INCIDENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF AMERICAN JEWISH PATRIOTISM.
[A paper written for the American Jewish Historical Society by Max J. Kohler.]
In the present article, the writer proposes to set forth several incidents in our history not otherwise connected with each other than the above title indicates, but all tending to show that the Jew has ever been ready to battle for the cause of his adopted country, be his domicile where it may. Our subjects herein had differing views as to what patriotism demanded. We shall speak of French Jews battling for France, of English Jewish Colonists championing England's cause, and of American Jews fighting for American liberty and glory, yet all were equally patriots. In selecting the incidents to be set forth herein the writer has confined himself exclusively to matters which he believes are either wholly unknown to the Jewish historian or only partially or imperfectly known; no treatment of the main subject, other than these incidents may furnish, will be attempted.
I.
Colonel David S. Franks.
Members have no doubt still fresh in mind the interesting items relating to Col. Franks, set forth by Dr. Herbert Friedenwald and Prof. M. Jastrow in No. 1 of our "Proceedings." Since then other data have been collected and published in regard to the Franks family, to which I will merely refer; (see the very interesting article on the History of the Jews of Montreal, prepared for the Montreal Daily Star, December 30, 1893, and repeated in the American Israelite in January, 1894, which has been attributed to Rev. Dr. Meldola de Sola; and also an article on Rebecca Franks by the present writer, which appeared in the American Hebrew, November 9, 14, 21, and also in pamphlet reprint). In the present paper, Colonel Franks' early career in Canada will be chiefly dealt with, the documents herein cited demonstrating the correctness of Dr. Friedenwald's theory (p. 76) that Franks was drawn into the Revolutionary contest through pure patriotism and interest in the struggle which was being carried on south of his earlier domicile. A contemporary periodical furnishes the data I refer to; it is entitled: "The Remembrancer or Impartial Repository of Public Events." Part I, for 1776, London, 1776, pp. 100-6. (The narrative is somewhat condensed herein, but the documents are set forth in their entirety.)
"On May 2, 1775, the bust of the king at Montreal was found daubed over and indecently ornamented, the words, "This is the pope of Canada and the fool of England," being written upon it in French. A reward of 100 guineas was offered for the discovery of the perpetrator, and much indignation was expressed among the French inhabitants, eager to manifest their loyalty to England, one French gentleman even expressing his opinion that the act ought to be punished by hanging. Upon hearing this severe opinion, a young English merchant of the name of Franks, who had settled at Montreal and who at that time happened to be near the speaker, replied to him in these words: 'In England men are not hanged for such small offenses,' which he repeated twice or three times. This provoked M. de B——(the former speaker) to such a degree, that, after giving the young man much opprobrious language, he at last proceeded to blows, and struck him in the face and pulled him by the nose; upon which the other gave him a blow that knocked him down. The next day, May the 3d, upon a complaint of M. de B—— to three officers of justice of a new order, called the Conservators of the Peace for the District of Montreal, not of the blow he had received from Franks (for to this he was conscious he had given occasion by striking him first) but of the words pronounced by the latter, 'that in England people were not hanged for such small offenses,' the Conservators issued the warrant hereunder following for committing young Franks to prison. He was accordingly carried thither by a party of soldiers with bayonets fixed, and £10,000 bail, that was offered to procure his liberty, and be security for his appearance to take his trial for the offence, was refused. And there he continued for a week, at the end of which time, the same Conservators of the Peace (by the direction, as it is supposed, of Governor Carleton) ordered him to be discharged without any bail at all."
The following are the official documents, in translation:
"District of Montreal.
"By John Fraser, John Marteilhe and Réné Ovide Hertel de Rouville, Esquires, Judges and Conservators of the Peace in the District of Montreal:
"Whereas, Francis Mary Picote de Bellestre, Esquire, has made oath on the holy gospels that on Tuesday the second day of this present month of May, as he was standing still in the street to hear a proclamation published, concerning those wretches who had insulted his Majesty's bust, he had openly declared that he thought they deserved to be hanged: and that thereupon one Salisbury Franks had answered with surprise, 'that it was not usual to hang people for such small offences and that it was not worth while to do so,' and that he had repeated those words several times, and with a loud voice.
