Grave 50
     

Nathan Jacobs

1826  – 1890

Here lies
An innocent, G-d fearing, and honest man who turned away from evil
charitable, kind and upright
until the day he died
He was truly loved
All his acquaintances respected him
The Rev/Rabbi Natan son of Rabbi Aharon zl
His pure soul ascended to heaven
On Monday the 22nd of Iyar
And buried the next day
Mourned by his wife his sons and daughters and grandchildren
And his many friends.
May his soul be bound up in the bond of life eternal 

פנ
איש תם וישר ירא אלהים וסר מרע
עשות צדקה וחסד ומישרים
יגע מעודו עד יום מותו
אהב האמת דרכיו ישרים
כל יודעיו כבדו אותו
החבר ר׳ נתן בן החבר ר׳ אהרן ז׳ל
נשמתו הטהורה עלתה השמימה
ביום ב׳ כב אייר
וממחרתו גויתו הצרופה שבה אל העפר
בשנת יי לקח נתן
לדאבון לב אשתו בניו ובנותיו ונכדיו
ואוהביו הרבים
ת׳ נ׳ צ׳ ב׳ ה


IN LOVING MEMORY OF
THE REV. NATHAN JACOBS.
DIED MAY 12TH 1890 5650,
AGED 64 YEARS.


Nathan and his three younger sisters emigrated from Poland to Oxford in 1842, when Nathan was 16. His parents established both their home and their shop at 9 Ebbes Street. At that time, only three other Jewish families resided in Oxford, one of which was the Wolfs, who lived nearby.

In February of 1844, a devastating fire engulfed their home. Nathan’s father and one of his sisters lost their lives, while Nathan, who was 18 at the time and still unable to speak English, barely escaped by climbing out of an upstairs window. He fell and suffered serious injuries to his head. However, only six months later, at the age of 19, Nathan married Hannah, the oldest of the Wolf sisters. It was the first Jewish wedding in Oxford and created a stir of local interest, and was also reported in The Times.

Their first child, a son named Aaron after Nathan’s father, was born shortly thereafter. Nathan was serving as the shochet (ritual slaughterer) by this time, and it’s likely that religious services were held at the family home. Six more children were born in Oxford.

Around 1847, a small synagogue was established in Oxford, and Nathan became its first Reader. In 1858, Nathan accepted a position as the first Rabbi at the new synagogue in Cardiff, and the family (including Hannah’s widowed mother) relocated there. Their youngest child, a daughter named Judith, was born there in 1865.

By 1872, the family had moved to Newport, where Nathan held various positions before retiring to Bath in 1879 with Hannah and two of their children, Isaiah and Judith. They initially lived at 16 Charlotte Street before relocating to 20 Charlotte Street, where their home was used for some synagogue business meetings.

Nathan died of diabetes in May 1890. His funeral was attended by many male relatives, ministers, and communal leaders from nearby communities. Although Nathan did not have a valid will, letters of administration were granted to Hannah. She eventually went to live with her daughter Rose and son-in-law Michael Franks, who had recently moved to Bath.

When Nathan and Hannah passed away, they had a total of 54 grandchildren. Two of his descendants have been in touch with FoBJBG. See also Gone to Blazes in Oxford, and The Rev Nathan Jacobs in Wales and the West, Rev Hill, Shemot Vol 12.1.
Administration of the Personal Estate of Nathan Jacobs late of 1 St Mary-buildings Wells Road Bath in the County of Somerset Jewish Minister who died 12 May 1890 at 1 St Mary-buildings was granted at the Principal Registry to Hannah Jacobs of 14 Manvers Street Bath Widow the Relict. Personal Estate £150. 

Rose (b 1846) married Michael Franks, a jeweller and pawnbroker from Russia. In the 1871 census they are living in Midsomer Norton with their daughter Fanny. In 1881 they are living in Blaenavon in South Wales with their five children. By 1891 they are living in Manvers Street Bath and then moved to Prior Park Buildings. 

Rebecca (b 1854) married Jacob Wolf, headmaster of the Westminster Jews’ Free School.

Judith (b 1866) married Benjamin Woolf, a Newport pawnbroker at 20 Charlotte Street in August 1887. 

Aaron Joseph became a pawnbroker, married Sarah Samuel from Liverpool and lived in Pontypool, South Wales. 

Emmanuel married Priscilla Abrahams and was a pawnbroker living in the 1891 census at 18 Cardiff Road, Newport with 10 children and 2 servants. He died in 1899, leaving over £3,500 to his wife and son Bertram a solicitor.

Julius (b 1848) a general dealer, married in 1872 in the Great Synagogue London to Marie Berlyn, a school teacher. They lived in Neath, Birmingham, Bedford and London with their eight children.

Benjamin married Lotti Pichi in Pittsburgh’ Pennsylvania. 

Isaiah married Josephine Hast. They had three children and lived in Cambridge and then London.
Census records
  1851     Little Clarendon Street   Oxford
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Nathan Jacobs 26
Poland 
Head
Jeweller
Hannah Jacobs 27
Poland 
Wife
Housewife
Aaron Jacobs 6
Oxford 
Son
None
Emmanuel Jacobs 4
Oxford 
Son
None
Rosa Jacobs 0
Oxford 
Daughter
Child
Julious Jacobs 2
Oxford 
Son
Child
  1861   22  East Terrace   Cardiff
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Nathan Jacobs 34
Poland 
Head
Minister
Hannah Jacobs 35
Poland 
Wife
None
Catherine Wolf 70
Poland 
Mother in law
None
Emmanuel Jacobs 14
Oxford 
Son
Assistant
Jehiel Jacobs 12
Oxford 
Son
None
Rosa Jacobs 10
Oxford 
Daughter
None
Benjamin Jacobs 8
Oxford 
Son
None
Rebecca Jacobs 6
Oxford 
Daughter
None
Josiah Jacobs 3
Oxford 
Son
None
  1871   39  Love Lane   Cardiff
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Nathan Jacobs 47
Poland 
Head
Minister
Hannah Jacobs 48
Poland 
Wife
None
Rebecca Jacobs 17
Oxford 
Daughter
None
Judith Jacobs 6
Cardiff 
Daughter
None
Catherine Wolf 50
Poland 
Widow
None
  1881   16  Charlotte St   Bath
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Nathan Jacobs 56
Poland 
Head
Retired
Hannah Jacobs 57
Poland 
Wife
None
Isaiah Jacobs 23
Oxford 
Son
Clerk
Judith Jacobs 15
Cardiff 
Daughter
None
Bertram Jacobs 8
Blaenavon 
Grandson
None
Associated addresses
     1   St Mary's Buildings   Bath
  Address on Nathan Jacobs death certificate.