USA > South Carolina > The Jews of South Carolina, from the earliest times to the present day > Part 8
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The Royal Gazette and The Royal South-Carolina Gazette, published during the period of British occupation, show the following 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, Abraham Cohen, and Ger- shon Cohen had fought in the war. All of these men, how- ever, must either have taken protection after the surrender or have been known to have been well affected or at least not openly hostile to the British cause. Most of them had been doing business right along since 1779. Those whose sentiments were known to have been hostile were sought out
53 It is worthy of note that in a subsequent petition for protection of two hundred and eleven citizens, published in The Royal Gazette of July 11, 1781, nothing is said about the petition being referred to a committee of citizens of known loyalty and integrity, ete. In this second petition such a reference was unnecessary. The petitioners had been admittedly anti-British.
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by the British and banished. Among these was Isaac Da Costa, Sr., whose estates we have seen were promptly seized and confiscated by the British and himself banished.5* We have likewise seen Jacob Cohen put on board a prison ship.
Isaac Delyon was a known Tory and his property was amerced after the Revolution.55 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.
Levi Sheftall was at first a patriot, but afterwards a Loy- alist.56 At the outbreak of the Revolution he was living in Savannah, where he was appointed a Commissary "to pro- vide necessaries for the several companies of men that are ordered out upon duty at and about Savannah." He came to Charles Town in 1779.
Myer Franks, of Ninety Six District, was another Jewish Tory, of whom an interesting tradition has been preserved :
" After killing Edward Hampton, the Tories thought it prudent to leave a neighborhood in which they had committed so many murders. The next day Captain John Barry raised a company of militia, and started in pursuit of the 'Bloody Scout,' but did not overtake them. Whilst on the pursuit, in Laurens District, they came to the house of an old Tory, by the name of Franks, who had a very bountiful supply of bacon on hand. The Whigs feeling quite hungry, and not having tasted food for twenty-four hours, thought there was no harm in quarter- ing themselves for a short time in the smoke-house of an enemy. Con- sequently, they not only made free use, for the time being, of the old Tory's bacon, but provided themselves with rations for several days. David Anderson acted as commissary on this occasion, and took the responsibility of judging how much would be a proper supply for the company. It is said that he proved quite a liberal caterer, and that
54 The Royal Gazette, March 10, 1781. Also ibid., March 14.
Sabine: American Loyalists, p. 255. See also Statutes of South 55 Carolina, Vol. 6, p. 633.
Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, Vol. 5, Part 1, p. 30.
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Franks's smoke-house required neither loek nor key after the Whigs left it. This was in 1781. In 1783 peace was concluded, and the independence of the country acknowledged. Some years afterwards the people in the upper country, who had been long without law, found the Circuit Court re-established in Ninety Six District. One of the first cases brought in this court was docketed by Myer Franks vs. David Anderson-tres- pass. Many years had passed by, and many things forgotten in the Revolution, but not the taking of Myer Franks's bacon." *
" Be this as it may, Myer Franks brought suit for his bacon, as soon as the luxury of the law was allowed him, by the establishment of the court at Ninety Six. He thought it rather troublesome to bring suits against all who had helped to eat his bacon; or may have been advised by his counsel to begin with the agent in the business. He, therefore, singled out Anderson, the commissary, as the object of his legal ven- geance. The case was called, and a host of witnesses were in attendance, to prove the fact on the part of the plaintiff, and the use to which the bacon had been appropriated by the defendant. After getting through the testimony, his honor, the presiding judge, ordered the case to be stricken from the docket, and left Mr. Franks to brood over his not having 'saved his bacon,' and to lament that the royalists had not con- quered the rebels." "T
Concerning these Loyalists, it should be remarked here that there was just as much true patriotism in them as there was in the most ardent Revolutionists. Their conduct was actuated by just as high motives. What they did was done according to their best judgment of what was for their coun- try's good, and it required the highest courage to show de- votion to principle amid the opposing current of popular opinion.
In the Columbia records there are many thousands of "indents" or certificates, entitling the holder to payment of sums due for services rendered or supplies furnished in the war. There are a few made out in favor of Jews and these are principally for supplies. The dates of these in-
57 Johnson: Traditions and Reminiscences, pp. 454-5. This story was originally printed in The Orion, Vol. 3, pp. 218-9. The facetious ending is Johnson's and is not in the original.
