Maxwell Levinson (1895 - 1960)

Maxwell Levinson, known as Max, is the husband of Minnie Glynn, my 1st cousin 2x removed. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Moses Hyman Levinson (1857 - 1932) and Hannah Rachel Zussman (1864 - 1943)

Tombstones for Max's parents. They are both buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery in Liverpool, England

Born: 20 July 1895 in Svislach or Svisloch (Belarusian: Свiслач, romanized: Svislač, Russian: Свислочь; Polish: Świsłocz; Yiddish: סיסלעוויטש), a town nowadays in the Grodno Region, Belarus

Hebrew name: Menachem son of Moishe Chaim

Siblings

• Fanny Leah Levinson (1886 - 1960) married Julius Michael Ruck (1874 - 1960) in Liverpool, England on 24 February 1909
• Rachel (Raie) Levinson (1896 - 1961) married Harris Endbinder (1886 - 1975) in (july - September) 1918 in Liverpool, England
• Cecilia Levinson (1902 - 1957) married Harris Lewis in (January - March) 1923 in Liverpool, England

Migration: Max came with his family to England sometime between 1903 and 1908, age 8 to 13. After the outset of World War 1 in August 1914 Max went to Argentina, where he gained Argentine citizenship, returning to England on 3 June 1920. Max's mother Hannah was said to have said that WW1 was nothing to do with us, so Max should not run the risk of recruitment, and he was shipped off to South America. At some point he was an (or possibly the) agent for Omega watches in Argentina!

He probably lived with the Glembovsky family, a branch of which went to Moisés Ville in Santa Fe, Argentina in the 1890s. Max was subsequently to marry into that family - in England they changed their name to Glynn

Max returning to England aboard the Highland Laddie which departed from La Plata, Argentina and arrived in London on 3 June 1920. His occupation is listed as assistant manager

Naturalization: Max became an Argentine citizen sometime between 1912 and 1920. In April 1940 he took steps to acquire British citizenship and this was issued on 9 April 1947

NOTICE is hereby given that MAXWELL LEVINSON, of 3, Lancaster Avenue, Sefton Park, Liverpool, is applying to the Home Secretary for naturalization, and that any person who knows any reason why naturalization should not be granted should send a written and signed statement of the facts to the Under Secretary of State, Home Office, S.W.1. (Liverpool Evening Express 17 August 1940)

Documents relating to Max being granted British citizenship on 9 April 1947

Occupation: His father-in-law, Simon Glynn, established the Erskine Clothing Company. Max became a company director and eventually took charge. They had a factory  by Lavey Beach on Tent Road in the Isle of Man and a distribution centre in Anne Street, Liverpool

The Erskine Clothing Factory located by Laxey Beach on Tent Road, Isle of Man. The building was built in the mid-to-late 19th century and became the Erskine factory in the 1930s.

Married: Minnie Glynn on 16 March 1922 in the Princess Road synagogue, Liverpool, England. Max was 26 and Minnie age 23

Engagement Notice: GLYNN: LEVINSON-Minnie, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Glynn, 6, Cairns-street, Princes Park, to Max, only son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Levinson, 7, Montpelier-terrace, Liverpool. (Jewish Chronicle 17 June 1921)

Marriage Notice: LEVINSON: GLYNN. On March 16, 1922, at Princes Road Synagogue, Liverpool, the marriage was solemnised of Max Levinson to Minnie Glynn. -3, Lancaster Avenue, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 17. (Jewish Chronicle)

Children

Their first child was born in 1924 when Max was 28 and Minnie 25. Their last child was born in 1933 when Max was 37 and Minnie 34 

• Alan Cecil Levinson 1924 - 2011
• Estelle Rose Levinson 1925 - 2012
• Eric Leon (Hershel) Levinson 1928 - 2019
• Marlene Viva Levinson 1933- 2021

Census details

1911

Max and his family are living in a five room house at 147 Mill Street, Liverpool, England. His father is Moses age 52, a shopkeeper and house furnisher working on his own account at home. His mother Hannah is age 46. His sisters are Rachel age 16 and Cecilia age 13. Max is age 17 and assisting in the business

1921

The family are now living in a 5 room terrace at 7 Montpelier Terrace, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool. Moses is age 62 and six months and a picture framer on his own account working out of a premises on 33 Park Place, Liverpool. Hannah Rachel is listed as Rachel and is 57 and three months. Cecilia is 23 and five months and a school teacher. Max is 25 years and eleven months, an assistant manager and now an Argentine citizen and Fanny is now married, named Fanny Ruck age 36 years and eleven months

1939 Register

Minnie and Max are married and living at 40 Emmanuel Road, Southport, England. Maxwell is a clothing manufacturer. One of their children is living with them. Also living with them is Minnie's sister Lily and her husband Harry Davies, a school teacher as well as their two children Elaine and Marcia

Photo

Max's son Hershel Levinson at back. L-R, Max's aunt by marriage Annie Gould (Nee Glynn / Glembovsky), his wife Minnie Levinson (Nee Glynn) and his daughter Estelle Levinson. Probably taken sometime in the mid to late 1940s

Electoral Roll

Max and Minnie in 1930 at 35 Kelvin Grove, Liverpool

Max and Minnie from 1940 onwards at 3 Lancaster Avenue, Liverpool

Death

19 June 1960 (24 Sivan 5720) in Southport, England at age 64. He is buried in the Broadgreen Cemetery, Liverpool, England plot no L 003.03

Liverpool Jewish burial record for Max Levinson. His date of death is incorrectly given as 16 June instead of 19 June

LEVINSON -June 19, at Southport Infirmary. MAXWELL (of Liverpool and Southport), beloved husband of Minnie. (Deeply mourned by his whole family.) Prayers at 8 p.m. 17 Blackwood Avenue Woolton (Liverpool Echo · Monday, June 20, 1960)

Tombstone for Max Levinson: In loving memory of Maxwell Levinson who died 19 June 1960. Aged 64 years. Who loyally served the Old Hebrew Congregation and the community. 

Deeply mourned by his wife, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, relatives and friends

Hebrew translation: "Here is buried A dear and honoured man
Punctilious and occupied with his community. Mr. Menachem son of Mr. Moshe Chaim Passed away 24 Sivan 5720. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life"

Probate

LEVINSON Maxwell of 6 Hastings Road Hillside Southport Lancashire died 19 June 1960 at The Infirmary Southport Probate Liverpool 2 January [1961] to Minnie Levinson widow Eric Leon Levinson company director and Oskar Dover medical practitioner. Effects £28,860 2s. 8d.

Place of Birth

Max Levinson was born in Svislach 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 1911 the family were living at 147 Mill Street Liverpool. This house may date from after this period

In the 1921 census the family are living at 7 Montpelier Terrace, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, England L8. This Regency terrace, dating from the 1820’s, stood between Grove Street and Bloom Street and was demolished in the late 1960’s. This is a view of part of Montpelier Terrace taken in 1968. It is now the site of the Woman's Hospital

In 1930 Max and Minnie are living at 35 Kelvin Grove, Liverpool, England

In the 1939 register Minnie and Max are living at 40 Emmanuel Road, Southport, England

In the 1940s and 1950s the Levinson family lived at 3 Lancaster Avenue, Liverpool, England