Grave 14
     

Barnett Barnett

1832  – 1901

....who died on the 1st day 
....[5]661
May his soul  be bound up in the bond of internal life

B. BARN... DIED APRIL .. ...
AGED [68]


Barnett (Barnard) Barnett died aged 69 on 14 April 1901 in East Dean, Gloucestershire.  Researching his life story has revealed a complex web of connections and mysteries.

The first clue was that a few weeks before his death, the 1901 census records Barnett Barnett as a lodger, unmarried, aged 68, born Bristol, living on own means, at 123 Pembroke Road East Dean. Present at his death was Simon Sperber, living in Cinderford, East Dean. Simon Sperber was the treasurer of the Bath Synagogue in 1900 and in August 1900 he was married there to Katie Franks, the daughter of Michael Franks a prominent member of the Jewish Community. The marriage record gives Simon's address as Cinderford and he is recorded as living there is the 1901 census. Did he and his father in law, Michael Franks, arrange for Barnett to be buried in Bath?

Barnett's will holds  some of the clues to his family. Although he never married he had a brother Hyam Barnett, two uncles Benjamin Hyam and David Hyam and an aunt Sarah Cohen (nee Hyam). 

The first mention of Barnett is in the 1841 Bristol Census where he is recorded  aged 9 as living in with Samuel Jones, a tailor, and his wife, neither of whom were born in England. It is a mystery why Barnett is living with them. 

However, in the 1851 census his first cousin Sarah Cohen is recorded as living with the same couple. So it is likely that Jones was not their original last name. 

Because Barnett was born before 1837 there are no birth records so we cannot be sure who his father was. A Joseph Barnett clothes salesman dies aged 38  in Bristol in 1840. Was this Barnett's father?  Isaac Barnet also a clothes salesman, registered his death. Isaac and  his family are recorded in the 1851 census living in Bristol. In the 1861 and 1881 census Barnett is recorded as a visitor  with the family in London. So it is likely that Isaac and Joseph were related. 

Barnett's mother was probably Mary Barnett. She is recorded in the 1891 census as a widow aged 79, born London,  living in Islington with her son Hyam Barnett aged 59, born in Bristol. Mary died in Islington in 1894. 
 
The National Probate Calendar 1901 records that Barnett  Barnett of 4 Pembroke Road Cinderford Gloucestershire left effects of £1016 2s 8d and that probate was given in Gloucester 18 May to  his bother Hyam Barnett, gentleman.  Barnett leaves bequests to his aunt Lucy Hyam widow of his uncle Benjamin Hyam and to his uncle David Hyam who lived in Bristol until his death there in 1901.  Intriguingly he also leaves money to Mary Ann Chowne (Cohen?) and her daughter Lily Barnett Chowne.  Lily's father is recorded as unknown. Was she his illegitimate daughter? Or was Mary a relative and named after Barnett's mother Mary? 
Much of Barnett's life is still a mystery. There is no trace of him in the 1851, 1871 or 1891 census. Where his is recorded in the census, his occupation is listed as general merchant. But on his death certificate it is recorded as retired Jeweller. 

Intriguingly, Barnett's will made in 1900 states "my brother Hyam Barnett now of Zahleh Lebanon".  Hyam died in Brighton in 1912.  His only next of kin is  his niece Sara Yeo (nee Cohen) .  Sarah (b 1837)  was the daughter of Benjamin Hyam and Lucy Hadida. In 1867 she married Thomas Yeo. Sarah's marriage certificate reveals that her father was Cosman Cohen (1806-1856). He  married Sarah's mother who was also named Sarah  (1793 -   ). Benjamin and David Hyam, step sons, are recorded as living in London with Cosman and Sarah Cohen in the 1851 census.

Simon Sperber, who was present at Barnett's death, was born in Lwow in 1871. Living close to him in Cinderford was Marcus Barnett who in 1901 married Florence Ginzburg who lived in Bath. Marcus and his brother Abraham were both born in 'foreign parts'. Were they distant relatives of Barnett? 
Census records
  1841     Broadmead   Bristol
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
  1861   7  Bridgewater Square   London
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
  1881   4  Portsdown Road   London
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
  1901   123  Pembroke Rd   East Dean
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Associated addresses
     3  Church Street   Bath
  Address 1900 when will made