Mordecai Solomon (1800 -1883) and Elizabeth Haines (1809 - 1852)

Home

Family Contacts

Articles

Newsletters

Bicentenary April 2018

Interesting Links

Web Site Contact

Henry Solomon was born on 18th September 1840 in Sydney, the 4th child and 2nd oldest son of Mordecai and Elizabeth. The 3 older children had all been born in Dapto, NSW and Henry was the first to be born in Sydney.

Adeline Joseph in 1875, aged 31 (from the Hebrew Ladies' Bazaar sketch)	Henry Solomon (from AJHS files)

On 6th December 1865, Henry married Adeline Joseph (the eldest daughter of Alfred Joseph) at the York Street synagogue. At this stage it is important to mention the extremely close ties between the Joseph, Myers and Solomon families. George Myers had married Mordecai's eldest child, Sarah, in 1855, then, in 1865, George's brother, Henry Myers married Adeline Joseph's younger sister (Annie). It appears a double wedding took place where the 2 Henrys (Myers and Solomon) married 2 of the Joseph sisters (Adeline and Annie) .

The 3rd Joseph daughter, Amelia, married Theodore Lennenberg in August 1873, with Rev A.B.Davis officiating in a ceremony at Cypress Hall, Newtown.

There was a further connection between the Josephs and Solomons in that a first cousin of the 3 Joseph sisters, Adelaide Joseph, married another of Mordecai's children, Joseph Solomon

Alfred Joseph came to Sydney in 1849 on the "Midlothian" with his wife, Frances, and 2 children (Amelia was born later). He was a jeweller and assayer in Sydney. For over 10 years he lived at Cypress Hall. This place has an interesting history. It was completed in 1859 as a 15 room mansion of three stories with its coach house in Alma Street. In the February of 1864 the property was purchased by Alfred Joseph from the original grantee, Francis O'Brien and later in the year Joseph decided to buy the 4 adjoining block of land on which to erect Darlington Hall for his daughter and son-in-law, Henry Solomon. Both Alfred Joseph and his family and Henry Solomon and his family left their respective homes, Cypress Hall and Darlington House at the end of 1874. Alfred Joseph's family moved to a house in Glebe where they lived until Joseph's death in 1910. Henry Solomon's family moved to Moore Park, near where the Fox Studios are today. The following is an extract relating to when Cypress House was offered for sale by Alfred Joseph. It was not sold until 1876.

Cypress Hall as it used to be, showing Henry and Adeline's home (Darlington House) to the right

Cypress Hall is still standing today at 150-152 City Road, Darlington. For some time it was a Catholic residential college (St. Michaels) at Sydney University and later fell in to disrepair and was used by squatters. It is currently subject to an Historical Impact Statement. Darlington House (Henry's home) has not been so fortunate. It has been build on top of (I believe some of the foundations may remain) and is now "University Chapel of the Resurrection"

Cypress Hall in 2012 (it's the one with the cross on the front)

Henry (Solomon) together with George Myers and Henry Myers were the driving force (and partners) in the firm of Myers and Solomon. They started operation in 1858 from Yurong Street, Darlinghurst when Henry would have been 18 years old. The firm then gradually grew over the years such that by 1880 Myers and Solomon was a significant firm in the early history of Sydney and the newspaper cutting below gives some idea of their operation.

The building above was erected around 1874 and occupied 540 - 544 George street. (opposite the Town Hall). Myers and Solomon imported and supplied goods to all parts of the Colony and New Zealand. they had over 200 full-time employees ("Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 5th June 1874).

A brief look at the on-line digital newspapers www.trove.com.au one can see based on the amount of advertising that by the 1990 Myers and Solomon were starting to hit on hard times. In 1895 they went into voluntary liquidation, but re-opened in 1896 as a limited liability company with the 2 Henry's at the helm.

A pottery top made for Myers and Solomon; now a collectable

Throughout his life Henry interested himself in leading philanthropic societies, was President of the Montefiore Home and for many years retained his seat on the Executive of the Synagogue. Henry was one of the signatories of "An Act to incorporate the members of the Sir Moses Montefiore Home, to promote the objects thereof, to vest certain lands and other property in a Body Corporate, to declare the trusts thereof and to confer powers thereon, and for other incidental purposes". This was executed on 15th September, 1886 and later became known as "The Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home Act 1927 (Private Act) NSW"

Adeline was involved in several charitable causes an example of which is the Hebrew Ladies Bazaar (1875)

The 2 obituaries below best sum up the lives of Henry and Adeline Solomon.

