Esther RUSSELL was born about 1775 in Kent, England. She was a daughter of a foreign-born Jewish clothes dealer called Michael RUSSELL who is believed to have changed his name from LEVY. Her aunt was married to London’s Chief Rabbi, Solomon HERSCELL.
Esther’s family had changed their surname in order to sound less Jewish. Esther and four siblings took the surname Russell, after the main street in Sheerness; two other brothers took the name Davis.
Esther married ABRAHAMS and had a daughter Hannah who was born in about 1801.
After her husband died, she remarried Judah SOLOMON in Sheerness in January 1805. They each brought £100 as dowry to their marriage.
The Jewish Community in Sheerness had been established around 1790 at a time of increased activity in the dockyards due to the Napoleonic Wars. The chief founders were Isaac and Samuel ABRAHAMS. After the Napoleonic wars ended, the Community declined as people moved away to areas of greater opportunity.
Esther and Judah had about 10 children with one expected when he was convicted at Kent Assizes and transported in 1819. The prosecutor at the trial was her former father-in-law, Abraham ABRAHAMS.
Esther’s brothers Henry Davis, George Russell and her former brother-in-law Aaron Abrahams were the first free Jewish migrants to Van Diemen’s Land. Henry DAVIS arrived in Hobart in 1822 with a subscription from the Sheerness merchants to the Solomon brothers which assisted their growing business there. George RUSSELL arrived as a steerage passenger in 1826 and had so little money that his fare was paid by Davis. After working for Davis for some time he settled on a small property called "New Plain" near Launceston. Russell eventually settled in Auckland, where he managed a hotel and was one of New Zealand's first Jewish settlers.
Two of Esther's sons went to Hobart Town to join their father in 1828 and 1829, and Esther followed with three of her daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren, on Palamban in 1832.
By this time Judah was wealthy and living in a large house in Hobart with his housekeeper and their young son. Both families lived in the house for some time while Esther sought to regain her marital status. Judah was unable to divorce her as he did not have a full pardon of his conviction, to enable him to return to London and the Rabbi. A long and vicious correspondence began with the Colonial authorities as he sought to obtain it and Esther sought to deny him the opportunity.
Esther died at her home New Town in 1861, aged 90 deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. The informant on her death certificate was H. Abrahams, a friend, of Liverpool Street Hobart. Was this her daughter Hannah who wrote from London to Lt-Governor John Franklin in 1837 on behalf of her mother regarding her father's domestic arrangements? We do not know if she ever came to Hobart.
In April 1863 Hannah Abrahams aged 62 years, died at Liverpool Street, Hobart. She was a widow born in England. The informant was L. Abrahams, her son, of Liverpool Street.
Showing posts with label SOLOMON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SOLOMON. Show all posts
18.1.10
Isaac Solomon
Isaac SOLOMON was a London merchant. He was born about 1760 and died in 1812. I got these dates from a fellow researcher but do not know the source.
His wife was Rebecca. They had two sons that we know of - Judah born about 1778 and Joseph born about 1780.
Judah and Joseph were merchants at Sheerness when they were convicted and transported to Australia in 1819.
It is possible that Samuel SOLOMON born about 1776 was also a son. He came out to Hobart Town with Elizabeth,Hannah and Joseph his children on 30th March 1833 on the Enchantress from London. We believe he worked at Gravesend to do with stocking ships but don't know much more. His son Joseph married Sarah Solomon, Judah's daughter. Hannah married Robert Hart on the 12 June 1840. Judah Solomon left Samuel £50 in his will dated 1849.
His wife was Rebecca. They had two sons that we know of - Judah born about 1778 and Joseph born about 1780.
Judah and Joseph were merchants at Sheerness when they were convicted and transported to Australia in 1819.
It is possible that Samuel SOLOMON born about 1776 was also a son. He came out to Hobart Town with Elizabeth,Hannah and Joseph his children on 30th March 1833 on the Enchantress from London. We believe he worked at Gravesend to do with stocking ships but don't know much more. His son Joseph married Sarah Solomon, Judah's daughter. Hannah married Robert Hart on the 12 June 1840. Judah Solomon left Samuel £50 in his will dated 1849.
15.1.10
Lydia Solomon
Lydia Solomon was born in England about 1811. Her parents were Judah SOLOMON and Esther RUSSELL and she had about nine brothers and sisters.
Lydia married Henry Samuel BENJAMIN around 1829. They had a son Benjamin, and an infant daughter Esther, when they arrived in Hobart Town from London on Palamban in December 1832. They travelled with her mother and two younger sisters. Her father, uncle and two brothers were already settled in Van Diemen's Land.
In November 1834, Lydia and her husband sailed to Sydney on Gulnare. Their next son, Henry, was born in New South Wales, but about a year later, they returned to Hamilton in the Derwent Valley where two more sons were born.
In 1839 they moved to Hobart and a second daughter, Eve was born there in 1843.
Lydia's husband Henry died in 1852 and she remarried Lewis Cohen, a professor of dancing, in 1855. It seems likely that they moved to Melbourne after 1860, where her son Henry had settled.