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106 THE JEWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA
dents explain the reason. They are nearly all for services rendered subsequent to 1780. After May, 1780, the Charles Town militia were prisoners on parole and very few after- wards took the field. Some did, but there were special rea- sons in their cases. We can account fairly well for the Jewish population.58
After the fall of Charles Town the British compelled all the inhabitants either to swear allegiance or to discontinue business.59 As many seem not to have regarded the British proclamation, more stringent measures were enacted, and those who refused to take protection were expelled. Many of the Jewish merchants left for Philadelphia, and in 1782 we find ten Charles Town Jews in the list of original mem- bers of the Mickveh Israel Congregation of that city.60 There were others, doubtless, whose names do not appear on this list. They all came back, however, after peace had been restored.
Thus far, then, for the records of this most interesting period of American history. We believe that the facts as here given represent a well-nigh complete statement of the
The following indents are made out to Jews and those with Jewish names: Philip Hart (A. . No. 224), Abraham Cohen, Georgetown (D. 67), Joseph Markess (V. 199), Solomon Pollock, an express rider (N. 1470), Lieutenant Abraham Meyers (?) (V. 198 and R. 259), Moses Harris (S. 579, T. 380, and V. 514), J. N. Hart, Georgetown ( ?), Joshua Jacobs (?) (M. 482 and X. 2561), Joshua Jones (?) (K. 53). Those marked as doubtful we have not been able to prove Jews or to the contrary.
" "No person now a prisoner on Parole in Charles Town, shall have the liberty of exercising any profession, trade, mechanick art, business or occupation" -- Revolutionary Documents, Library of Congress, No. 55.
" Morais: Jews of Philadelphia, p. 15. The following are the names referred to: Isaac Da Costa, Sr., Isaac Da Costa, Jr., Samuel Da Costa, Philip Moses, Israel Jacobs, Jacob Cohen, Ezekiel Levy, Abraham Sas- portas, Abraham Seixas, and Solomon Aaron.
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story, and that little remains to be revealed by futuro re- search. The traditional tales of the Jews of South Carolina in the Revolution have in them, like all traditions, an ele- ment of truth. This element of truth we have essayed to discover. If we have destroyed myths, we have put facts in their place, and the facts are no less pleasing than the fic- tions. We have no more, it is true, the "remarkable fact" of "a regiment composed almost exclusively of Jews and mainly officers," "whose names have unfortunately been lost," but we have the names of at least thirty-four Jews of South Carolina whose services to the cause of independence are matters of record.
Of Lushington's Company of King Street Jews enough has been said. There is not the slightest difficulty in ex- plaining the tradition.
. Nearly all the Jews of Charles Town who saw service in the Revolution fought in Lushington's command. We have seen why this was the case. 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 furnishing material for a plea for toleration for the Jews of Maryland, in 1826, a little exag- geration was surely pardonable. There is no such excuse, however, for those who undertake to write history.
And is not the tale that the facts unfold glorious enough ? The Jews of South Carolina furnished the Revolution with Francis Salvador, one of its must trusted leaders. In pro- portion to their numbers they furnished at least as many men as did their neighbors, and gave as freely of their means to the cause. Is it not enough?
CHAPTER VI-JOSEPH SALVADOR
HE subject of this sketch was a man with a most remarkable career, and in whose latter end pathos and tragedy were largely commingled-Joseph Sal- vador, the uncle and father-in-law of Francis Salvador-a prince among men, as he was a prince among mer- chants, who, overtaken by misfortune, came to Charleston in his old age and died here some two years after his arrival.
We are mainly indebted to Picciotto for our knowledge of the Salvador family. Of the later history of that family, however, that writer knows nothing. We shall let Picciotto speak for himself, and supplement his account by the facts revealed in the records in Charleston. Here, then, is his story. It would be a pity to spoil it by presenting it in muti- lated paraphrase :
" Among the most distinguished families of that Congregation 1 during the eighteenth century, we must mention the family bearing the name of Jessurun Rodrigues. They had originally come over from Holland, bringing with them considerable sums of money, which they had invested principally in commerce, and they ranked as merchant princes among the Jews. The most noted scion of that lineage was Joseph Jessurun Rodrigues, to whom we have already adverted by the appellation of
