Saturday, 19 April 2025

Fannie Yaffe (1888 - 1985)

Fannie Yaffe, also spelt Fanny, is the second wife of Simon Bernard Glynn, born Simon Bernard Glembovsky, whose first wife, Esther Reizel Levin, is my maternal 2x great aunt. Simon could also be my 1st cousin 3x removed. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Kolman Yaffe (1843 - 1918) and Jane Mariassa (1860 - 1928)


Tombstones for Kolman and Jane Yaffe. They are buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England

Born: 21 June 1888 in Vitupsk, also known as Vitebsk, Russian Empire nowadays Vitsyebsk, Belarus

Hebrew name: Tziviah Feiga daughter of Kalman

Siblings:
  • Rose Yaffe (1884 - 1932) married Abraham Zatz (1883 - 1951) in (July - September) 1905 in Manchester, England
  • Edith Yaffe (1891 - 1976) married Sidney Joel Green (1895 - 1974) in (April - May) 1919 in Liverpool, England
  • Simon Yaffe (1891 - 1918)
  • Abram Yaffe (1895 - 1990) married Esther Nancy Franks (1900 - 1990) in (April to June) 1920 in Liverpool, England
  • Gertrude Yaffe (1899 - 1985) she married Barney Deutch, later Dutch (1888 - 1972) in (January - March) 1921 in Liverpool, England

Migration: Fannie came to England with her family as a teenager sometime between 1901 and 1911

Married: 
1) Mr Gould possibly before 1911 as she is not listed as living with her parents and siblings in the 1911 census. They lived in Canada. He died sometime before 1928 and Fanny returned to Liverpool, England

2) Simon Bernard Glynn in Liverpool, England on 3 February 1928. Simon was 51 and Fanny was 39

SILVER WEDDINGS. GLYNN. Mr. and Mr. Simon Glyna (Fanny Yaffe) announce the 15th anniversary of their wedding, solemnised on February 1, 1928. 33. Blundell Drive, Hillside, Southport. (Jewish Chronicle 1943)

Census details
1939 Register
In the 1939 register the family are living at 33 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. Simon, born on 15 May 1874, is a wool merchant and Fannie, born on 21 June 1888 is a housewife


Travel
Fannie travelling from Southampton, England to Madeira, Portugal on 6 March 1959 aboard the New York

Death
14 July 1985 (25 Tamuz 5745) in Liverpool, England at age 97. She is buried in the Long Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England, plot D-A-17


Tombstone: In loving memory of Fannie Glynn who passed away 14 July 1985 aged 97 years. Deeply mourned by ger devoted brother, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends

Hebrew translation: A woman of Valor. Tzivia Feiga daughter of Kalman passed away on 25 Tamuz 5745

Probate
GLYNN, Fannie or GLYN, Fannie of Stapely Hosp North Mossley Hill Rd Liverpool died 14 July 1985 Probate Liverpool 9 January £252302

Place of Birth

Fanny Yaffe was born in Vitupsk, also known as Vitebsk, Russian Empire nowadays Vitsyebsk, Belarus

VITEBSK, capital of Vitebsk district, Belarus. The first Jewish settlement appears to have been established in Vitebsk at the end of the 16th century. The charter given to the residents of Vitebsk in 1597 by Sigismund III Vasa forbids Jews "in accordance with long-held practice" to dwell within the city. Still, it appears that some Jews did live there, under the protection of the local nobility, both before and after 1597. The Jewish community developed, though not without conflict with the Christian population of the city over Jewish rights and privileges. In 1627 the local ruler S. Sangushko granted permission for the construction of a synagogue in the city. A document from the 17th century takes note of "the Jew's gate."

During the war between Poland and the government of Moscow in 1654, Jews fought in the defense of the city. When it fell to the Russians, their property was confiscated and they were taken captive, not being released until peace was achieved with Poland (1667). Upon the Jews' return they had to enter into litigation with their neighbors who had appropriated their property. In 1679 King John III Sobieski granted a charter to the Jews, restoring their former privileges and promising them freedom of religion and commercial rights. This charter was renewed and confirmed by the kings of Poland in 1729 and 1759. In 1708, during the war with Sweden, the Jewish quarter of Vitebsk was destroyed by fire. The local residents then occupied the plot where the synagogue had been and built a church upon it. The Lithuanian supreme court ordered them to return the land to the Jews and pay damages of 13,500 gold pieces. The Jewish community of Vitebsk was part of the Council of the *Lands. It was under the jurisdiction of the Brest-Litovsk community and through it was subject to the Lithuanian Council. The Vitebsk Jewish community kept a pinkas (minute-book) from 1706.

