Object numberM2012/030:096
DescriptionThis is a letter from Deborah Franklin, Barnett's sister in New York to Barnett and Caroline in Sydney, Australia. The letter is not dated; however she has listed her address as 527 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. Deborah tells them the latest family gossip and bemoans the difficulty it is for Jewish girls to get married.
A transcript of the letter reads:
'527 Gates Ave Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A
My dear Brother and Sister,
Your ever welcome letter came duly to hand. Sorry to hear your health is not so good. I can say the same thing. I suffer so much from rheumatism and my eyes are not as strong as they used to be. I am sorry to hear of all the deaths of all my old friends, but you know we all have to go the same way sooner or later. I am sorry to hear that business is so dull and that the girls cannot sell their fancy work. It would be better for them here as that kind of mark is much appreciated here but we are all misfortunate in our undertakings. There is not much news to write about at present as business is very dull here at the present time. I do not see Sarah at all she is Sallie fool just the same. She was living with me a short time but could not get along. She has been living with her children at different times and cannot get along with any of them. Her son Morris did a short time ago leaving a big family but they are not wanting as the older girls are all working. I saw Lewis a short time ago, he says he wrote to you but received no answer. All his children are married. His last two daughters are married to ?. In this country it is hard for girls to get married without money. I suppose it is the same in Australia. They don't want Jewish girls without; they have got plenty of money. Money speaks all languages. I won't tire you nay more with this kind of foolishness, but close with love to you all. Believe to remain your affectionate and loving sister, Deborah Franklin. Give all our love to all the children and all enquiring friends. Write soon with plenty of good news. Good bye and God bless you all. Lots of kisses for everybody. Julius says I am forgetting all about him. He sends kisses to all. Do you remember the bottle you threw after him?'
On the last page of the letter is an 'Answered' written above the text of the letter, stating that Barnett and Caroline Phillips replied to the letter.
Part of a large collection of photographs and documents belonging to the Phillips Family, an old Australian Jewish family that resided in New South Wales from the 1850s.
Barnett Phillips was born in 1833 in England. A devout Jew, he attended the Jewish Free School in Spittalfields, London from 1838 to 1843. He later immigrated to New South Wales, Australia. In c.1858 he married Caroline Cohen in Young, New South Wales. Caroline, also born in England, had immigrated to Goulburn along with her sister Dinah Cohen.
Barnett earned his livelihood in several ways over the course of his life. He spent time as a theatrical producer, builder, and furniture merchant. Newspaper clippings from publications of the Burrangong Courier in 1862 record Barnett as the sole proprietor of the Diggers' Theatre in Burrangong. The collection also holds a licence granted on the 3rd of June 1867 allowing Barnett to give 'Public Exhibitions and Entertainments' within the colony of New South Wales, except for within the city of Sydney.
From 1868 Barnett and Caroline were living in Sydney, within the Surrey Hills and Paddington area. By c.1909 they had moved to 300 Moore Park Road, Paddington, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Between 1860 and 1881 Barnett and Caroline had ten children: Ann (who died before her second birthday); Moses (George) Barnett; Elizabeth (Lilly); Rosetta (Rose); Zelig "Phillip"; Deborah; Clara Eve; Sarah Ann; Joel Lewis; Esther (Etty). Of all the children, George was the only one to marry, wedding Sarah Jane Dowling in 1887. He was subsequently disowned by his parents for having married outside of the faith.
A transcript of the letter reads:
'527 Gates Ave Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A
My dear Brother and Sister,
Your ever welcome letter came duly to hand. Sorry to hear your health is not so good. I can say the same thing. I suffer so much from rheumatism and my eyes are not as strong as they used to be. I am sorry to hear of all the deaths of all my old friends, but you know we all have to go the same way sooner or later. I am sorry to hear that business is so dull and that the girls cannot sell their fancy work. It would be better for them here as that kind of mark is much appreciated here but we are all misfortunate in our undertakings. There is not much news to write about at present as business is very dull here at the present time. I do not see Sarah at all she is Sallie fool just the same. She was living with me a short time but could not get along. She has been living with her children at different times and cannot get along with any of them. Her son Morris did a short time ago leaving a big family but they are not wanting as the older girls are all working. I saw Lewis a short time ago, he says he wrote to you but received no answer. All his children are married. His last two daughters are married to ?. In this country it is hard for girls to get married without money. I suppose it is the same in Australia. They don't want Jewish girls without; they have got plenty of money. Money speaks all languages. I won't tire you nay more with this kind of foolishness, but close with love to you all. Believe to remain your affectionate and loving sister, Deborah Franklin. Give all our love to all the children and all enquiring friends. Write soon with plenty of good news. Good bye and God bless you all. Lots of kisses for everybody. Julius says I am forgetting all about him. He sends kisses to all. Do you remember the bottle you threw after him?'
On the last page of the letter is an 'Answered' written above the text of the letter, stating that Barnett and Caroline Phillips replied to the letter.
Part of a large collection of photographs and documents belonging to the Phillips Family, an old Australian Jewish family that resided in New South Wales from the 1850s.
Barnett Phillips was born in 1833 in England. A devout Jew, he attended the Jewish Free School in Spittalfields, London from 1838 to 1843. He later immigrated to New South Wales, Australia. In c.1858 he married Caroline Cohen in Young, New South Wales. Caroline, also born in England, had immigrated to Goulburn along with her sister Dinah Cohen.
Barnett earned his livelihood in several ways over the course of his life. He spent time as a theatrical producer, builder, and furniture merchant. Newspaper clippings from publications of the Burrangong Courier in 1862 record Barnett as the sole proprietor of the Diggers' Theatre in Burrangong. The collection also holds a licence granted on the 3rd of June 1867 allowing Barnett to give 'Public Exhibitions and Entertainments' within the colony of New South Wales, except for within the city of Sydney.
From 1868 Barnett and Caroline were living in Sydney, within the Surrey Hills and Paddington area. By c.1909 they had moved to 300 Moore Park Road, Paddington, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Between 1860 and 1881 Barnett and Caroline had ten children: Ann (who died before her second birthday); Moses (George) Barnett; Elizabeth (Lilly); Rosetta (Rose); Zelig "Phillip"; Deborah; Clara Eve; Sarah Ann; Joel Lewis; Esther (Etty). Of all the children, George was the only one to marry, wedding Sarah Jane Dowling in 1887. He was subsequently disowned by his parents for having married outside of the faith.
Production placeBrooklyn, New York, United States
Production date 1880 - 1900
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- length: 198.00 mm
width: 246.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Liz Pozniak