Description:‘A House Inhabited by Jews’ (1750).
In one Birmingham’s early ‘levy books’, a number of Jews can be seen living together as early as 1750. This is an important piece of evidence. It proves that social diversity did not begin in the twentieth century: Birmingham was inhabited by small gatherings of Jews over two hundred and fifty years ago.
Unable to afford their own property, these early Jewish migrants were living together in a form of ‘lodging house’, a place of low rent and most probably poor living conditions. The first three names on the 1750 list, Richard Stockley, Joseph Oakley, George Raven, have a symbol ‘p’ next to their names. This may indicate 'poor'. By living together it may have been easier to follow a faith which would be seen as alien to others, in difficult social conditions.
The evidence of the names listed here also complicates the idea that we can recognise the presence of Jews simply by tracing Jewish sounding names (Moses, Aaron, Cohen or Jacob for example). Had the people in this lodging house taken on 'English' names to avoid social scrutiny?
In contrast, other entries in Birmingham's eighteenth century levy books may indicate (but not conclusively prove) fellow Jewish settlers. These include a ‘Moses Emanuel’ who appears in the 'New Street Quarter' in 1743; and a ‘Samuel Roth’ (who is noted to be ‘from Germany’) appearing Dale End Quarter in 1741.
Note: included on this exhibition page is a larger view of the 'Levy Book' in which this entry occurs.