Chatham County GaArchives History .....Chapter V - History of Savannah 1913
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p. 44

CHAPTER V THE JEWISH ELEMENT

ATTITUDE TOWARD HEBREW COLONISTS—THRIFTY, INDUSTRIOUS AND HONEST PEOPLE—RECORD
BY JEWISH DESCENDANT—JEWISH CONGREGATIONS AND SYNAGOGUES—HEBREW BURIAL
GROUNDS—EARLY VINEYARD OF A PORTUGUESE JEW—BOTH PROGRESSIVE AND PATRIOTIC.

   While the people were engaged in active operations in the way of building
their homes and making themselves comfortable and settling down to business,
nothing of special interest occurred until the arrival of the second party of
colonists on the 14th of May in the ship "James," commanded by Captain Yoakley.
Seventeen persons comprised this party, among whom were some Italian experts in
the keeping of silkworms and the manufacture of silk. It was thought in the
beginning that this would become a paying industry in the colony, and special
efforts were made for its development. The seal of Georgia had as its device bn
one face silk-worms at work, with the motto Non Sibi Sed Alas, a suggestion of
one source of profitable labor as well as the proposed conduct of those
interested in the development of the new settlement.

   The arrival of this addition to the settlers was recorded in the Gentleman's
Magazine in a communication from Savannah dated May 20, 1733, as follows: "The
James, Captain Yoakley, 110 tons and 6 guns arrived here on the 14th, with
passengers and stores. The ship rode in two fathoms and a half water close to
the town at low water mark. The Captain received the Price appointed by the
Trustees for the first ship that should unload at this town, there is a safe
riding for much larger vessels.”

ATTITUDE TOWARD HEBREW COLONISTS

   We have seen how the town was laid out in a very imposing manner on the 7th
of July, 1733. This important epoch was closely followed by an incident which
caused much trouble and brought forth some bitter words from the trustees in
their official capacity and from individuals who became discontented and, as a
consequence, denounced the whole work so far accomplished in Georgia. This was
the arrival of a vessel from England with forty Hebrew colonists. The action of
the trustees in this matter, when thoroughly explained, seems incomprehensible.
The charter, as has been noted, prohibited Catholics from settling in

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p. 45

the province, but nothing was said in that instrument which could be construed
as being unfavorable to the Jews. In fact, as early as September 21, 1732, the
minutes of the trustees show that "commissions were desired by Thomas Frederick,
Esq., Mr. Anthony Da Costa, Mr. Francis Salvador, Jr., and Mr. Alvaro Lopez
Suasso, to take subscriptions and collect money for the purposes of the
charter," and it was "ordered accordingly;" and on the same date it was stated
that "sealed commissions for taking subscriptions and collecting money for the
purposes of the charter [were] granted to Thomas Frederick, Esq., Mr. Francis
Salvador, Jr., Mr. Anthony Da Costa, and Mr. Alvaro Lopez Suasso." Those men
were Jews, and the trustees knew it. They were willing to accept their services
in collecting funds for the development of the scheme to assist poor but honest
men and women in making homes for themselves, but, as will appear, they did not
want any of their race to receive the benefit of the money so collected. They
virtually said to them "We are willing to have you take part in the charitable
work to which we have pledged our own support and influence, so far as you
choose to relieve us of the unpleasant duty of soliciting subscriptions to carry
on that work, but you must not expect any of your race to partake of the
benefits flowing from your successful efforts." They did not use those words,
but they willingly accepted their offer, coupled with the mental reservation
which that language implies. That such was the case there can be no doubt, as
the action of their body on the 31st of January following, does not admit of any
other construction.

   The minutes of that date contain the following language: "Ordered, That the
secretary do wait on Mr. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Mr. Francis Salvador, Jr., and Mr.
Anthony Da Costa with the following message in writing: Whereas commissions were
granted to the said Mr. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Mr. Francis Salvador, Jr., and Mr.
Anthony Da Costa to collect such monies as should be contributed for
establishing the colony of Georgia in America, and to transmit the same to the
trustees, by them to be applied to the purposes in the charter mentioned; And
the trustees being informed that certain expectations have from thence been
raised, contrary to their intentions, which may be of ill consequence to their
said designs, Therefore, to obviate any difficulties that may attend the same,
they desire the said Mr. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Mr. Francis Salvador, Jr., and Mr.
Anthony Da Costa will re-deliver to Mr. Martyn, their secretary, the said
commissions."