With the first partition of Poland in 1772 Vitebsk was annexed to Russia. At that time the community numbered 1,227 persons, or about a quarter of the town's population. Most of Vitebsk's trade in flax and tobacco was conducted with Riga by way of the Dvina River. With the completion of the Orel-Vitebsk-Dvinsk railroad during the 1860s the commerce of Vitebsk with regional towns and villages increased and the Jewish community grew accordingly. After their expulsion from Moscow in 1891 some of the Jews transferred their businesses to Vitebsk. In 1897 the city had 34,420 Jews (52.4% of the total population).

Vitebsk was a stronghold of Orthodox Judaism, containing elements of Lithuanian Jewish scholarship, and even stronger ḥasidic influences. At the end of the 18th century the founders of Lithuanian Ḥasidism, Menahem *Mendel of Vitebsk and Shneur Zalman of Lyady, were active in the city. Strong *Ḥabad ḥasidic influences were present. The rabbi of the city from 1803 to 1860 was Yiẓḥak Isaac Behard, who was both kazyonny ravvin (government-appointed rabbi) and the choice of the admor. Jekuthiel Zalman Landau succeeded him in the rabbinate serving also as head of the yeshivah of Vitebsk. After Landau moved to St. Petersburg the community did not select a new chief rabbi, as a result of a dispute between the Ḥasidim and Mitnaggedim. During the last years of the 19th century 72% of the school-age children studied in the ḥeder and talmud torah schools of Vitebsk.

The settlement of Jews in Vitebsk who had been expelled from Moscow strengthened the Haskalah elements in the city. The Ḥibbat Zion movement began to develop, as did the Socialist movement at a later date. Vitebsk was one of the first centers of the Bund. In 1901 the Zionist leader Grigori (Ẓevi Hirsch) Bruck was selected as kazyonny ravvin of Vitebsk. He had great influence upon the life of the community, even after he was deposed by the authorities. This occurred as a result of his position as a delegate to the Duma, in which he signed the Wyborg Proclamation. The Zionist and Po'alei Zion movements flourished, causing the talmud torah to be converted into a Hebrew school. After 1905 several private gymnasia opened in the city, most of the students being Jewish. The artist Y. Pen opened an art school which trained hundreds of young people, including Marc Chagall and S. Yudovin. S. An-Ski and C. Zhitlovsky were both from Vitebsk. During World War I Vitebsk served as a way station for tens of thousands of Jews who had been expelled from Lithuania. Several thousands of them settled there permanently.

With the advent of Soviet rule the Vitebsk Jewish community began to decline. Thousands of residents who had come from Lithuania and Latvia used their rights of relocation and emigrated from the Soviet Union. The Yevsektsiya established one of its centers in Belorussia in Vitebsk, publishing the paper Der Royter Shtern ("The Red Star") until 1923. In 1921 a public trial "over the ḥeder" was conducted in Vitebsk and several synagogues in the city were confiscated. The Vitebsk He-Ḥalutz movement was harassed and came to an end during the middle of the 1920s. Vitebsk had a semi-legal Ḥabad yeshivah until 1930. In 1923 there were 39,714 Jews (43.7% of the total population). In 1926 there were 37,013 (37.5%).

With the Nazi conquest of the city in July 1941 part of the Jewish population fled into the interior of Russia. The city was destroyed in a fire started by the retreating Red Army. The 16,000 Jews who remained behind were imprisoned in a ghetto. On October 8, 1941, their systematic liquidation began. After the liberation of the city from the Germans Jews began to return. In the later 1960s the Jewish population was estimated at about 20,000 but there was no synagogue. Most left during the large-scale emigration of the 1990s.

