Levinson Family

**The Levinsons** are a wealthy American family. They were one of the most prominent new money families of Gilded Age and are part of the prestigious Four Hundred Society.

## History and Relations

Natives of Cincinnati, Ohio, they now own houses in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Cora mentioned having an aunt in New York who was still alive in 1914.

Isidore's religion was Ashkenazi Jewish, but his wife and children are Episcopalians.

The Levinsons are related to the Crawley family through Cora Levinson's marriage to Robert Crawley. Through Cora's four children, they are now also distantly related to the **Branson**, **Pelham**, **Talbot**, and Lewis families.

## Present Family

##### Isidore Levinson and his descendants (by year of birth)

1. Mr. Isidore Levinson (b. 1838), 1st generation
2. Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (1868-1932), 2nd generation, daughter of Isidore Levinson
3. Mr. Harold Levinson (b. 1870), 2nd generation, son of Isidore Levinson
4. Lady Mary Crawley (b. 1891), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
5. Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham (b. 1892), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
6. Lady Sybil Branson (1895-1920), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
7. Alexander Crawley, 8th Earl of Grantham (b. 1914), 3rd generation, grandson of Isidore Levinson
8. Miss Sybbie Branson (b. 1920), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
9. Mr. George Crawley (b. 1921), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
10. Miss Marigold Pelham (b. 1922), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
11. Miss Caroline Talbot (b. 1926), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
12. Peter Pelham, Earl of Brancaster (b. 1928). 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
13. Lord Theodore Pelham (b. 1931), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
14. Arthur Crawley, Viscount Downton (b. 1935), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
15. Lord Benedict Crawley (b. 1936), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
16. Lord Christopher Crawley (b. 1938), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson
17. Lady Diana Crawley (b. 1940), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Isidore Levinson
18. Lord Edmund Crawley (b. 1940), 4th generation, great-grandson of Isidore Levinson

##### Spouse(s) of Isidore Levinson and his descendants (by year of birth)

1. Mrs. Martha Levinson (1842-1934), wife of Isidore Levinson
2. Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham (1865-1932), husband of Cora Crawley
3. Mr. Matthew Crawley (1885-1921), 1st husband of Mary Crawley
4. Mr. Tom Branson (b. 1885), husband of Sybil Branson
5. Mr. Henry Talbot (b. 1887), 2nd husband of Mary Crawley
6. Herbert Pelham, Marquess of Hexham (b. 1891), husband of Edith Pelham
7. Josephine Crawley, Countess of Grantham (b. 1914), wife of Alexander Crawley

Harold never married nor had any children. Isidore's death left Martha a wealthy widow. But before he died he made sure that both Harold and Cora were well looked after and received equal shares of his fortune. He also made sure that the money was tied down so no one else could touch their shares of the Levinson fortune.

Before dying, Martha wrote in her last will and testament, that her four grandchildren will get equal shares of her own fortune, with Sybil's share going to her only daughter. It was entirely different from the fortune Cora has left them. Martha also transferred The Illinois Mansion to Alex's name, and gave a small portion of her remaining money to Josephine Lewis, whom she had taken under her wing while she studied in America.

## Name Etymology

* **Levinson** is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, meaning *"son of Levi"*.