   It was doubtless about this time that the trustees began to be criticized for
their action in granting the commissions.* Indeed, one of their own number in a
communication to his fellow members, at a later date, had this to say: "But I
beg leave to say something of the Jews, who, to the number of between forty and
fifty, have procured themselves to be already settled there contrary to the
will, and without the consent of the trustees, and there are more of their
nation now going over to them. I humbly conceive these shocking matters require
your most serious attention for unless you speedily take some vigorous
resolution to suppress effectually the two great evils aforesaid (the first
___________
* The communication is dated 27th March, 1734.

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p. 46

was what he conceived to be an error in the matter of land grants) Georgia will
soon become a Jewish colony, for that all the Christians there will, for the
reasons aforesaid, fall off and desert it, as leaves from a tree in autumn,
until there will not be a valuable Christian remaining except some few
carpenters, sawyers, smiths, etc., whom the Jews will find most necessary and
useful, and encourage them to remain to be employed in their buildings and
otherwise, and that all Christian benefactions for that colony will soon cease.
Therefore, for these considerations, I beg leave to recommend the speedy
entering into proper measures for preventing as well the ruin of the Colony of
Georgia as the reproach and scandal of the trustees.” The letter from which the
foregoing extract is taken is embodied in "A brief Account of the Causes that
have Retarded the Progress of the Colony of Georgia in America," printed in
London in 1743, and was evidently written by Thomas Stephens, son of William
Stephens, Secretary of the Colony, and Sir Richard Everhard, son of the Sir
Richard Everhard who was a governor of North Carolina. The letter, so quoted,
was written by Thomas Coram.

   On the 7th of February, 1732-3, “the secretary acquainted the Board that he
had waited on Mr. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Mr. Anthony Da Costa, and Mr. Francis
Salvador, Jr., for_the commissions granted to them, and had left a copy of the
Minutes of January the 31st with Mr. Da Costa." No notice having been taken by
the three persons named of that communication, the trustees, on the 2nd of
December, 1733, took this peremptory action: “Ordered, That the Secretary do
wait on Messrs. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador, Jr., and Anthony Da Costa
with the following message in writing: Whereas a message dated January 31,
1732-3, was sent for the Redelivery of their commissions with which they did not
think proper to comply, and which on their said Refusal were vacated by the
trustees: And whereas the trustees are informed that by monies raised by virtue
of their commissions (which monies ought to have been transmitted to the
trustees) certain Jews have been sent to Georgia contrary to the intentions of
the trustees, and which may be of ill consequence to the Colony; the Trustees do
hereby require the said Messrs. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador, Jr., and
Anthony Da Costa immediately to redeliver to Mr. Martyn, their Secretary, the
said Commissions, and to render an Account in Writing to the Trustees of what
monies have been raised by virtue thereof; and if they refuse to comply with
this Demand, that then the Trustees will think themselves oblig'd not only to
advertise the World of the Demand and Refusal of their Commissions and Account,
and of the Misapplication before mentioned, in order to prevent any further
impositions on his Majesty's subjects under Pretence of Authority granted by
those Vacated Commissions, but likewise to recover those Commissions, and demand
an Account of the monies collected in such manner as their Council shall advise."

   In response to this, at a meeting held January 19, 1733-4, the secretary
acquainted the board that, pursuant to their order of January 5th instant, he
had waited on Messrs. Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador, Jr., and'Anthony Da
Costa, and left with them the message of the trustees in writing, and that he
had received the commissions

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p. 47

formerly given to them; and then he delivered the said commissions to the board.

   "Resolved, That the said Commissions be laid by, and the further
consideration of this affair be postponed till Mr. Oglethorpe comes home."

   It does not appear that the trustees ever again took this matter under
consideration.

THRIFTY, INDUSTRIOUS AND HONEST PEOPLE

   The excitement caused by the coming of those people ended by their being
permitted to stay, although no definite action towards that end was taken. They
had come without apparent reason to believe that in doing so they had no
authority, and it would have been heartless on the part of Oglethorpe to refuse
a landing under the circumstances.