Residence

In the 1939 register Simon and Fanny Glynn are listed as living at 33 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. Simon lived there until his death in 1955. In 1939 my mom and her family moved to Southport from Liverpool. They lived for several months with Simon and Fanny at no 33 while her father Marcus looked for a new home. Eventually they moved almost diagonally opposite the Glynn family to 50 Blundell Drive which is at bottom left of the photo

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Simon Bernard Glynn (1874 - 1955)

Simon Bernard Glynn, born Simon Bernard Glembovsky, is the husband of 1) Esther Reizel Levin, my 2x great aunt and 2) Fannie Gould (Nee Yaffe). He may also be my 1st cousin 3x removed. Levin family HERE. Glynn family HERE

As well as being husband and wife, Esther and Simon were also possibly 1st cousins as they may have shared the same grandparents! Simon's mother Minnie and Esther's father Aaron may have been brother and sister but I am yet to confirm this

Parents
: Abraham Glembovsky and Minnie Levin

Born: 15 May 1874 in Kamenitz, Grodno, Russian Empire, nowadays known as Kamyanyets, Belarus. Date of birth as per the 1939 register. However his naturalization papers suggest he was born in 1877 and his tombstone suggests 1875

Hebrew name: Shimon Dov son of Avraham

Siblings:
  • Isidor Glynn (1891 - 1935) married Tillie Scheinbaum (1895 - 1927) in Manhattan, New York on 29 November 1919 and following her death he married Frieda Hellman (1893 - 1974) on 27 September 1927 in Manhattan, New York
  • Anna (Annie) Glynn (1891 - 1972) married Benjamin Gould (1889 - 1947) in Kamenitz, Poland

Chart showing Simon's siblings and parents 

Naturalization:
Simon and his children Minnie and Freda became naturalised British citizens on 15 August 1902. The family were living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England at the time

Occupation: Simon worked in the clothing industry on his own account, initially as a shopkeeper, then a tailer's cutter, then a woolen merchant and he also established the Erskine clothing factory which operated out of  22 Tarleton Street, Liverpool

Married: 
1) Esther Reizel Levin in (January - March) 1898 in Liverpool, England. Simon was 23 and Esther 20

Children
Their first child was born in 1898 when Simon was 24 and Esther 21. Their last child was born in 1903 when Simon was 29 and Esther 26 
  • Minnie Glynn 1896 - 1980
  • Gertrude Glynn 1900 - 1901
  • Freda Glynn 1901 - 1903
  • Leah (Lily) Glynn 1903 - 1981

Esther and Simon's two daughters who reached adulthood, Lily (on left) and Minnie Glynn in around 1910

Married:
2) Following Esther's death on November 1921, Simon married a widow, Fannie Gould (Nee Yaffe), in Liverpool, England on 3 February 1928. Simon was 51 and Fanny was 39

SILVER WEDDINGS. GLYNN. Mr. and Mr. Simon Glyna (Fanny Yaffe) announce the 15th anniversary of their wedding, solemnised on February 1, 1928. 33. Blundell Drive, Hillside, Southport. (Jewish Chronicle 1943)

Census details
1901
Esther and Simon are married and the family are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 26 and working at home on his own account as a clothier shop keeper. Esther is age 24 and their daughter Minnie is age 2


1911
The family are living in a 6 room house at 48 Erskine street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 35 and a tailor's cutter working from home on his own account. Esther is age 34 and the two children, Minnie age 12 and Leah age 7 are both at school


1921
The family in the 1921 census taken on 21 June are living at 6 Cairns street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 46 years and 9 months and a wholesale clothing manufacturer and merchant. He is an employer with his premises at 1 Islington Square, Liverpool. Esther is age 44 years and 3 months and the two children are Minnie age 22 years and 7 months and Lily age 17 years and 11 months. Also living with them is Elizabeth Brown, a domestic servant age 57 years and 4 months



1939 Register
In the 1939 register the family are living at 33 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. Simon, born on 15 May 1874, is a wool merchant and Fannie, born on 21 June 1888 is a housewife


Masonic Lodge
Simon became a member of the Egremont Masonic Lodge, Cheshire, in 1915

Newspaper article
BLACK-OUT FINES RANGE TO £10

Fines ranging up to £10 were imposed at Liverpool Police Court, today, for exposing lights from windows during the black-out. ...

Simon Glynn was fined £5 for exposing a light at business premises in Tarleton-street, Liverpool.

It was stated for Glynn that an employee left the light on in a stock room, which was not much used. (Liverpool Evening Express 15 March 19540 p. 8)

Death
14 June 1955 (24 Sivan 5715) in Southport, England at age 81. He is buried in the Duke street cemetery, Southport, England


Tombstone for Simon Glynn. In loving memory of Simon Glynn passed away 14 June 1955 aged 80 years. Deeply mourned by his dear wife, daughters, sons-in-law, sister, grandchildren, relatives and friends. May his dear soul rest in peace (Abbr.)