Descendants of Henry and Adeline Solomon

Henry and Adeline had 10 children. They were all born in Sydney over a period of 15 years, i.e., Alfred Mordecai (1866), Elizabeth (1868), Lewis (1869), Ernest (1871), George (1873), Sydney Myer (1874), Frances (1875), Reginald Charles (1878), Victor Septimus (1879), Harold Octavius (1881). It's interesting to note the use of Septimus and Octavius for the 7th and 8th born males.

All the following information has been derived based on on-line digital newspapers, census lists, BDM etc., some family tress found on ancestery.com and some family trees submitted to the AJHS.

1. Alfred Mordecai Solomon was born on October 24th 1866 at his parents' residence at Little Macquarie Street South (today this would be at the intersection of Commonwealth Street and Liverpool street at the end of Hyde Park, Sydney). Alfred's birth was registered with his mother's name as Adelaide, but when you look at his death record his mother's name is Adele, so I have assumed that he is the first born son.

On 5th March 1895 Alfred and John Nash (who I assume was his partner), registered a trademark with the Registrar General's Office

From this, one could deduce that their office location was 639 George Street. In 1897 the trademark was transferred to the Virginia Tobacco Factory, Sydney (hopefully at a profit).

In 1896 there were several advertisements in Perth and Brisbane advertising poker machines for which Alfred had the Australian agency.

In 1896 a Government Gazette showed that Alfred had shares in the Mount Allen Gold Mining Company, that his address was 639 George Street and that he was a tobacconist. His middle name was now Mark. In 1899 his partnership with John Nash was dissolved.

Concurrent with the above business operations Alfred managed to get married and have 2 children. In 1897 Alfred married Janet Smith Walker in Paddington (1706/1897 in NSW BDM). Strangely the same marriage was registered in 1898 (4746/1898) in Sydney (but I think this is an error or is it a divorce). A son, Alfred Henry Solomon was born on 19th July 1897 at their residence at 426 Moore Park Road (Interestingly Alfred's father, Henry lived at 428 Park Road, Moore Park). Perhaps he was living with his parents at that time. Another unnamed male child was born in 1898 and died in the same year.

Alfred's sister, Elizabeth died in 1944 and I note that Alfred was named as the sole executor of her estate. Alfred lived in Bondi from about 1900 to post war, at Penkivill Street then later at 64 Bennett Street (Sands directories). He later lived at 22 Cremorne Road, Neutral Bay at least from 1930 to 1949 and continued to work as a tobacconist. It is difficult to deduce whether Janet and Alfred lived together for much of their married life. From a published family tree (Kay Walker Family Tree) I note that Janet Smith walker Solomon is shown as born in Kiama in 1871 and died in Chatswood on October 25th 1947. I have attempted to contact the owners of the tree. Alfred died on 19th October 1956.

Their son, Alfred Henry Solomon, is listed in the embarkation rolls for WWI (service no. 34830) with the Field artillery Brigade. His civilian job was Station book-keeper, and his army rank was Gunner. He enrolled on 20.11.16 and at the time was living with his father (and perhaps mother) at Bennett Street, Bondi. He married Emily Elizabeth Sinclair in 1926. He died in 1952 aged 55. They had 2 children, Keith and Jenifer.

2. Elizabeth Solomon was born on 27th April 1868 at her parents' residence at 11 Little Macquarie Street, Sydney. From the BDM NSW, her death was registered in 1946.

As mentioned above she named her brother, Alfred Henry, as her sole executor.

3. Lewis Solomon was born on 21st December 1869 at his parents' residence at 163 Tinley Terrace, Forbes Street, Woolloomooloo. Unfortunately he died 8 months later on 23rd August 1870

4. Ernest Solomon was born on 17th May 1871 at his parents' newly built residence, "Darlington House" , Newtown.

In April 1902, Ernest and Gertrude Annetta Menser announced their engagement. The "Queensland Figaro" indicated that at that time he worked for Hoffnung and Company, who were prominent merchants. On 17th June 1903 they were married at The Great Synagogue, Sydney. It is interesting to note that Gertrude's sister, Vera, married Montague Barnett (Ernest's 1st cousin) in 1911.

Sands directories and census details indicate that from 1909-1917 Ernest and Gertrude lived in Waverly; 1919-1930 they lived in Bondi; 1936-1943 they lived in Bellevue Hills. When in Bellevue Hill he is indicated as being a 'traveler'.

Ernest Solomon died on July 12th 1946.

Gertrude died in 1958 aged 83

Ernest and Gertrude had 2 children, both born in Queensland. Leslie, (19th December 1904) and Nell Valda (24th August 1908). Leslie married Aylsa Victoria Levy at the Great Synagogue, Sydney. Nell married Norman Stone in 1948 (14686/1948 NSW BDM)

In 1949 Leslie and Aylsa are listed as living at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains where he is a garage proprietor. The same entries appear in the census lists of 1954, 58, 63, 80. The Ryerson Index showed that Leslie died on 12th October, 1987 (SMH 14th October, 1987) and Aylsa died on 15th July, 1996 (SMH 17th July 1996). Both had continued to live in Katoomba. They had 2 children., Ralph (1947) and Robin (1942).

