Isaac & Judy Cohen (1728-1835 & 1732-1833)

Isaac & Judy Cohen were the first of the ‘Old Coventry Jewry’ and ancestors of Philip Cohen. Isaac was born about 1728 and Judy about 1732. They were married around 1755. The Jewish Chronicle article on 5th June 1936 records Isaac Cohen as having been a Sergeant Major in the Prussian Army during the War of Frederick the Great – probably in the Silesian Wars between Prussia and Austria 1740-1763. 

Isaac and Judy moved to Coventry about 1775. According to Benjamin Poole's 1852 History of Coventry they lived in an obscure little tenement on the North side of a passage leading from Great Butcher Row to Priory Row. This was the first place of Jewish worship in the City. Gatherings later moved to Derby Lane, Fleet Street and Court 16, Spon Street before the synagogue was built.

Isaac’s occupation in Coventry was that of Trunk Maker.

Harry Levin, in his book ‘The Jews of Coventry’ (1970), writes about them extensively, providing references which he felt assuredly confirmed that they were the parents of Philip Cohen, Coventry watch manufacturer and President of the Coventry Hebrew Congregation from 1850-1853. Whilst this may appear implausible from Philip’s birth date of 1827, Harry Levine goes to lengths to convince the reader of its truth. The Jewish Chronicle article of 5th June 1936 also reinforces this … although Harry Levine was the Birmingham correspondent for the Jewish Chronicle, so its concurrence of the story is hardly surprising!

A perhaps more likely link is via one Joseph Cohen, a Coventry Watch Manufacturer born 1798 in Prussia, and in 1861 residing at 54 Spon End, Coventry. Joseph died in 1868 in Coventry. No other references to this Joseph Cohen have been found. He certainly was one of the Coventry Jewish Watchmakers and could, perhaps, have been the son of Isaac Cohen and the father of Philip Cohen … but for now we will let the published version of the Cohen family history stand even though it would seem to need a miracle of reproduction of a truly Abrahamic scale.

Potentially in addition to, Philip Cohen, Isaac and Judy had a daughter known by her Stage Name of “Fair Rosamund” from one of the parts she played – See Fair Rosamund for her story.

When Judy died in 1833 aged 101 she and Isaac had been married for 78 years.

Isaac lived on to the extraordinary age of 107 - despite early rumours of his death in May 1835 (See below).  He finally passed away on Sunday 13 December 1835, his life being greatly celebrated.

See these Links for further information:  (Note: These are external links for which we have no responsibility for the content)

• Article on the life of Isaac Cohen on page 31 of the Jewish Chronicle on 5th June 1936 (Subscription required)