Annie Isabella Broude (1856 - 1939)

Annie Isabella Broude is the 2nd (or possibly 3rd) wife of Aaron Levin, my maternal 2x great grandfather. Levin family HERE. Broude family HERE. Known variously as Annie Bella, Isabella, and Hinde Bella on her tombstone

Parents: Beryl Brouda (1830 - 1874) and Cyrl Malka (1830 - ?)

Born: 1856 in Roshki, a village near Svislach in the Grodno district, Russian Empire, now Roski Sialiec in Belarus. Her age differs in various documents, suggesting she was born sometime between 1855 and 1857

Hebrew name: Hinda Beila daughter of Dov

Migration:  Annie came to Liverpool in 1884 at about age 28 with her husband Aaron and his two sons and two daughters. Aaron was a Rabbinical teacher and came out with Annie's brother, Samuel Broude and taught at a Hebrew school

Married

Aaron Levin in Poland about 1881

Children

• an infant who probably died before 1884
• Leah Lillian Levin 1888 - 1972
• Abraham Levin 1891 - 1954

Aaron was previously married to Gertrude and they had the following children who Annie then helped raise: Simon, Jacob, Rachel, Esther and Sarah

Occupation: Butcher

Census details

1891

The Levin family is at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England. Aaron is age 48, a furniture broker and Isabella is age 33. The children are Jacob, age 19, born in Russia and a draper, Rachel age 17 born in Russia and a shopkeeper, Esther age 13 born in Russia, Sarah age 11 born in Russia, Leah age 4 born in Liverpool and Abraham age 1 month born in Liverpool. 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 Sarah Menca age 40, a sick nurse

1901

The family is living at 41 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, England. Aaron is 58 and a butcher. Isabella is age 45. The children are Leah age 20 and Abraham age 10. Lodging with them is Wolfe Rabinowitz age 46 and also a butcher

1911

The family is living in a seven room house at 78 Crown Street, Liverpool, England. Aaron died the previous year and Annie is a widow age 56 and running a butcher shop from the premises. Living with her are her daughter Leah age 23 and her son Abraham age 20. The records states that her marriage to Aaron lasted 29 years - so married in about 1881/2 - and that she has had three children in that marriage, two of which are still alive. I can find no record of a deceased child suggesting that a child might have died very young in the early 1880s before they came to England

1921

The family is living at 206 Brownslow Hill, Liverpool, England. Annie is age 64 and running a butcher's shop. Leah is age 30 and visiting them is Bessie Rudnik, age 16

Death

3 August 1939 in Liverpool, England at 81 years of age if born in 1858, 84 years of age if born in 1855. She was buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England, on 4 August 1939 in plot no C3.19

Liverpool Jewish Burial Record for Annie Levin

Tombstone inscription: In affectionate memory of Hinda Bella the beloved wife of Aaron Levin died AB 19 5699 aged 84. Mourned by her son, daughters and grandchildren. A faithful mother of Israel

Hebrew translation: [Here is buried] the esteemed woman, modest in her ways, Hinda Beila, daughter of Dov, who ascended to Heaven on Friday, 19 Menachem Av 5699 (1939). May her soul be bound up in the bond of (eternal) life.

Last Will and Testament

Last will and testament for Annie Levin 

Probate

LEVIN Annie Isabella otherwise Annie or LEVENE Annie of 206 Brownlow-hill Liverpool widow died 3 August 1939 Probate Liverpool 16 October to [her daughter] Leah Levin spinster. Effects £1475 6s. Resworn £1225 6s.

