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

Abraham (Mordecai) Solomon – The Folk Lore

For many years it has been family folk lore that Mordecai’s father was Myer Solomon, a wealthy philanthropist & antiquarian in London in the early 19^th century, a member of the Leadenhall St Synagogue & founder of the Western Synagogue. Myer also maintained a Register of Circumcisions performed by him over a period of not less than 57 years.

However, extensive research by several family members over the past few years has found no evidence to support this. Despite extensive research into the UK records of London births in 1800 as well as those maintained by various London synagogues no record can be found of Mordecai’s birth.

As well, he is not mentioned either in Myer Solomon’s Circumcision Register nor in his will (Myer died in 1840). We have a photocopy of the oldest written family tree that seems to exist (in the Hyamson Genealogies) and here it is clearly recorded that Myer and his wife (Gittel Kalisch) had ‘no issue.’

To support this point, recent DNA comparisons between descendants of Gittel’s parents and our Solomon line have shown no link at all between the two families.

Hence Mordecai’s parentage remains a mystery. However recent research, supported by strong DNA evidence, has shown the likelihood that Mordecai had a sister, Rebecca Elizabeth, born in about 1802, just two years later than Mordecai.

It has also been family folk lore that Mordecai arrived in Australia as a free settler, aboard the convict vessel the Lady Castlereagh. Once again there is not one shred of evidence to support this theory. In fact, Extensive research by John Shrimski and Roberta and Jeffrey Madsen gives a strong case for Mordecai having arrived in Australia in November 1818, as a convict, Abraham Solomon aboard the vessel Shipley.

So if both of these pieces of family folk lore are incorrect, why would they have been created in the first place?

It has to be remembered that it is only in recent years that attitudes have changed, such that having convict heritage is no longer considered to be a stain on a family’s image.

Many of our Solomon ancestors were relatively wealthy, influential and highly respected members of Sydney Jewish society. For many of them it would have been considered humiliating if it was discovered that they had convict heritage. What better way to hide it by not only ‘claiming’ that their direct ancestor, Mordecai Solomon, was one of the first free Jewish immigrants to Australia but also claiming to be the descendants of one of the most esteemed Jewish entities in London in the early 19^th Century?

Mordecai Solomon (1800 – 1883)

1800 Born London. Father – Meir; Mother – Unknown

1802 Sister – Rebecca Elizabeth born in Mile End, London

1817 (January). Appeared in the Old Bailey, “indicted for stealing, on the 23d of December, in the dwelling-house of Evan Jones, one till, value 3s.; twelve pence, in monies numbered; and two 1l. bank-notes, his property.” On this charge he was found not guilty.

1817 (April). Second appearance in The Old Bailey , “indicted for stealing ten live tame rabbits, price 10s., the property of Richard Hawkes.” On this charge he was found guilty and was sentenced to be confined for six months in the Clerkenwell House of Correction.

1818 (13th April). As Abraham Solomon ( a name he was to keep for the next 20 odd years) found guilty at the Surrey Assizes Quarter Sessions with stealing several towels and other articles. Sentenced to 7 years transportation to Australia.

1818 Received 35 lashes for riotous behaviour aboard the convict vessel ‘Shipley’ after leaving London

1818 (18 November). Arrived in Sydney Cove and sent to the convict settlement at Parramatta and then to the Liverpool Barracks

1822 Assigned to John Grant an emancipist

1823 Sent to Emu Plains Agricultural Penal Farm but escaped. Caught and convicted as a runaway (7^th November 1823). Sentenced to transportation to the penal colony at Port Macquarie for the remainder of his 7 year term

1825 (May) Completed his term at Port Macquarie. Granted Certificate of Freedom.

1834 (approx.) Settled in the Illawarra district, most probably on a clearing lease at Solomon’s Creek, on Osborne’s Farm Dapto

1834 Elizabeth Haines arrived in October aboard the all female bounty ship ‘David Scott’’

1835 Married Elizabeth at ‘Illawarra House’, Dapto early in 1835, with the marriage performed by ‘a Baptist Minister according to Jewish rites. It was around this time that Mordecai started reverting to his birth name but still used the name Abraham for some time.

Five of Mordecai’s eight childrenad their birth registered with ‘Mordecai’ as their father: Sarah (Dapto 1836), Jane (Dapto 1838), Henry (Sydney? 1840), Ellen (Sydney 1842), Joseph (Sydney 1844),

Myer (Dapto (1837), Catherine (Sydney 1847) and a third child weren’t registered

1837 Under the name Abraham he applied to purchase 100 acres of Crown Land at Dapto. He states he is free, arrived on the Shipley in November 1818 and is living on Osborne’s Farm. The application was blocked ; Convicts Maria Elliot and William Clark assigned to him

1841 (Census) As Abraham, living at Dapto

1843 Mordecai Solomon noted on a handwritten list as being a member of the Bridge Street Synagogue

1848 Mordecai charged with breach of the peace. Case dismissed

1849- 1851 Mordecai A. Solomon residing in Pitt Street Sydney

1852 Elizabeth died on 2^nd November

1853 Mordecai and his brother in law Abraham granted pedlars’ licences

1855 Living at Strawberry Hills (Sydney). “Abraham Modecai Solomon” listed as a General Dealer at 241 Pitt Street. Eldest daughter Sarah married George Myers

1856 Purchased four properties containing 10 dwellings in Yurong Street Woolloomooloo

1857 Took out a mortgage for 3,000 pounds over portions of the Riley Estate on the East side of Yurong St, Wolloomooloo.

1857 – 1861 The family was living at Alma Terrace, 68 Yurong Street

1858 Properties of 68,70,72,74,76,78 and 80 Yurong St shown in the assessment books of 1858 to be owned by Mordecai and to have a market value of about 5582 pounds.

1863 – at least 1865. Living at 72 Yurong Street, the same address at which Sarah & George Myers had lived for the previous three years

1876 Yurong Street property sold. Living at Moorcliff, Miller’s Point, Sydney

1882 Living at ‘Eglinton’ Glebe Point Road, Glebe the home of his daughter Sarah (George Myers had passed away in 1882),

1883 Died at Eglinton on 9 March 1883.Buried in the Rookwood Cemetery, Old Jewish Ground. Section A, row 12 plot 394 and his now crumbling headstone reads:

"Sacred to the memory of Mordecai Solomon, who departed this life March 9th 1883, aged 83 years. May his soul rest in peace."

"Here lies an old man with fulfilled life. Mordechai son of Meir. Went to the next world on 30 Adar 5643 at the age of 83.

May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life. "

Died (intestate) at Eglinton, Glebe Point Rd

Death: Name "Nodecai" in Pioneers' Index (3196)

From Death Certificate (Reg No 03196): Medical attendant at death - Dr Hunter; Informant - Henry Myer Jr Grandson, Eglinton, Glebe Point; Registered 27 March 1883 Glebe; Undertaker - Simon Goodman; Minister - Reverend Phillipstein; Witnesses - Mark Myers, Henry Myers Jnr.

Time in colony - 65 years;

Spouse - Elizabeth Haines; Place married - Sydney;

Children of marriage - 3 males, 3 females living, 1 male, 1 female deceased.

[Adrian Paul]

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