   They were thrifty, industrious and honest people, with everything connected
with their advent greatly in their favor, with the single exception that their
qualifications as colonists had not been passed upon by the trustees and the
fund collected for their transportation and support had not passed through their
hands. The trouble soon ended, and they participated in the allottment of lands
equally with the colonists. Among them were the families of Isaac Nunez
Henriquez, Moses le Desma, Samuel Nunez Ribiero, Daniel Ribiero, Moses Nunez
Ribiero, Jacob Lopez d'Olivero, Benjamin Sheftall, Abraham Nunez, Monte Santo,
Abraham Minis, and others. Some of them did not remain in Georgia, but went over
into South Carolina. Descendants of some of those who remained in Savannah are
now numbered with her best citizens. Oglethorpe made special mention to the
trustees of the good work of Dr. Nunis and they requested him to offer pay to
that humane physician for the medical services rendered by him. At a later date
the valuable aid rendered by one of that race in the matter of the cultivation
of the grape vine is thus acknowledged by the secretary of the colony, Mr.
Benjamin Martyn: "One, Abraham de Lyon, Portuguese Jew, in the year 1736, by
encouragement from the Trustees, planted about a score [of vines], which he had
received from Portugal, where he had been bred among the vineyards; in the next
year, by his skill in pruning and dressing them, they bore plentifully a
beautiful large grape, as big as a man's thumb, almost transparent, and in great
bunches. A shoot, in one year, grew from the root of a bearing vine as big as a
walking cane, and ran over a few poles placed to receive it, at least twelve or
fourteen feet; and he has now a very promising vineyard.* “

RECORD BY JEWISH DESCENDANT

   The names of some of the first Jewish settlers who remained in Savannah are
found in the list of persons to whom lands were alloted already given on a
preceding page; but, as that list differs in some
_________
    * "An Impartial Inquiry into the State and Utility of the Province of
Georgia." London, 1841.

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p. 48

respects from the one given by a descendant of one of those families to the Rev.
George White and printed by the latter in his Statistics of Georgia in 1849, the
whole account of this matter is here quoted as perhaps the most accurate that
can be found. Mr. White says, on pages 101 and 102 of his book: "The compiler of
this work is indebted to the kindness of Hon. Mordecai Sheftall, Sr., for the
following particulars in relation to the history of the Jews in this state. Upon
their authenticity every reliance can be placed, as they were derived from
manuscripts prepared by the grandfather of Mr. Sheftall. On the llth day of
July, 1733, the following persons belonging to the Hebrew nation arrived in
Savannah:—Dr. Nunis and his mother, Mrs. Nunis; Daniel, Moses and Sipra Nunis,
and Shem Noah their servant; Mr. Henriques and wife, and Shem, their servant;
Mr. and Mrs. Bornal; David Olivera; Jacob Olivera and wife and three children,
David, Isaac, and Leah; Aaron Depivea; Benjamin, Gideon, Jacob Costa; David
Depass and his wife; Vene Real, Molena, David Moranda; Jacob Moranda; David
Cohen, wife and four children, Isaac, Abigail, Hannah, and Grace; Abraham Minis
and wife, with their two daughters, Leah and Esther; Simeon Minis; Jacob Yowall;
Benjamin Sheftall and wife; and Abraham De Lyon.

   "The above-named persons sailed from London in the second ship which left
that port for Savannah, and arrived four days after the wards and tithings were
named. They brought with them the Safer Tora and the Hechal, which are still
used in the Synagogue of Savannah. Many of the first settlers lived to an
advanced age. A. Minis lived 63 years, Benjamin Sheftall 73 years, Daniel Nunis
85 years, Moses Nunis 82 years. The descendants of only three of the first
settlers are now living in Savannah, viz.: Sheftail's. Minis's and DeLyon's.
Shortly after their arrival, they erected a house in Market Square for the
purpose of divine worship. The synagogue was called 'K. K. Mickva Israel.' Here
for many years they continued to observe the forms of their religion until 1740
or 1741, when the congregation was dissolved on account of the many removals to
Charleston. In the year 1774, it was determined that new efforts should be made
to resuscitate their congregation; and accordingly Mr. Mordecai Sheftall, a
gentleman strongly attached to his religion, fitted up, at his own expense, a
room in his house for the accommodation of the people, and worship was regularly
observed until the American Revolution, when again the congregation was
temporarily dissolved.

