Jacob Samuel Kohn-Zerkowitz

Jacob Samuel Kohn-Zerkowitz was born in Brtnice on 20 February 1808, the son of Simon Kohn-Zerkowitz and his second wife, Eleonora (also known as Veronika). He was a twin to his sister, Karolina. In 1826, Jacob's mother, Eleonora, secured for him the rights to Familiant #76, formerly owned by Bernard Neustein who had converted to Catholicism in 1825. Jacob was married to Jetta, daughter of Seligman Bachrach, a short time later, and they became parents of a son, Simon, in early 1827. Jacob is said to have been a highly intelligent man; he taught school in Trebic for a short time before moving back to Brtnice.

In Brtnice, Jacob Samuel Kohn-Zerkowitz was known simply as "Jacob Kohn". He was familiant #138 in Brtnice:

Brtnice Familiant Records Number 138-- Jacob Kohn, wife, Jetty, son, Herrmann, b. 1 Jan. 1828; dau., Fany, b. 18 Jan. 1829; dau., Nany, b. 10 Feb. 1830; dau., Rosy, b. 21 March 1831, d. 8 June 1832; dau., Rosalia, b. 10 July 1834; dau., Anna, b. 5 Dec. 1835, d. 3 Mar. 1837; son, Simon, b. 2 Sept. 1837; dau., Mirly, b. 17 Aug. 1839, d. 20 Mar 1840; dau., Katty, b. 29 June 1842.

From "Třebíč Příběhy Židovských Familiantů" by Rudolf Fišer (2012), p. 202:

Narodil se 20.2.1808. Kydž dosáhl véku osmnácti let, požádala jeho matka Eleonora o přidělení rodového místa pro svého syna, poněvadž otec, zámožný obchodník, již nežil. V hotovosti měl 800 zlatých, patřil mu nezadlužený dům č. p. 54 (L. Pokorného 23) s palírnou v hodnotě 2000 zlatých a k tomu ještě obchod v Židovské bráně odhadovaný na 1500 zlatých. Na brtnickém panství mu po otci zůstalo dědictví v hodnotě 1000 zlatých. Německou židovskou školu nenavštěvoval, věnovali se mu nejspíš soukromí učitelé. Proto byl přezkoušen a prokázal potřebné znalosti. Zajímavé je, že z nábožensko-etické učebnice Bne Zion (Synové Sionu) byl zkoušen v Brtnici, kde rodina s největší pravděpodobností nějaký čas žila. Stejně stará nevěsta Judita (Jetta) pocházela z Kounic. Byla dcerou již zemřelého Seligmanna Bachracha a dostala věnem 4000 zlatých.

English translation: He was born 20.2.1808. When he reached eighteen years of age, his mother Eleanora made a request for the allocation of the family place for her son, basing the petition on the fact that his father, a wealthy businessman, was for many years a resident [and familiant]. In cash, for 800 pieces of gold, [Jakob Samuel Zerkowitz] purchased his father’s house No. 54 (or household #23), including a distiller, with a total value of 2,000 gold pieces. Additionally he received a trade in the Jewish gate estimated at 1,500 gold pieces. The estate in Brtnice that his father left him was worth 1,000 gold pieces. He attended German-Jewish schools, and was taught by tutors. Therefore, he had passed examinations and thereby demonstrated knowledge. What is interesting is that his religious-ethical textbooks of Zion (Zion sons) came from Brtnice, where the family most likely lived for some time. Jakob Samuel’s bride Judita (Jetta), came from Bylo. She was the daughter of the already deceased Seligman Bachrach and had inherited a 4,000 gold piece dowry.