Place of Birth

Annie Levin 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 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 1901 the family were living at 41 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In 1911 the family were living at 78 Crown Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In 1921 the family were living at 206 Brownslow Hill, Liverpool, England. The dwelling appears to no longer exist

Aaron Levin (1844 - 1910)

Aaron Levin is my maternal 2x great grandfather. Levin family HERE

Parents: Abraham Levin (1823 - 1891) and Leah (1822 - 1887)

Born: 1844 in Porosobe, Volkovysk district, Grodno Province, Russian Empire, nowadays Porazava in Belarus

Hebrew name: Aharon son of Avraham Moshe

Aaron Levin

Aaron Levin

Migration:  Aaron Levin emigrated to Liverpool in 1884 at age 40 with his 2nd wife, two sons and two daughters. He was a Rabbinical teacher and came out with his brother-in-law, Samuel Broude and taught at a Hebrew school

From a biographical account: "Early in 1884 Sara’s father, Aaron Levin, had managed to emigrate to Liverpool with his wife, Gertrude (sic), two sons and two daughters. He was a Rabbinical teacher who was gladly absorbed into the synagogue and school by the local Jewish community. The

terms of his appointment as a staff member in the school, included free accommodation and reduced school fees. ... Their education followed English school curricula plus Hebrew and Judaism." (Butterflies: the Leon Helfet Story). The school must have been the Liverpool Hebrew Schools at Hope Place

Naturalization:

Aaron Levin and his children became naturalised British citizens in March 1893. The family were living at 93 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England at the time. Aaron appears not to have been able to write English as he has signed the document in Yiddish ("Russian Hebrew")

Married: 

1) Gertrude in the Russian Empire before 1869

Children

• Simon Levin 1869 - ?
• Jacob Levin 1873 - 1917
• Rachel Levin 1873 - 1952
• Esther Reizel Levin 1877 - 1921
• Sarah Levin 1880 - 1953

Married

2) Annie Isabella Broude in the Russian Empire about 1881/2

Children

• an infant who probably died before 1884
• Leah Lillian Levin 1888 - 1972
• Abraham Levin 1891 - 1954

Occupation: Hebrew teacher, then furniture broker and butcher

In an 1894 directory Aaron is listed as a furniture dealer at 93 Richmond Row, Liverpool and a butcher at 41 Pembroke Place, Liverpool. By 1900 he is only listed as a butcher. It is possible that his wife was running the butcher shop and he was running the furniture one

Census details

1891

The Levin family is at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England. Aaron is 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 Sarah Menca age 40, a sick nurse

1901

The family is living at 41 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, England. Aaron is 58 and a butcher. Isabella is age 45. The children are Leah age 20 and Abraham age 10. Lodging with them is Wolfe Rabinowitz age 46 and also a butcher

Electoral Register

A sample electoral register for Aaron levin, 1904 - 1905. He had his house and shop at 41 pembroke Place, Liverpool, England

Death

19 October 1910 in Liverpool, England at 66 years of age from asthma and heart failure. He was buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England, on 20th October 1920 in plot no G6.27

Liverpool Jewish Burial Record for Aaron Levin

Tombstone inscription: In loving memory of A. Levin who died 20th Oct. 1910. Deeply mourned by his wife, son's and daughter's

Hebrew translation: A decent and upright man lies here, beloved. He walked in the circles of righteousness through all his days. He ran as swiftly as a deer to fulfill the will of his Creator. He was renowned for his good deeds. Our teacher Aharon, son of Avraham Moshe of blessed memory. He passed away with a good reputation on the first of the Intermediate Days of Sukkot, 17 Tishrei 5671. May his soul be bound up in the bonds of (eternal) life.

(The first letters of each line of the Hebrew text form an acrostic of Aharon.)

Death certificate

Death certificate for Aaron Levin. He died on 19th October 1910 at the home of his son, Jacob Levin, at 142 Islington, Liverpool. He was 66 years old. His profession was a master butcher and he died of Asthma and heart failure.

Place of Birth

Aaron Levin was born in Porosobe, Volkovysk district, Grodno Province, Russian Empire, nowadays Porazava in Belarus

Porazava (Belarusian: Поразава; Russian: Порозово, romanized: Porozovo; Polish: Porozów; Yiddish: פּאָרוזעווע, romanized: Porozeve; Lithuanian: Porozovas) is an urban-type settlement in Svislach District, Grodno Region, Belarus

According to local tradition, Jews settled in Porozow in the 16th century; however, there are no written documents to support this. In 1847, the census recorded 379 Jews, most of them living off agriculture from leased lands. After the reforms of Czar Alexander II in 1862 they purchased the land from the farmers and estate owners. They lived on four main streets and a few alleys that branched off from them. Their numbers grew steadily and in 1897 they were enumerated as 931 souls -- 46% of the population -- and in addition to farmers they were merchants, store owners, peddlers and a few craftsmen.

