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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: Deborah G on Tuesday 23 January 24 05:31 GMT (UK)
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Abraham Lewis was tried at Middlesex Gaol on the 17th Aug 1833 and convicted of stealing a silk handkerchief. He was transported to Australia on the "Fairlie", arriving in New South Wales on the 15th Feb 1834. He was a barber by trade, had a crippled right leg and 18 years old. His father gave evidence at the trial and stated that he, too, was a barber and had lived in the same house in Aldgate for 22 years.
Abraham married Johanna Sullivan at Windsor, NSW, Australia in 1845. NSW BDM gives surname LEWES. The following year they had a daughter, born Rachel Lewis at Windsor. Abraham and Johanna parted company in the early 1850's and Abraham went on to live a life of petty crime. He took his own life by jumping off the Holdsworthy Bridge near Liverpool, NSW on the 16th Jan 1896. He was 81 years old and newspaper reports state that he was the oldest living Jewish convict.
On the NSW BDM, his name was recorded at time of death as LOUIS NATHAN. Whilst living in Sydney, he carried on his trade as a barber and was known as "Louey the Barber", also Judah Nathan and Hugh Nathan.
I would really like to find out who the parents of Abraham Lewis are. My brickwall is my paternal great great grandmother, Rachel Nathan. I have no idea who her parents are. All I know is, she was supposed to be Jewish. She married my great great grandfather, James Mullins at the Presbyterian Church in Sydney on the 19th March 1862. The witnesses were Johanna Nathan and Dorindah Nathan. Rachel was aged 17 and the certificate states she was born at Windsor, NSW. I have searched the NSW BDM and there is no birth recorded for a Rachel Nathan. I have looked at every record for a Rachel born at Windsor for around 1846 and the only name which rings any bells or sounds Jewish is the birth of Rachel Lewis to Abraham and Johanna.
I have had my DNA tested and it shows that I am 4% Jewish. My father's only brother is 7% Jewish...working back from this, it would mean that Rachel would have beeen 50% Jewish, so that perhaps Abraham and Johanna were her parents kind of fits my theory.
I have a 50 cM DNA match with a descendant from (Mark) Mordecai Nathan and his wife Frances Isaacs, through their son Joseph Nathan who married Elizabrth Levy. These families lived in the Spitalfields area of London. I also have lower DNA matches with other families associated with the Nathan/Isaacs offspring.
So what I'm wondering is how can I tie Abraham Lewis in with the Nathan family from Spitalfields....why was he also known as Judah Nathan?? Were the family once known as Nathan and changed to Lewis?? I can't seem to find any barbers on the 1841 census to fit the profile for Abraham's father, maybe he'd died by then. Everyone seems to be general dealers.
Does anyone agree that my great great grandmother, Rachel Nathan, could be Abraham's daughter?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Cheers, Deb
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Hello Deborah, Have you made use of this database?
https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/uk/londweb.htm
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Hi Neale,
No, I haven't, but will have a look now. Have had a poke around on Ancestry, but can't seem to make much headway. I just feel there has to be some correlation with the Lewis and Nathan surnames.
Things seem tantalisingly close, but yet, so far!!
Thank you for your interest,
Deb
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I haven’t looked at any documents yet, but my initial thought is that Lewis does not seem like a Jewish name. Could it be a corruption of Levi / Levis?
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That same thought has passed my mind, too!
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There are a few hits on synagoguescribes for various people named Abraham LEWIS.
https://synagoguescribes.com
Some possibilities:
Perhaps this marriage in 1808
https://synagoguescribes.com/blog/person-details/?value=1863
and death in 1838
https://synagoguescribes.com/blog/person-details/?value=25373
It is a very common name though.
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Thank you, Maddy.....not sure if I'll be able to resolve this one!
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I notice in the Old Bailey records that the father is a "hair dresser" rather than a "barber". There are a few LEWIS hair dressers in London around this time, though none that I can see in Aldgate.
