SAMUEL JOHN LEVEY 1845-1900

[phillip]

This new thread should be linked to the previous threads on John Levey and Gertrude Lyons and their children. (Main thread on John and Gertrude - https://www.british-genealogy.com/for...YONS-1812-1891)
The thread also provides data on the two wives of Samuel John Levey aka Samuel Levy aka Samuel J Levey. His first wife was Mary Stewart CONEY and his second ' wife' ( there is no record of a marriage) was Mattie E NEWELL. From the first marriage there were three children- Samuel Harvey Levey aka Harvey S Levey; Philip H Levey; G Athalie Levey. There appear to be no children from the second 'marriage'. The various relationships regarding Mary Stewart Coney included three other marriages, the second and third both to Frank ASHTON ( they divorced but re- married) and then to Augustus Robert MUNROE. A child Leonie Ashton was the fourth child of Mary Coney.
The website Chronicling America - American Newspapers 1836- 1922 carries numerous articles regarding Samuel J Levey; Mary Stewart Coney and Frank Ashton including in the case of Mary her alleged affair with Rear Admiral Merry of the US Navy and the mysterious death of Frank Ashton followed by her last marriage. Samuel J Levey and his various movements between Australia, Honolului, China and his eventual death in Manila in 1900 have also been very complex including the relationship he appears to have had with Mattie Newell who later became a POW in WW2 under the Japanese.

My interest in Samuel J Levey arose because he was a brother of Lewis John Levey aka Lewis J Levey who had married Flora Hart one of my great aunts.
Samuel's bankruptcy in Honolulu and his dealings in the business of his brother Lewis appears to have had a major negative impact on Flora and in particular her six children following the death of Lewis.
Samuel and Lewis had settled in Hawaii during the late 1870s. In the case of Samuel he married Mary Stewart Coney in 1881.. " On Tuesday evening, the 21st inst a large company assembled at the residence of Mrs J H Coney "Holani Pa" to witness the marriage ceremony of her eldest daughter Miss Mary S Coney to Mr Samuel J Levey of this city". The Pacific Commercial Asveriser ( Honolulu) Hawaii Islands June 25, 1881. The wedding account named several Hawaiian royal members and relatives of Mary plus a range of US dignitaries and other important members of Hawaiian society.

I will post further on Mary, Samuel and Mattie.
Phillip

[phillip]

In his Bankruptcy proceedings which were reported in The Pacific Commercial Advertiser Honolulu 3 March, 1886 Samuel J Levey was referred to as a senior partner in S J Levey and Co Honolulu. Samuel stated that .."I arrived in the Islands in August, 1879. My first occupation was luna on the Wailuku plantation at $50 per month. Was there one year. Came to Honolulu and went clerking for A W Bush.. From the time I left Wailuku till Bush died I did not save much money... I bought Bush out about one year before he died.. The cash I borrowed of Mrs Coney's money... Have had former experience in grocery business in Australia.. I had a perfect knowledge of the grocery business as conducted by Mr Bush.. had two partners.. I married Miss Coney in June 1881. She had means of her own... I sent my wife and family to England in July 1884...." The bankruptcy account suggests poor business practice by Samuel including a range of attempts to borrow money as well as bad spending including paying $1400 for the trip of his wife and children to England presumably to visit relatives including Samuel's mother Gertrude.
Matters appeared to take a turn for the worse when Samuel left Honolulu in about 1887. He had been declared Bankrupt in Sept 1886. The Daily Bulletin Nov 22, 1894 noted the return of Samuel to Honolulu some seven years late.. "Samuel Levey brother of Lewis J Levey auctioneer is in Honolulu after an absence of seven years".
Unfortunately for Lewis and his wife Flora and children, Lewis was imprisoned for alleged conspiracy to over throw the Hawaiian government along with other individuals. Lewis was forced to sign a confession which further required him to leave Honolulu with his family and return to Australia where he had settled before going to Honolulu.
In his absence Samuel took over Lewis's business but according to the obituary of Lewis who died in 1896 after shortly returning to Honolulu .. " Samuel J Levey.. suddenly made up his mind to close it and go to China." The Hawaiian Gazette August 25, 1896.
The effect on Flora Levey nee Hart and her six children was significant. When Flora died in 1905 the Pacific Commercial Advertiser March 31, 1905 wrote.. "A collection is circulated about town towards the relief of the six orphan children of the late Mrs Lewis J Levey. Most of the children are still of tender age and the object appeals strongly to all charitably included".

