USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > The Jews of South Carolina; a survey of the records at present existing in Charleston > Part 8
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MR WELLS,
On perusing Mrs Crouch and Co's paper of the 1st instant, I was extremely surprised to find, in a piece signed AN AMERICAN, a signature sur- ficient to lead every honest and judicious man to imagine, that whatever was said in so publick a manner, should be ingenu- ous and true, assertions directly contrary. Here are his words:
"Yesterday being by my business posted in a much frequented corner of this town. I observed, in a small space of time, à number of chairs and loaded horses be- longing to those who journeyed, come into town .- Upon inspection of their faces and enquiry, I found them to be of the TRIBE OF ISRAEL-who, after taking every ad- vantage in trade.the times admitted of in the State of Georgia, as soon as it was at- tacked by an enemy, fled here for an asy- lum. with their ill-got wealth-dastardly turning their backs upon the country when in danger, which gave them bread and pro- tection-Thus it will be in this State if it should ever be assailed by our enemies- Let judgment take place."
I am apt to think, Mr Printer, that the gentleman is either very blind, or he is willing to make himself so: for [ am weil convinced, had he taken the trouble of going closer to the chairs, he would have found that what he has thus publickly as- serted was erroneous and a palpable mis. take, as he might have been convinced they were of the female kind, with their dear babes, who had happily arrived at an asylum, where a tyrannical enemy was not at theirs or their dear offsprings heels. I do, therefore, in vindication of many a worthy Israelite now in Georgia, assert, that there is not, at this present hour, a single Georgia Israelite In Charles Town; and that so far to the contrary of that gentleman's assertion, I do declare to the Publick, that many merchants of that State were here on the med ult, and on being informed of the enemy landing, they instantly left this, as many a worthy Gentile knows, and proceeded post haste to Georgia, leaving all their concerns un- settled, and are now with their brother citizens in the field. doing that which every honest American should do.
The truth of this assertion will, in the course of a few days, be known to gentie- men of veracity, who are entitled to the appellation of Americans. The Charles- town Israelites, I bless Heaven, hitherto have behaved as staunch as any other citi- zens of this State, and I hope their fur- ther conduct will be such as will Invali- date the malicious and designing fallacy of the author of the piece alluded to.
I am, Sir, Yours, etc,
A real AMERICAN,
and
True hearted ISRAELITE.
Charleston, Wednesday, December 2. 1778.
We next meet with Lushington's com- pany at the siege of Charles Town in 1750. Here our information concerning the Jews who fought in the militia is most com- plete. The original papers of Gen Lin- coln, who was in command of the Ameri- can army in South Carolina in 1780, are still in existence and are to be seen in the "Emmet Collection" in the New York Public Library. Appreciating the value of this priceless collection, our Ex-Mayor Courtenay, whose services in preserving and rendering available rare documents relating to South Carolina cannot be over- estimated by our people, and with him our present Mayor J. Adger Smyth, incor- porated many valuable documents from this collection, relating to the siege of Charlestown, into the "Year Book" for 1597. Three of these documents are espe- cially interesting in our investigation.
JEW'S IN THE SIEGE.
The defence of Charles Town is unique in the history of beleaguered cities. That it withstood a siege of two months against such overwhelming odds must excite the admiration of all who read the story. Its doom was sealed from the first, but not until provisions had given out and all the ammunition was practically spent; not until the British were within twenty yards of the American lines. and every hope of assistance was cut off, was there ever a thought of surrender. But the in- evitable came at last. All hope being gone and further resistance being impossible .. to avoid a useless slaughter the principal inhabitants of Charles Town and a num- ber of the country militia petitioned Gen Lincoln to surrender. These petitions have came down to us and on them are many Jewish names. There are three Lists-one of civilians containing £ 300
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names appended. Including many Jews, another of country militia with Ill names, but no Jews, and a third, of country mili- tia, with 345 names appended, in-
cluding many Jews. I reproduce the two petitions that contain the names of Jews with their fac simile signatures. One of these signers, Joseph Myers ( !)-the name is illegible-it will be seen, tries to make "his mark" in script Hebrew. From his Hebrew signature "Joseph," he appears to be almost as il- literate in that language as he was in English. I am indebted to Mayor Smyth for his courtesy in permitting these repro- ductions and for the loan of the cuts. Here, then, are the petitions:
PETITIONS TO GEN LINCOLN.
I.