One is at Duke St, Manchester Square and advertises quite a lot (at least 1813-1830). Another at Woolwich brought an action against a bootmaker for seducing his daughter in 1836. Another advertising for premises near Westminster in 1790.
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The one in Duke St, Manchester Square seems a distance from Aldgate. If you lived in Aldgate, would you carry out your hair dressing business there??
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I don't really think any of those are likely "your" Abraham LEWIS's father, just interesting to note the name and profession - just to make it more difficult for you!
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Thanks, Maddy...I appreciate your interest and help!
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This address maybe considered Aldgate?
Insured: William Lewis, 4 Colchester Street White Chapel, hair dresser
Reference Code CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/399/637357
1795 Jan 10
ROYAL AND SUN ALLIANCE INSURANCE GROUP
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Thank you, Neale.....yes, it's a possibility. Again, I appreciate your help!
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He received his certificate of Freedom 9 January 1844
He was prisoner number 34/330
5' 31/2", sallow complexion, hair brown, eyes brown. 2 scars on the back of middle fingers left hand.
2 flags, human head and bones, crown of glory upper inside lower part of right arm. Lame in right leg.
Ref: ancestry
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Thank you for that information, I was unaware of the tattoos :)
I'm curious to know why he was tried twice for the same felony of stealing a handkerchief. He was first tried on the 4th of July 1833 and found guilty and then tried a second time on the 17th August, found guilty, again and then the sentence of 7 years transportation handed down.
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Thank you for that information, I was unaware of the tattoos :)
Tattoo “JN” inside lower right arm ( as annotated on 1834 convict indent)
What does JN stand for = Judah Nathan?
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Rachel Lewis, [child of] Abraham Lewis, Employment: Hair Dresser, and Johanna.
Residence: Windsor; Born 19 Mar 1846 ;
Baptised: 12 Apr 1846, Baptised at Windsor by Clergyman [Rev] Henry T Stiles,
Registered at St Matthew's Church of England, Windsor.
Abraham Lewis death (and life) reported in newspaper
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261026347?searchTerm=%22Abraham%20Lewis%22
My brickwall is my paternal great great grandmother, Rachel Nathan. I have no idea who her parents are. All I know is, she was supposed to be Jewish. She married my great great grandfather, James Mullins at the Presbyterian Church in Sydney on the 19th March 1862. The witnesses were Johanna Nathan and Dorindah Nathan. Rachel was aged 17 and the certificate states she was born at Windsor, NSW. I have searched the NSW BDM and there is no birth recorded for a Rachel Nathan. I have looked at every record for a Rachel born at Windsor for around 1846 and the only name which rings any bells or sounds Jewish is the birth of Rachel Lewis to Abraham and Johanna.
Does anyone agree that my great great grandmother, Rachel Nathan, could be Abraham's daughter?
Yes I think you are on the right track here.
There is an entry for Abraham Lewis in 1889 - 90 at Liverpool Assylum which records him as a widower with 1 married daughter in Petersham. Was your Rachel in Petersham at this time?
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Wow, the article posted by Neale1961 is a great find.
Do you know where Judah Nathan / Abraham Lewis was buried? If there is a burial record on file somewhere, or if someone put up a tombstone for him at some point, one or both might list his father's name.
I'm assuming he didn't have any money or a will at the time of his death. Do you know if his wife Johanna had a will? Do you know where she was buried and have you checked for a burial / cemetery record and tombstone?
Do you have a copy of the Rachel Lewis birth record?
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Do you have a copy of the Rachel Lewis birth record?
I included a transcription of Rachel’s baptism in my last reply. This was before civil registration, so a baptism record is all that will be available.
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A possible relation? ….
Newgate Jail
trial 15 June 1843
Robert Lewis age 36
occupation Hair dresser
malicious wounding - 6 mths hard labour
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I'm curious to know why he was tried twice for the same felony of stealing a handkerchief. He was first tried on the 4th of July 1833 and found guilty and then tried a second time on the 17th August, found guilty, again and then the sentence of 7 years transportation handed down.
I can only see the 17th August 1833 trial on Old Bailey Online.
