The following is an exchange of emails between Annisa Main and a Jewish
scholar on the subject of Annisa's ancestry:
"I recently found a branch in my family tree that appears to be Jewish. I do not know much
about Jewish beliefs or customs. I have a couple of questions concerning this branch of my tree. There are about ten generations that were all born in Babylon, starting in the year 590 AD. The first generation found had the name of "Hanini David" and had the title of "Exilarch". All of the following nine generations carry the surname of "David".
What is the significance of this and what is an "Exilarch"? Unfortunately
I live in a small town in Wyoming, USA and there is not a Jewish
Temple close, or I would turn my questions to the local Rabbi.
Thank you for your time". - Lander, WY, USA Annessa Main
Scribe reply: How
are you personally connected to this branch of the family tree?
"Exilarch" was the title of the head of the Jewish community in
Babylon. It became extinct in the year 1270 and was revived by Mr
Naim Dangoor 700 years later in the year 1970, and he is the present
incumbent. Annessa Main's reply: First, thank you for your response.
I will try to list all the generations that I have to lead to this
family branch. It is quite extensive. The Jewish part of our history
was lost a long time ago.
1. (Myself) Annessa Lynn Huff b. 28 Mar 1972 Scottsbluff, NE, USA
2. Julia Ann Belden b. 13 May 1950 Alliance, NE, USA
3. Vida Lee
Hascall b. 20 Mar 1926 Gaston, OR, USA
4. Leslie Earl Hascall
5.
Ray Smith Hascall
6. Sarah Caroline Whitman b. 9 Apr 1820 New York,
NY, USA
7. Martha Patsey Lucas b. 14 Nov 1796 Harolin County, KY,
USA
8. Sarah Phelps b. 1771 Buckingham County, VA, USA
9. Thomas
Phelps b. 1725 Albermarle County, VA, USA
10. Thomas Phelps b. 1703
Albermarle, VA, USA
11. John I Phelps b. 1683 Goochland, VA, USA
12. William Phelps b. 1656 England
13. Elinor Howard b. 1626 England
14. Matthew Howard b. 1609 Wardour, Whitshire, England
15. John
Howard b. 1 Dec 1578 Brockdish Hall, Norfolk, England
16. Robert
Howard b. Jan 1537, Syon House, London, England
17. Thomas Howard
b. about 1512 Ashwell Thorpe, Norfolk, England
18. Thomas Howard
b. 1443 Stoke Newland, Suffolk, England
19. John Howard b. 1420
Tending, Essex, England
20. Robert Howard b. 1385 Stoke Neyland,
Suffolk, England
21. John Howard b.1365 Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England
22. Robert Howard b. about 1336 Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England
23.
John Howard b. 1310 Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England
24. Joan De Cornwall
b. about 1295 Thunnock, Lancashire, England
25. Richard De John
Cornwall b. about 1275 Burford, Shropshire, England
26. Richard
Plantagenet b. about 1252 Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England
27.
Sancha, Countess of Provence b. about 1225 Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhone,
France
28. Raymond Berenger V, Count of Provence and Forcalquier
b. 1198 Aix-en-Provence, Bouche-du-Rhone, France
29. Alfonso II,
Prince of Aragon b. about 1174 Aragon, Spain
30. Sancha, Queen of
Aragon b. 21 Sep 1154 Castile, Spain
31. Alfonso VII, Pierre Raimund,
King of Castile, Leon and Galcia b.1105 Castile, Spain
32. Urraca
Alfonsez of Castile and Leon b. 1082 Castile, Spain
33. Alfonso
VI "The Valiant" King of Castile and Leon b. 1039 Castile, Spain
34. Sancha, Princess of Leon b. about 1015
35. Alfonso V, King of
Leon b. about 0989
36. Elivira Garcez of Castile b. about 0971 Castile,
Spain
37. Count Garcia Fernandez of Castile b. about 0955 Castile,
Spain
38. Urraca Garces of Pamplona b. about 0937 Pamplona, Spain
39. Garcia Sanchez I, King of Navarre b. about 0920, Navarre, Spain
40. Sancho Garces I, King of Navarre b. about 0890 Navarre, Spain
41. Dadilda De Pallars, b. about 0870 Pallars, Spain
42. Daughter
of Raymond of Toulouse b. about 0800 Toulouse, France
43. Count
Raymond I of Toulouse b. about 0822 Toulouse, France
44. Countess
Senegonde of Toulouse b. about 0800 Toulouse, France
45. Bertha
D'Aube David b. 0775 Autun, France
46. Theuderic Thierry Makir David
b. about 0720, Babylon
47. Habibai Ben Natronai David b. about 0687
Babylon
48. Natronai Ben Nehemiah David b. about 0670 Pembeditha,
Babylon
49. Nehemiah Ben Hanini David b. about 0650 Babylon
50.
Hanini Bar ‘ Adoi David b. about 0627 Babylon
51. Bustani
Ben Hanini David b. about 0590 Babylon
52. Exilarch Hanini David
b. about 0590 Babylon
Does the “David” at the end of these names mean they
are descendants of David? Do you have any more of the family line?
Is Exilarch a religious post or more of an appointed leader? If
it is an appointed post, by who (i.e. G-d?)? Was (Is) it passed
down in an “ eldest Son” manner? Why was the post eliminated?
Scribe reply:
The reference to David in the name definitely means a direct descent
from King David through King Yehoyachim and all the previous Kings
of Judah. We are sending you by post a copy of the Babylonian Haggadah
where you will find on page 91 the earlier generations of Exilarchs
and on page 90 all the previous kings to King David. The Exilarch
is a political post of Royal descent, but many Exilarchs were eminent
Rabbis in their own rights as was Rabbi Makir, mentioned in your
ancestor No. 46, who was sent by Haroun Al-Rashid, Calif of Baghdad
to Charlemagne, King of the West at his request, who wanted to establish
in Europe a middle class based on a Jewish nucleus. Rabbi Makir
was received by Charlemagne and was given the title "King of the
Jews". The office and dignity of Exilarch was hereditary in the
royal line, passed down not necessarily to eldest son, but more
often to the most suitable candidate. The post came to an end in
1270 following the Mongol devastation of the Middle East. We would
be very interested in having copies of original documents to support
your family tree.
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