"We, having regard to the said complaint, and considering that every good subject ought to look upon the said insult to his Majesty's bust as an act of the most atrocious nature, and deserving of the utmost abhorrence, and that therefore all declarations made in conversation that tend to affirm it to be a small offence, ought to be esteemed criminal: Do, for these reasons, authorize and command you to convey the said Salisbury Franks to the prison of the town to be there detained, till he shall be thence discharged according to law. And for so doing, this warrant shall be your justification.
"Given at Montreal, under our hands and seals, on the third day of May, 1775.
(Signed)
John Fraser,
John Marteilhe,
Hertel de Rouville."
The warrant to the jailor we omit, but the warrant for his discharge follows:
"To the keeper of the jail in Montreal.
"Whereas David Salisbury Franks is now in your custody, in virtue of our warrant duly sealed and signed; these are now to command you to forbear detaining any longer the said David Salisbury Franks, but to suffer him to go at large wherever he pleases and that without fees. And for so doing, this will be your sufficient warrant.
"Given under our hands and seals at Montreal, on the 9th day of May, 1775."
(Signed as above).
It will be noticed that the warrant of release gives the full name of Franks and leaves it clear that he was the future American patriot. It should also be noticed that he is described as an Englishman, pointing to that country as the common home of the various members of the family of that name in America. (Compare Life of Peter Van Schaack, p. 143, and Kamble Papers, for references to Franks' family home, a mansion near London). Also that the amount of bail offered for young Franks, £10,000, was extraordinarily large for those days.
It is not proposed herein to repeat the interesting incident in the career of Arnold's aide-de-camp which others have set forth so well. Their accounts may, however, be supplemented by the following. It seems that Franks gave testimony to Mrs. Arnold's innocence of all complicity in her husband's treason. This fact is cited in a note in the present writer's sketch of Rebecca Franks (p. 12), but the original authority, the preface to the privately printed Shipper papers, he has thus far been unable to consult. After the inquiry into Franks' conduct,—occasioned by the suspicions aroused against him on account of Arnold's treason—had been held in accordance with his demand, Franks appears to have been sent to Europe with important dispatches to Jay and Franklin, with instructions to await their orders. In a letter from Robert Morris to Franklin, dated Philadelphia, July 13, 1781, we read: "The bearer of the letter, Major Franks, formerly an aide-de-camp to General Arnold, and honorably acquitted of all connection with him after a full and impartial inquiry, will be able to give you our public news more particularly than I could relate them." (Diplomatic Correspondence, edited by Sparks, Vol. XI, p. 382). His conduct in France and Spain appears to have been very creditable; Jay speaks very highly about his discretion and tact and he seems to have won the particular regard of the Count of Florida Blanca, the Spanish Minister, with whom Jay was negotiating. (See "Diplomatic Correspondence of the U. S.," edited by F. Wharton, Vol. IV, 752-754, 756-757, 764-784, V, 121. Thompson Papers (N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections, 1878), p. 183. Accounts of the U. S. during the Administration of the Superintendent of France, 1781-1784). As noted by Dr. Friedenwald, Franks was sent by Congress to Europe again in 1784, this time to deliver a triplicate of the definitive treaty of peace to our ministers plenipotentiary. Further details about this trip are alluded to in "Military Journal of Major E. Denny" (Pa. Hist. Society, Pub. 1860) p. 415, where letters from Frank's associate, Col. Harman, are quoted, and in a letter written by Harman to a Philadelphia merchant, Jonathan Williams, in 1790, wherein he sends his regards to Franks, and alludes to the "gay moments we passed together in France, particularly the civilities received from you at St. Germain, where I dined with you in company with Mr. Barclay and Col. Franks" (p. 461). Not less interesting is the narrative of an encounter with Major Franks in 1787, by Dr. Cutler, on a trip to Philadelphia: "July 12th. Made our next stay at Bristol. Dined in company with the passengers in the stage, among whom were General Armstrong and Col. Franks. General Armstrong is a member of Congress with whom I had a small acquaintance at New York; Franks was an aide of General Arnold at the time of his desertion to the British. Both of them high bucks, and affected, as I conceived, to hold the New England states in contempt. They had repeatedly touched my Yankee blood, in their conversation at the table; but I was much on the reserve until, after we had dined, some severe reflections on the conduct of Rhode Island, and the Insurgency in Massachusetts—placing the two States in the same point of light—induced me to observe that 'I had no doubt but that the conduct of Rhode Island would prove of infinite service to the Union; that the insurgency in Massachusetts would eventually lead to invigorate and establish our government; and that I considered the State of Pennsylvania—divided and distracted as she was then in her Councils, the large County of Luzerne on the eve of an insurrection—to be in as hazardous a situation as any one on the Continent.'