To the Honorable Major General Lin- coln-
The Humble petition of divers Inhab !- tants of Charleston in behalf of them- selves and others, their fellow citizens- Sheweth
That your petitioners being in- form'd the difficulties that arose in the Negotiation yesterday, and the day pre- ceding, related wholly to the Citizens, to whom the British Commanders offer'd their estates, and to admit them to their parole as Prisoners of War; and your pe- titioners understanding it is an indisputa- ble proposition, that they can derive no advantage by a perseverance in resist- ance; with every thing that is dear to them at stake, they think it their Indis- pensable duty, in this perilous situation of affairs, to request your Honor will send out a flag, in the name of the people, in timating their acquiescence in the terms propounded ..
Charleston, 10th May. 1.80.
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(Three hundred names are attached to this petition. Among them are:)
Markes Lazarus.
Solomon Aaron.
Phillip Minis.
Is Da Costa, Jr.
Joseph Solomons (x.)
Gershon Cohen.
Jacob Jacobs.
Zadok Solomo?
Meyer Moses.
Joseph de Palacios.
Philip Hart.
David Sarzedas.
Abraham Moses.
Joseph De Palacios.
Joseph Myers (x)
-
II.
To the Honorable Major General Lin- coln
The Humble petition of divers Country Militia on behalf of themselves and others their fellow citizens-
Sheweth
That your petitioners being in- form'd the difficulties that arose in the ne- gotlation yesterday and the day preceding related wholly to the Citizens to whom the British commanders offered their Ge- tates and to admit them to their parole as prisoners of war, and your petitionere un- derstanding it as an indisputable propo- sition that they can derive no advantage from a perserverance in resistance, with every thing that is dear to them at stake, they think it their indispensable duty In this perilous situation of affairs, to re- quest your Honor will send out a Flag in the name of the people intimating their acquiescence in the terms proposed .-
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(the Humble Protection of divers de labine dikanter in behalf of themwelver & others this field
aure in the Megrecoleis yesterday, and the day funding, saluted wholly to the Citizens to whom the British Community Huid this Estate and Co admed shown to these paroles Prisoners of war ; and your petitioness understanding it's en indoputativo proposition, that they casa decene mondverlag Ja perseverance un seristances with corns thing that is dess to them at wishes, this think it their borisperret. duty, on this perilous situation of flowers, to request your CH'inET will send out a flag, in the name of the people intimating their recoursonce in the terms prorunde. chulistino 1 may 750
Volarnon aaron Bent ham
Zatok Salario Ponham Mes Tur Hayes
Dabota
mark
II
The dombes finition fluss bounty Relatie, whichall of thenation
The migration yesterday and The day frescaung related way to the Egums to whom the Bestich commandant ifind Their estates and
.
understanding star an in defectuthe proportion that they come divers
co advantage from a quemmance in resisteus , with everythingthat is near to theme at tete, they think at this in disponisthe dirty. The hindous situation of a fais tion quest your Honor with und out a blog on the name of the people inti mating Thus diquesin in the terms for store
July mode Acham Cohen Hofer Golier
-
Meyer Calorias
¿Here are appended the names of Field-
officers and men-in all 345 names,
amongst which are the following:) Philip Moses. Abraham Cohen.
Mver Salomons.
Moses Harris (")
Philip Jacob Cohen.
Jacob Moses.
Juda Abrahams.
Moses Cohen.
Emanuel Abrahams.
Samuel Polak.
Samuel Jones.
Barnard Moses, Junr.
I. Cohen.
Samuel Mordecai.
OTHER JEWISH SOLDIERS.
We have on this last petition the names of 13 and possibly of 14 Charles Town Jews who served in the militia during the siege. There are several others whose nomes have come down to us.
Marks Lazarus, who is apparently a civilian, in May 1790, saw service in 1.75, 1779 and 1730. He was a sergeant major. I have before me a copy of his war record from the bureau of pensions. (See alec obituary notice in the "Southern Patriot" of November ", 1825.) He was afterwards one of the petitioners to Clinton.
David Nunez Cardoza was also a ser- geant major. I have already referred to him. His obituary notice informs us that "he marched with the Grenadier corps from Charleston to the Lineg before Sa- vannah, and as first non-commissioned officer of Capt Boquet's company, volun- teered and led the Forlorn Hope in the Assault on the British lines."
Abraham Seixas was a captain of mili- tla here, but fought as a lieutenant in the Continental line In Georgia. He went to
to
Philadelphia in 1,82, but returned Charleston later.
Joseph Solomon we have already seen was killed at the battle of Beaufort.
