Marcus Levin, sometimes shortened to Mark (which annoyed him), is my maternal great grandfather. Levin family HERE. Baum family tree Here
Born: 9 March 1899 in Liverpool, England
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From his father Jacob's prayer book, published in 1901: "A son was born to him, in good mazal, on Thursday the week Torah portion Vayekhal- Pekudei , 27 Adar 5659
And he was called Mordechai Gershon, after the grandfather of his wife. (Marks (Mordechai Gershon) Baum)" (in other words his mother Hannah's grandfather, so actually Marcus's great grandfather)
After that it says "may he live long days"
Hebrew name: Mordechai Gershon, son of Yaakov Tzvi
Schooling
Admission register (no 810) for Marcus for the Liverpool Collegiate (Middle) School in 1913. His father is listed as Jacob, a draper of 142 Islington. His previous school, which he attended for 7 years (1906 - 1912), was the Wesleyan Brunswick School in Erskine Street, Liverpool
Occupation: Marcus wanted to go to University, but after his father Jacob died at age 44 from bowel cancer in 1917, Marcus had no option but to take over the running of the family drapery shop, which he did until his retirement in 1954, which he described as one of the best days of his life! He was observant and the shop closed on Saturday's and Jewish holidays and after he retired the business was sold
Married:
1) Zella Greenberg on 1 February 1927 in Liverpool England. Marcus was 27 years old and Zella celebrated her 23rd birthday on her wedding day!
Children
Their first child, Jacob Harold, survived for only a few hours when born on 31 August 1928. Marcus was 29 and Zella 24. Their final child, also called Jacob Harold, but known as Jack, was born in 1932 when Marcus was 33 and Zella 28
- Jacob Harold Levin 31 August 1928 - 31 August 1928
- Ruth Levin 1930 -
- Jacob Harold (Jack) Levin 1932 -
2) Dorothy Sophia Malpass (Nee Abrahamson) in (July - September) 1975 in Southport, England. Dorothy was the matron of the hospital where Marcus was admitted when falling ill sometime after the death of his first wife Zella, who died in July in 1974
Census details
1901
Marcus's parents, Hannah and Jacob, married in 1898 and are living at 50 Stafford Street, Liverpool. Jacob is age 28 and a dealer in drapery and clothing on his own account working from home. Hannah is age 23 and their son Marcus is age 2. Living with them is Jacob's sister, Sarah Levin, age 21 and a school teacher, also Mary Barry, age 23, born in Ireland and a domestic servant
1911
Marcus and his family are at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool, England. His father Jacob is 38, a dealer in drapery and has a shop operating from the premises, which has eight rooms. His mother Hannah is 33 and the children are Marcus age 12 and Simon Bernard age 5
Marcus and his family are at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool, England. His father Jacob is 38, a dealer in drapery and has a shop operating from the premises, which has eight rooms. His mother Hannah is 33 and the children are Marcus age 12 and Simon Bernard age 5
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1921
The family is still at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool, England. Jacob died in 1917 and Marcus has taken over the running of the drapery business, which is operating from the premises. Hannah is 43 and the children are Marcus age 22, Simon Bernard age 15 and Gertrude Esther age 4
The family is still at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool, England. Jacob died in 1917 and Marcus has taken over the running of the drapery business, which is operating from the premises. Hannah is 43 and the children are Marcus age 22, Simon Bernard age 15 and Gertrude Esther age 4
1939 Register
In the 1939 register Marcus and Zella are living at 3 Yorke Avenue, Liverpool, England. His occupation is listed as manager - drapery business
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Military Service
World War I
When men turned 18 they were conscripted. Marcus turned 18 on 9 March 1918 and on 29 March 1918 his father died from bowel cancer age 44, leaving a wife Hannah, and three other children, Simon Bernard Levin age 11, Aaron Levin, who had down syndrome, age 4 and an infant girl, Gertie Levin, age 3 weeks. Marcus had to assist his mother in running the family business and therefore applied to the relevant military tribunal on grounds of domestic hardship. The tribunal assigned him to the 6th Battalion Lancaster Volunteer Regiment where he served with the rank of private
World War II
When the 2nd World War broke out Marcus was 40 years of age. Conscription was initially imposed on all men between the ages of 18 to 41 years and Marcus was assigned to civil defence warden duties in Southport
Marcus Levin civil defence warden service
National Registration Identity Cards
World War I
World War II
Electoral register - extract
Street Directory
Marcus Levin listed as living at 3 York Avenue, from the 1938 Kelly's Directory of Liverpool and suburbs
Freemasonry - Lodge of Israel
FREEMASONS HONOUR WORSHIPFUL MASTER
IN honour of Worshipful Master Mr. Marcus Levin and Mrs.
