BRISTOL JEWRY in the 18th & 19th Centuries: The oldest ritual bath (Mikveh), in Europe, is in Bristol. It is known as Jacob's Well and is opposite where my father in law brought his family from Ireland in the 1950's. The modern thoroughfare is still called Jacob's Wells Road. It has the only mediaeval Hebrew inscription ever found in Bristol, and is thought to date the original Jewish settlement to about 1100. The siting of the Mikveh is appropriate, for the district itself later came to be known as Hotwells, and at one time rivalled Bath as a watering place for well to do Georgian Society. The Jews, were expelled from Bristol, as in the rest of the country by Edward I in 1290, in a shameful episode in our history.

It is interesting that the memory of the Jews lived on for many years. Almost four hundred years later, an entry of 21 July 1645 for St Augustine's parish tells of a "poor Irish child" who was buried at the Jewes churchyard on that day! More research will hopefully uncover more evidence of this nature.

The above entry may not, of course, be historical. It may mean that a Jewish community - enough to warrant a special cemetery? - was already re-established by this date. We do know for sure that a small community of Jews was certainly in Bristol by 1753 when in a legal deposition, a certain Henry Simons mentions that he had intended to visit the Synagogue there two years earlier. The earliest settlements of this time appear to be around the parishes of Temple and St Thomas's, where people with Jewish sounding names paid rates. I have yet to investigate this source

There follows the start of what I intend to be an index of the Jewish people in Bristol during the 18th & 19th Centuries along similar lines to my book "Black Bristolians". The index is very much an infant, hence the paucity of entries so far.

Index of Names:

Benjamin Aaron & Isaac Solomons
woollendrapers of Bristol, petition in bankruptcy. (FFBJ 3.1.1835)

Israel Aaron, aged 23: January 17 1794, to be transported 7 years. (Offence not stated.) (Q/S Ts BRO).

John Abrahams, extensive robbery reported at his shop. He was a pawnbroker at Welsh Back. (FFBJ 27.11.1830)

Sarah Abrams, a Jewess, 18 years, baptised at St James, with three other young women, one a Roman Catholic, described "all four from the Magdalene at Hooks Mills", PR, 11.3.1791. ("The Magdalene" was a house for so called "fallen women". Societies existed for "the Conversion of the Jews", which was considered a laudable aim.)

Rosetta Alman: "married by the Jewish Priest at her father's house, Hotwells, Miss Rosetta Alman to Mr Lawfoone, a native of Germany." (FFBJ 22.6.1805)

Abraham Barnard, "born a Jew, baptised 3 Feb 1758 at St Nicholas, aged 28." (PR) "Last Sunday, a Jew, born in France embraced the principles of the Christian religion and was baptised at St Nicholas's church in this City." (FFBJ, 18.2.1758).

Abraham Bernard, a Jew, an inpatient at Bristol Royal Infirmary, 22.10.1753. (Perhaps the same person as person as Abraham Barnard above?

Myer Blankensee, aged 21+, jeweller of 11 College Street, Bristol, son of Levin Blankensee, merchant, and Julia Levy, 21+, pawnbroker of 42 Southside St, Plymouth, daughter of Abraham Levy, pawnbroker, married Plymouth. 20 June 1838

Hannah Bolsius, "Hannah, wife of John Bolsius, of her it may be truly said she was an Israelite indeed." (Obit, FFBJ 21.8.1824)

Marks Burstin of Bristol, and Esther Solomon, daughter of W. Solomon of Exeter, married Exeter, 27 November 1850

Israel Cohen, "of Virginia married Miss Solomon, daughter of Mr Solomon of Exeter", SFBJ 30.12.1786, quoted Samuel, who suggests this was possibly the first wedding in the new Bristol Jewish Synagogue.

Moses Cohen: John Latimer, in his "Annals of Bristol in the 18th Century", (page 327) reports a Council Meeting of 5.9.1757: "Ordered that Moses Cone (sic) who keeps a shop with glass windows before Lewin's Mead Chapel, on the Quay, and there sells gold and silver without being a Burgess, shall be prosecuted for same." Latimer adds "that the Jew had placed glass windows in his shop was considered an aggravation of the offence".

