Find Ancestors

I find this sequence rather striking -- the only instances of the name in the GRO index -- i.e. the one born 1877 seems not to have any alternate life:


Births Sep 1877
Levy Edward Lewis Hackney 1b 555

Marriages Dec 1899 to Rebecca Morris
Levy Edward Lewis Strand 1b 1220

Marriages Jun 1901 to Katherine Rea-Cox
LEVY Edward Lewis Lambeth 1d 532

Births Dec 1903
Levy Edward Lewis Wandsworth 1d 721

Deaths Dec 1903
Levy Edward Lewis 0 Wandsworth 1d 400


I'm afraid that I think being born in San Francisco was a bit of a tale.


1881

Name: Lewis Levy
Age: 38
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Mary Levy
Where born: London, London, Middlesex, England
Occupation: Cigar Manufacturer

Civil parish: St John Hackney
County/Island: London
Street Address: 31 Gore Crescent

Lewis Levy 38
Mary Levy 35 - born London
Abraham Alfred Levy 6
Edward Lewis Levy 3
Rachael F. Levy 2
Albert Lewis Levy 1
Julia Lazarus 19
Jane C. Carter 65
Sarah Ricks 20


Marriages Sep 1873 ?
Defries Betsey London City 1c 208
> LAZARUS Mary London C 1c 208
> Levy Lewis London C 1c 208
Papier Abraham Simon London City 1c 208

On an exact search of the 1900 US census, without paying, for David Levy born in 1850, there is one in Colusa county, California, with no wife shown. You might want to have a look at that one, and generally just browse that census for him. (He could have been born in December 1849 and still been 55 and 4 months in early May 1905.)

One that fits in 1880, but wrong wife. Where does the name Amelia come from? Am I right that it's just taken from the probably incorrect English census for the couple with son Edward born in the US?

Born England, both parents born England.

David LEVY Self M Male W 30 ENG Painter ENG ENG
Sarah LEVY Wife M Female W 30 BADEN Keeping House BADEN BADEN
Rose DONAHUE Other W Female W 38 IRE At Home IRE IRE
Michael HENDY Other S Male W 33 IRE At Home IRE IRE
Michael SULLIVAN Other M Male W 32 IRE Saloon Keeper IRE IRE

Source Information:
Census Place 8th Ward, San Francisco, San Francisco, California


I don't understand at all how you know that the David J Levy who died in Cook County in 1905 is your man.

The 1880 census has several David Levys in San Francisco, with interesting occupations like Saloon Keeper and Horse Trader. ;)

Hi all,
Thank you so much for your efforts, especially for the 1911 census information. I have all the data for Katherine Rea but thankyou for confirming it. The church marriage record shows she signed as Rea-Fox or Cox – it isn’t clear and also gave her father that name which wouldn't have worried him as he was dead by then. Theatricals eh? Yes indeed she was with her cousin Esther M A Franklin (nee Severwright her father’s sister’s child) in 1891. I couldn’t find Katherine in 1901. There is a family legend that she was unofficially adopted so maybe that’s were the Fox or Cox came in.
Yes I agree David and Amelia should have been married by 1880 but the David Levy with parents Isaac and Katherine was unmarried in 1881. I have wondered about David’s age on the 1891 census – it has been transcribed as 42 but the writing on the census form itself is not all that clear so maybe I have the wrong David and he was 44 or 49 in 1891. Yes it is possible that they remained in the US but if the 1891 census is right – David Levy, Amelia and Edward 10 years old they were back in the UK by then. Maybe they went back to the US after 1891 as there is no sign of them on the 1901 or 1911 census. The name change to Day in 1906 complicates things somewhat. The family legend says they travelled to US in July 1880 to visit David’s dying brother so would not have been on the 1880 US census. I have looked at the 1880 US census and couldn’t find a perfect match. Harry Day maintained that his father’s family were English back 4 generations and his mother’s 6 generation in England but that might have been to prove himself more British. :The 1900 US census does have 2 Edward Levys but neither pan out as they continued in the US marrying different women. We know Edward Levy (Harry Day) married in London in 1899 (divorced in 1900) and again in 1901 in London. His father was alive in 1901 and died before 1926.I have all the information I need for all other branches of the family but it is David John Levy that I am stuck with except for the 1891 census.

