Henry Jacobs (1833) as son of Moses Jacobs (1794 – 1856)
Some doubts have been raised recently, November 2015, about this so this is an attempt to review the evidence.
Henry Jacobs
We have him in 5 censuses (1861-1901)
1861 Glass Merchant in Brighton Born: St James, Middlesex Age 28 so DOB C 1833
Wife: Ellen Born: Middlesex Age: 26 so DOB C 1835
Two of their children were born in Kentucky USA (C 1855 – 1857)
1871 Glass & China Merchant in Brighton Born: London, Middlesex Age: 38 so DOB C 1833
Wife: Ellen Born: London, Middlesex Age: 32 so DOB C 1839
Two of their children were born in America (C 1855 – 1856)
1881 Glass & China Merchant in Westminster Born: London, Middlesex Age: 42 so DOB C 1839
Wife: Elizabeth Born: Middlesex Age: 29 so DOB C 1852
1891 Glass Traveller in Holborn Born: Soho Age: 59 so DOB C 1832
Widower
1901 Glass Traveller in St Pancras Born: London Age: 69 so DOB C 1832
So from the Censuses we get the following:
Born in London
DOB 1832-1833 (Discounting the hard to read 42 in 1881)
Lived in America (probably Kentucky) between approx. 1855 – 1857
Death Certificate
1911 Dies in Finchley Formerly a Glass Merchant Age: 79 so DOB C 1832
Court Case
1872 He is the defendant in a case brought by his late brother David’s sons.
He is named as Henry Jacobs of 68 High Holborn
David Jacobs had a business under the name ‘David Jacobs’ at 33 Haymarket
David died in 1869 and left his business to his 2 sons, Philip David and Angelo Jacobs
In 1871 Henry left Brighton and established himself at 68 High Holborn
He put up a sign on his shop ‘Brother to the late David Jacobs’ but the ‘Brother to the late’ was so small as to not be noticed.
Henry lost the case
This tells us that Henry was in Brighton until sometime in 1871
His brother was David Jacobs
So we now have:
Born in London
DOB 1832-1833 (Discounting the hard to read 42 in 1881)
Lived in America (probably Kentucky) between approx. 1855 – 1857
Was brother to David Jacobs of 33 Haymarket
When he was in Brighton entries in the various trade directories for Brighton indicate that he was originally there in a business and house belonging to David Jacobs – his elder brother.
He died in 1911 Age: 79 so DOB C 1832
We don’t have either of his marriage certificates.
It is believed that he married his first wife, Ellen Silverstone, in Ohio/Kentucky but no documentation of the marriage has been found – yet! In any case the Cincinnati records were destroyed in a fire around 1870 and although the records have been reconstructed Henry was back in England by then so probably wasn’t aware that the authorities were asking people to re-register.
Ellen died in 1913 so they obviously separated sometime between 1871 and 1881. If they didn’t divorce then this would probably explain why we can’t find a marriage between Henry and Elizabeth Twine.
All in all we have no direct link to Moses
We do however have a link to his brother David Jacobs, so let’s look at David’s details
David Jacobs
We have David in 2 censuses (1851, 1861)
1851 Glass Warehouseman at 33 Haymarket Born: St. Martins Age: 31 so DOB C 1820
Wife: Matilda Born: Finsbury Age: 29 so DOB C 1822
1861 Glass Warehouseman at 33 Haymarket Born: St Anns Age: 41 so DOB C 1820
Wife: Matilda Born: Shoreditch Age: 38 so DOB C 1823
So from the census we get
David Jacobs is a Glass Warehouseman, born in London about 1820
Marriage Certificate
1848 He marries Matilda Rebecca Jacobs (they are 2nd cousins)
His age is 28 so DOB C 1820
His address is 33 Haymarket
His father is Moses Jacobs, China Dealer
Death Certificate
1869 He dies in Charing Cross a Glass Manufacturer Age: 50 so DOB C 1819
His will index grants probate to his widow, Matilda.
Court Case
1839 Moses Jacobs brings a case against an occasional employee of his.
The business is owned by Moses, but it is his son, David’s, name that is above the door.
David Jacobs testifies that he is the son of Moses Jacobs. He says that it is father’s name that is over the shop – Jacobs.
They have businesses in Berwick Street and Haymarket
So we now have:
David Jacobs is the son of Moses Jacobs
David was born about 1820
He is in the glass business
My conclusion
We have no direct link between Henry Jacobs (1833 – 1911) and Moses Jacobs (1794 – 1856)
We do have a direct link between Henry and David Jacobs (1819 – 1869)
We have a direct link between David Jacobs and Moses Jacobs.
Therefore I believe that we have reasonable grounds to substantiate the belief that Henry Jacobs (1833 – 1911) is the son of Moses Jacobs (1794 – 1856)