Her eldest son married in London in 1865, her elder daughter was in Victoria in 1862 and her younger unmarried daughter died in Melbourne in 1863.
By 1871, her daughter Esther was also living in London with her family but the Cohens do not appear in that English census.
Lydia died in London in January 1880, at the home of her son Benjamin. She was 68 years old. Lewis was living there when the census was taken a year later.
Lydia married Henry Samuel BENJAMIN around 1829. They had a son Benjamin, and an infant daughter Esther, when they arrived in Hobart Town from London on Palamban in December 1832. They travelled with her mother and two younger sisters. Her father, uncle and two brothers were already settled in Van Diemen's Land.
In November 1834, Lydia and her husband sailed to Sydney on Gulnare. Their next son, Henry, was born in New South Wales, but about a year later, they returned to Hamilton in the Derwent Valley where two more sons were born.
In 1839 they moved to Hobart and a second daughter, Eve was born there in 1843.
Lydia's husband Henry died in 1852 and she remarried Lewis Cohen, a professor of dancing, in 1855. It seems likely that they moved to Melbourne after 1860, where her son Henry had settled.
Her eldest son married in London in 1865, her elder daughter was in Victoria in 1862 and her younger unmarried daughter died in Melbourne in 1863.
By 1871, her daughter Esther was also living in London with her family but the Cohens do not appear in that English census.
Lydia died in London in January 1880, at the home of her son Benjamin. She was 68 years old. Lewis was living there when the census was taken a year later.
16.2.09
Judah Solomon
Judah SOLOMON was the son of Isaac SOLOMON, a London merchant, and his wife Rebecca. Judah was born about 1778 and married a widow, Esther ABRAHAMS, in January 1805 at Sheerness in Kent. They each brought about £100 to their marriage as dowry.
They had about ten children, with one expected, when Judah was convicted at the Kent Assizes in 1819, with his younger brother Joseph, for hiring burglers to repossess unpaid for goods at Sheerness. The prosecutor at the trial was Esther's former father-in-law, Abraham ABRAHAMS.
Judah was 49 years old when he was transported to Sydney on Prince Regent with his brother. They arrived in Hobart Town in March 1820 on Castle Forbes, and had started a shop at their residence in Argyle street by January 1821.
In 1822 Henry Davis, the colony's first free Jewish immigrant, brought a subscription from the Sheerness merchants to the Solomon brothers which accelerated their business successes and enabled the building of Temple House, which still stands today.
In 1823 they were among the 200 foundation subscribers to the Bank of VDL and becoming quite wealthy, although still convicts. Judah gained his Ticket-of-leave in 1823 and later claimed that he should have been pardoned by Colonel Sorell as far back as 1823-4, but for a debt which a Public Officer owed me.
It is strange that convicts could arrive and set up in business so quickly. My hypothesis is that Lt-Gov. Sorell did not get on with existing merchants such as Anthony Fenn Kemp and Richard Barker and encouraged the competition which the Jews provided under his control. It was a period of increasing economic development in the colony as free immigrants started to arrive, lured by free land grants and convict labour.
Judah had a son, Joseph, with his housekeeper, Elizabeth HOWELL, in 1826. Her sister had married Henry Davis [qv] in 1823.
In 1828, Judah's son Isacc arrived, and in 1829, his son Michael arrived with Henry SOLOMON.
In February 1832 Judah gained a conditional pardon and in December that year, his wife and three of his daughters arrived on Palamban.
Judah's brother, Joseph, had divorced his wife before leaving England and remarried in 1833, renouncing his Jewish faith, but Judah was unable to return to England to obtain a divorce from Esther unless he obtained a full pardon. Thus began a long correspondence as he sought it and she sought to deny it.
Judah and Joseph went separate ways with the latter in the north of Tasmania, while Judah continued his business at Temple House and donated land and money to build a synagogue which was completed in 1845.
Judah died from heart disease in 1856, Esther in 1861 aged 90 and Elizabeth Howell in 1864, aged 64.
His son Joseph was his sole executor, major beneficiary and trustee for his daughters, Sarah and Lydia. Joseph had married his cousin, daughter of Henry Davis and Hannah Howell, but they had no surviving children and Temple House was left for the use of his nephew Samuel Benjamin, youngest son of Lydia.
Temple House circa 1880
They had about ten children, with one expected, when Judah was convicted at the Kent Assizes in 1819, with his younger brother Joseph, for hiring burglers to repossess unpaid for goods at Sheerness. The prosecutor at the trial was Esther's former father-in-law, Abraham ABRAHAMS.
Judah was 49 years old when he was transported to Sydney on Prince Regent with his brother. They arrived in Hobart Town in March 1820 on Castle Forbes, and had started a shop at their residence in Argyle street by January 1821.
In 1822 Henry Davis, the colony's first free Jewish immigrant, brought a subscription from the Sheerness merchants to the Solomon brothers which accelerated their business successes and enabled the building of Temple House, which still stands today.
