Grave 96
     

Solomon Kesseff

1872  – 1921

Here lies
a man generous in his many deeds
his righteous and honest ways
from his good and pleasant heart
Kind in his attitude to · and people
Baruch Shalom bar
son of Shmuel Dov Kesef
died day Friday 13 Elul 5681
May his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life

פנ
איש יקר ו’נדיב ב’מ’עשו הרבים
הלוי [.]יש[.] ןתטים
....... טוב יהעים
כביב בעמידותו לא’אלוהים בו’אנשים
ברוך שלום בר
שמואל דיו כספ
נפטר ו יג אליל תרפא
תנצבה


SOLOMAN KESSEF DIED SEP 16 1921


Solomon Kesseff was born in Russia in 1872. By 1891 he was living in Whitechapel London with the Cohen family, also from Russia. In 1884 he married Sarah, born 1870 in Romania, and the 1901 census records they are living in Nottingham where he was a lace dealer. But his venture, called the Anglo-Swiss Lace Company, failed in 1906 with debts of £327. At the bankruptcy hearing he 'admitted that he had had a big turnover, but he kept no books and never knew how he stood'. 

He does not seem to have improved his record-keeping because in 1914, trading under the same business name in Nottingham and other market places, he went bankrupt for a second time. At this hearing his lawyer explained on his behalf that 'the reason Keseff had not kept books was because he could not write English. He was of Russian nationality and could speak and understand English, but could not write it'. The discharge was suspended for two years and at that time Solomon was trading as a stall holder in the market place in Nottingham. 

He and his wife Sarah had two children: Samuel born in Manchester 24 March 1896 and Leah born in Nottingham October 1902. We have no record of when or why the family came to Bath - maybe a new start after he was discharged from bankruptcy.

The Bath Directories for 1916-21 record Solomon Kesseff as a 'swiss goods importer' at 8 Bartlett Street. The family lived at 9 Coronation Road. Leah played the piano at the community Hannukah party in 1920 and the family put a New Year notice notice in the Jewish Chronicle in the same year.

Solomon died in the Royal United Hospital Bath at the age of 49 from 'pleurisy and an inflamed heart'. His daughter was present when he died. The family placed a death notice in the Jewish Chronicle. 

Sarah died in London on 2 October 1923 and is buried at East Ham Jewish Cemetery. Leah emigrated to the USA in 1926, married Bernard Parker in 1926 and died in Richmond Virginia in 1980. Samuel (son) never married. He worked as a Drapery Market Salesman and died in Nottingham in 1943.

1906 Nottingham Evening Post report Bankruptcy LACE DEALER'S AFFAIRS. Solomon Keseff, trading as the Anglo-Swiss Lace Company, in Castle-gate.—The debtor, who failed in £327 16s. 6d. on his own account, after being in partnership with two others from 1903 to 1904, a dealer in job stuff, admitted that he had had a big turnover, but he kept no books and never knew how he stood.—Mr. R. A. Young appeared for tho bankrupt, and the examination was closed. 

Nottingham Journal 16 October 1914: A BANKRUPT RUSSIAN. Application for his discharge was made, before Judge Allen Nottingham Bankruptcy Court yesterday Solomon Keseff, Melville street, Nottingham, trading as the Anglo-Swiss Lace Company in Castle-gate, and in Nottingham and other Market-places. According to the statement of the Official Receiver, a first and final dividend of 5 1/2d. in the pound had been paid. Mr R. A. Young, who represented the debtor, explained that the reason Keseff had not kept books was because he could not write English. He was of Russian nationality and could speak and understand English, but could not write it. The discharge was suspended for two years. 

The Jewish Chronicle: December 1920: A Channocah party was given to the children of the community by Mr and Mrs Goldman. Mr Goldman conducted the service and gave an address. Miss Leah Keseff accompanied on the piano Keseff 
Mr and Mrs Solomon Keseff and family wish all their relatives and friends a happy and prosperous New Year and well over the Fast. 9 Coronation Road Bath.
Census records
  1891   21  Old Montague St   Whitechapel, London
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
  1901   5  Woolmer St   Nottingham
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
  1911   5  Clyde Villas   Nottingham
Name | Age
Birth
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Occupation
  1921   9   Coronation Road   Bath
Name | Age
Birth
Relationship
Occupation
Associated addresses
  1916-1921   8  Bartlett St   Bath
  Bath Directories: 1916-1921: Soloman Keseff: Swiss goods importer 8 Bartlett Street.