"This instantly brought on a warm fracas indeed. The cudgels were taken up on both sides: the contest as fierce as if the fate of empires depended on the decision. At length victory declared in our favor. Armstrong began to make concessions. Franks, with more reluctance, at length gave up the ground. Both acknowledged the New England States were entitled to an equal share of merit with any in the Union, and declared they had no intention to reflect. We had the satisfaction to quit the field with an air of triumph, which my little companion enjoyed with a high relish; nor could he forget it, all the way to Philadelphia. But we parted with our antagonists on terms of perfect good humor and complaisance. My companion frequently afterwards mentioned the pleasure it gave him to see Armstrong and Franks, "so completely taken down," as he expressed it, which led me to conclude he was of the party opposed to them in the political quarrels of Philadelphia." (Historical magazine, Third Series, Vol. II, pp. 84-85).
But let us pass from Franks to another Canadian.
II.
Chevalier de Levis.
The student of Canadian history is very familiar with the name of Levis, which bids fair to be perpetuated in several geographical names in that country. The name was borne by Henri de Levis, Duke of Vontadour, Viceroy of Canada for some time after 1626, but was rendered more famous through the brilliant career of his relative, the Chevalier de Levis, Montcalm's able lieutenant, subsequently his successor as commander of the French forces in Canada, and still later Marshal of France. Numerous striking illustrations of his gallantry and chivalry are extant, and it is suggestive that Montcalm should have spoken some of his last words, in praise of "his gallant Chevalier de Levis," for whose talents and fitness for command he expressed high esteem. The writer hereof does not claim that either of these two de Levis' were Jews, but he does believe that they were of Jewish descent, less on account of their family name than on account of the following curious explanation of it: "A family that considered itself to be the oldest in Christendom. Their chateau contained, it was said, two pictures: one of the Deluge in which Noah is represented going into the Ark, carrying under his arm a trunk on which was written: 'Papiers de la maison de Levis.' The other was a portrait of the founder of the house, bowing reverently to the Virgin, who is made to say: 'Couvrez-vous, mon cousin.' 'It is for my own pleasure, my cousin,' replied the descendent of Levi."
(Compare Horace Walpole's Letters, Kingsford's History of Canada, Vol. I, p. 77, Parkman's Montcalm and Wolfe, I, 150, 360, 363, 378-379, 455, 478, 466; II. 308, 312, 354).
III.
Lopez and Hart, of Newport.
In the last volume of our "Proceedings" and also in Judge Daly's work, numerous references are to be found to the interesting career of Aaron Lopez, of Newport, whom the present writer has described as probably the richest and most successful Jewish man of affairs who lived in this country before the Revolution. It may be remembered that Lopez was one of a number of Jewish residents of Newport who found it necessary to flee from that city at the beginning of the war, when the British forces moved against the city. Lopez withdrew to Leicester, Massachusetts, with his family, and remained there until May, 1782. (Daly's Jews in North America, p. 86). Short as was his stay there, however, he left a noble memorial of his sojourn behind him, as appears from the following extract from the Diary of a journey from Plymouth to Connecticut by Samuel Davis in 1789. (Mass. Hist. Society Proceedings, 1869-1870, p. 11). "Leicester is situate on very high ground. The Meeting house is a decent edifice, very illy painted. Near it is the Academy, founded by the late Mr. Lopez, a worthy merchant of the Jewish tribe. It is a long building of two stories, with a cupola and bell, and two entrances, fronted by porticos; appears to be decaying. Mr. James observed at Worcester, that he supposed the preceptor and pupils would be removed to a handsome new school house in that town."
But Newport contained many Tories as well as Patriots, many of whom must to-day be regarded as no less patriotic than those whom we designate by that term. It is, therefore, not surprising to find Jewish Tories there, and one of the number appears to have been a martyr to his views, as the following item shows: "Mr. Isaac Hart, of Newport R. I., formerly an eminent merchant and ever a loyal subject, was inhumanly fired upon and bayoneted, wounded in fifteen parts of his body, and beat with their muskets, in the most shocking manner in the very act of imploring quarter, and died of his wounds a few hours after, universally regretted by every true lover of his King and country." (Account of the attack on Fort St. George, Rivington's Gazette, December 2, 1780).