Levin, of Blundell Drive, Birkdale, the Freemason Lodge of Israel 5102,
Liverpool, held a dinner and dance at the Palace Hotel, on Wednesday night,
when the company numbered 350, wives being the guests. They came from
Southport, Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool and London.
Those attending were received by Mr. and Mrs. Levin and
their daughter, Miss Ruth Levin, a bouquet of red carnations being presented to
Mrs. Levin on behalf of the lodge. Other gifts made during the evening were a
jewel case and a silver tea and coffee service as mark of appreciation from
members of the lodge.
The toast of the Worshipful Master was proposed by Worshipful
Brother Alex Myerson, to which Mr. and Mrs. Levin suitably replied. Brother
Myer Gordon, senior warden, proposed the toast to the women guests, Mrs. J.
Gould responding. For each of the latter there was a gift in the form of a pen.
Arrangements for the evening were under the direction of
Worshipful Brother Leon Samuels
A Freemason dinner honouring Marcus Levin in 1952. Marcus belonged to the Freemason Lodge of Israel 5102, Liverpool
Death
20 November 1980 at the Promenade Hospital, Southport, England at 81 years of age. He suffered from emphysema but died from a cerebral haemorrhage (Marcus was a heavy pipe smoker his entire adult life). Buried in the Broadgreen Cemetery, Liverpool, England, plot no R 03-004
Liverpool Jewish Burial Record for Marcus Levin
Tombstone inscription: In loving memory of Marcus Levin, who passed away 20th November 1980, in his 82nd year. Loved and missed by his wife, children, relatives and friends
Hebrew translation: Here is buried a righteous and upright man, Mordechai Gershon, son of Yaakov Tzvi, died 13 Kislev 5741 (1980). May his soul be bound up in the bond of (eternal) life
Death Notices
Obituary
Our Southport Correspondent Mr. Louis Alexander writes: It
is with a deep sense of loss that I refer to the death of Marcus Levin of
Southport and Liverpool.
The name Levin is synonymous with Princes Road and Islington
Synagogues, (the latter destroyed in the Blitz in 1941) and of which his father
the late Jacob Levin was a founder in 1908.
Marcus had over 50 years service in Masonry holding Past and
Provincial honours and he was respected and liked by all who knew him.
When he remarried his happiness restarted, but unfortunately
illness overtook him a few years ago but he was fortunate to be blessed with a
loving wife who, with her knowledge of nursing gave him every care and
devotion.
Our sympathy is extended to his widow Dorothy, to his son
Jack and daughter Ruth in South Africa, to his brother Bertie and to his eight
grandchildren, in their loss.
Marcus Levin obituary in the Liverpool Gazette 12 December 1980
Probate
Marcus Levin Probate 5 January 1983. He was living at Flat 1, Sherwood Lodge, 9 Lulworth Road, Southport, England. The value of his estate was £25,405
Observations
Marcus wanted to go to university, but his father died on the
29th March 1917, living his mother with a baby daughter less than a
month old and a disabled child. Marcus therefore had no other option but to forgo
University and take over his father’s business in order to support the family.
On 1 February 1927 he married Zella Greenberg in
Liverpool. Mark was almost 28 years old and she celebrated her 23rd
birthday on her wedding day! The groom was Marcus’s best friend, Hymie Radam,
and his niece, Barbara Harris, would later marry Ruth’s brother, Jack. Marcus suffered from the flu on his wedding day, and that is why he looks like he is
falling over in the wedding photo. Actually Zella was propping him up! They
honeymooned in Paris and visited the art galleries and museums and Zella –
never a slim woman - told my mother that after seeing the Rubenesque nudes she
felt much batter! Zella and Mark lived in a terrace house in 3 York Avenue,
Liverpool, before moving to Southport in 1940, where they had a large house
built at 50 Blundell Drive. My mom is not sure how they met, but it could have
been through shared interests in a badminton club or one of the Jewish youth
clubs.
