1815 - She was born in Amsterdam on 18 Jun. Her birth is recorded on FHL film #113,492. Translated as, "Registered 20 Jun 1815. Certificate of birth of Lea Hyman Grewel, born in Amsterdam on 18 Jun at 1 pm, daughter of Hyman Salomon Grewel, occupation dancemaster, Mother is Vijtje Moses Krijn, no occupation. Both living at Langehoutstraat #59. Child recognized to be of the female sex. Witnesses Sander Salomon Grewel, [her uncle] age 38, lottery ticket seller, living at Houtgracht #17, and Moses Samuel Levie, age 45, cigar seller, living at Uilenburg #7. Signed by father, witnesses and Gerrit ten Sande, of the city of Amsterdam."

1841 - She married Moses Hartog Bronkhorst on 29 Dec 1841 in Antwerp. Her marriage certificate is recorded on FHL #672,798, Marriages, Antwerp, #635. It is translated from Dutch as: The 29th of December of the year 1841, marriage certificate of Moses Hartog Bronkhorst, diamondcutter, born 7 Sep 1814 in Amsterdam, Holland, living there, son of Hartog Moses Bronkhorst, meatseller, living in Amsterdam and of Annaatje Salomon Gans, deceased, on one side, and Lea Hyman Grewel, no occupation, born 18 January 1815 in Amsterdam, living in Antwerp, daughter of Hyman Salomon Grewel, producer of tobacco, and of Fytje Moses Krijn, both living in this city of Antwerp and present at the wedding. The certificates which were read before the marriage took place were: birth certificates of the couple and the agreement of the father of the bridegroom. . . Everything done in the presence of Moses Jacob Krijn, gold merchant, age 78 years, grandfather of the bride, of Jacob Moses Krijn, occupation ?, age 37 years, uncle of the bride, of Salomon Hyman Grewel, producer of tobacco, age 31 years, brother of the bride, and of Henri Hyman Grewel, tobaccoworker, age 22 years, brother of the bride. etc.

1842 - Her son, Hartog, was born in Antwerp on 4 Sep.

1843 - She had an unnamed son who was born and died on 9 Jul in Antwerp.

1844 - Her daughter, Anna was born in Antwerp on 30 Aug.

1846 - Her daughter, Vtyje, was born in Antwerp on 6 May.

1848 - Her daughter, Rachel, was born in Antwerp on 10 Jan.

1849 - Her daughter, Maria Anna, was born on 27 Dec. in Antwerp, Belgium.

1855 - Her twins, daughter, Sarah, and son, Hyman, were born in Amsterdam, Holland on 23 July.

1858 - Her son, Solomon, was born on 5 May in Amsterdam.

1864 - Her son, Hartog, married Fanny DeFries on 8 Jun 1864 in London, England.

1866 - According to cousin Barbara Wright, the family moved to London.

1870 - Her daughter, Anna, married Judah Levy Montazenos on 17 Aug. The family was living at 36 Lamb St, Spitalfields, in the East End of London.

1871 - She is listed in the 1871 English census taken 5 Apr 1871, FHL film 823,379, Spitalfields, London, Parish of Christ Church, Middlesex Co, Superintendent Registrar's District of Whitechapel, Subdistrict Artillery, Parliamentary borough of Tower Hamlets, e.d. 1, p 15, # of schedule [family] 82, as: Leah Bronkhorst, wife, married, 56, born Holland [sic], living at 36 Lamb St with her husband, Mauritz [sic], daughter, Rachel, daughter, Marie, son, Hyman, daughter, Sara, son, Solomon, a boarder, Aaron Venetiance, 13, a boarder, Sophia Venetiance, 12, a boarder, Abraham DelaFuente [who was soon to become her son-in-law], and a boarder, Edward Bronkhorst, 23. (a relative of her husband). There were 3 other families living at 36 Lamb St. Her daughter, Maria Anna, married Abraham Simon DeLaFuente on 31 May 1871 in London. The family was living at 36 Lamb St, Spitalfields, in the East End of London.

1875 - Her daughter, Rachel, married Moses DeMetz on 16 Jun 1875. They were living at 9 Scarborough St at that time.

1876 - Her daughter, Sarah, married Judah Polak on 15 Mar in London. The family was living at 9 Scarborough St at that time.

1879 - Her son, Hyman, married Rebecca Cornell on 6 Aug in London. The family was living at 9 Scarborough St at that time.

1880 - Her husband made his Last Will & Testament on 5 Nov, leaving her everything and naming her as sole executrix. They were living at 17 Scarborough Street Goodmans Fields in the County of Middlesex.

1881 - She is listed in the 1881 English census, FHL film 823,379, London, Civil Parish of St Mary Whitechapel, Superintendent Registrar's District of Whitechapel, Subdistrict Goodmans Fields, Parliamentary borough of Tower Hamlets, e.d. 12, p 10, # of schedule [family] 171, as: Charlotte Bronkhorst, wife, married, 66, no profession, born Belgium, living at 17 Scarborough St with her husband, Morris, and a servant, Elisa Clark. There was another family living at the same house.

1883 - Her husband died at home at 17 Scarborough St on 28 Jun in London. On the 4th day of August 1883 Probate of his Will was granted to Mrs. Leah Bronkhorst Widow the sole Executrix.

