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SOPHIA LEVENTHALL MEMORIAL PAGE
In September 1905, Sophia Leventhall, one of the nine children of the late Joseph Leventhall and his wife, Leah Samuel(s), died after returning from swimming, possibly as a result of eating some ice-cream. Family legend holds that she was then the subject of the first autopsy to be carried out on a Jewish person in Britain, although coroners reports appear to exist for earlier Jewish deaths. Sophia is buried at Gildersome Cemetery in Leeds.
REPORT IN THE LEEDS MERCURY
This article contains several typographical errors and appears to have several words missing, as if severed in the printing process. One detail that seems to have been omitted is her name, although there is no doubt that the girl in question is Sophia Leventhall. The article is reproduced exactly as it appeared on the page in 1905.
DEATH NOTICE IN THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
Sophia's death was included in the Jewish Chronicle's death notices in the week following her passing. The note that asks American newspapers to carry the notice suggests one or both of her parents had relatives there. No American cousins of Leah's family are currently know to exist.
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