Menase and Ada HILCOVITS/HILKOVITZ/HILCOWITZ

[SandraAust]

Hi Howard,

I'll answer each of your last 3 posts in order:

The Ada you found in Livingstone Place is the one that I believe I am looking for. Her father has always been known as Harris within the family. He has been named as such on the death records of the children that died here and I have seen it in the past on the marriage certificate of his son (my husband's Grandfather) that was always known as Samuel. It was Sam who died here in 1950. His death notice mentions Ada as a deceased sister but doesn't give her surname.

Ada's sister Dora died here in 1951 and again Ada was mentioned without her surname.

I searched the census and couldn't find anyone listed at 36 Grant St though plenty of others in the same street.

My father in law knew that he had cousins (I)rene & Hazel but never mentioned Phyllis.

I found no Ada Levy/Levey with a father Joshua in 1911 or 1901.

I've never visited Sam's grave so have no idea what his Hebrew name could be. I'll try to take a visit soon and let you know what I find.

I didn't purchase a copy of the naturalisation certificate.

That's about it for tonight.
Catch up again soon.
Sandra

[howardc]

Sandra

The ROOTWEB entry for Ada's burial gives her Hebrew name as Ada b(at) Tzvi not Ada b(at) Simcha! 

Tzvi is the Hebrew for deer which in Yiddish is Hirsh (Hirshel for short).  In England Hirsh was often rendered as Harris (in Russia is was written Gersh - no H in Cyrilic - which often became Grisha). 

So looks like their wedding certificate - or at least the JewishGen transcription -got her father's name wrong.

Btw the ROOTWEB entry for Manase's buruial names the three daughters.

Howard

[howardc]

Sandra

I found a record of a Leeds Levi/Levy family in a database that could be the same as that in the 1911 census.  The children’s names match those in the 1911 census but the dates of birth don’t – could have been a miscalculation since some of the data is derived from the ages in the 1891 and 1901 censuses. 

The source is:
 
www.british-jewry.org.uk/leedsjewry

The family is:

Harris (DoB 1852)
Annie (nee Cohen, DoB 1853)

Children:

Solomon (DoB 1875), married Fanny (nee Metzick) in 1893
Levi (DoB 1877)
Dora (DoB 1878)
Samuel (DoB 1876)
Rebecca (DoB 1881)
Ada (DoB 1884)
Louie (DoB 1887)
Joseph (DoB 1890)

Howard

[SandraAust]

Hello again Howard,

Thank you for the additional information and the link. I've checked it and some of the information they've included doesn't seem to have been verified in any way so I've emailed them to follow up on some details. For example the mention of Solomon marrying Fanny METZICK is incorrect as he died in Melbourne in 1939 as a bachelor.

I've checked the burial information for Samuel (Ada's brother) and it states the following:
His Hebrew name is given as Shmuel Ben Zvi and his father as Zvi. I have no idea what any of this means so if you could shed some light on it I would appreciate  it.

Have a lovely weekend.
Regards,
Sandra

[howardc]

Sandra

The fact that Samuel's Hebrew name is Shmuel (Samuel) Ben (son of) Tzvi and Ada's was Ada B (short for Bat, daughter of) Tzvi confirms that this is the same family.  Since Harris is often an English version of Hirsh (ie Tzvi) the father's name on the Jewish-Gen record of the Menashe-Ada marriage certificate must be wrong.

As to Harris Levi family in the Leeds 1891 & 1901 census based (probably plus linked marriage records) versus the family in the 1911 census.  They may not be the same or as you suggest they've linked the wrong records.  Solomon is single in the 1911 documant - although he could have been divorced!

I've put out feelers to find if Rene, Hazel and Phyllis are alive, where they subsequently lived, married names etc. Will let you know if I hear anything.

Howard

[SandraAust]

Thank you so much for all your help Howard - I would have been lost without it.

Best wishes,
Sandra

[SandraAust]

Howard

Here is the reply I received from the database previously discussed:

Further to my email of earlier today I can confirm that this is more or less definitely the right burial. The Hebrew reads:

Yehoshua Heschel  - Joshua Heschel Son of Abraham Eliezer Passed away in the his 56th year On Friday 13th Sivan 5672

This would also confirm the daughter's marriage discussed in another email.

I will amend the database.

So it appears that Ada quoting her father as Joshua is in fact correct and now we also have the name of "Harris's" father - Abraham Eliezer (Elijah???)

Sandra

[howardc]

Sandra

Brilliant.  In which city did the burial take place?  The Hebrew date corresponds to May 1912.

So the name problem is solved.  Traditionally Jewish men have two first names (and until 18-19 century in most countries no family name), one for religious/legal purposes in Hebrew and one for secular purposes usually in Yiddish or the local language but could also be Hebrew.   So Yehoshua was his religous name - hence the marriage register - and Hershel (in Yiddish) or Tzi (Hebrew version) or Harris (English version) his everyday name.

Eliezer is a different name to Elijah.

Howard

[SandraAust]

Hi Howard,

Harris' burial is at Leeds - Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Hilltop Cemetery L/5. Unfortunately the cemetery is closed apparently due to severe subsidence due to the mining that had taken place in the past. I was able to get a photo of the headstone if you would like it. PM your email address if you like.
I wish I knew what had happened to Annie.

Sandra