Hebrew translation: Here is buried Mr. Shimon Dov son of Mr. Abraham, may his memory be for a blessing. Passed away 24 Sivan 5715. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life

Death Certificate
Death certificate for Simon Glynn. He died on 14th June 1955 at his home - 33 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. He was 80. His occupation was given as retired shopkeeper (tailors trimmings) and company director / clothing manufacturer. Cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage and arterial sclerosis from hypertension. The informant was his son-in-law Maxwell Levinson

Obituary
GLYNN.--On June 14, at 33. Blundell Drive, Hillside. Southport, in his 81st year, Simon Glynn, beloved husband of Fannie. dear father of Minnie Levinson and Lily Davies, and brother of Annie Gould (Liverpool). Deeply mourned by his sons-in-law, Max and Harry, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends (Jewish Chronicle, 1955)

Probate
GLYNN Simon of 33 Blundell-drive Hillside Southport Lancashire died 14 June 1955 Probate Liverpool 10 September to Fannie Glynn widow Maxwell Levinson company director and Simon Bernard Levin solicitor. Effects £16131 13s. 3d.

Place of Birth

Simon Glynn was born in Kamenitz, Grodno, Russian Empire, nowadays known as Kamyanyets, Belarus

Kamyenyets or Kamyanyets (Belarusian: Камянец), is a town in Brest Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Kamyenyets District.The town is located in the northwestern corner of Brest Region on the Lyasnaya River, about 40 kilometres north from Brest. The Leśna Prawa river flows through the town. In 2002, its population was approximately 9,000. The Jewish Population was 2,722 in 1897.

Jews likely settled in Kamyanyets in the 16th or early 17th century, during a time when many towns in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth welcomed Jewish settlers. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Kamyanyets had an organized Jewish community with a synagogue, schools, and various religious and social institutions. Jews played a significant role in the town's economy, often working as merchants, artisans, and traders. The Jewish population grew and established a vibrant community, including Hasidic influences. After World War I, the area became part of the Second Polish Republic. Despite growing antisemitism, the Jewish community in Kamyanyets remained active, with political and cultural organizations such as Zionist groups and Hebrew schools. Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, and Kamyanyets was occupied shortly after. In 1942, most of the Jewish population of Kamyanyets was murdered during the Holocaust, either in local massacres or deportations to extermination camps. 

Residences
In the 1901 census Esther and Simon and their daughter Minnie are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In the 1911 census Esther and Simon and their children are living at 49 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists


In the 1921 census the family are living at 6 Cairns Street, Liverpool, England. Simo's factory at 1 Islington square, Liverpool no longer exists. Liverpool University now has a building on the site


Simon had his clothing factory at 22 Tarleton Street. Liverpool, England


In the 1939 register the family are listed as living at 33 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. Simon lived there until his death in 1955. In 1939 my mom and her family moved to Southport from Liverpool. They lived for several months with Simon and Fanny at no 33 while her father Marcus looked for a new home. Eventually they moved almost diagonally opposite the Glynns to 50 Blundell Drive which is at bottom left of the photo

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Esther Reizel Levin (1877 - 1921)

Esther Reizel Levin is my 2x great aunt. Levin family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents
Aaron Levin (1844 - 1910) and Gertrude

Tombstones for her father Aaron Levin and her step-mother Annie Isabella Levin (Nee Broude). They are both buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England

Born: March 1877 in 
Sislowitz, Grodno, Belarus

Hebrew name: Ester Reizel daughter of Aharon

Migration: The family came to Liverpool, England in 1884 when Esther was about 7 years old

Naturalization:
Esther Levin, along with her family, became a naturalised British citizen in March 1893. The family were living at 93 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England at the time

Married: Simon Bernard Glynn in (January - March) 1898 in Liverpool, England. Simon was 23 and Esther 20

Children
Their first child was born in 1898 when Simon was 24 and Esther 21. Their last child was born in 1903 when Simon was 29 and Esther 26 
  • Minnie Glynn 1896 - 1980
  • Gertrude Glynn 1900 - 1901
  • Freda Glynn 1901 - 1903
  • Leah (Lily) Glynn 1903 - 1981

Esther and Simon's two daughters who reached adulthood, Lily (on left) and Minnie Glynn in around 1910