Jacob Cohen we are told in the "Dlary of Josiah Smith, Jr," was "one of the prisoners on parole, that were sent on board the prison ship Torbay and Schoon- er Pack Horse, the 17th of May, 1781." It is worthy of note that his name is not mentioned in any of the lists of these prisoners in Garden, Moultrie, Ramsay, Drayton, Gibbes or MeCrady.
Of Jacob I. Cohen, who is referred to by all writers, I have till now found no men- tion in any of the records here. Nor have I found anything with reference to Capt Jacob De Leon, or Capt Jacob De La Motta, of Charleston, who are supposed to have fought at the battle of Camden. I would like to have some authority for the story that these men together with Major Nones carried off the wounded De Kalb from the field. It is strange that none of the contemporary writers mention it. It is remarkable, too, that Lossing, who has preserved so many traditions in his "Field Book of the Revolution"-and he is particularly gossippy in his story of this battle-should know nothing about it.
The names I have mentioned are all that I have till now been able to discover in the records. There may be some more that 1 may yet find, but these will not be many. It would be unreasonable to expect it. An entire population never fights, but those who don't fight or who are physi- cally unable to fight-and these will al- ways form a goodly portion of a popula- tion-are able to render other service that is equally valuable. As a matter of fact, during the siege of Charleston, the trou- ble was not the lack of men. All the early writers have noted the fact that had there been more men, the only purpose they
IS
could have served would have been to make provisions scarce in a shorter time. Of men who rendered goud service to the American cause and who were not fight- ers we have also documentary evidence.
· PATRIOTIC CIVILIANS.
In the North American Review for July, 1826, p 73, Isaac Harby referring to the Jews in the Revolution writes: "My ma - ternal grandfather contributed pecuniary aid to South Carolina, and particularly to Charleston, when besieged by the Brit- ish. My father-in-law was a brave gren- adler in the regular American army, and fought and bled for the liberty he Ilved to enjoy, and to hand down to his chil- dren." The maternal grandfather of Isaac Harby was Meyer Moses and his father- in-law was Samuel Mordecai. To the ser- vices rendered by Meyer Moses Gen Sum- ter testified in after years in a letter to Franklin J. Moses, a grandson of the Jewish patriot, who had died in 1797. There were, and I believe still are, in Columbia the original letter and a testimonial from Gen Sumter of similar purport. I re- produce only the latter:
South Mount, October 11, 1831.
I certify that I was well acquainted with Myer Moses, Esq. Merchant in Charles- ton. So. Ca. I understood and believed that he was friendly and attached to the American cause during the Revolution. I further understood and believe that his treatment to the American wounded and prisoners were such as to entitle him to the good wishes and gratitude of all those who had the success of the Revolution at heart. After the fall of Charleston his treatment to the wounded and prisoners who were taken and sent to Charleston was extremely friendly and humane, they being in the greatest possible distress.
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Moreover. I have understood and believed that on these occasions he expended a considerable sum in relieving them.
(Signed) Thos Sumter
Mordeca: Myers, of Georgetown, was an- other man who furnished supplies to the American army. (Sae Gibbes's "Docu- ments," (1781-2,) pp 1x2-3. See, However, also Gibbes (1276-IT6),) p 180, "Gen Marion to Col P. Horry.">
LOTALISTS IN CHARLESTON.
I have already referred in this article, to the division of sentiment that existed among the population of South Carolina and of Charleston at the outbreak of and during the Revolution. The Gazettes print the names of some who "embarked under an unhappy delusion" for other parts. (See list in Gazette of the State of South Carolina for July 8, 1778.) We read of many who "left the State to join the enemies thereof." (Ibid November 24, 1779.) Charleston, in fact, was full of Brit- ish sympathizers-witness the large lists of petitioners to Clinton. of addressors of Cornwallis end of Clinton and Ar- burthnot. In conversation with Moultrie, after the surrender, Capt Rochfort, & British officer, remarked: "Sir, you have made a gallant defence, but you had a great many rascals among you who came out every night and gave us information of what was passing in your garrison." (Moultrie's Memoirs, Vo! 2. p 108.) Many at first, naturally enough, were very care- ful as to how they betrayed their real sentiments. When Charleston surrendered, however, they did not hesitate to show what their sentiments really were, others thinking that South Carolina would finally remain a British province, and hoping to save their property, sincerely returned to their allegiance. Still others were by ne- cessity compelled to accent British pro-
:8
tection. (See Ramsay's South Carolina. pp IM et seq.)