1 The Spanish and Portuguese Congregation at Bevis Marks, London.
108
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Tombstone of Joseph Salvador (1716-1786), Da Costa Burial Ground, Charleston, South Carolina
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JOSEPH SALVADOR
Joseph Salvador, under which guise the world knew him. He took a lead- ing part in the affairs of his Synagogue and he was ever to the fore when the sufferings of poor humanity were to be relieved. He was president of the Congregation, and one of the most efficient members of the original Committee of Portuguese Deputies. Notwithstanding the extensive financial and mercantile transactions in which he was engaged, he devoted a portion of his time to the improvement of the condition of the needy. He not only gave largely to all existing institutions, but was ever seeking new plans for conquering the hydra-headed evil of pauperism. Now he would help to establish a new society, like that intended to assist Jewish young men in earning their livelihood by hard work, and which, unfortunately, was unsuccessful. At another time he would be found asking permission of the Wardens to enter into a specu- lation on behalf of some deserving families in humble circumstances, He was always a liberal donor to the necessitous. Joseph Jessurun Rodrigues was a partner in the well-known house of Francis and Joseph Salvador, which, after the death of Sampson Gideon, repeatedly negotiated loans for the British Government. We cannot tell at precisely what period the name of Salvador was first adopted, but certainly it must be in the early part of the last century, though it does not occur in the Synagogue regis- ters until about 1760.
" Personally, Joseph Salvador, to style him by the most familiar desig- nation, was popular, and enjoyed considerable repute among Jew and Gentile; albeit, when he appeared in a theatre on one occasion after the passing of the Naturalization Bill in 1753, he and his party were hooted, and were constrained to withdraw, to the utter disgrace of the civilized and Christian audience. The principal part of his career was accom- panied by unbounded prosperity. He had vastly increased the wealth he had inherited, and he was the first Jew who had been appointed Director of the East India Company. He constructed a handsome house in White Hart Court, Bishopsgate-street, which bore until recent times, if it does not still bear, his name; and in the northeast corner of one of the cellars may yet be seen the foundation-stone, with an inscription laid upon it by his daughter, Judith Salvador. He also was the owner of a country residence, with an extensive park, at Tooting.
" Joseph Salvador was less fortunate in his latter days. Misfortunes began to befall him. He lost heavily in consequence of the earthquake at Lisbon, he holding much property in various shapes in that city, though this did not appear to affect bim much. It was the failure of the Dutch East India Company that brought ruin on him, and that proved almost a calamity to many of the rich Portuguese Jews of England and of Hol-
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land. This disaster was a great blow to those communities, from which they found it difficult to recover. As for Joseph Salvador, he never raised his head again. All his available property in Europe little by little disappeared, and his last days were spent in obscurity. The family were still possessed of some traets of land in America, which were in charge of a steward. A nephew of Joseph Salvador, Francis, determined to undertake a voyage to the new continent. It is said that Mrs. Joshua Mendez Da Costa, a daughter of Joseph Salvador, gave up a part of her marriage settlement to furnish funds for the expedition. Francis started to retrieve the family fortunes. In due course letters came ad- vising his safe arrival to the new continent, and announcing his intention of seeking his property. He never wrote again. A long silence ensued, and then it was reported that the unhappy Salvador had been murdered and scalped by Indians !
" It is related that in 1802 an American arrived in Amsterdam and waited upon Mrs. Texeira de Mattos, Salvador's eldest daughter, and offered her $10,000 to sign a deed giving up all claim on the American property. The lady declined the transaction. In 1812 the stranger once more returned and repeated his offer. He alleged that he was the grand- son of Salvador's former steward; that the land in Mr. Salvador's time had been a tract of barren forests and utterly valueless; that now it was covered with villages and towns and that he himself had a good holding title thereto. Finally he added that, during the War of Independence, British subjects had forfeited all their rights to property in the United States, and that she could advance no claim whatever to the land. Under these circumstances Mrs. Texeira De Mattos, who was eighty years of age at that time, and who had not the slightest idea as to the State or part of the Union in which the demesne was situated, accepted the sum tendered and signed the required assignment, which thus conferred a valid selling title on the descendant of the steward. The last male representa- tive of the family of Salvador or Jessurun Rodrigues was a member of Lloyd's, and is believed to have died about 1S30. In this manner ter- minated that ancient and honorable lineage." ª
Let us now look at the Charleston records and see what they have to tell. They will enable us to separate the facts from traditions which, while containing an element of truth, are largely erroneous.