5. George Solomon was born on 7th January 1873 at his parents' residence, "Darlington House" , Newtown.

George married Ruth Deborah Myers on 11th September 1901. Deborah was the daughter of Henry Myers (George Myer's brother) and Annie Joseph .... I think that means that George and Ruth were first cousins.

George and Ruth had 2 daughters, both of whom were born in Cootamundra. Ilma on 9th February 1902 and Myra Irma on 21st March 1906.

From the clipping below, one can see that George established a drapery business in Cootamundra. I also note from other articles that he was involved with the local golf club and the arts school.

A notice in the Gundagai Times indicated that George sold his business in August 1909.

I noted a UK Incoming ships' passenger list which showed George, Ruth, Ilma and Myra arriving in London from New York on the Ascania on April 20th, 1926. George is noted as a 'director'. Eventually I found the matching departure information.

So, he was director of Bebarfalds Ltd.

From around 1930 for several years George and Ruth are shown as living in Rose Bay, with his occupation as "company director"

Ruth Solomon died in 1943. George Solomon died in 1951

In 1929 Ilma married Sydney Mortimer Ballantyne-Russell. He died prematurely in 1937 and she died on 21st March 1986. They had a son, Ian (1930).

Census records show that after her husband's death, Ilma lived mainly in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney and in 1980 was living in Turramurra, not a stone's throw from my home. She died in March 1986 at Gordon, Sydney.

Census records show that Myra lived with her parents then at Darling Point. In 1954 she travelled to London (and return) by ship. According to a family tree held at the AJHS, Myra married John Witheat. Further investigation has revealed that John Withead was travelling on the same ship (Arcadia) when Myra travelled to London.

6. Sydney Myer Solomon was born on 10th June 1874 at his parent's residence at 1 Arthursleigh Terrace, Elizabeth Street, Hyde Park. They must have moved out of "Darlington House" by this time.

Sydney married Frances (Fanny) Lenneburg on July 21st 1915 at the Great Synagogue in Sydney. Frances died suddenly on 10th January 1933 (aged 48) and was buried in the Jewish section at Rookwood. I have noted that Sydney was sole executor of his wife's estate. I could find no evidence of any children form this marriage

In July 1934, Sydney married Nora O'Neill

Census lists provided and interesting trail of Sydney's movements

· 1909 lived at 9 Chapel Street

· 1921 and 1922 he lived at Forest Lodge, 117 Arundel Street, Glebe, where it still stands today

· 1924, 1925, 1926 he lived at The Star Hotel, corner of Goulburn and Sussex streets The Sand's directory lists Sydney as the owner/licensee.

· 1930 he is listed as the owner of the Grosvenor Hotel

· 1933 he lived at Grosvenor Hotel, Phillip Street and listed as hotelkeeper (this was the year Frances died)

· 1936, 1937, 1943 Yowie Bay, 1949, 1954 Cronulla. He and Nora are listed. He has 'no occupation'

There are at least 4 complaints that Sydney made that appear in the Police Gazette. The one below was in 1925 whilst he was licensee of The Star Hotel

In another case he appeared to be the instigator of an assault. This was in 1932 and Fanny was the calming influence.

In February 1936 Sydney sold his publicans' license of The Grosvenor (SMH 4.2.1936)

Sydney's probate file indicated that he died on 27th February 1955 and that he was a retired hotel keeper. He is buried at Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland. Nora died in 1968. They had no children

7. Frances Solomon was born on 2nd December 1875 at her parents' residence at Northumberland-terrace, Moore Park.

Determining any further information about Frances has been quite difficult and I have had to rely on information found in family trees at the Ancestry web site.

The summary is that she married Marion Percy Moore on 8th June 1916 in Boise Idaho, USA. She died in the USA on 6th June 1955. There is no data concerning any children.

However sometimes it pays to be persistent. Eventually I found a reference to Marion Percy Moore on a US family tree and I struck gold.

So it appears that Frances had a daughter, Doreen. Was Frances unmarried?

Couldn't find any marriage of Marian Moore to a Solomon, but I did find

And then I located a marriage between Fanny Solomon and Louis Vandenberg in Sydney on 13th June 1900

Then came the divorce....

'

There is a registered birth of a daughter to Louis and Fanny Vandenberg in the NSW BDM dated 1906, but the child's name is Margery, not Doreen. After mounting a more detailed sleuthing it was found that Margery only survived a few months (as indicated in a NSW BDM entry). Doreen was in fact born to Louis and Fanny on May 17, 1901 in Forbes (country NSW) and this is evidenced by her registered birth and a newspaper announcement in the Australian Star.

