marriage. By the 1780s, however, he had moved northward to Chlumec nad Cidlinou [approximately 85 miles away from Horni Cerekev]. He resided both in Chlumec nad Cidlinou and in nearby Novy Bydzov for several years. He was in the leather trade, and is seen as a leather merchant in both of those communities. He held familiant status in Novy Bydzov.

He is mentioned in Trebic, Moravia records due to the fact that both his older brother Simon and his only son Markus [Mayer] were living there by the mid-1780s. It appears that he may have been an occasional visitor in that community. Note the following:

• Joetz Schneider, b. Trebic, household #97, 1 Nov 1785, son of Selig Lobel Schneider and wife Rosel [witnesses: Jonas Zerkowiz, Mayer Kohn.]”
• “Nattel Kreilshein [male], b. household #54, 12 Jun 1787, son of Selligman Kreilscheim and wife Golda [witness: Jonas Lobel Kohn Zerkowitz, besdentmann in Chlumetz.]”
• “Juda Zerkowitz, b. household #54, 6 Nov 1788, son of Markus Zerkowitz and wife Ester [witnesses: ‘vatter’ [father]; grossvatter, Jonas Zerkovitz; Josua, local rabiner].”

Census records -- Bydzovsky, 8 Feb 1793: ZERKOWITZ, Jonas, with wife Ester. Listed again, 20 days later -- Bydzovsky / Chlumec Nad Cidlinou [Bidshover / Chlumetz], 28 Feb 1793: JERKOWIZ, Jonas, home-based in Neu Bitschow, in the town of Chlumetz as a leather house tenant.

In 1794, he was living for a brief period of time in Prague. Prague, 1794: ZERKOWITZ, Jonas [pg. 417, book VI]. Later in the 1790s, he was still listed as a familiant in Novy Bydzov, but was living away – in “Weisskirchen” [where his widowed mother was residing] and in “Ungarn” [Hungary, where his son Markus had gone]. Novy Bydzov Familiantens: #89 – ZERKOWITZ, Jonas [in] Weisskirchen, Ungarn.

He and his second wife Ester moved to Pressburg, Hungary [now Bratislava] in the mid-1790s, where they were to remain. Jonas died there in 1826, and Ester, in 1834. Both of their gravestones are still standing in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Bratislava: “Jona Zerkowitz, d. 5586” [1826] and “Ester KATZ, d. 5594” [1834].

Jonas Kohn-Zerkowitz was married 1st, in Patzau [now Pacov], 1 Feb 1763, to AMALIA [MALKA] v. PATZAU, b. c1745, dau of Lazar Moses Patzauer. [Pacov is 39 km (24 miles) northwest from Horni Cerekev]. Prague marriage permissions: #646, January 1763 – Jonas Lobl Khon ober Czerkowitzer, juden, and Malka, the daughter of Lazar Moses Patzauer….” Marriage entry: “Jonas Lobl Khon v. Czerekwitz and Malka v. Patzau, m. Czerekwitz, 1 Feb 1763.” She died in Patzau, 16 Jun 1768. Gravestone in Patzau (Pacov): “Malka, dau of Leizer Patzau, died 2 Rch Talmuz 5528” [16 Jun 1768].

His second wife was ESTER, b. Patzau, c1750, d. Pressburg, 1834. Gravestone: “Ester Katz, d. 5594” [1834].

Bratislava Jewish Cemetery: "Jona Zerkowitz died 5586 [1826]"

Marriage permission— https://vademecum.nacr.cz/vademecum/permalink?xid=4f68144e-b0fe-41d...