I have just found David J Levy's burial. He died on 9 May 1905 at 835 N Clark St Chicago, Cook,Illinois. He was buried in New Light cemetery. He was 55 and 4 months old so born January 1850 but I don't know where. The burial record states he had only been in Illinois 4 months. There is also an Amelia Levy who died in 1899 also in Cook, Illinois but she was born in Ohio.

I would appreciate any help in finding David John Levy's birth and marriage. As I said before Harry Day claimed his parents were born in England. May be fibbing of course.

Thank you
Ingrid

Thank you so much for your efforts, especially for the 1911 census information. I wonder where Harry and Catherine’s son Harry David Day was in 1911? I have all the data for Katherine Rea but thankyou for confirming it. The church marriage record shows she signed as Rea-Fox or Cox – it isn’t clear and also gave her father that name which wouldn't have worried him as he was dead by then. Theatricals eh? Yes indeed she was with her cousin Esther M A Franklin (nee Severwright her father’s sister’s child) in 1891. I couldn’t find Katherine in 1901. There is a family legend that she was unofficially adopted so maybe that’s were the Fox or Cox came in. Yes I agree David and Amelia should have been married by 1880 but the David Levy b 1842 with parents Isaac and Katherine was unmarried in 1881. I have wondered about David’s age on the 1891 census – it has been transcribed as 1842 but the writing on the census form itself is not all that clear so maybe I have the wrong David and he was 44 or 49 in 1891. Yes it is possible that they remained in the US but if the 1891 census is right – David Levy, Amelia and Edward 10 years old they were back in the UK by then. Maybe they went back to the US after 1891 as there is no sign of them on the 1901 or 1911 census. The name change to Day in 1906 complicates things somewhat. The family legend says they travelled to US in July 1880 to visit David’s dying brother so would not have been on the 1880 US census. I have looked at the 1880 US census and couldn’t find a perfect match. Harry Day maintained that his father’s family were English back 4 generations and his mother’s 6 generation in England but that might have been to prove himself more British. :The 1900 US census does have 2 Edward Levys but neither pan out as they continued in the US marrying different women. We know Edward Levy (Harry Day) married in London in 1899 (divorced in 1900) and again in 1901 in London. His father was alive in 1901 and died before 1926.I have all the information I need for all other branches of the family but it is David John Levy that I am stuck with except for the 1891 census. Maybe I should look again with David Levys born 1842 or 1847. I think I have done this already but I am going round in circles a bit.Any help is much appreciated.This is squashed because I kept getting an error message - don't use curly brackets or angles which I wasn't!Ingrid

1911 100,Cleveland Street
David Levy 1848 Poland
married 36 years = 1875 now a widow 2 children
Tailor and gent.

It was thought that David was from Poland /Russia,according to posts on the forum mentioned.

1911 son Harry,
Tivoli House Windhill Street,Gravesend
Jewish School
Harry Day age 8 born London City.

I would say this has a chance of being him as how many Jewish people would be called Day

Maryb

Yuppers.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action

REA Katie dob: Unknown F 1897 Londonderry USA New York

I think they met in the US. ;) Anybody want to check the record at FMP? The same record is in NY passenger lists at Ancestry. There's also a Kate Rea arriving in England in 1899.

"... as David’s son Edward (later Harry Levy) was born in 1880 in SF you would imagine he was married by then. I have been unable to find a marriage for David Levy and Amelia and there is no sign of them on the 1901 or 1911 census."

Isn't it likely that David and Amelia were in the US for the 1881 census, since Edward/Harry was born there in 1880, and that they remained in the US and Edward/Harry travelled to England as an adult?