Eva Hammer nee Hart sister of Flora was also living in Honolulu and was the executor for her sister's will but the accounts suggest that very little money was left to look after the children. Eva herself and her husband Emil died also in 1907 which left the children without Hart relatives and only Coney in law relatives.

The US Passport Application for Samuel J Levey indicated that he was in Hancow, China in 1898 and stated that he was born New York 10 March, 1845 and domiciled US San Francisco California. He stated he was an exporter and left US 27 May 1894 and wanted to travel to other provinces in China. No mention was made of a wife or children. He was described as age 53; 5 feet 8 inches;Forehead high; Eyes Hazel; Nose broad; Mouth large;Chin round; Hair grey; Complexion dark; face long.
By 1900 Samuel was dead. Philippines select Deaths and Burials records indicated Samuel J Levey birth date 1842 Death 30 July 1900 Manila, Philippines Age 58. The Massachusetts Mason Membership Cards also indicated Samuel John LEVY ( or Levey0 Residence Shanghai; Occupation Clerk; Nativity New York -50 Lodge Ancient Landmark Initiated 1897-3-2; Passed 1897-4-20; Raised 1897 5-7. Deceased 1900 -7-31

What Samuel was doing in New York in 1897 is not known and there is no reference to a divorce but by 1905 Mattie Newell was calling herself Mattie Levey and stating she was the wife of Samuel in a legal case regarding his estate.

More to follow.
Phillip

[Pam Downes]

Hi Phillip,

So people can easily refer back to the John Levey/Gertrude Lyons thread I've inserted the link in your first post.
You may want to add the links to threads regarding their children in your next post to this thread as it makes it much easier for people to 'see the joins' so to speak.

But 'label' them, e.g. John and Gertrude's daughter Ann born 1653 (link)
son Fred born 1704 (link)

While duplicate posts are a no-no, cross-linking of threads such as these is very much to be recommended.

Pam

[phillip]

In this post I will provide data on the marriages of Mary Stewart Coney to Frank Ashton and Angus Robert Monroe. The data is taken from a range of newspaper articles. As stated in an earlier post on this thread Mary Stewart Coney had married first to Samuel John Levey in 1881 but by 1899 she had married Frank Ashton although there are no records of a divorce between Mary and Samuel and Samuel was still alive until 1900 and 'married' also to Mattie Newell.
In the San Francisco Call Saturday April 11, 1903 there is a drawn portrait of Mrs Mary Ashton with details of her former affair with Vice Admiral Merry US Navy. This affair led to the divorce of Mary and Frank.In addition, there are a range of newspaper articles regarding the custody battle for Leonie Ashton the young daughter of Mary and Frank Ashton and the abduction by Frank of Leonie leading to his arrest. Mary regained custody of Leonie but in a surprising turn around re- married Frank and remained with him until his death.
The San Francisco Call Nov 30,1905 reported "Married in Redwood City Nov 18,1905 Frank Ashton of San Francisco to Mary S Ashton of Berkeley, California". However, following the death of Frank Ashton in 1906, Mary married Angus Robert Monroe. In the Pacific Commercial Advertiser Honolulu Nov 13, 1906 the marriage was reported.. "Mrs Ashton is wedded again. The marriage on Sept 20, in San Rafael of Mrs Frank Ashton a former society belle of Honolulu to Augustus Munro of Berkeley has set society agog ..." The article described her relationship with Rear Admiral Merry and her divorce and later re- marriage to Frank Ashton.
The article also stated that Mary and Angus were living at 1721 Grove St Berkeley Alameda California.
This address was where Mary and Frank plus her children were living at the time of Frank's death.
The San Francisco call Weds Feb 21, 1906 reported the inquest on Frank Ashton..." Whether Frank E Ashton whose body was found lying in the mud of the estuary near California yacht club house yesterday, came to his death accidentally or intentionally, or whether he was the victim of foul play will probably go unanswered with the dead man to his grave.. jury returned a simple verdict that Ashton's death was due to drowning.. Ashton was known to have considerable money on his person when he left his home 1721 Grove Street Berkeley California...Philip H Levey, Ashton's step son, stated today that he had made a search in Berkeley and Oakland to find where his father went after leaving home on Saturday...Levey said Ashton often carried large sums of money that he made from real estate deals and that he spent much for drink..."

