Joshua Levy

Birth: September 23, 1849 at 35 Mitre Street, Aldgate, London, England.

Death: October 3, 1928 in Victoria, B.C.
The information confirming the burial and biographical details is from Congregation Emanu-El 1946 Burial Register 1946 as related through the JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) and the Index to the British Columbia Vital Statistics Archives for 1946 and from the Daily Colonist newspaper for Thursday 04 October 1926 page 5 column 4 and Saturday 06 October 1928 page column 4.

Plot: Location of plot unknown

Biography:

Joshua married Mary Ann Prier in the Methodist Wesleyan Chapel on April 18, 1881. The couple immigrated to Victoria on January 17, 1886. It’s possible that the Prier family also traveled with them. The couple had three sons. Joseph was born in 1882, and William in 1885. In 1897 the couple adopted the infant Thomas Stanley Cooper and renamed him Stanley Thomas Levy.

According to the Victoria Daily Times on April 20, 1922, friends and relatives gathered at their home to celebrate Mary-Ann and Joshua’s 40^th anniversary. “Cards and dancing were indulged in until a late hour.”

Like his father, Joshua was a cigar maker in London and remained in the same business in Victoria until he retired in 1923. At that time, there were a number of cigar manufacturers in Victoria. According to the B.C. City Directory, in 1887 Joshua and Joseph Levy were in the cigar-making business known as Levy J.L & J. By the 1891 edition of the directory Joshua was just referred to as ‘cigar maker.’

The 1897-1902 City Directory recorded that Joshua, his son Joseph Jr. and wife Mary Ann were all listed as working at a cigar factory located at 145 Chatham Street. In 1903, Mary Ann is not listed, but their other son William had joined the family business. The 1906 City Directory listed the business as Levy and Sons (Joseph and William). In 1912 Levy J & Sons was recorded as the proprietor of the Pride Cigar Factory located at 645 Johnson Street. That name disappeared from the City Directory in the 1915 edition, however, Joshua and his sons were still listed as cigar makers, no address given.

According to the 1891 Canadian Census, Joshua was living with his wife and two young sons on Johnson Street. The Census recorded that Joshua could speak, read and write in English. According to the 1911 Canadian Census Joshua, his wife and all three sons were living at 1023 Fisgard Street, and that Joshua was a cigar-maker employee. The 1921 Canadian Census noted that Joshua was living with his wife and sons Joseph and Stanley in a six room single family home made of wood at 1022 Balmoral Road. Joshua was listed as a business owner, and that he could not speak, read, or write French.

Joshua was a member of the Sons of St. George. That fraternal/benevolent organization was established by English immigrants to North America. The aim was to provide sick and funeral benefits to fellow Englishmen in North America.

Joshua passed away at home. According the Times Colonist on October 6, 1928, burial took place at the Jewish Cemetery. “Relatives and many friends were in attendance and the casket was hidden beneath a profusion of beautiful flowers.”

The Daily Colonist on September 15, 1929 reported that Joshua’s estate was valued at $600.00

Spouse:
Mary Ann Prier Levy (1861–1948)

Children:
Joseph Levy (1882–1957)
William George Levy (1885–1975)
Stanley Thomas Levy (1897–1993)