In 1823 they were among the 200 foundation subscribers to the Bank of VDL and becoming quite wealthy, although still convicts. Judah gained his Ticket-of-leave in 1823 and later claimed that he should have been pardoned by Colonel Sorell as far back as 1823-4, but for a debt which a Public Officer owed me.
It is strange that convicts could arrive and set up in business so quickly. My hypothesis is that Lt-Gov. Sorell did not get on with existing merchants such as Anthony Fenn Kemp and Richard Barker and encouraged the competition which the Jews provided under his control. It was a period of increasing economic development in the colony as free immigrants started to arrive, lured by free land grants and convict labour.
Judah had a son, Joseph, with his housekeeper, Elizabeth HOWELL, in 1826. Her sister had married Henry Davis [qv] in 1823.
In 1828, Judah's son Isacc arrived, and in 1829, his son Michael arrived with Henry SOLOMON.
In February 1832 Judah gained a conditional pardon and in December that year, his wife and three of his daughters arrived on Palamban.
Judah's brother, Joseph, had divorced his wife before leaving England and remarried in 1833, renouncing his Jewish faith, but Judah was unable to return to England to obtain a divorce from Esther unless he obtained a full pardon. Thus began a long correspondence as he sought it and she sought to deny it.
Judah and Joseph went separate ways with the latter in the north of Tasmania, while Judah continued his business at Temple House and donated land and money to build a synagogue which was completed in 1845.
Judah died from heart disease in 1856, Esther in 1861 aged 90 and Elizabeth Howell in 1864, aged 64.
His son Joseph was his sole executor, major beneficiary and trustee for his daughters, Sarah and Lydia. Joseph had married his cousin, daughter of Henry Davis and Hannah Howell, but they had no surviving children and Temple House was left for the use of his nephew Samuel Benjamin, youngest son of Lydia.
Temple House circa 1880
Henry Samuel Benjamin
Henry Samuel BENJAMIN was born about 1809 in England. We are not sure who his parents were, but a Benjamin BENJAMIN aged 62 years died in Hobart Town in September 1837. I have him noted as Shmuel bar Binyamin [Samuel son of Benjamin?] but need to check the source of this.
Eve BENJAMIN relict of Benjamin BENJAMIN is included on Henry's tombstone so it is possible that they were his father and mother. It seems likely that this couple emigrated in the 1830's to join their son.
Henry's first son was named Benjamin and his second daughter Eve, the first daughter being named Esther after her maternal grandmother.
Henry was licensee of the York and Albany Inn at Oatlands in 1833 and 1834, but had problems with antisemitic sentiments there. In November 1834, the family sailed to Sydney on Gulnare but returned after about a year to be licensee of the Old Hamilton Inn from 1835 to 1839, before moving to Hobart.
They had three more sons by then and a second daughter was born in 1843.
Henry died in 1852 from rheumatism when he was 42, while travelling to Melbourne, aboard the Swordfish. He was buried on Swan Island off the north-eastern tip of Tasmania but was re-interred later that year in the Jewish cemetery in Hobart with Eve, relict of Benjamin.
He may have been known as Samuel rather than Henry as this name appears in some places.
Montefiore Benjamin was a grandson of Henry.
Eve BENJAMIN relict of Benjamin BENJAMIN is included on Henry's tombstone so it is possible that they were his father and mother. It seems likely that this couple emigrated in the 1830's to join their son.
Henry's first son was named Benjamin and his second daughter Eve, the first daughter being named Esther after her maternal grandmother.
Here Reposeth Henry Samuel Benjamin
Who died on his passage to Melbourne on the
19th March and was interred amongst
his people 23rd July 5612 -1852
also Eve relict of Benjamin Benjamin
who departed to eternal life on Sunday
14th July age 68 years 5612 - 1852
also Montefiore Benjamin 1875-1938
also his wife Myra 1875-1953
Henry married Lydia SOLOMON in England about 1829. They emigrated to Van Diemen's land with their two small children and Lydia's mother and two younger sisters in 1832 on Palamban.Who died on his passage to Melbourne on the
19th March and was interred amongst
his people 23rd July 5612 -1852
also Eve relict of Benjamin Benjamin
who departed to eternal life on Sunday
14th July age 68 years 5612 - 1852
also Montefiore Benjamin 1875-1938
also his wife Myra 1875-1953
Henry was licensee of the York and Albany Inn at Oatlands in 1833 and 1834, but had problems with antisemitic sentiments there. In November 1834, the family sailed to Sydney on Gulnare but returned after about a year to be licensee of the Old Hamilton Inn from 1835 to 1839, before moving to Hobart.
They had three more sons by then and a second daughter was born in 1843.
Henry died in 1852 from rheumatism when he was 42, while travelling to Melbourne, aboard the Swordfish. He was buried on Swan Island off the north-eastern tip of Tasmania but was re-interred later that year in the Jewish cemetery in Hobart with Eve, relict of Benjamin.
He may have been known as Samuel rather than Henry as this name appears in some places.
Montefiore Benjamin was a grandson of Henry.
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