1891 - Listed in the English census, County: London, Civil Parish: Whitechapel St Mary, ED: 8, Eccl. Parish: St Marks, Piece: RG12/282, Folio: 128, Page: 11, family # 89, living at 17 Scarborough St:
Leah Bronkhorst, head of family, widowed, female, 95, living with children, born Holland Amsterdam
Hyman Bronkhorst, head of family, married, male, 35, diamond broker, neither employer nor employed, born Holland Amsterdam
Rebecca Bronkhorst, wife, married, female, 34, born Holland Amsterdam
Morris Bronkhorst, son, single, male, 10?, scholar, born Londoon Whitechapel
Treeser Galbrood, servant, single, female, 18, general domestic servant, employed, born London

1900 - Her brother, Hartog, died on 16 Oct in Antwerp. She is mentioned on his death announcement as Madame M. BRONKHORST-GREWEL ses Enfants, Petitis-Enfants et Arriere Petits-Enfants.

1905/06 -Her great grandson, Morris Bronkhorst, remembers vividly meeting his great-grandmother. He was a little boy at the time, and she was about 91 years old. Leah was wearing a full length taffeta dress with a white lace collar and had a walking stick made of ebony and ivory. Morris remembers holding on to his mother's skirt as he was terrified of this lady who looked like a man because she had a "moustache."

1906 - She made her last will on 14 May. This is the Last Will and Testament of me LEAH BRONKHORST of 76 Coborn Road Bow in the County of Middlesex Widow. I nominate constitute and appoint Jacob Fontyn of 89 Middlesex Street in the City of London Grocer and Postmaster and Aaron Schaverien [her grandson] of 1 Morgan Terrace Coborn Road Bow in the County of Middlesex aforesaid Diamond Merchant to be EXECUTORS and TRUSTEES of this my Will. I give unto my said Executors the sum of Five pounds each out of which I request that they shall purchase some token in memory of me. I give unto my daughter in law Rebecca Bronkhorst the wife of Hyman Bronkhorst the sum of Twenty five pounds. As to all the rest residue and remainder of my estate not otherwise disposed of as aforesaid I devise and bequeath the same unto my Trustees Upon trust that my Trustees shall sell call in and convert into money the same or such part thereof as shall not consist of money and with and out of the monies produced by such sale calling in and conversion and with and out of my ready money pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my Will and shall stand possessed of the said residuary trust monies and the investments for the time being representing the same In trust to divide the same share and share alike equally amongst my children. And I direct that if any child of mine shall predecease me then notwithstanding the fact that he or she shall have predeceased me I direct that her or his share shall be equally divided amongst the child or children of such deceased child share and share alike. And I direct that as to the share of my deceased daughter Sophia Schaverien that the same shall be held In trust for the benefit of her daughter Leah Schaverien with power reserved unto my Trustees to invest the same in some authorised trust security. And I direct that the income to be derived from time to time from such investment shall be paid by my said Trustees unto the said Leah Schaverien for her sole use and benefit. And I direct that my said Trustees may in their sole discretion pay any sum they may think fit out of the said capital sum or the whole of it if needs be for the purposes of obtaining the admission of the said Leah Schaverien into some Jewish Institution fit for her reception in the sole discretion of my said Trustees. And I direct that if the said Leah Schaverien shall predecease me then the share of the said Leah Schaverien shall be equally divided between the sisters and brothers of the said Leah Schaverien excluding from such division her brother Saul sometimes known as Charles Schaverien whom I do not intend shall in any way benefit by any bequest of mine. And I further direct that if the said Leah Schaverien shall die after me that the share of the said Leah Schaverien if any then remains shall be divided by my said Trustees equally between the sisters and brothers of the said Leah Schaverien with the exception as aforesaid of the said Saul sometimes known as Charles Schaverien. And I further direct as to the jewellery left by me that in converting the same into cash as aforesaid by my said Trustees they my said Trustees shall offer the same for purchase by my sons Henry Hyman and Solomon Bronkhorst and that my said Executors shall accept the highest bid for the same from either of my said sons as aforesaid. And I further direct that no portion of my estate shall be administered or in any sense dealt with until after thirty one full days from the date of my death. And I hereby revoke all prior Wills or Testamentary dispositions made by me. And declare this to be my last Will and Testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have set my hand to this my Will the Fourteenth day of May 1906. LEAH BRONKHORST SIGNED by the above named Leah Bronkhorst as her last Will in the presence of us both being present at the same time who in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses - JONATHAN E. HARRRIS 95 Leadenhall Street E.C. Solicitor - EDWARD HOWARD 80 Coborn Rd Bow Wheelwright.

1907 - She died on 11 Jan. She had been living at 76 Coborn Rd, Bow, London. Her death certificate states in part: Registration District of Poplar, Sub-district of Bow, Co of London, #21, died 11 Jan 1907 at 76 Coborn Rd, Leah Bronkhorst, female, age 92, widow of Morris Bronkhorst, Diamond Polisher, died from senile decay certified by E.A. Campbell, LRCP, informant M Bronkhorst of 76 Coborn Rd, Bow, grandson, present at death, registered on 12 Jan 1907. Her death announcement appeared in the London Jewish Chronicle in Jan 1907 as: "On Friday evening, the 11th of January 1907 at 76 Coburn Road, Bow, Leah in her 92nd year passed away. Deeply mourned by her sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren." On 22 May, the Probate of her Will was granted to Jacob Fontyn and Aaron Schaverien the Executors.

Grewel is a toponym - a place name