2 Picciotto: Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History, pp. 161-4.
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First, as to the date at which the name of Salvador was adopted. We have already referred to the "grant of arms" from the Heralds' College, London, to Francis Salvador, the grandfather of the Revolutionary patriot.3 In his appli- cation for this grant of arms, in 1744, Francis Salvador states that he is a son of Joseph Salvador, late of Amster- dam, and that he was made a citizen of England (as Francis Salvador) in 1719. It is worthy of note, however, that in the records of the old Bevis Marks Synagogue, London, the names of Jessurun Rodrigues, Jacob Jessurun Rodrigues, and Joseph Jessurun Rodrigues occur in the lists of mem- bers between 1760 and 1764.4 It would thus seem that the name of Salvador had already been adopted by the family in Amsterdam-possibly even in Portugal in their commer- cial transactions, while they still retained the original name of Rodrigues or Jessurun Rodrigues in the Synagogue. It is not unreasonable to surmise that Salvador was the Ma- rano name of the family.º
We have seen that when misfortune overtook Joseph Sal- vador he was still possessed of land in South Carolina-in- deed, he was a very extensive land-owner, for he owned no less than 100,000 acres. The history of this land is very interesting.
In the Mesne Conveyance Records, Volume F 3, page 133, we have the deed of Joseph Salvador's purchase of this land recorded. It is dated November 27, 1755. John Hamilton,
3 For a transcript of this document see Appendix C.
'Gaster: History of the Antient Synagogue. A Memorial Volume (London, 1901).
5 During the Inquisition, thousands of Jews in Spain and Portugal were compelled, outwardly at least, to adopt Christianity. They were called Christaos Novos, or Neo-Christians. The name is derived either from maran atha, meaning "accursed" or " damned," or from the Spanish word marano, which means "hog." The name was applied opprobriously by the Portuguese to the Jews because they did not eat pork.
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late of the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, but now of Charles Town, in the Proy- ince of South Carolina, in consideration of £2,000 sterling, money of Great Britain, sells to Joseph Salvador, of Lime Street, merchant, 100,000 acres of land situated at Ninety Six, in the Province of South Carolina. We hear nothing further of this land till 1769, when Joseph Salvador gives Richard Andrews Rapley, then on his departure into foreign parts, his power of attorney to look after his interests in South Carolina and to sell some 45,000 acres." The records show that Rapley succeeded in disposing of a good portion of this land.
The first transaction on record occurs after the arrival of Francis Salvador in South Carolina. In Volume O 4, page 12, we have a mortgage recorded from Joseph Salvador per Rapley to Francis Salvador of 5,160 acres of land at Ninety Six. It is dated May 31, 1774, though the trans- action was concluded before Francis Salvador left Eng- land, in October, 1773. On October 29, 1773, Joseph Sal- vador per Rapley sells to Abraham Prado, Francis Salva- dor's stepfather, 1,062 acres for a consideration of £2,124, lawful currency of South Carolina.7 On the same date he sells to Abraham Prado 1,638 acres more.8 On May 16, 1774, he sells to Francis Salvador 921 acres.º On May 24, 1774, he sells 1,480 acres to Mathew Edwards.1º On June 20, 1774, he sells to Andrew Williamson 1,795 acres.11 On February 23, 1775, Joseph Salvador conveys to Rebecca Mendes Da Costa 20,000 acres of land to satisfy a judgment
" Mesne Conveyance Records, Vol. F 4, p. 243.
" Ibid., p. 191.
Ibid., p. 200.
" Ibid., Vol. M 4, p. 286.
Ibid., p. 358.
1 Ibid., p. 362.
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JOSEPH SALVADOR
which she had obtained against him.12 On March 2, 1775, there is a deed executed between Joseph Salvador of the first part, and Phineas Serra, Moses Isaac Levey, Emanuel Baruk Louvado, Nathan Modigliani, Solomon D'Anynilar, Samuel Haine, Joseph Franco, David Franco, Jacob Con- salo, Rebecca Mendes Decosta, Benjamin D'Anynilar, Jacob Franco, Francis Franco,- all of London,-who had advanced and lent to him the sum of #3,000 in certain pro- portions. He makes over to them 59,900 acres of land ex- cepting such tracts as had been already sold by Rapley, his attorney, and the tract secured to Rebecca Mendes Da Costa.13
On March 31, 1775, he sells to John Lesley 450 acres.14 On December 8. 1777, he sells to Nicholas Eveleigh 3,022 acres.15 On April 13, 1778, he sells to Benjamin Mitchell - 300 acres.18 On April 29, 1778, he sells 1,480 acres to Nicho- las Eveleigh.17 Also another tract of 3,900 acres,18 and a third tract of 1,048 acres.19 On October 6, 1779, he sells to John McCord 500 acres.2º On November 3, 1779, le sells 1,013 acres to Thomas Sanders.21 The last recorded deed is dated April 21, 1783, when Joseph Salvador, "having occa- sion for the sum of £1,000, mortgages his plantation, 'Corn- acre.' of 5,160 acres, to William Stephens. of Lime Street, London, Packer." 22
In 1783 Joseph Salvador was still in London. All his transactions till now have been made per Richard Andrews
