Grave 101
     

Myer Fishel

1778  – 1861

Here lies
Myer Ephraim
son of Rabbi Moses
who died
and was buried on the 1st day of Heshvan
in the year 622 according to the major order of counting
May his soul be bound up in the bond of life eternal

נפ
השמ רב םירפא ריאכ
בא_ויב רבהנו רטפכ חשו_ הפל פכרת תנש
הבצנח


SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF MYER FISHEL
DIED OCTOBER 5TH 1861,
AGED 83


Myer Fisher was a watchmaker who came originally from Poland. Myer and his wife Jesse, whose matching grave lies next to his, arrived in Bath in the 1830s.

The 1833 Bath Street Directory lists Myer Fishel, silversmith at 6 New Bond Street. However, on 2 July 1835 the Bath Chronicle carried a report of a ‘Daring Burglary and extensive robbery at the dwelling house of Mr Fishel, Jeweller, of Walcot Buildings’. The thieves crossed the river in a boat and tied ladders together to reach the drawing room window. Watches and jewellery to the value of £100 were stolen. 

The family stayed in Bath and a few years later in 1839 the Bath City Directory lists Myer Fishel as a Watchmaker and Optician in Broad Street. By 1846 he is listed as a Watchmaker and Optician at 1 New Broad Street Place and by 1858 as a Watchmaker and Antiquarian at 4 Upper Walls. 

The census records that their five children were all born in Somerset; Morris in 1832, Elizabeth in 1834, Samuel in 1835, Louis in 1836 and Amelia in 1838. 

Myer Fishel died aged 83 in Bath of apoplexy (ie a stroke) – from the Bath Chronicle death notices of Thursday 10 October 1861 p5: ‘Oct 5., at his residence, M. Fishel, aged 80’. Solomon Wolfe, the second reader at the Bath Synagogue, was present at his death.
A number of reports in the Bath Chronicle paint a vivid picture of life in Bath during the 1840s and 50s:

In 1847 ‘two little urchins’ were convicted of stealing a silver plated cup from Myer Fishel.

In 1847 a thief was committed to trial for stealing a silver skewer, which he offered for sale to Mrs Fishel who detained it as she thought it was stolen.

In 1850 his son Samuel then aged 15 was accused and acquitted of stealing two silver spoons from Mr R Solomons; in 1853 Samuel was assaulted in Upper Borough Walls and in 1852 his son Louis then aged 15 was fined 2s 6d for committing assault. In 1853 Mr Fishel was summoned for the recovery of 11s 6d for commission on the sale on a piano and 1856 Mrs Fishel is summoned for non payment of 2s for a bonnet (payment was subsequently made).
It is possible that the family are related to Barnett Lichtenstein, Reader at the Synagogue 1867-mid 1870s, who was married to Susannah Fishel, but it has not been possible to establish a connection.
Census records
  1841     Kingsmead St   Bath
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Myer Fishel 50
Somerset 
Head
Watchmaker
Jesse Fishel 40
Somerset 
Wife
Unrecorded
Samuel Fishel 6
Somerset 
Son
Unrecorded
Amelia Fishel 2
Bath 
Son
Unrecorded
Morris Fishel 9
Somerset 
Son
Unrecorded
Elizabeth Fishel 7
Somerset 
Daughter
Unrecorded
Louis Fischel 4
Somerset 
Son
Unrecorded
  1851   36   Westgate Street   Bath
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Myer Fishel 66
Poland 
Head
Watchmaker
Jesse Fishel 47
London 
Wife
Wife
Elizabeth Fishel 13
Bath 
Head
Unrecorded
Samuel Fishel 16
Bath 
Head
Jeweller
Louis Fischel 14
Bath 
Head
Unrecorded
Amelia Fishel 12
Bath 
Head
Unrecorded
  1861   11  Union Passage   Bath
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Myer Fishel 84
London 
Head
Jeweller
Amelia Fishel 22
Bath 
Daughter
Dressmaker
Jesse Fishel 63
London 
Wife
Wife
Associated addresses
  1856-1865   4  Upper Borough Walls   Bath