Most of the farmers' sons left the family properties that were inherited by only one son in order to prevent splitting the fields, and they took up occupations like trading and crafts. Jews and non-Jews in Porozow and its surroundings lived in harmony amongst themselves and with their neighbors, including the Belorussian farmers. 

The Jews of Porozow had strong ties with the Jews of Volkovysk. They traded amongst themselves and Porozow’s youth continued their studies in Volkovysk. When needed, they shared rabbis with Volkovysk. Up to World War I, we know of Rabbi Yitzhak Hever, his son Rabbi Yosev Hever, Rabbi Baruch Avraham Mirski (1872), Rabbi Shlomo Ha Levi Feinzilber and Rabbi Aharon David Kosofski (1906). The children in the community studied in a traditional cheder. At the end of the 19th century, two Beitei Midrash -- houses of religious study -- and one bath house were built.

In 1878, Porozow was a town of 300 households, consisting of 699 men and 755 women. Included in those numbers were 556 Jews. People of three faiths lived in the town; there were also Russian Orthodox and Catholics, and each group had its own house of worship. The gentiles in Porozow were involved mainly in pottery production; the Jews favoured trade.

With the outbreak of World War I, Jews were drafted into the Czar's army and families were left without providers. In the fall of 1915, Germany conquered Porozow and controlled it until the end of 1918. The Germans drafted many citizens for forced labor, e.g., for road and base construction and other hard work. The dispossessed suffered from hunger and want, since the local economy was paralyzed. All the town’s children, without regard to nationality or religion, were forced to study in the German school and in the German language. For the Jewish children, two hours per week were allotted for Hebrew and religious studies. 

At the end of the war, the Jews returned and rebuilt their businesses. Initially, life in Porozow returned to normal. But very soon all realized that their economic status had worsened in comparison to what it had been before the war. Poland faced an economic crisis with the loss of important export markets in Russia after the border with the Soviet Union was closed.

After the war, most of the tax burden was placed on the independent business sector - i.e., the Jewish mercantile sector. At the same time, Jews were sidelined from the market at the hands of Polish cooperatives established with government support and given favorable financial conditions. Jewish craftsmen lost clients to these cooperatives and to craftsmen who appeared in the villages after the war, and those Jews who weren't conversant in Polish had difficulties and were disadvantaged when the government imposed many regulations on them. Due to the economic distress and dispossession, emigration overseas increased and the community dwindled in size. 

Also, between both World Wars, as in previous years, Porozow maintained its religious character and community life centered around the synagogue and the Beitei Midrash, the religious study institutions. The community rabbi in 1929 was Rabbi Eliezer Harkavy. The young generation, in contrast to the adults, abandoned religion and embraced Zionism. In the mid 1920s, a Halutz branch was founded and young people left for communal training. A few emigrated to Palestine.

The beginning of the end of the Jews of Porozow came with the Nazi invasion of Belarus in 1941. Control of Porozow and the surrounding area passed back and forth between the Russian and German armies, but eventually the Germans prevailed. In 1942 a ghetto was created, and by November of that year the entire Jewish population of the town was marched to Wolkowysk, though a small group was shot in the forest. Between November 10 - December 15, 1942, most were transported by train to Treblinka, where they perished.