Referring to the Jewish merchants, Ramsay remarks that: "While prisoners, they were encouraged to make purchases from the British merchants who came with the conquering army, and after they had contracted large debts of this kind. were precluded by proclamation from sell- ing the goods they had purchased, unless they assumed the name and character of British subjects." (Ibid.) This could oriy have been the case with a minority. The majority did not take protection or swear allegiance, but left Charles Town after the surrender.
PETITIONS TO CLINTON.
About August or September, 1780, many citizens of Charles Town presented a pe- tition to the Commandant setting forth "that they were very desirous to show every mark of allegiance and attachment to his Majesty's person and Government, to which they were most sincerely well affected, and, therefore, humbly prayed that they might have an opportunity to evince the sincerity of their professions." This petition was referred to "gentlemen of known loyalty and integrity, as well as knowledge of the persons and charac- ters of the inhabitants, In order to report the manner in which the Memorialiers had heretofore conducted themselves." This committee reported favorably in the cases of 166 citizens, including the follow- ing Jews:
Joseph Myers.
Saul Simons.
Abraham Alexander.
Moses Ellazer.
Philip Cohen. Marcus Lazarus.
Philip Moses.
(The Royal South Carolina Gazette, Sep- tember 21, 1700.)
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Of these Marcus (Marks) Lazarus ard Philip Moses bad been soldiers in the war, and for some or other reason now swore allegiance. Abraham Alexander was the minister of "Beth Elohim and the Syna- gogue constitution of 1800, (Rule XX,) tells us that Rabbi Moses Eleizar was "8 learned man in the laws of God, and until his death had taught the youth of this congregation and manifested unremitted zeal to promote religion in this country," There is no evidence to show and no reg- son for supposing that these men were not expressing their real convictions when they signed the petition to Sir Henry Clini- ton. It is worthy of note that in a subse- quent petition for protection of 211 citi- zens, published in the Royal Gazette of July 11, 1751. nothing is said about the pe- tition being referred to a committee of citizens of known loyalty and integrity, etc. In this second petition such a refer- ence was unnecessary. The petitioners had been admittedly Anti-British.
The Royal Gazette and the Royal South Carolina Gazette, published during the pe- riod of British occupation, show the fol- lowing Jews as doing business here during that period:
Joseph Abrahams.
Jacob Jacobs.
Delyon and Moses
Isaac Delyon.
Gershon Cohen.
Emanuel Abrahams.
Abraham Cohen.
Abraham Da Costa.
Of these Emanuel Abrahams and Abra- ham Cohen had fought in the war. All of these men, however, must either have taken protection after the surrender or have been known to have been well af- fected or at least not openly hostile to the British cause. Most of them had been do- ing business here right along since 1779.
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Those whose sentiments were known to have been hostile were sought out by the British and banished. Amongst these was Isaac Da Costa, Sr, whose estates wa have seen were promptly seized and con- Ascated by the British and himself ban- ished. We have ilkewise seen Jacob Cohen put on board the prison ship.
Isaac Delyon was a known Tory and his property was amerced after the Revolu- tion. He came here in 1779. There would doubtless have been other amercements. . but the records do not show any wealth among the Jews who remained here in business during the period of British occu- pation. Lev! Sheftall was likewise a Loy- alist. Be it ever remembered, however. that there was as much true patriotism in the Loyalist as there was in the most ardent Revolutionist.
In my search in Columbia I examined many thousands of "indents," or certifi- cates entitling the holder to payment of sums due for services rendered in the war. There was not a single one mads out in favor of a Jew. The date of these indents explained the reason. They were all for services rendered subsequent to 1750. After May, 1760, the Charles Town militia were prisoners on parole and very few afterwards took the field. Some did, but there was a special reason in their case. We know what became of the Jew- Ish population.
THE MAJORITY STEADFAST.
Most of the Jewish merchants did not and would not take protection, but lett for Philadelphia after the surrender of Charles Town. and in 1782 we find 10 Charles Town Jews In the list of original members of the Mlckven Israel Congrega- tion. There were other Jews. doubtless, who do not appear on the list. (See Mo- rais "Jews of Philadelphia," p 15.) The ten
21
names I refer to are those of Isaac Da Costa, Er, Isaac Da Costa, Jr, Samuel Da Costa, Philip Moses, Israel Jacobs, Jacob Cohen, Ezekiel Levy, Abraham Sasportas, Abraham Seixas and Solomon Aaron. These men came back afterwards when peace was restored. So much, then, for the evidence of the records.