12 Mesne Conveyance Records, Vol. T 4, p. 1.
13
Ibid., Vol. N 7, p. 140. This deed was not recorded till August 29,
1804,-long after Joseph Salvador's death.
14 Ibid., Vol. Z 4, p. 286. 19 Ibid., p. 241.
15 Ibid., Vol. Y 4, p. 236. 19 Ibid., p. 243.
18 Ibid., Vol. Z 4, p. 252.
2º Ibid., Vol. K 5, p. 57.
17 Ibid., Vol. Y 4, p. 238. = Ibid., p. S.1.
" Ibid., Vol. N 5, p. 201.
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Rapley, his attorney. He had been living on the money he obtained from the sale of his lands in South Carolina,-com- paratively little, in truth, -- but it is pleasant to know that he must have had enough to live comfortably. We have ac- counted for every acre of his vast estate. All that is left to him now is a mortgaged plantation.
In 1784, when Joseph Salvador was sixty-eight years of age, he came to South Carolina. On April 3, 1784, there is a deed recorded in Charleston of Joseph Salvador, "now of Ninety Six District," revoking his former letters of attor- ney to Richard Andrews Rapley.23 It is surely pathetic to think of a man at his time of life coming to a new world to seek the wreckage of his former fortune. He did not remain long, however, at Ninety Six, for on August 9, 1785, we find a power of attorney recorded from William Stephens to Joseph Salvador, "now of Charles Town. " 24
Of his life and doings in Charleston we know nothing, for the records are silent. We should indeed like to know something of how he spent the last months of his life. Let us hope that he spent them happily. He did not live long after his arrival here. In The Charleston Morning Post and Daily Advertiser of Saturday, December 30, 1786, there is the following notice of his death :
" Yesterday died, JOSEPH SALVADORE, Esq; aged 86 years. He was formerly a most eminent merchant in England, being one of those who furnished that Government with a million of money in two hours' notice, during the rebellion in the year 1745; and likewise was one of the greatest landholders in this country.25
23 Mesne Conveyance Records, Vol. K 5, p. 135.
"' Ibid., Vol. S 5, p. 143.
25 The Charleston records are manifestly in error in the matter of the age of Joseph Salvador. In The Gentleman's Magasine for 1812, Part 1, there is a full genealogy of the families of Mendes and DaCosta. In that most interesting chapter there occurs the following entry: "Joseph" [Salvador] " born 21 Jan. 1716, died at Charles-town, Carolina, 29 Dee.
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Joseph Salvador is buried in the old Da Costa burial ground at Hanover Street. He rests next to his friend, Isaac Da Costa. Here is all that is left of the inscription on his tombstone, the dashes showing where the edges of the slab are broken :
" -cred to the memory o -- Isurune Rodrigues other -- -oseph Salvadore of Coron- Fort 96 in the Province of Carolina and late of Tooting in the Kingdom of Grate B- he was one of the Elders- of the Portugeuse Jewish- He likewise was F. R. S .- Governer of several Hos- He was a respectable- - bearing misfortunes with -- & resignation to the will of- Almighty God trusting in h -- Departed this transitory lif- Eve of Sabath S of- 5547 which answers -- of December 1786- May his soul enj __ "
Thus died this " representative of generosity, kindliness, and courtliness," as Picciotto calls him. His will, made on October 7, 1782, whilst he is still in London, is recorded here in the Probate Court.2º He bequeathes all his real estate in Great Britain or elsewhere, together with his plan- tations, etc., in South Carolina, to his daughters, Abigail Salvador, Elisebah Salvador, Sosannah, otherwise Susan- nah, Salvador, and William Stephens, of London, packer.
1786, aged 70 years 11 months; and was buried in the Jew burial-ground there" (p. 22). Joseph Salvador would thus have been sixty-eight years of age when he came to South Carolina.
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