Cerf Ancestry: Cerf Prayer Book

I am excited to share a treasure with you. It is a Prayer Book with notations by both Aaron and Phoebe Cerf about family births, marriages and deaths. After Aaron and Phoebe died, their daughter, Clotilde Cerf Rosenberg, kept it. It was professionally rebound by Clotilde's daughter-in-law, Adele Gross Rosenberg, who also stored the original covers with it. It is now in my possession, and I would be happy to show it to anyone interested. Family Prayer Books, along with old photos, are priceless heirlooms, and not just for genealogists.

To share this, I am displaying photos of the pages containing notations followed by transcriptions because it can be difficult to read some of the writing. My notes are in brackets. I have tried to transcribe names as they were written.

Inside of old front cover

Transcription: On the 17th day of August was born our child, boy, which we have lost at his birth and buried [Hebrew] in Oakland. [signed at] San Pablo Calif. A. Cerf, August 18, 1870. * Clothilda Cerf. Born in Oakland, Alameda County, State of California on the 18th of April 1872. * Lucien Cerf. Born on the 11th of May 1874 at Eleven O'Clock at Oakland, Ala, Calif. * [on the side] Felise Cerf [not sure of next word].

Transcription: [Hebrew] * Deces da dame Catherine Boeles, femme da Leopold Levy de Metzervisse, decedee le 20 9th 1849 on le 4 tisri 5610 [Death of lady Catherine Boeles, wife of Leopold Levy of Metzervisse, date of death 20 September 1949 then Hebrew date. Note: the month of death looks like 7th, but the death records indicate 9th]. * Notre fils, Bernard Cerf, at San Pablo, California, 15 Decembre 1868. A. Cerf. * Our son, Bernard Cerf, was born in San Pablo, State of Calif on the 15th day of December 1868. A. Cerf. * [Bernard's birth written in Hebrew] * Papa Cerf born 1824 - September 26.

Transcription: San Pablo Mars 3 1867 [birthdate of Clarisse] * Oakland Janvier 23 1880 que notre Felicite et ne [Felice's birth on January 23, 1880] * Arture Cerf born 17 January 1886 * San Pablo Mars 1867 que notre Claris est ne. A. Cerf [Clarisse's birth in March 1867 at San Pablo] * Mama Cerf born 1841, June 16. * On the third day of March 1867, Claris Cerf was born at San Pablo, Country [sic] Costa County, State of California. A. Cerf * On the 16 day of Jan. 1877 our Emile Cerf is born in Oakland, Ala, Calif, at 11 o'clock.

Transcription: [at the bottom of the page] Emile Aaron Cerf, Jr. born June 28, 1910.

Inside of old back cover

Transcription: Souvenir donne par M. Heumann a Bibie Levy [keepsake given by M. Heumann to Bibie Levy] * Elise engaged Sept 24/94 * Felicity was born on the 22 of December 1880 in the town of Oakland * Bernard Cerf baby boy by the name of Edgar Marcel Cerf was born the 6th of March 1905.

Transcription: Cerf Sol. Rosenberg born 31st of August 1896 - Ukiah * Alphonse Rosenberg born 2nd day of July 1898 Ukiah * Camille Rosenberg born 16th October 1889 * Aline Rosenberg born 13th July 1892 * Leopold Rosenberg born May 2 1897.

Transcription: Miss Felice Cerf - December 22.

Transcription: Simon Abraham died on the 11 Decembre 1907 [Phoebe's brother-in-law] * [Hebrew] A.C. * In Black Diamond, October 10, Pauline Cerf, beloved wife of the late Aaron Senderman and beloved mother of Mrs. S. Bachrach, Mrs. S. Deutsch, Mrs. E. M. Bernstein and Bernard J., Amelie D. and Mirtile J. Senderman, a native of Pfalzburg, France, aged 66 years 8 months and 18 days * CERF - In this city, May 20, Aaron, beloved husband of Phoebe Cerf, and father of Barnard, Lucien, Emile and Arthur Cerf, Mrs. L. Rosenberg, Mrs. B. Rosenberg and Mrs. L. Hofman, a native of France, aged 83 years. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Friday, May 22, at 9:45 o'clock, from his late residence, 2102 Bush Street. Interment, Eternal Home Cemetery, by electric funeral car from Thirtieth street and San Jose avenue. CONGREGATION OHABAI SHALOME - Notice: Officers and members are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of our late member, A. Cerf, from his late residence, 2102 Bush street, Friday, May 22, at 9:45 o'clock. * Muriel & Herbert Dryfoos married 26 Nov. 1952 * ROSENBERG - In this city, Dec. 2, 1955, Clotilde, beloved mother of Cerf and Alphonse Rosenberg, loving sister of Lucien and Arthur Cerf, a very devoted grand- and great-grandmother. Services were held Sunday, Sinai Memorial Chapel, Divisadero st. at Geary.

The following clippings and photos were tucked inside the Prayer Book.