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 1901 the family were living at 41 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

Hinde Aronson (1858 - 1941)

Hinde Aronson is my maternal 3x great aunt. Baum family tree Here

Parents: Movsha (Mausha) Aronson and unknown

Born: 1858 in Kybartai, Lithuania. It is a town in Marijampolė County, in south-western Lithuania, 20 km west of Vilkaviškis. She and her family lived there till at least 1900. In 1912 the family is listed as living at Šiluva in the Raseiniai district. Some time after that but before before 1920 she and her family moved to Kaunas, Lithuania

Hebrew name: Chaya Hinde daughter of Moshe

Lithuanian name: Ginde (Ginda) Baumiene (Baum) (Beim)

Hinde Baum taken in 1920 when she was 62

Married: Israel Itsyk Baum

Children

• Kreyne Baum 1880 - Before 1892
• Vula Baum 1888 - ?
• Maksas (Movsha) Baum 1890 - perished in the Holocaust
• Kreyna Baum 1892 - ?
• Basia Baum 1892 - perished in the Holocaust
• Ida Baum 1897 - ?
• David Wulf Baum 1897 - 1921
• Mordkhel Gershel Baum 

A family list in 1912. They are living at Šiluva in the Raseiniai district

Apartment census in Kaunas in 1922. Ginda, her husband Isaak and their son Maks

Lithuanian internal passport application

A Lithuanian internal passport application for Hinde Baum in 1920, when age 62. The family is living in Kaunas, Lithuania. Details: Name: BAUM nee ARONSON, Ginde. Address: Kaunas, Gedimino street 29. Born in 1858. Birthplace: Kibarty (now Kybartai) in the Vilkaviskis district. Physical description: 1.58 meters tall, also mentions hair and eye color and something about her face. No distinguishing physical marks. Occupation housewife. Religion Jewish. She has signed under her picture.

Death

Unknown, but after January 1941 as she is listed in a voters list from that date. So she lived to be at least 82 years of age. She probably perished in the Holocaust but there is no record of her in the Yad Vashem archives

Hinda Baumiene [Baum] listed in a voters list dated 12 January 1941

Residences

In 1920 Hinde is listed as living at 29 Gedimino Street, Kaunas, Lithuania

At the time of her husband's death in 1929 they were living at 23 Prieplaukos street, Kaunas, Lithuania. The existing property appears to have been constructed after World War 2

Place of Birth

Hinde Aronson was born in Kibart (now Kybartai), a town in the Vilkaviškis district of Lithuania, about 100 kilometers southwest of Kaunas (Kovno). The town's history is closely tied to the Jewish community, which settled there in the mid-1860s with the establishment of the railway station and customs station. By 1897, Jews made up 45% of the town's population, with 533 Jewish residents among a total of 1,182 inhabitants. Over the years, the town's population grew, and by 1910, there were around 5,000 inhabitants, including about 1,000 Jews. 

The town was diverse, with residents of various nationalities, including Russians, Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, and Tartars. Educational opportunities varied, with separate schools for different groups. Jewish children attended a school with a Jewish teacher to learn Russian, while wealthier families sent their children to German schools in Eydtkuhnen. The Jewish community also had three "chadarim" (religious schools) where children learned Hebrew, the Pentateuch, and the Bible.

In 1880, the Jewish Community obtained permission to open a Jewish Elementary School, supported financially by the Association for Spreading Knowledge Among the Jews. By 1914, the town's population had grown to around 6,000, with about 1,000 Jews enjoying a relatively high standard of living.

Stanley Kaplan (Copley) (1925 - 2013)

Stanley Kaplan, is the husband of Sylvia Abrahamson, a sister of Dorothy Sophia Abrahamson, the 2nd wife of my maternal grandfather Marcus Levin. Abrahamson family HERE. Born Stanley Kaplan, he changed his name to Stanley Copley sometime between 1949 - 1951

Parents: Morris Kaplan (1902 - 1967) and Leah Phillips (1895 - 1971)

Tombstones for Stanley's parents, Morris and Leah. They are both buried in the Rainsough Jewish cemetery, Manchester, England

Born: 27 September 1925 in Manchester, England

Married: Sylvia Abrahamson in (January - March) 1949 in Manchester, England. Sylvia was 25 years old and Stanley was 23. Stanley changed his surname to Copley sometime after his marriage but before the birth of his daughter in 1951

Children:

Their first child was born when Stanley was 25 and Sylvia  was 27. Their second and last child was born when Stanley was 34 and Sylvia 35

• Sheila Copley 1951 - 
• Jonathan Copley 1958 -

Death
14 December 2013 in London, England, age 88

Sylvia Abrahamson (1923 - 2025 )