To leave no doubt as to his faith, the following item, (from Du Simmitiaire, MSS., 1769) accompanies the preceding one in the Magazine of American History (Vol. III, p. 452): "At Mr. Isaac Hart's, a Jew, living at the Point, in Newport, R. I., there is a portrait of the late Czar, Peter I, done, I believe, by Sir Godfrey Kneller."
IV.
Some New York Jewish Patriots.
The number of New York Jews who served their country by risking life or fortune in its behalf is well-nigh legion. Hundreds upon hundreds of instances have been set forth from time to time, covering a time from the early colonial period, as appears particularly from another paper by the present writer, through the Revolutionary struggle down to our own day. But little cause can be assigned for distinguishing a few from the many in the present article unless it be the probability that the instances to be referred to herein are but little known. It should be of interest to notice, for instance, that the decision reached in 1770 to make more stringent the Non-Importation Agreement, which the colonists adopted to bring England to terms on the taxation question, had among its signers Samuel Judah, Hayman Levy, Jacob Moses, Jacob Myers, Jonas Phillips, and Isaac Seixas (New York Gazette and Weekly Post Boy, July 23, 1770).
The victory won by the Jewish Patriots over the loyalists in the New York Jewish Congregation at the outbreak of the Revolution, which induced the majority to determine to disband the congregation for country's sake, has been well described in a former article in our Society's periodicals and the names of the patriots who, in consequence, fled to Philadelphia on the approach of the British to New York are known. In another paper, the writer hereof enumerates some of the less known but possibly equally patriotic Jewish Loyalists, who remained in the city. It appears, however, that even the Jewish cemetery was to witness the strife and struggles of war, for we read that a battery to overlook the East River and prevent British ships from entering into it "is planned in some forwardness at the foot of the Jews' Burying Ground," in March, 1776. (N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collection Pub. Fund Series, Vol. III, pp. 354, 355).
During the war of 1812, the New York Jews appear to have again manifested their love of country, and one of their number, Col. Nathan Myers, was even in command of a brigade stationed near the City of New York in the beginning of the war. (Guernsey; "New York City during the War of 1812," pp. 86, 436-7). Others manifested their patriotism by bringing pecuniary sacrifices, as did Herman Hendricks in 1813. In February of that year, Congress passed an act authorizing a loan of $16,000,000, but less than $4,000,000 were subscribed. It was then that New York merchants came to the rescue by subscribing for the bonds, in spite of the sacrifices that were made in view of the fact that the government could not obtain money except at a discount of 15 per cent. Hendricks subscribed for $40,000 of the bonds, being one of the largest individual subscribers. (Scoville: The Old Merchant of New York City. First Series, pp. 329-333.)
Among those who served under Col. Myers in this War, was probably Samuel Noah, a cousin of Mordecai M. Noah, who led a most eventful life, which has been chronicled in a very interesting way by Gen. George W. Cullom in his "Biographical Sketches of Deceased Graduates of the United States Military Academy." We quote the account in full:
"Samuel Noah.
"Class of 1807.
"Died March 10, 1871, at Mount Pulaski, Ill., aged 92.
"Samuel Noah, who was born July 19, 1779, in the City of London, died March 10, 1871, at Mount Pulaski, Logan county, Illinois, at the advanced age of nearly 92, he having been for several years the senior surviving graduate of the United States Military Academy. He was of Jewish descent, and was a cousin of Mordecai M. Noah, formerly consul to Tunis, and for many years the editor of various New York journals.
"When twenty years old he emigrated to this country, and after a residence of several years in New York City, solicited a midshipman's appointment, but not succeeding, accepted, May 5, 1805, that of a cadet in the First Regiment of Artillery. Being intelligent and a good penman, he was often selected as amanuensis to the Superintendent of the Military Academy, and frequently acted as Judge Advocate or Recorder of Courts at West Point. Upon graduation, Dec. 9, 1807, preferring the Infantry arm, he was promoted an ensign in the Second Regiment, which, after a tedious journey, he joined at Cantonment, Columbia Springs, in the rear of Fort Adams, Miss. Here he devoted his leisure hours to the study of the early campaigns of Napoleon, who was then the military prodigy of the world; but this fascinating occupation was soon interrupted by his having to watch smugglers on the Florida frontier and march from one unhealthy camp to another in the Gulf States. During these migrations he met Captain Winfield Scott just after his duel near Natchez with Dr. Upshur (brother of the Secretary of State blown up on board the Princeton), Lieutenant James Gibson, subsequently killed at the sortie from Fort Erie, Gen. James Wilkinson, Captain Edmond P. Gaines, Gen. Wade Hampton, and other since famous officers of whom he had many anecdotes to relate. Wearied finally with slow promotion, and disgusted that ignorant civilians were appointed to rank him, he resigned March 13, 1811, his commission of First Lieutenant in the Army.
