This page will tell the story of the Lipman Levin family. It begins in Charleston, SC, in 1844, when Lipman T. Levin and Charlotte Augusta Woolf were married in Beth Elohim Synagogue on Hasell Street. The synagogue had only recently been built, after having been destroyed by fire. It stands today, surrounded by the business district, but much as it was in 1844. We will have pictures of it here soon. But first, here is a typewritten version of the original marriage contract, which, of course, was written by hand. This version was typed from a handwritten copy found in the South Carolina Archives by Joe Jones. Read it carefully. There is much to understand.
TRANSLATION AND DUPLICATE OF THE CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE MADE BETWEEN
LIPMAN THE SON OF ELIAZOR (LIPMAN T. LEVIN)
&
LEAH THE DAUGHTER OF ISAAC OF LEVITE DESCENT (CHARLOTTE AUGUSTA WOOLF)
(WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN HEBREW
)On the fourth day of the week, in the tenth day of the month of Shebat A. M. five thousand five hundred and four, corresponding with the sixty eighth year of the independence of the United States of America, as we reckon in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, Lipman the son of Eliazor (Lipman T. Levin) asked Leah the daughter of Isaac of Levite descent (Charlotte Augusta Woolf) to become his wife according to the Law of Moses and Israel, that he would respect, esteem, support and provide for her agreeably to the customs usually practiced by the Jews, who truly and faithfully respect, esteem, support and provide for their wives, and that he would willingly allow her the virgin dower of two hundred silver zwzam, to which she is entitled by the Jewish law - and furthermore that he would maintain, support and provide her with all things necessary, and live with her a conjugal life according to the custom of the world. Now the said Leah, having agreed to become his wife, brought to him her portion in silver and gold, in wearing apparel, ornamental dresses, beddings and furniture to the amount of two thousand dollars to which sum the aforesaid bridegroom voluntarily added of his own property, the sum of three thousand dollars, binding himself, his heirs, assignees & executors from this day and forever to pay to Shelomo the Son of Shelomo (Solomon Moses) and to Nathaniel the Son of Eliazor (Nathaniel Levin) trustees for the said Bride, the aforesaid portion, and the sum added, amounting to five thousand dollars current money of this City with the most valuable property, whether real or personal estate, which he possessed under the canopy of heaven or should acquire hereafter. And lastly does the aforesaid bridegroom pledge himself to perform and execute in the most ample manner every condition specified in this contract agreeably to the written contracts which are established & in force by ordinance of our ancient sages, without any reservation whatsoever. And we the undersigned evidences received from the aforesaid bridegroom, Lipman the son of Eliazor (Lipman T. Levin) a formal declaration & acknowledgement that he delivered the contract of marriage for the sole use and benefit of the aforesaid bride Leah the daughter of Isaac of Levite descent (Charlotte Augusta Woolf) and that he confirmed all the aforegoing conditions and stipulations.
The whole is hereby
---approved--ratified--and--established--
Bridegroom
Witness Lipman T. Levin Witness
Jacob Rosenfield Reader to the S. Valentine
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim N. Levin
South Carolina )
Charleston District) Personally appeared before me S. Valentine and made
oath that he was present and saw Lipman T. Levin sign and deliver the within contract of marriage and that he deponent together with Jacob Rosenfeld and N. Levin subscribed their names as witneses to the same.
Sworn to before me this 9th day of February 1844)
Richard Irving Magistrate) S. Valentine
Recorded 10th February 1844
The original of this marriage contract is in the S. C. Archives, Columbia.
Lipman and Charlotte (Leah) moved to Columbia not long after their marriage and lived there until their death. At one point, they decided to buy a new home with Charlotte's dowry, and the trustees, Solomon Moses and Nathaniel Levin were required to approve the transaction, with a document that will later be added to this page.
Lipman and Charlotte lived in Columbia all their lives. They still felt a connection to Charleston, though, and both were buried in the Jewish Cemetery on Coming Street. This cemetery is open only by appointment. We have pictures of the outside and some taken through the gate, but none of their graves. We hope to have additional information and pictures in the near future. The Levins had several children, among them Lipman T. Levin II, who married Alma Adelaide Zealy. Here are their pictures:
If you have a large screen and Netscape browser, you will prefer this version.
The children of Lipman and Alma were: Ethel Levin Chopin, Edith Levin Aspden and Charlotte (Lottie) Levin Jones. We took a group picture of the three and separated them to make individual childhood portraits. Lottie's is below.
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