I will post further on Mary Stewart Coney and Angus Monroe plus on Mattie Newell.
Phillip

[phillip]

This post provides US Census and other data on Mary Stewart Coney nee Levey nee Ashton nee Monroe.
In the 1910 US Census record T624 728A 0045 (Copyright US National Archives) 1721 Grove St Berkeley Alameda California Mary is living with her husband Augustus Monroe- Augustus Monroe H 37 b Iowa, parents born Illinois Real Estate Agent; Mary S Monroe wife 48 b Hawaii parents born New York, Hawaii

Mary's three children from her first marriage to Samuel J Levey were already more than eighteen years of age and presumably no longer living at home. Where Leonie her child with Frank Ashton was living is not known. However by WW1 Augustus Monroe had re- married to an Annie K according to his WW1 Draft Registration and the couple were living at Walnut Creek California where Augustus was 44 born Dec 6 1873 and self employed. The couple appear in the 1920 US Census T625 95 5B 7180 (Copyright, US National Archives) - Augustus R Monroe H 46 b Iowa parents born NY; Connecticut; Annie K Monroe wife 43 b Scotland; parents born England. Neither of the couple had an occupation- Contra Costa, Walnut Creek California

The California Death Index shows- Augustus R Monroe born 6 Dec 1873 Iowa Death 17 June 1943 Napa and Cemeterey records show he was buried in Veteran's Home Cemetery California Yountville Napa County California Plot Sec 1 Row 6 Grave 3.
By 1908 according to US City Directories Augustus was living at 1721 Grove Alameda Oakland California Real estate with no mention of Mary. When Mary died in 1936 she was using her former married name of Ashton and not Monroe- California Death Index Died Mary S Ashton b abt 1862 Death 14 June 1936 Alameda California.

Phillip

[phillip]

This post provides further data on Mary Stewary Coney and the children from two of her three marriages. In the first marriage to Samuel John Levey two of her three children Philip H Levey and Leonie A Levey aka Gwendolyne Athalie Levey were living in 1908 at 1721 Grove Street Berkeley Oakland California- US City Directories. On Find a Grave website the Tombstone of Mary, Philip and Gwendolyne has the names of all three individuals- Philip H Levey b 3 June 1884 died 4 Sept 1943; Mary Coney Ashton b 26 Oct 1861 died June 14 1936; Gwendolyne Athalie LAMBLE b 15 May 1886 died March 6 1950 - O'ahu Cemetery Honolulu Hawaii. Philip H Levey in the 1940 US Census was living at Beach Walk Road Hawaii- Philip H Levey lodger 55 b Hawaii Accountant (Copyright US National Archives) T627 4585 20B 2-50

In the 1900 US Census Berkeley Ward 1 Alameda California Mary and three of her children are living with her second husband Frank Ashton (Copyright US National Archives) 3 1B 0395- Frank Ashton Head 47 b California Real Estate Agent; Mary S wife 38 b Hawaii; Philip H Levey 15 b Hawaii; Leonie A Levey 15 b Hawaii; Athalie L Ashton 2 b California. No of years married 6. Gewndolyn Athalie Levey -father Samuel married Frank Lamble in 1924

In the 1930 US Census Mary Stewart Ashton was living with her daughter Leonie- (Copyright US National Archives) 1394 16A 0050 206 Tulsa Oklahoma
Ellis Green H 46 B Virginia Inventor;dealer Oil well supplier; Leonie A wife 32 b California; Mary S ASHTON widow mother in law 68 b Hawaii.

In the 1940 US Census Leonie was married to Elton Keltner- (Copyright US National Archives) T627 326 7B 39-83A O'Neal San Joaquin California
Elton Keltner H 52 B Missouri watchman sugar corporation; Leonie wife 40 b California; Jaonne Keltner grandaughter 2 b California

California Death Index Leonie A Keltner b 12 Nov 1897 California died 27 April 1980 Sacremento- Mother- Coney- Father- Ashton.

Frank Ashton 1853-1906 is buried with his parents Charles Ashton 1827-1903 b Manchester died San Francisco and mother Elizabeth plus other Ashton.