8. Reginald Charles Solomon was born on 20th September 1878 at his parents' residence at 2 Northumberland-terrace, Moore park. He died on 18th December 1879 just 15 months old.

9. Victor Septimus Solomon was born on 31st December 1880 in Sydney

Below is Victor's Embarkation Record for WWI

In the detail of the above summary he was listed as aged 36, single, an electrical engineer, and next of kin as Alfred Mordecai Solomon (brother).

Victor married Lillie Ida Victorsen on 3rd July 1919 at the Great Synagogue.

Their son, Lloyd Victor was born on 5th July 1920 at a private hospital at Rangers Road, Cremorne. It is possible that Victor and Lillie were living with the Victorsens during the initial years of their marriage.

Lillie died suddenly on 12th May 1926 at her residence at 137 Oxford Street, Sydney

Victor was a hardware merchant known as "The Arcade" operating from 137 Oxford Street. In the census records he was at this address right through to 1954.

In the incident below he is described as a 2nd hand dealer

Victor's probate record indicates that he died on 5th October 1955. He is buried at Rookwood in a double grave with Lillie.

Lloyd Victor Solomon's WWII service is summarized below

In 1952 Lloyd Victor Solomon became engaged

Something seems strange in that the message below indicates (in 1947) that they thanked everyone for their presents????

I have been unable to find an actual record of his marriage. Now over to the census records...

In 1943 Lloyd is shown as living with his parents in Oxford street, but as being in the military. In 1949 he is in Hawthorn, VIC and still in the military. In 1954 he and Dorothy are living in Frankston, VIC and in the A.M.F.By 1963 he and Dorothy have moved to Wentworthville, NSW and he is still in the military, and in the same year he and Dorothy lived in Ryan, Queensland (military). In 1968-77 they are both living in Blackburn, VIC (soldier). So it appears that Lloyd was a career soldier.

He died in Heidleberg, VIC on 17th February 1983 at the age of 62.

Lloyd and Dorothy had 3 children.

10. Harold Octavius Solomon was born on 10th December 1881 in Glenmore Rd, Paddington. He was the 10th child and 8th son.

Harold married Violet Lily Campbell on March 28th 1908

They had a daughter on 25th June 1909 at St. Auburns hospital. BDM NSW registration shows her name as Roma Marjorie

His embarkation details were

He was listed as a commercial traveller living at 38 Darlinghurst road, at the time of enrolment.

Harold served in Gallipoli where he was wounded. I found a letter he wrote from hospital in Egypt which was published in the Evening News-Sydney on 9th August 1915. It is very bad quality print but gives a description of the fighting in the trenches. The following is my best attempt at transcribing it.

In March 1916 Harry and Violet were divorced (SMH 15th March 1916). Eventually I worked out that Roma was now using her mother's maiden name (Campbell), so I found that Roma married Kenneth John Dunstan on 8th September 1937 (NSW BDM). I could find no evidence of their having had children, but noted that they lived in Nelson Street, Gordon NSW for some time (almost visible from my office window), Roma died on 28th September 1974.

Harold married Elsie Pauline Victorsen on 19th February 1918.

Elsie Pauline Victorsen and Lillie Ida Victorsen were sisters

Elsie and Harold had 3 children - Adele (1919), Dorothy (1920), David (1925)

The subsequent census information yields--

· 1930,33,36 Elsie and Harold live at 9 Thornton St, Manly. He is a shopkeeper

· 1937 he is still in Thornton St, but Elsie is at 3 Laurence St, as a shopkeeper (home duties before that)

· 1943,49,58 Harold is a 448 Oxford Street as a salesman

· 1943, 49, 54,58,63 Elsie lives at 69 Birriga, Bellevue Hill, with the children.... until each one leaves home

· 1963 Elsie moves to 33 Lodge Street, Balgowlah

From the above information one can deduce that Elsie and Harold separated in 1936/37.

Harold died on 14th August 1960 at Wentworth Falls, NSW. Elsie died on 15th July 1968 in Sydney.

All 3 children married. Adele married Verdun Gadsby in 1945 and had 5 children, Dorothy married Reuben Andrews in 1950 and had 2 children. David married Miriam Roseberg in 1962 and had 2 children.

Clearly all of Henry and Adeline's offspring had a huge involvement in world wars and below is another example, being David Henry Solomon's World War II service record.

Adele and Dorothy were also in the Air Force (WAAC's) and below is a photo of the 3 siblings in uniform.

Dorothy, David and Adele Solomon (courtesy of Keren Wise 2017)

[John Shrimski]

[top of page]