Alien Registration, Baltimore, 1826

Levi BENJAMIN [[{"id":1840,"name":"Levi BENJAMIN ","sex":"M","motherId":-1,"fatherId":-1}]]

Birth:	cir 1783; Amsterdam, Holland Ref: [1] [2]
Death:	5 SEP 1860; Baltimore, Maryland Ref: [3]

Notes:
Levi Benjamin was a founding member of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (1830), and served as treasurer from 1833-1840. In 1837, he donated a lot at Harrison Street and Etna Lane for a new Synagogue.

Given Solomon's birth year of 1815, and marriage of Levi and Rachel of 1816, could Solomon have had a different mother? Or could he have been adopted by Levi, as a child of Rachel's from her first husband?

Birth Year Calculations:
   - 1850 Census gives age as 64, implying 1786
   - Petition for naturalization ("Indexes to Naturalization Petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1797-1951") for "Leve Benjamin" dated 11-9-1826 gives Levi's age as 44, implying 1782
   - Death Notice in the Baltimore Sun (7 September, 1860) states that he died "in the 77th year of his age", implying 1783
   - Obituary in the Baltimore Sun (5 October, 1860) says "in the 81st year of his age", implying 1779
   - "The forerunners: Dutch Jewry in the North American diaspora," By Robert P. Swierenga, gives 1783

Additional Speculation regarding possible first wife for Levi Benjamin:

Levi Benjamin arrives with his (as yet unidentified) first wife, and their infant son, Solomon, in January 1815. Solomon is mis-identified as a daughter in "Forerunners" or whatever source was used there.

Mystery wife dies shortly after the arrival in Baltimore, and Levi marries the widow Rachel Harson nee Seeman (or Seaman) in August of 1816. They have a daughter, Sarah, before returning to Holland in 1819, where Esther is born. They return to Baltimore in 1820 (see ship's manifest). Then along comes Job, Henrietta, and Martha.

Additional Pictures: (click to enlarge)

Obituary, Baltimore Sun, 5 Oct, 1860	Levi Benjamin, Alien Registration, 1826	Levi Benjamin's will, page 1 of 4	Levi Benjamin's will, page 2 of 4	Levi Benjamin's will, page 3 of 4
Levi Benjamin's will, page 4 of 4	US Census, 1820	US Census, 1830	US Census, 1840	US Census, 1850
Ships Manifest, Brig Unity, March, 1820