I must now say a word about the tra- ditional story. The most careful investi- gation has failed to reveal the large num- ber of Jews who are supposed to have borne arms in the Revolution. Men who write history ought to have some sense of proportion. I believe that my list is prac- tically exhaustive and that I am perfectly safe in asserting that never at any time during the Revolution were there @0 Jews in Charleston between the ages of 15 and 60. It is highly improbable that there were 50, and of these, of course, many did not fight. This we know positively.
There is another way, however, in which we arrive at the same conclusion. We are told that in 1791 Beth Elohim Congregation consisted of 53 families, numbering up- wards of # persons. So complete has been my Investigation that if I desired to do so I could enumerate these and go even into the details of their family his- tory. We know who came here after the Revolution, when they came here and where they came from. By this double method of calculation the chances of er- ror are reduced to very narrow limits. Three or four names may yet be brought to light and perhaps as many who served in the militia, but more than this number I do not believe will ever be found.
TRADITIONS UPSET,
But how about the company of Jews which is referred to by every past writer and the company of volunteers command- ed by Capt Richard Lushington and or- ganized In 177)? Prior to 1779, in which
22
year, as we have seen, there was a large accession from Savannah, a company com- posed entirely or almost entirely of Jews is a manifest impossibility. A company of volunteers in 123 is likewise an impos- sibility, in view of the Act of 1778, which declared that "there shall not be formed any volunteer company in this State after the passing of this Act." This is surely conclusive. Of Lushington's company we have information from several sources. He must have commanded about 60 men. Several roils of militia companies are in existence and they all contain about this number and the Act itself prescribes this number as a company. I have the names of over 20 Non-Jews in his command. This speaks for itself.
It is easy enough to account for the tra- dition in this case. We have seen that nearly all the Jews of Charleston who fought, fought in Lushington's command. We have seen also the reason of this. From the number of Jews in this company it got the name of the "Jew Company." Forty years afterwards, time enough for legend and fancy to have had full play, we find the writers and speakers -- and there was some excuse for them-referring to Lushington's company of Jews. In fur- nishing material for a plea for toleration for the Jews of Maryland a little exag- geration was pardonable, particularly in the early days, but there is no such ex- cuse for men who undertake to write his- tory. Historians do not Incorporate newe paper clippings into their work without investigation, nor do such newspaper clip- pings even when used in debate become authoritative sources of reference. Such "authorities" are good enough for men who only use second-hand sources of in- formation in their work and who under- take to write a hundred years of history in as many minutes. It is not to the
33
credit of our time that such superficial work is received with approbation.
Need I say anything about that other statement-the "remarkable fact" that nearly all the Jews who served on the field served as officers? It is on the face of it so puerile that I will not even discuss it. With the exception of Capt Seixas, there were a few non-commissioned officers, but these are only officers by courtesy, A company of Jews-and nearly all officers! Kentucky is not as original as we have been led to believe.
And Is not the tale that the facts unfold glorious enough? The Jews of South Car- oilna furnished the Revolution with Fran- cis Salvador, one of its most trusted lead- ers. In proportion to their numbers they furnished at least as many men as did their neighbors and gave as freely of their means to the cause. I claim no more, but is it not enough?
THE DAGGETT PATO CO. CHASM. S. C.
THE JEWS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA ..
A Survey of the Records at Present Existing in Charleston.
... BY ...
Dr, BARNETT A. ELZAS,
Rabbi of K. K. Both Elohim.
IV
1783 -- 1800.
3
U
[ Reprinted fraus the Charleston News and Courier, Mm,
The Jews of South Carolina ...
IV.
1783-1800.
[Reprinted from The News and Courier. ]
With the present article I bring my sketches of the Jews of South Carolina to an end. The most interesting part of the story remains vet to be told. I am reserv- ing that for my book, which I hope to see published next year It will take me many months of patient work, however, before I can sift and digest the almost endless material that I have gathered during the last eight years. To collate carefully the long-lost records of K. K. Beth Elohim is of itself a formidable task.
Before proceeding to-day, however, I regret that I have again to pay a little at- tention to the notable Huhner, of New York. I thought that I had done with him, but he is apparently very dissatis- fed. I begrudge the space that I am giv- ing up to him, for he is literally incor- rigible. There are some, however, who are Interested in this matter, who keep newspaper clippings, and who may happen to have preserved that gentleman's "last word" in the American Hebrew. (P 493.) For them I propose to keep the record straight, Huhner and the American He- brew notwithstanding. 1 do not propose either to allow the Impression to be given that my criticism was in any way untair or unwarranted.
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