Intermarriage
As well as being husband and wife, Esther and Simon were also 1st cousins as they shared the same grandparents! Simon's mother Minnie and Esther's father Aaron were brother and sister

Census details
1891
The Levin family is at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England. Esther's parents are Aaron age 48, a furniture broker and Isabella age 33. The children are Jacob, age 19, born in Russia and a draper, Rachel age 17 and a shopkeeper, Esther age 13, Sarah age 11, Leah age 4 and Abraham age 1 month, There are also 3 boarders; Isaac Broady age 48 and a commercial traveller (also a distant cousin of Isabella), Nap Finestone age 32, Judah Rapmorly age 26 and a sick nurse, Sarah Menca age 40


1901
Esther and Simon are married and the family are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 26 and working at home on his own account as a clothier shop keeper. Esther is age 24 and their daughter Minnie is age 2


1911
The family are living in a 6 room house at 48 Erskine street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 35 and a tailor's cutter working from home on his own account. Esther is age 34 and the two children, Minnie age 12 and Leah age 7 are both at school


1921
The family in the 1921 census taken on 21 June are living at 6 Cairns street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 46 years and 9 months and a wholesale clothing manufacturer and merchant. He is an employer with his premises at 1 Islington Square, Liverpool. Esther is age 44 years and 3 months and the two children are Minnie age 22 years and 7 months and Lily age 17 years and 11 months. Also living with them is Elizabeth Brown, a domestic servant age 57 years and 4 months



Death
23 November 1921 in Liverpool, England at age 44 / 45 from a stroke. She is buried in the Rice Lane cemetery, Liverpool, England plot no c-17-01


Tombstone for Esther. In loving memory of Esther Glynn, who died 23rd November 1921, aged 45 years. Deeply mourned by her dear husband and daughters

Hebrew translation: Esther Reizel daughter of Aharon. First letter of each row makes it Ester R. Died on the 22 Marcheshvan (Cheshvan) 5682

Death certificate
Death certificate for Esther. She died on 23 November 1921 in her house at 6 Cairns street, Liverpool, England at age 45. Cause of death was heart disease and a stroke

Obituary
GLYNN.-On the 23rd of November, at 6, Cairns-street, Princes Park, Liverpool, after a long illness, Esther, the dearly beloved wife of Simon Glynn. Deeply mourned by her husband, daughters, Minnie and Lily, sisters, and brothers. (Jewish Chronicle, November 1921)

Place of Birth
Esther Levin was born in Sislowitz in the Grodno Province of Belarus

SVISLOCH (Pol. Swisłocz ), town in Grodno district, Belarus; within Poland before 1795 and between the two world wars. A number of Jews settled there at the beginning of the 18th century on the invitation of the owners of the locality, the princes of Tyszkiewicz. In 1752 the Council of Lithuania imposed a poll tax of 215 zlotys on the Svisloch community, which numbered 220 in 1766. Until the middle of the 19th century the Jews of Svisloch earned their livelihood mainly from trade in timber and grain, shopkeeping, and crafts; they later also engaged in innkeeping and the lease of public houses. After a great fire, in which most of the Jewish shops were destroyed, the fairs were no longer held in Svisloch and the Jews were deprived of their principal sources of livelihood. Around 1870 Jews began to pioneer in the tanning industry and improved methods of manufacture with the assistance of German experts whom they invited. By the end of the 19th century a number of tanneries had been established in Svisloch, which employed hundreds of workers. Many Jews from the surrounding areas went there in search of employment. As early as the middle of the 19th century Jewish craftsmen in Svisloch attempted to organize themselves into guilds. At the beginning of the 20th century the Bund Movement developed in Svisloch and it embraced the whole of the Jewish working populace (tanners, tailors, shoemakers, carpenters. smiths, and bakers), who organized strikes for the amelioration of working conditions in tanneries and factories. In 1905 the workers' organization was established for Jewish self-defense against pogroms.

Residences

In the 1891 census the family was listed as living at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England and by the time they were naturalised in 1893 the family had moved to 93 Richmond Row. Both properties no longer exist

In the 1901 census Esther and Simon and their daughter Minnie are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In the 1911 census Esther and Simon and their children are living at 49 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists


In the 1921 census the family are living at 6 Cairns Street, Liverpool, England. Simo's factory at 1 Islington square, Liverpool no longer exists. Liverpool University now has a building on the site