There are 4 possibilities in the 1880 US census from familysearch.org, all with very young children:

Results for: Amelia Levy
Head of Household: David Levy
Census: 1880 United States Census\
1. Emelia LEVY - 1880 United States Census / New York
Wife Gender: Female Birth: 1845 FRANCE
2. Amelia LEVY - 1880 United States Census / South Carolina
Wife Gender: Female Birth: 1836 PRUSSIA
3. Amelia LEVY - 1880 United States Census / Pennsylvania
Wife Gender: Female Birth: 1838 BADEN
4. Amelia LEVI - 1880 United States Census / Pennsylvania
Wife Gender: Female Birth: 1857 NJ


Unfortunately California is missing from the 1890 US census.

In the 1900 US census at Ancestry there are two Edward Levys in San Francisco but I can't see any details. All the Amelias from the 1880 above seem to be in the census, and there are two Amelias and an Emelia in SanFrancisco, but husband's not David.

Ta da. ;)

I think the David Levy in 1891 is maybe really aged 49, from the image -- Amelia is 48. So born c1841.


I wonder about this couple as Katie Rea Day's parents:


1881

Name: Kate Rea
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Daughter in Law
Spouse's Name: William Rea
Where born: Middlesex, England

Name: William Rea
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859
Relation: Son
Spouse's Name: Kate Rea
Father's name: William Rea - general labourer
Mother's name: Esther Rea
Where born: Middlesex, England

Civil parish: Battersea

William Rea 42
Esther Rea 42
Amelia Rea 4
William Rea 22
Kate Rea 19
William G. Rea 8 mo


Marriages Mar 1880 ?
Chapman George Camberwell 1d 861
Claridge Benjamin James Camberwell 1d 861
Flack Charlotte Camberwell 1d 861
> Humphrey Kate Camberwell 1d 861
> Rea William Henry S Camberwell 1d 861


Nope - looks like the household in 1891:

William Henry Rea 31
Catherine Rea 28
George Rea 9
Florence Rea 8
William Rea 3
Edith Rea 1
Lillie Rea 5/12


Are her parents' names available from the marriage certificate, to look for her in 1901?


Oops, pardon me -- that *is* them -- her father on the record above in the thread is William Henry Sidney Rea-Fox .

Where the Fox came from ... ? And where she was in 1891 ...

Could be her in 1891 -- has to be, no other birth to account for:

Name: Catherine E Rea
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Relation: Visitor
Gender: Female
Where born: Battersea, London, England

Civil parish: St Margaret and St John The Evangelist Westminster

John Franklin 28
Esther M A Franklin 29
John W F Franklin 7
Esther S L Franklin 2 Months
Catherine E Rea 9


The family in 1901, again sans Katie:


Catherine Rea 38
Flore Rea 18
Lily Rea 11
John Rea 6
Mary Rea 3
John James 38

Civil parish: Lambeth

well done Janey!!!!!!!!!!!!

here's the 1911 census
Address: 13 Spring Road Edgbaston Birmingham

Name Relation Condition/ Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born

PACE, Ida Head Widow F 42 1869 House Holder Bham Warwickshire
PACE, Harry Son Single M 20 1891 Engineers Clerk Wolverhampton Staffs
PACE, Lesl Son Single M 13 1898 School Warickshire Bham
MARSHALL, Mary Ann Cousin Widow F 64 1847 Gloucester
BUTWELL, George Boarder Widower M 68 1843 Engineers Worcestershire Kings Norton
SIMMONS, Gertrude Boarder Single F 25 1886 Maid Norfolk St Mile End London
DAY, Katie Boarder Married 9 years F 28 1883 Music Hall Astist Battersea London
DAY, Harry Boarder Married M 30 1881 Music Hall Agent California U S A
VENDRIGH, Robert Boarder Married M 38 1873 Chauffeur Domestic London

Katie Day married 9 years, 3 children born to marriage, 2 still living in 1911, original also says Harry had been married 9 years

Re the marriage details above -- the GRO index has it as Rea-Cox rather than Rea-Fox:

Marriages Jun 1901
Cox Katherine Amelia R Lambeth 1d 532
LEVY Edward Lewis Lambeth 1d 532
Rea-Cox Katherine Amelia Lambeth 1d 532

Births Dec 1881
REA Katherine Amelia Wandsworth 1d 651

Searching in 1911 for Harry Day with occupation "music agent", there is this result:

DAY HARRY 1881 30 Kings Norton Worcestershire

I can't tell from a free search who else is in his household, etc., but you might want to check that one.