"Soon after this period a Mexican deputation from the Junta of Coahuila, Gen. Bernado Guiteras and Captain Manscac arrived at Natchitoches, where Lieutenant Magee, a graduate of 1809, was stationed, and offered him the command with the rank of Colonel of the combined forces there assembled of Mexicans and Anglo-Americans. After Magee assumed the command, Noah, allured by visions of a golden future, joined, as First Lieutenant, this little undisciplined Falstaffian regiment on the Brazos river, while on its march to Fort Bahia, which it entered Nov. 14, 1812; but no sooner was the fort in possession of the Patriot Army than the Spanish royalists besieged it with a force of five times the strength of the garrison. In this struggle poor Col. Magee sickened and died, and was buried with the honors of war during the enemy's cannonade, a six-pounder ball lodging close to the grave. After the siege was raised, March 28, 1813, and the patriots reinforced, this little army, with Noah in command of its rear guard, pursued and routed the Royalists, April 4, 1813, in a sharp combat near San Antonio, and three days later entered the capital of Texas, Salcido, the governor, surrendering at discretion with his entire force.
"Informed soon after of the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain, Noah, true to the flag of his adopted country, left Texas, and, escaping through many perils by flood and field, reached the city of Washington, where he was most sadly disappointed in not being re-commissioned by President Madison in the United States Army. Nothing daunted, however, he proceeded to New York, and volunteered his services as a private soldier with Captain Benjamin Dunning's company for the defence of Brooklyn, then being fortified by Gen. Joseph G. Swift, to repel an anticipated descent of the British on Long Island at Sag Harbor. His services here and at Harlem Heights, to the close of the war, in aid of the militia force, were most zealous and untiring, his military education, practical knowledge and quick intelligence proving powerful auxiliaries to his patriotic devotion to duty. After the termination of Noah's military career, he taught school near Goshen, New York, till 1820; then for two years was in England, being present at the trial of Queen Caroline and the Coronation of George the Fourth; resumed school teaching and was employed in various academies in Virginia until May 24, 1848; and subsequently resided with a faithful friend at Mount Pulaski, Logan county, Ill., where he died. The romantic record of Samuel Noah's early life is full of wild adventure and thrilling incidents; his after history was a curious medley, almost the very counterpart of the vicissitudes to which Gil Blas was exposed; and his declining years were an old age of poverty, with little relief even from sources upon which he confidently counted to ease his weary journey to the grave."
In this connection reference would also seem to be in order to some New York Jews who served in the Mexican War, one of them with particular distinction and honor. This list includes Sergeant Jacob David, Sergeant Samuel Henry, and Private Abraham Adler (killed); Corporal Jacob Hirshhorn and Private Otto Neubauer, Phillip Myers, and Jacob Lema, Mark Kahn, Alexander Simm, John Myers, James Hart and William Hart, ---- Myers, Marx M. Hart, Henry Phillips, Joseph Henriques, and Jacob C. Somers. (See article by the present writer in American Hebrew, February 9, 1894.)
V.
Some Baltimore Jews.
