Harris Wolf Dover - naturalisation papers
When I trawled through the various census records to compile the lists of Liverpool Cowkeepers now available to view on my website, one particular entry stood out as being different from all the rest – that of Joshua Dover. The reason that Joshua was so different from the many cowkeepers who originated from Lancashire, Yorkshire or Cumbria, is that he gave his place of birth as Russia.
Although having been aware of this apparent anomaly for some time, I’d never found the opportunity to delve into it any further. I was particularly delighted, therefore, when I was contacted by Janis Stout (nee Dover), with information about her cowkeeping great grandfather, Joshua Dover, and his son Selig Dover.
Janis informed me that, prior to their relocation to England, the family had lived in that part of the Russian Empire then known as Belorussia – today, known as Belarus. In the late 1800s, the Russian government was actively repressing Belorussian culture and Jewish families were being subject to ruthless persecution. This led to many Jewish families fleeing the country and seeking a new life elsewhere.
Joshua Dover (1849-1932) was the son of Tzvi Dworetski and Fruma Leah Tropp. He married Rose Wainer and they had a son, Isaac (b. 1872). Sadly, Rose died at a relatively young age. But, Joshua then married her sister, Michela Wainer (1855-1924). Together, they had six children, all born in Russia: Sophia (b. 1877), Harris Wolf (b. 1886), Flora (b. 1887), Fruma Leah (b. 1888), Pia (b. 1892), Selig (b. 1893) and Manuel (b. 1897).
Joshua’s eldest son, Isaac, was the first to move to England, establishing a successful furniture business. The rest of the family relocated some time between the birth of son Manuel, in 1897, and the census of 1901. It seems probable that the relocation prompted the change in surname from Dworetski to the anglicised Dover.
Although having been aware of this apparent anomaly for some time, I’d never found the opportunity to delve into it any further. I was particularly delighted, therefore, when I was contacted by Janis Stout (nee Dover), with information about her cowkeeping great grandfather, Joshua Dover, and his son Selig Dover.
Janis informed me that, prior to their relocation to England, the family had lived in that part of the Russian Empire then known as Belorussia – today, known as Belarus. In the late 1800s, the Russian government was actively repressing Belorussian culture and Jewish families were being subject to ruthless persecution. This led to many Jewish families fleeing the country and seeking a new life elsewhere.
Joshua Dover (1849-1932) was the son of Tzvi Dworetski and Fruma Leah Tropp. He married Rose Wainer and they had a son, Isaac (b. 1872). Sadly, Rose died at a relatively young age. But, Joshua then married her sister, Michela Wainer (1855-1924). Together, they had six children, all born in Russia: Sophia (b. 1877), Harris Wolf (b. 1886), Flora (b. 1887), Fruma Leah (b. 1888), Pia (b. 1892), Selig (b. 1893) and Manuel (b. 1897).
Joshua’s eldest son, Isaac, was the first to move to England, establishing a successful furniture business. The rest of the family relocated some time between the birth of son Manuel, in 1897, and the census of 1901. It seems probable that the relocation prompted the change in surname from Dworetski to the anglicised Dover.
Milk Bottle - S. Dover, Cowkeeper, 14 Shannon Street, Liverpool
In 1901 Joshua (48) was a boarder at 3 Ashton Street, Liverpool, the home of Wolf Hellar, a cabinetmaker from Russia. Also living with him was his daughter, Sophia (22), a dressmaker. Joshua’s occupation is given as Draper.
By the time of the 1911 census Joshua (60) was a cowkeeper at 57 PRESCOT STREET. Living with him were his children: Fanny (26), Harris Wolfe (25) and Selig (17). He was employing a local man, Albert Irving (21) as a cowman. The family are recorded in the 1919 directory as still living in Prescot Street..
However, the 1926 directory lists Joshua Dover & Son as Dairymen operating from two new addresses (previously operated by William Grundy, Dairyman): 53 PLEASANT STREET and 14 SHANNON STREET. The entrance to the dairy was at 14 Shannon Street, while the family home was 53 Pleasant Street. Although they had separate addresses, the two properties were on the same street corner and were connected internally; so, you could walk from the family house straight into the dairy yard.
When Joshua died, on 23rd February 1932, he was living at 53 PLEASANT STREET. Probate was granted to Joshua’s eldest son, Isaac Dover, a house furnisher. It seems that his son, Selig, continued with the cowkeeping business as he is recorded in the 1939 register as being a Cowkeeper and Dairyman at 53 PLEASANT STREET and 14 SHANNON STREET. His status is given as married. Also recorded at that address were his wife, Esther Dover and his son, Bertie Dover, a university undergraduate.
By the time of the 1911 census Joshua (60) was a cowkeeper at 57 PRESCOT STREET. Living with him were his children: Fanny (26), Harris Wolfe (25) and Selig (17). He was employing a local man, Albert Irving (21) as a cowman. The family are recorded in the 1919 directory as still living in Prescot Street..
However, the 1926 directory lists Joshua Dover & Son as Dairymen operating from two new addresses (previously operated by William Grundy, Dairyman): 53 PLEASANT STREET and 14 SHANNON STREET. The entrance to the dairy was at 14 Shannon Street, while the family home was 53 Pleasant Street. Although they had separate addresses, the two properties were on the same street corner and were connected internally; so, you could walk from the family house straight into the dairy yard.
When Joshua died, on 23rd February 1932, he was living at 53 PLEASANT STREET. Probate was granted to Joshua’s eldest son, Isaac Dover, a house furnisher. It seems that his son, Selig, continued with the cowkeeping business as he is recorded in the 1939 register as being a Cowkeeper and Dairyman at 53 PLEASANT STREET and 14 SHANNON STREET. His status is given as married. Also recorded at that address were his wife, Esther Dover and his son, Bertie Dover, a university undergraduate.
The Dairy was located on the corner of Shannon Street and Pleasant Street.
Janis shares her knowledge of the family business:
Before coming to England, my grandfather, Selig Dover, had been a tanner. If you have seen the film ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, there are many similarities between Teyve, the star of that musical, and my grandfather!
As Joshua grew older, Selig took over the Dairy business. Joshua continued to live at Pleasant Street until he died. In his latter years my grandparents (Selig and Esther) were his carers. Joshua spoke very little English. But, my grandmother was English born, so she could do the business accounts. She also made cream cheese and sour cream in the cellar, for sale in the dairy.
I know Selig used to go to Oswestry and North Wales to buy cows and that there seemed to be a whole social life attached to that. I think he had a horse and cart at first but when I knew him he had a van and was associated with Hanson's dairies whose milk he delivered.
My father and his younger sister both grew up at the dairy. He told tales of milking the cows before going to school and university and of putting out fires when an incendiary bomb landed on the cowshed in the blitz.
S. Dover, Cowkeeper. Shannon Street Dairy. Courtesy of LRO Liverpool Central Library.
Like many of the traditional city cowkeepers, Selig realised that he would have to change if the business was to survive. In the early fifties he stopped keeping cows and producing his own milk, and bought-in milk from Hansons. He replaced his horse and cart with a milk van and continued to deliver to his customers.
Although the property at Pleasant Street/Shannon Street had survived the bombings of 1941, it was unable to survive the redevelopment of this part of the city centre. The building was demolished in the mid 1960s to make way for the construction of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Selig and Esther retired to Heydale Road, near Penny Lane. Selig became Esther's carer and she pre-deceased him by many years. The Electoral Register of 1965 has Selig living alone at 13 Heydale Road. He was still at this address when he passed away, in 1973.