But aha. He does seem to be living with

DAY KATIE 1883 28 Kings Norton Worcestershire

who also answers to occupation "music".

Hi Maddie,Mary and Tempest,
Thank you so much for looking the entry up on the 1911 census. How weird that Gabrielle was listed as the Head as she was only 4 years old. The forum-.mind-energy.net is one I have been contributing to as ‘Searcher’. I had all the other information you sent but great to have it confirmed. Harry Day died in Quebec not Vancouver in 1939. He was on a ship going to Quebec when he became ill. I haven’t been able to find Harry Day or his wife on the 1901 or 1911 census and no sign of the other child Harry David Day (nee Levy) on the 1911 census. Perhaps you could try for me. They could have been abroad and left Gabrielle in the car of a nurse.
My main problem is finding his parents and their ancestors. His father was David Levy (later known as David John Day when Harry changed his name by deedpoll in 1906) and his mother was Amelia. I have been unable to find a death for either of them and the only record is the 1891 census which you found which states they were born in Whitechapel. The only David Levy that fits the bill was born in 1848 with parents Isaac and Catherine but he was unmarried in 1881 and as David’s son Edward (later Harry Levy) was born in 1880 in SF you would imagine he was married by then. I have been unable to find a marriage for David Levy and Amelia and there is no sign of them on the 1901 or 1911 census.
Thank you for your help and any further help you can give would be most appreciated.
Regards
Ingrid

Google famous performer Kitty Colyer,fifth down on results page The Sheetmusic warehouse has a picture of kitty Colyer.

Maryb

looks like we are on the right lines, name changes etc match up with the research done here

http://forum.mind-energy.net/skeptiko-podcast/964-have-magicians-helped-hindered-paranormal-research-experts-hypocrites-11.html

also on the next page

1891 Islington D45 > 4
David Levy 1849 Whitchapel a Tailor
Amelia 1848 Whitechapel
Edward 1881 America.

Maryb.

Edward lewis Levy born San francisco about 1881 to David John Levy.
he married Rebeca Morris 1899 she was a music hall performer divorced on grounds he attacked her and commited adultery.

He first appeared in 1900 as Proffesional Actor.

married again in 1901 had son Edward Lewis Levy in 1903 died .

His wife Catherine was also in the Music hall as Kitty Colyer.

He became MP Harry Levy??

He was the British agent for Harry Houdini.

Kitty Colyer was performing in London during May 1911.

Harry died in Vancouver 1939.

All info found on Google.

Maryb

So that is the correct death I posted for Harry David Day in 1989.

Maryb

Is this marriage them?

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
Name: Katherine Amelia Rea-Fox
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Spouse Name: Edward Lewis Levy
Spouse Age: 21
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 26 Jun 1901
Parish: St Matthew, Brixton
COUNTY: Surrey
Borough: Lambeth
Father Name: William Henry Sidney Rea-Fox
Spouse Father Name: David Levy

Edward Lewis Levy's occupation is Agent
David Levy's occupation is Gentleman
William Henry Sidney Rea-Fox was deceased, occupation looks like builder

there is this baptism record

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Name: Harry David Levy
Record Type: Baptism
***** Birth Date: 6 Oct 1902
Baptism Date: 14 Jan 1903
Father's name: Edward Levy
Mother's name: Catherine Levy
Parish or Poor Law Union: Brixton St Matthew
Borough: Lambeth


Father's name is Edward????
occupation is given as Agent
address is 46 Hayter Road

on the Baptism record for Gabrielle Kathleen Day, her birth is given as 23 July 1906, Fathers occupation was Music Hall Agent of what looks like Saxmby Lodge, Clarence Road