Colvin: "Jane Brown, committed for picking the pocket of One Colvin, a Jew, of 15 guineas. It seems by her defence that he had some familiarity with her, but what the bargain was, they best knew." (Sam Farley's Newspaper, 25.6.1732.)

Aaron Fictor, "a Jew, aged 30", baptised at St Philip & St Jacob, 17 February 1729.

"Old Frankfort". "Lately died, aged 98, an ancient Israelite known by the name of Old Frankfort who for many years has lived in this City in a very abject state, but whose situation has been rendered very comfortable from the charitable fund of the New Congregation of Jews since its establishment." (FFBJ 12.1.1805)

Mr Frey, a converted Jew, now a zealous preacher of Christianity in the North of England, collected £1,200 for teaching Christianity to indigent Jews resident in London. (FFBJ 10.11.1810)

Mr Solomon Hyams, "The house of Mr Solomon Hyams, the Jewish priest who has officiated for some time at the Synagogue was broken open and various articles of money and apparel stolen. (FFBJ 21.10.1786)

Mr D. Hyam, of Coventry married to Hannah, d.o. Mr E. Moses, of this City, by Rev D.M. Isaac, of the New Synagogue, June 25 1834 (FFBJ 5.7.1834)

Rev D.M. Isaac, see Mr D. Hyam, 1834

Lazarus Jacob: He is described on pages 101-3 of "Jews in Bristol", by Judith Samuel. (same as Jacob Lazarus below ?)

Mr & Mrs Jacob "of Somerset Square in this City, remarried, agreeably to the forms prescribed by the laws of Judaism, having already been married 18 years", (FFBJ 12.3.1803)

Isaac Jacobs, glassmaker, Temple, convicted of putting metal into a pot of flint glass after a gauge had been taken by an Officer of Excise. Fined £13.17s.6d, 9.2.1804. (Q/S ts BRO). (He was the son of Mary Jacobs, died 1816 - see below).

Mr Isaac Jacobs, aged 82, many years a respectable glassmaker of this City, obit. (FFBJ 14.2.1835)

James Jacobs, pawnbroker, Broadmead, gave evidence concerning the theft of 6 silver spoons which were pledged in his shop, 27.5.1826. Elias Moses, tailor/salesman, gave evidence about same theft, 31.5.1826. (Q/S ts BRO)

Lazarus Jacobs, late husband of Mary who died 1816.

Lionel Jacobs, died "at Spanish Town, Jamaica, son of Mr J. Jacobs, glass manufacturer of this City, a young man in the prime of life, after 4 days illness." (FFBJ 16.1.1813)

Mary Jacobs, aged 91, relict of late Lazarus Jacobs and mother of Isaac Jacobs, esquire, glassmaker. (Obit. FFBJ 29.6.1816)

Michael Jacobs, 41, 19 Buckland St, Plymouth, outfitter, father Joseph Jacobs, dec'd & Rachel Nelson, 25, outfitter, 19 Buckland Street, father John Nelson, married 7 May 1906 at Bristol Registry Office, recorded at Plymouth.

Mrs Jacobs, pawnbroker of Broadmead, gave information against William Williams, concerning the theft of a shawl, undated 1819-25, (Q/S ts BRO.)

Jeshwin, "a Jew, after eating a hearty breakfast died after a fit of apoplexy. He was a very sober man, and a Master of many languages." (FFBJ 15.3.1755)

Eve Jordan: "Eve, wife of Benjamin Jordan, of the Jewish persuasion, practitioner in physic, leaving a family of nine children to lament the loss of an affectionate mother. Buried St James' churchyard". (Obit. BM 27.7.1811.)

Mr B.I. Joseph, pawnbroker, of Bristol, indicted by the Rev. S. Wolfe, Minister of the Jew's Synagogue, for an assault whilst in exercise of his religious duties. Owing to the kind intervention by the prosecution, his sentence was mitigated by the payment of £5 to the King. (FFBJ 22.10.1825)

Jacob Joseph, "the Jew Boy" mentioned by Samuel James, pawnbroker in allegation of theft of silver teaspoons, against Thomas Davis, 3.6.1784. (Q/S ts BRO)

Lazarus Joseph, a Jew, said this day, 12 June 1783 that William Coates offered him for sale a silver tankard, supposed to be the property of Samuel Fane, victualler,. (QS ts JQS/P/87)

Mr Lawfoone, see Rosetta Alman, 1805

Jacob Lazarus, Jew, aged 40, inpatient at Bristol Royal Infirmary, 19.5.1760

Mordecai Lazarus, of Temple Street, against Michael Doyle, who came into his shop to sell him a silver dobbin, alleged to be the property of William Gibbons, of Jacob's Well. (an interesting juxta position!) Gaol Delivery, 1785.