Turning next to Baltimore, two interesting incidents are in point. The one carries us back to Revolutionary times, and is to be connected with the name of Jacob Hart, one of a number of patriotic merchants of Baltimore; whether he was the only Jew in the group is unknown. The incident is briefly referred to as follows, in a letter written by Lafayette to Washington, April 18, 1781. (Memoirs, Correspondence and Manuscripts of General Lafayette, Vol. I, page 403.) "To these measures for punishing deserters, I have added one which my feelings for the sufferings of the soldiers and peculiarity of their circumstances have prompted me to adopt. The merchants of Baltimore lent me a sum of about £2000 which will procure some shirts, linen, overalls, shoes and a few hats; the ladies will make up the shirts, and the overalls will be made by the detachment, so that our soldiers have a chance of being a little more comfortable. The money is lent upon my credit, and I become security for the payment of it in two years' time, when, by the French laws, I may better dispose of my estate. But before that time, I shall use my influence with the French court, in order to have this sum of money added to any loan Congress may have been able to obtain from them." The following entry "Accounts of the United States with the Superintendent of Finance" (Robert Morris) serves to identify the merchants: "May 27, (1782) Jacob Hart and others for the Repayment of Money Loaned the Marquis de Lafayette at Baltimore—7256 dollars." Further details appear from the following passages in the Journals of Congress, Vol. VII p. 86: "Thursday, May 24, 1781. On the report of the committee to whom was referred a letter of April 22 from Maj. Gen. the Marquis de la Fayette:
Resolved, That Congress entertains a just sense of the patriotic and timely exertions of the merchants of Baltimore who so generously supplied the Marquis de la Fayette with about 2000 guineas, to enable him to forward the detachment under his command; That the Marquis de la Fayette be assured that Congress will take proper measures to discharge the engagement he has entered into with the merchants."
Compare with this an article on "Old Maryland Homes and Ways," by John W. Palmer, in the Century, December 1894, p. 258. Markens in his "Hebrews in America" (p. 93) briefly refers to the incident, describing Hart as a Hebrew of German birth, who came to this country in 1775; he was the father-in-law of Haym M. Salomon, son of the patriot, Haym Salomon. Certainly not less interesting, though less well known, is the following incident in the Mexican War, which is translated from the "Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums," Vol. X p. 508, August 24, 1846: "The New York Herald of July 15, (1846) contains the following item, in reference to the call for 50,000 volunteers to join the army against Mexico: Baltimore July 3. Among the companies which have been formed here, a volunteer corps of Jews attracts particular attention. Although composed for the most part of immigrants, they have given, by the raising of this company, to fight with the native militia on behalf of our institutions, a splendid instance of their love and devotion for these and for their new fatherland. Yes, their love for the fame and independence of our country has been displayed all the more pointedly as they have organized their company by selecting one not of their faith as their chief officer, namely, Captain Carroll, who was paymaster of the Fifth regiment, but willingly resigned his position to accept the command of this patriotic company of volunteers. Its other officers are: Mr. Levi Benjamin, first lieutenant; Joseph Simpson, second lieutenant; Samuel G. Goldsmith, third lieutenant; S. Eytinge, first sergeant; Dr. J. Horwitz, surgeon." An examination of the copy of the Herald thus referred to, fails to show the English original of the above item; either the date or the name of the paper is incorrectly cited, though the facts are no doubt correctly given.
VI.
South Carolina Jewish Patriots.
The following item from an article by Rev. Isaac Leeser, in The Occident, Vol. XVI, p. 142 (1858) gives in some little detail a story since then oft repeated; the primary authorities for the incident are still unknown to the writer thereof: "A company of soldiers who did good service in the defence of Charleston Harbor were nearly all, if not all Jews. The names of Daniel W. Cardozo, Jacob I. Cohen, Sr., and Isaiah Isaacs, we think, must have been on the roll of that company. Relations or descendants of all of these are still to be found among our most respectable families. Sheftall Sheftall, Isaac N. Cardozo, a brother of David, and Colonel Bush, occur to us just now as brave soldiers in the Revolution, and no doubt many others are known to other persons." Compare with this the following passage from a speech of Col. J. W. D. Worthington on the Jew Bill, Maryland, 1824 (Speeches on the Jew Bill, etc., by H. N. Brackenridge, Phila. 1829, p. 115): "Here is another paper which contains the names of a corps of volunteer infantry, in Charleston, South Carolina, in February, 1779. It was composed chiefly of Israelites, residing in King's Street and was commanded by Captain Lushington, and afterward fought under Gen. Moultrie at the Battle of Beaufort." Also Westcott's "Persons Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to Pennsylvania." "Abraham Seixas, formerly an officer in the Militia of Charleston, South Carolina, lately arrived in this city, Philadelphia; Merchant, May 31, 1782."
VII.
Mordecai Sheftall, of Savannah, Georgia.