Phillip

[phillip]

This post provides data on Mary E Levey nee Newell who stated she was married to Samuel John Levey aka Samuel Levey son of John Levey and Gertrude Lyons. As has already been posted on this thread Samuel J Levey was originally married to Mary Stewart Coney in Hononlulu in 1881 but he left for China and was in Hankow in 1898 according to his passport application. In her passport applications in 1918 Mattie E Levey stated she was married to Samuel J Levey ( no details of the marriage were given in the application) and that she was born Adams County Illinois 22 April 1871. She stated in the applicatioon that her husband Samuel J Levey was deceased and was born in New York. Her permanent residence was Taylor and she was temporarily sojourning in Shanghai in order to settle her husband's estate but intended to return to the US within three years subject to finance.She also stated that she had been residing in Quincy Illinois and last left US in 1898 arriving Shanghai in 1899 residing as a housekeeper. The consul had noted that "she had been a prostitute in China since the death of her husband, that she is now ill and desires an emergency passport. She had lived in China 1899-1900; Manila 1900-1902; Japan 1902-1903; China 1903-1918.
Mattie had been involved in a Supreme Court case Manilla August 12, 1905 where she had sought to obtain funds that Samuel J Levey had sent to Manila in order to purchase an interest in a drinking saloon later used as a theatre. She lost the case and had to pay costs. She was a POW Civilian in Camp Weihsien Center Shantu 1944-1945 and liberated. The California Death Index recorded- Mattie E Levey b 20 April 1871 Illinois died 29 Jan 1959 Los Angeles.

Phillip

[phillip]

For my Levey US and UK distant relatives in particular, here is further data on Mary Stewart Coney and her four children. The Hawaiian Star August 18, 1909 2nd edition included an article on the "Suit to provide a home for Three Levey Children in California"- the article referred to " A suit for the removal of trust funds has been brought by Mary S Monroe, S Harvey Levey, Charlotte M Levey wife of S H L, Philip H Levey and G Athalie Levey against J H Coney and Leone Ashton a minor. Mary S Monroe is the daughter of the late John H Coney. She was married first to Samuel J Levey after his death to Frank Ashton after Ashton's death to Augustus R Monroe. Her children S Harvey Levey, Philip H Levey and G Athalie Levey are now of full age. Her child Leone Ashton is under eighteen years of age.She and her four children just named have their home in Berkeley, California.....The deed was for the purpose of providing a home for the present Mrs Monroe and her children by Samuel J Levey free from liability of being taken away by debts of her then husband, Levey, who was about to engage in the retail grocery business in Honolulu".

There are further articles regarding the trust fund and trustee and the court granted Mary and her children access to just under $4000 dollars from the trust fund. This was in contrast to the children of Lewis J Levey brother of Samuel who were left destitute on the deaths of their parents.
Reference was made in the newspaper to Samue H Levey son of Mary and Samuel. He maybe the Harvey S Levey who appears in the 1930 US Census (Copyright US Nationa Archives) 206 11B 0315 604 San Francisco California- Harvey S Levey 48 Married age 38 b Honolulu, father b New York; mother b Honolulu Manager Hotel; Gertude wife 22; Norma 7 daughter California

The US City Directories has Samuel H Levey ( Getrude V ) Assistant Manager El Centro Hotel h 3055 Gough San Francisco California City Directory 1935 and earlier in 1927 City Directory Richmond California - S Harvey Levey ( Gertrude V) Manager State Theatre h 1305 Warren. Samuel is also recorded in the US Military Service Records- Samuel H evey b Hawaii age 17 USFS Newark US Naval Force Apprentice. On Find a Grave there is the record for Samuel H Levey birth unknown Death June 13, 1936 US Veteran Affairs San Francisco Cemetery Plot- Section DW Site 591

His widow Getrude and daughter Norma are recorded in the US Census 1940 ( Copyright, US National Archives) T 627 317 98 38-475 -2285 Bay St San Francisco California- Getrude Le Vey H widow 40 b California; Norma Levey dau 17 b California.
There is a California Death Index record for Norma- Norma Levey Levey - Norma Levey GONSER birth 22 Aug 1922 Clifornia; Death 15 Au 1985 San Mateo- Mother's maiden name RORABACK; father:LEVEY
It appears that Norma married Merice E Gonser and I will provide data on this line.

Phillip

[phillip]

The US City Directories indicate that Norma Levey married ( no record currently identified) Merice Edward Gonser by 1948. The couple appear in the US City Directory San Francisco 1948 Merice E Gonser ( Norma M) salesman N M Jacobs h2190 Bay; Mrs Norma M Gonser5 ofc sec Leppo Dorking and Sherman r2190 Bay; 1957 City Directory San Mateo- Merice E Gonser ( Norma L) adv coordinator Foremost dairies (SF)H1777 Hamlet; 1960 San Mateo Merice E Gonser ( Norma L) adv mgr Foremost Dairies N Div h1777 Hamelt
California Death Index- Merice E Gonser b 19 May 1917 Oregon died 18 Feb 1977 Santa Clara

US Census records for Merice indicate his parents as Jacob and Flora Gonser.
Phillip