I got to know Marcus and Zella well as we spent time with them
in England in the late 1960s. They also came put to South Africa at regular
intervals, and Zella stayed with us on a trip to northern Italy in the summer
of 1968. When my sister Sarah-Nan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in
November 1957, Marcus refused to come out for what was his first grandchild, as
it was a girl not a boy. It was somewhat ironic, as Sarah-Nan became his firm
favourite. For my birthday they did come out, but when my sister Amanda was
born in July 1960, again Marcus refused to come, it being another girl. By this
stage Zella had had enough and she came out by herself!
Marcus was a very principled man, with firm views and
opinions. His politics were conservative, in contrast to his son Jack, who
sided with Labour. Mark smoked a pipe all his life, and it would eventually
kill him, as he died from emphysema, in Liverpool on 20 November 1980, age 81.
By coincidence, it was Sarah-Nan’s birthday. His father, Jacob Harold,
coincidentally also died on my birthday! Marcus also used to visit prisoners in
prison.
Marcus never learnt to drive, Zella having to do the driving
for him. The reason for not driving was due to “nerves”. He also had a habit of
nodding his head, which was described as a ‘tic’ and was also put down to
nerves. Born left-handed, he was forced to learn to write with his right hand.
This was achieved by using a leather belt to strap his left hand behind his back.
The results were an ungainly and untidy handwriting and a nervous affliction. The
family was observant and patriotic, Marcus observing once that he was “an
Englishman of the Hebrew persuasion”. Other observations were that if invited
to dinner one never talked ill of the meal or the company. He was a passionate
Mason most of his life and he had a keen sense of humour but was exasperated by
fools and miscreants.
In 1954 he retired and sold the business. He remarked that
it was the best day of his life! He and Zella departed on a cruise to South
Africa to visit his aunt Sarah Helfet (nee Levin) and her family, but she died
before they landed at Cape Town.
Sample letters
Photographs
Mark Levin at his daughter's wedding in Liverpool in April 1956
Zella and Marcus on holiday in the Kruger National Park, South Africa in the late 1950s
Miscellaneous documents
Residences
From 1929 to 1940 Marcus and Zella lived at 3 Yorke Avenue, Liverpool, England. It was a
two-story townhouse in the Liverpool suburb of Sefton Park and the family were relatively prosperous, having a live-in maid
At the outbreak of World War II it was widely felt that Liverpool would be heavily bombed
because of its extensive dockyards and therefore Mark and Zella decided to move
elsewhere. They built a large three-story house at 50 Blundell Drive in
Southport, a quiet seaside town 32 km north of Liverpool. Zella’s parents, Moss
(Mo) Greenberg and Minnie (Nee Ettinger), came and lived with them. Minnie was an
invalid who suffered from heart problems and Zella looked after her.
Liverpool was indeed heavily bombed during the War but
Southport escaped relatively unscathed. The Woodvale Royal Air Force Station
was established nearby for the defence of Liverpool and some German aircraft,
pursued by fighter planes from the airfield were consequently forced to drop
their bombs. One such bomb when dropped totally demolished a house in a
neighbouring street, all that was left was a large bomb crater. The house in Blundell
Drive had a makeshift air raid shelter for the family and the neighbours to
shelter in. Mark was the local warden. The house also had a large garden, and
an extensive vegetable patch was established to supplement the family diet.
Both Zella and Mark were keen gardeners and I have many fond memories of
playing in and enjoying their beautiful and extensive garden when we visited
there in 1967 and 1968. Mark and Zella lived there until the mid 1970s. The Black and white photo of the house was taken on 10 August 1947
After Zella's death Marcus sold 50 Blundell Drive and moved into Flat 1, Sherwood Lodge, 9 Lulworth Road, Southport, England. which he and Zella had previously purchased. he remained living there until his death in November 1980