Abraham Levi, "a travelling Jew, convicted at Winchester for selling articles without a licence." (FFBJ 12.1.1788.) (Why was so minor an offence reported in the Bristol press, unless he was known here?)

Mr Levi, son of Mr M. Levi, pawnbroker of Gloucester to Miss Levi d.o. Mr Levi, optician of Temple Street, marriage announcement, FFBJ 16.9.1809

David Joseph Levy, " a converted Jew" charged with obtaining a letter from the post office by false pretences. Not guilty. FFBJ 20.4.1843. Also, "Mr Levy, a glass merchant of St Augustine's Parade, denied being the purchaser of a gold coin, mentioned in our last." (either FFBJ or BGaz, 20.4.1843)

Frederick Levy, 23, glass merchant, Bristol, son of Levy Levy, gent & Sarah Marks, 22, 43 Union S, Plymouth. Daughter of Charles Marks, jeweller, married Plymouth, 6 February 1856

Hannah Levy, widow of Jacob has taken her nephew Levy Levy into partnership and continued business in Temple Street. (FFBJ 17.1.1789 (Advert)

Mrs H(annah?) Levy, "of Temple Street, 67, whose strict integrity endeared her to her relations and friends." (Obit. FFBJ 6.12.1806.)

Jacob Levy see Hannah, 1789

Jonas Levy, "a travelling Jew, found murdered between Abergavenny & Crickhowell", FFBJ 24.11.1753. He had been strangled and beaten about the head. He was buried in the Jews' burial ground at St Philips. (quoted Samuel).

Levy Levy, see Hannah, 1789, see Frederick, 1856

Solomon Levy: "Charles Hill, a boy, pleaded guilty to robbing his master, Solomon Levy", FFBJ 20.10.1832

Charlotte Marks, on 11 November at Pareham House, Bristol, widow of Isaac Marks, and sister of Mrs Lewis Leapman of 145 Kennington Park. (Jewish Chron. 30.11.1888)

Elias Moses, see James Jacobs, 1826

Hannah d.o. Mr E. Moses, of Bristol, marriage, see Mr. D. Hyam, 1834

Christian Judith Nicholson, "an adult, daughter of. Hyman and Esther Wolfe, both of the Jewish persuasion, of Milk Street, (on daughter's evidence)", baptised St Paul's 24.10.1819. (She was presumably born Judith Wolfe)

Lewis Samuel, 28, outfitter, 55 Broad Quay, Bristol, son of N. Samuels (sic) watchmaker & Leah Jacob, 22, 11 Mosley St, Plymouth, father H. Jacob, traveller, married Plymouth 23 May 1875

Isaac Solomons, see Benjamin Aaron, 1835

Miss Solomon, see Israel Cohen 1786

William Tobias, "a Jew, formerly a travelling trader in Manchester, it being Epiphany when there was a full service and sermon", baptised at St Mary Redcliffe, 6.1.1826 (Bishops' Transcripts of St MR)

Hyman, Esther and Judith Wolfe, see Christian Judith Nicholson, 1819

Rev S. Wolfe, minister of the Synagogue, 1825, see B.I. Joseph

Miscellaneous:
"To be sold, a house in St Philip and St Jacob's, with the Jews burial ground in the same yard. FFBJ 31.3.1759

"A Jew purchased a very good gold seal for sixpence, taking advantage of a woman's ignorance, at Temple Street." FFBJ 13.2.1768.

Key:

BM - Bristol Mirror. FFBJ - Felix Farley's Bristol Journal, Obit - obituary
PR - Parish Register
Q/S ts BRO - Quarter Sessions transcripts at Bristol Record Office.
SFBJ - Sarah Farley's Bristol Journal
Samuel - Judith Samuel, "Jews in Bristol".