We may fittingly close this paper with an account of a Jewish patriot of the Revolution who held important and responsible positions under both Congressional and Georgia State control, and who had occasion to find that the Sovereign will often decline to pay even the most bona fide debts, where powerful influence to force bills for their payment through Congress is wanting. One of the witnesses in the Court Martial Proceedings, of Major General Howe, in 1780, (N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections, 1879, pp. 260-263, 301) was Mordecai Sheftall, who was Deputy Commissary General of Issues to the Continental troops in Georgia during the period of the British invasion of that State, and also Commissary General of Purchase and Issues to the Militia. He testified to various measures he had recommended for removing supplies from positions of danger, to prevent their falling into the hands of the British, and it is very suggestive that these provisions should be referred to in the Index, under the heading: "Jewish Thrift," (Collections, 1880, p. 461). In his defence, General Howe referred to him as follows: "Mr. Sheftall, the Deputy Commissary General of Issues, has been brought by the prosecutors to prove upon me, as I suppose, a neglect of the public stores. I have ever had a favorable opinion of Mr. Sheftall, as an honest man, and from the testimony of such, I know I have nothing to fear; his evidence, therefore, is in my favor. Many measures, however, were pursued that Mr. Sheftall might have had no knowledge of." Mr. Sheftall's was one of the earliest Jewish families in Georgia, and various items in regard to his character and standing are collated in Judge Daly's work (p. 70, et seq.), where his name is, erroneously, it seems, spelt Sheftail. On page 72 reference is made to Cushman Polack, who was also a witness in the Howe trial, (pp. 264-5) he having been a private in the militia in Georgia at the same time; his name is there spelt "Coshman Pollock". Markens also adds, on what authority I am unable to state, (p. 49) that when the British took possession of Savannah, December 29, 1778, Mordecai Sheftall, with his son Sheftall Sheftall, endeavored to make his escape, but was compelled to surrender by a body of Highlanders. He was taken to the guard-house, where the officer in charge was instructed to guard him well, as he was "a great rebel." There he was confined with a number of soldiers and negroes without a morsel to eat until a Hessian officer named Zeltman, finding he could speak his language, removed him to his quarters and permitted him to communicate with his wife and son. In an interesting narrative, published many years ago, Mr. Sheftall states that he was treated with abuse by Captain Strarhope of the "Raven" sloop of war, and he and his son were ordered on board the prison ship. His name, with the inscription, "Chairman Rebel Provisional Committee," is enrolled on the list of those who were selected as coming under the Disqualifying Act of July, 1780, and thus rendered "incapable of holding or exercising any office of trust, honor or profit in the Province of Georgia."
The writer hereof believes that, until now, no particulars have been known to the Jewish historian in regard to a claim urged by Sheftall, and afterwards his widow, before Congress. It appears that he presented a petition to the House of Representatives on March 29, 1792, asking for a settlement of his accounts as Deputy Commissary General of Issues for the Southern Department during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. The claim was referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, who reported it to the next Congress, though the nature of his report is not known to the writer. In the fourth Congress the petition was referred to the Committee on Claims, which reported it back to the House, February 11, 1797. In the House List of Private Claims (Vol. III, p. 305-6), this report is marked "adverse." No authority seems to exist for this statement. In fact, another claim reported at the same time was rejected at once, but the Sheftall claim was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the following Wednesday, but on that day it does not appear to have been considered. In the Seventh Congress, Frances, widow of Mordecai Sheftall, renewed her husband's petition and it was again referred to a committee. This committee's report was read and considered on April 3, 1802, but further Consideration was postponed till the 4th Monday of November following, which was practically equivalent to killing the measure, as Congress never meets in ordinary session in November. (Journals of Congress, House, Second, 1st Session, p. 554; Third, 1st Session, pp. 77-8; Fourth, 1st Session, p. 451; Fourth, 2d Session, p. 691; Seventh, 1st Session, 136, 177, Carpenter; American Senator, III, 449-50). No further information as to the claim is at hand. From the persistence in pressing it, it must be concluded that some substantial sum was involved. It may be that it was rejected because the United States declined to assume liability for the acts of the State of Georgia, there having been a series of controversies between the State and General Government as to the liability of the latter for military services and expenditures incurred in behalf of the former. At any rate, the claim does not appear to have been paid, and like the Haym Salomon claim, is another illustration of our country's ingratitude to those who made sacrifices for it of worldly goods and life and limb in its hours of need.