Sylvia Abrahamson is the sister of Dorothy Sophia Abrahamson, the 2nd wife of my maternal grandfather Marcus Levin. Abrahamson family HERE

Parents: Louis Abrahamson (1877 - 1957) and Rachel (Ettie) Joseph (1881 - 1951)

Tombstones for Sylvia's parents, Louis and Ettie. They are both buried in the Rainsough Jewish cemetery, Manchester, England

Born: (April - June) 1923 in Manchester, England

Married: Stanley Kaplan in (January - March) 1949 in Manchester, England. Sylvia was 25 years old and Stanley was 23. Stanley changed his surname to Copley sometime after his marriage but before the birth of his daughter in 1951

Children:

Their first child was born when Stanley was 25 and Sylvia  was 27. Their second and last child was born when Stanley was 34 and Sylvia 35

• Sheila Copley 1951 - 
• Jonathan Copley 1958 -

Sylvia

Biography

Sylvia was an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) warden during World War 2. She trained as a teacher at age 42, teaching adults English, including in prisons.

Death

Sylvia passed away on the 9th June 2025, age 102, at the Jewish Care Home in Barnet, North London where she had been for a few weeks. She had become increasingly frail since she broke her hip some months earlier. Her funeral was on 10th June 2025 at the Great western Cemetery in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Solomon Klein (Clynes) (1915 - 2002)

Solomon Klein, known as Sol, is the husband of Eva Abrahamson, a sister of Dorothy Sophia Abrahamson, the 2nd wife of my maternal grandfather Marcus Levin. Abrahamson family HERE. Born Solomon Klein, he changed his name by deed poll in September 1943 to Solomon Clynes

Parents: Harry Klein (1891 - 1960) and Blema Hecht (1891 - 1980)

Tombstones for Solomon's parents, Harry and Blema. They are both buried in the Failsworth Jewish cemetery, Manchester, England

Born: 19 November 1915 in Manchester, England

Occupation: Chemistry and science teacher at Manchester Grammar School from 1938 to 1988, which was interrupted by his war service. He had a B.Sc. in Chemistry

Solomon authored a school chemistry textbook, "A New Chemistry", English Universities Press, 1971, 372 pages

Engagement

The Jewish Chronicle - Aug 16 1940

MR. S. KLEIN AND DR. EVA ABRAHAMSON

The engagement is announced of Sol Klein, B.Sc., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Klein, of 117, Polefield Road, Prestwich, to Eva Abrahamson, MB.. Ch.B., daughter of the Rev. L. and Mrs. Abrahamson, of 238, Gt. Clowes Street, Salford, 7

Married: Eva Abrahamson on (April - June) 1941 in Manchester, England. Eva and Solomon were both 25 years old. Solomon changed his surname by deed poll to Clynes in September 1943

Solomon changing his name by deed poll from Klein to Clynes on 15 September 1943

Children:

Their only child was born when Solomon was 27 and Eva  was 26

• Rona Gillian Clynes 1943 - 1991

Census details

1939 Register

In the 1939 register Solomon was living at 32 Charnley Road, Blackpool, England and his occupation is a chemistry master

Military

Served abroad during World War 2. Was a major

Death
2 September 2002 at Maurice Fineberg House in Manchester, England, age 86

Obituary

Lancashire Telegraph

Former mayor dies aged 86

13th September 2002

A WELL-respected former Mayor of Prestwich has died at the age of 86.

Mr Solomon Clynes, known as Sol, died last week, less than 18 months after the sudden death of his beloved wife, Dr Eva Clynes.

The couple, of Danesway, Prestwich, were popular figures and in 1971 were Mayor and Mayoress, before local government re-organisation when Prestwich became part of Bury.

Mr Clynes also served on Bury Council from 1974 to 1976 as a Liberal and was a JP from 1969.

As a former head of science at Manchester Grammar School, Mr Clynes organised school summer camps. He retained strong links with the school after his retirement.

Residence

Solomon and his family lived at 10 Daneshill, Prestwich, Manchester, England