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18330817-43?text=lewis
Where do you see the other trial?
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Ah, I see both dates on the Newgate Calendar of Prisoners for Trial. I think the first date is when the bill of indictment would be presented to decide if there was enough evidence to go to trial. The second is the actual trial. Happy to be corrected if I'm mistaken!
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Hi everyone, thank you for your posts and wonderful input. I've been out all day and just logged in.
The first trial dated 4th July 1833, Old Bailey Online:
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18330704-20?text=%22abraham%20lewis%22
The tattoo, JN ....I think most definitely would have to be Judah Nathan.
I have seen a the asylum records stating that Abraham had a daughter who lived at Petersham. Rachel and James Mullins would have been living at Burwood at the time of his death....in the scheme of things, Burwood is not that far from Petersham, approximately 5kms or so.
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A possible relation? ….
Newgate Jail
trial 15 June 1843
Robert Lewis age 36
occupation Hair dresser
malicious wounding - 6 mths hard labour
Quite possible, Neale!
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I think in my original post, I wrote that Abraham/Judah died 16th Jan 1896 .....according to newspaper reports, it was Thursday, 2nd January, 1896.
There is a burial for a Lewis Nathan at Rookwood Cemetery, but the dates are off:
Lewis Nathan
Date of Death: 1 Jan 1895
Date of Burial: 1 Jan 1895
Age: N/A
Plot: OGN_Zone A/16/699
AU / New South Wales / Rookwood Cemetery
I rang the cemetery, it is an unmarked grave and he is the only person buried in the grave. That was the only info the lady on the phone would reveal. The date is out by a year.
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Some info on Johanna Sullivan:
Johanna Sullivan was also a convict, convicted of stealing clothes County Cork, Ireland in 1832. She arrived NSW on the "Southworth". Interestingly, a Johanna Nathan was a witness at the marriage of Rachel to James Mullins. The other witness was a Dorindah Nathan. Is it too much of a coincidence that Johanna was the mother of Rachel Lewis and the person witnessing my Rachel's marriage was a Johanna.....this changing of the surnames Lewis and Nathan is doing my head in.
I have searched high and low for a death record for Johanna/Joanna Lewis. The only appropriate contender I could find is the death of Johanna Lewis in 1881. I purchased this death record, although the age at death is off. According to convict records, Johanna was born c1804. The death certificate states this Johanna was 62, giving an approx birth year 1819. I'm inclined to think, however, that this is the correct Johanna. Like Abraham/Judah, she lived a hard life. Newspaper reports show she was living at Durands Alley, an extremely poor part of Sydney and known as a haunt for prostitutes and layabouts.
This Johanna died 9th July 1881 at Bay View House, Cooks River, Canterbury. Age stated, 62.
Place of birth, Ireland.
Time in Aust. Colonies - None recorded
Married, but to whom, unknown
Children of marriage - 2 females living.
Informant - J F Grady, Superintendent, Bay View House, Cook's River
Cause of Death - Brain disease, Gastritis, Hepatitis
Length of illness - 13 years
Medical Attendant - Dr Grady
Date last seen - 9th July 1881
Place of Burial - Necropolis
Undertaker - W & H Kinsela, Sydney
Witnesses - C H Ferguson, William Smith
Bay View House was a private lunatic hospital, but it also took in patients from overcrowded state hospitals. https://researchdata.edu.au/agy-68-bayview-house-tempe/164331
The death certificate states she has 2 daughters...I've searched but cannot find any records of a birth of another daughter, pre and post marriage to Abraham. I have no clue who Dorindah Nathan is. Rachel Nathan and James Mullins were married by the Rev. James Fullerton, who was considered a "renegade" clergyman who would marry anyone. Rachel would have been under age, but there was no permission to marry. I used to wonder if the witness names were made up, but since recently formulating my theory, I'm wondering if one of the witnesses was actually Rachel's mother.
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Do you have a copy of the Rachel Lewis birth record?
I included a transcription of Rachel’s baptism in my last reply. This was before civil registration, so a baptism record is all that will be available.
Yes, I saw the info on her baptism but didn't realize there would be no corresponding birth record. Thank you.
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I think in my original post, I wrote that Abraham/Judah died 16th Jan 1896 .....according to newspaper reports, it was Thursday, 2nd January, 1896.
There is a burial for a Lewis Nathan at Rookwood Cemetery, but the dates are off:
Lewis Nathan
Date of Death: 1 Jan 1895
Date of Burial: 1 Jan 1895
Age: N/A
Plot: OGN_Zone A/16/699
AU / New South Wales / Rookwood Cemetery
I rang the cemetery, it is an unmarked grave and he is the only person buried in the grave. That was the only info the lady on the phone would reveal. The date is out by a year.
Interesting. It does seem likely to be the same man, despite the discrepancy. The attached is a snippet from an article in the Jewish Herald, dated Jan. 24, 1896, which I saw on the Trove website. It refers to him as Lewis (or Judah) Nathan. Here's the link:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147276783/17604108
You mentioned that his death was registered under the name Louis Nathan. Do you have a copy of the actual death record? I'm just curious if it contains any useful clues.
Our Jewish ancestors' habit of using more than one set of names certainly complicates things for us.
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Death Registration:-
NATHAN LOUIS
2500/1896 LIVERPOOL (1 Jan 1896)
mother - UNKNOWN
father - UNKNOWN
I would suggest the 1895 date could be a transcription error ( 6 and 5 can sometimes look alike when written poorly); or an error in recording the date at cemetery. The first day of the new year, and someone just wrote the old year down by mistake.
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A possible relation? ….
Newgate Jail
trial 15 June 1843
Robert Lewis age 36
occupation Hair dresser
malicious wounding - 6 mths hard labour
possibly Robert in 1851
Piece number 1573, Folio 159, Page 12
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Death Registration:-
NATHAN LOUIS
2500/1896 LIVERPOOL (1 Jan 1896)
mother - UNKNOWN
father - UNKNOWN
I would suggest the 1895 date could be a transcription error ( 6 and 5 can sometimes look alike when written poorly); or an error in recording the date at cemetery. The first day of the new year, and someone just wrote the old year down by mistake.
I just rang the cemetery querying the dates and was told an archivist will look into it and they'll get back to me. I agree with you, Neale.
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A possible relation? ….
Newgate Jail
trial 15 June 1843
Robert Lewis age 36
occupation Hair dresser
malicious wounding - 6 mths hard labour
possibly Robert in 1851
Piece number 1573, Folio 159, Page 12
Thank you, Lizzie.
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I have had my DNA tested and it shows that I am 4% Jewish. My father's only brother is 7% Jewish...working back from this, it would mean that Rachel would have beeen 50% Jewish, so that perhaps Abraham and Johanna were her parents kind of fits my theory.
I have a 50 cM DNA match with a descendant from (Mark) Mordecai Nathan and his wife Frances Isaacs, through their son Joseph Nathan who married Elizabrth Levy. These families lived in the Spitalfields area of London.
Mordecai NATHAN (1746-1841) and Frances (1737-1841) Dutch Jewish
I see they had a large family and you would need to look at each child to see what becomes of them. But since you have a DNA link, it seems that is the way to go.
I notice a son named Lewis NATHAN born 1783
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Yes, Neale, I totally agree that the large family of Mordecai Nathan is the link. I have no DNA matches with anyone connected to the surname of "Lewis", but have several matches connected to Mordecai Nathan. The fact that there was a son, "Lewis Nathan", makes you wonder how the names Abraham Lewis aka Judah Nathan came to be. His tattoo, "JN" is very telling.
I often wondered why my great great grandmother died with parents "unknown" on her death certificate. If she were the child of Abraham Lewis and Johanna Sullivan, her childhood would have been pretty dreadful given the circumstances that befell her parents. Perhaps the best thing that ever happened to her was to marry James Mullins and put the past behind her. She went on to live a happy life, passing away iat Burwood in 1912.