   "In 1786 the Jews met, and resolved to re-establish their congregation K. K.
Mickva Israel. A house was hired in St. James square [now Telfair Place] and the
heads of the congregation chosen. For many years service was performed regularly
on the Sabbath and holy days, but a combination of causes again produced a
suspension of public worship.

   "For a long period there was no place for religious worship; but in 1820 a
neat synagogue was consecrated, and which was accidentally destroyed by fire in
1829. After this event Dr. Moses Sheftall, who was then President of the
congregation, was very active in devising plans by which money could be raised
to build another synagogue. Sub-

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p. 49

scriptions were liberally made, not only by the Jews, but by Christians of every
denomination; and in a short time another synagogue of brick was erected, and
afterwards consecrated."

JEWISH CONGREGATIONS AND SYNAGOGUES

   At the time the above account was written there was but the one synagogue in
the city, and it was situated on the north-east corner of Liberty and Whitaker
streets. The building erected in 1820 was a frame structure and was, as stated,
destroyed by fire in 1829. It was in 1838 that the brick building spoken of was
erected, and in it the people worshiped until 1878, when the present synagogue
on Monterey Square was built, the corner-stone having been laid in 1876. In
1860, in the month of September, another Jewish congregation was organized,
called The Congregation B'nai B'rith Jacob, and it was incorporated in 1861,
holding services in Armory hall. The corner-stone of a synagogue was laid by
that band in 1867, on the north-east corner of State and Montgomery streets; but
the temple erected at that time was so small and the congregation has increased
to such an extent that it was found necessary to rebuild on a larger plan, and
the present commodious and comfortable house of worship, amply sufficient in
space to accommodate them for many years, was erected in the year 1909.

   There are other Jewish congregations in the city, but at present the people
composing them hold services in rented halls.

HEBREW BURIAL GROUNDS

   The families comprising the early Hebrew settlers did not make use of the
colonial burying ground for the interment of their dead, but established a
cemetery of their own at a point then far outside of the limits of the town. The
space set aside for that purpose was very small. Indeed there were two such
places of interment, nearly adjoining each other, still existing; though the
walls of the smaller one are nearly gone, one of which is said to have been for
the exclusive use of the Sheftall family, and the other, somewhat larger, for
more general use. Both were enclosed within substantial brick walls, and, it/ is
probable that within them burials were made at least as early as in the public,
or colonial, cemetery, now known as Colonial Park, and at one time recognized as
the Christ Church Parish Burying Ground. The oldest graves in these two Jewish
places of sepulture are not marked by inscriptions; though what served as
gravestones are still standing and have the appearance of being hard mortar or
tabby which could not be cut into by engraving tools.

   The lot, thus divided and enclosed in two sections, was doubtless a portion
of the land parcelled out to the Hebrew settlers when they arrived here, as it
is thus mentioned in the pamphlet of the malcontents Tailfer, Anderson, and
Douglas: "Upon the west side of Savannah lie the township lots of the Jews, now
[1741] deserted (they having all gone to other colonies, except three or four)
as are all others on that quarter, excepting one or two."

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p. 50

   In September, 1762, a deed from the town was made to Mordecai Sheftall of
garden lot 22 west, containing five acres of land, and Mordecai Sheftall
conveyed to Philip Minis et al., trustees of the Jewish cemetery, in August,
1773. one acre and a half of the same tract, but this land was entirely used, as
already stated, for burial purposes long before.

   These two old burial spots of the Jews are interesting places, and it seems a
pity that they are now not so well cared for as they were formerly. They are
located just where Stewart and "Wilson streets meet. In one of them lies the
body of Mr. Philip Minis who was probably the second child born in Savannah. He
died on Friday, the 6th of March, 1789, and was buried, as stated, in the
Georgia Gazette of Thursday, the 12th of the same month, "in the Jews'
burial-place on Sunday morning, attended by a large number of respectable
citizens, who, by their solemn attention, envinced how sensibly they felt the
loss the community had sustained in so valuable a member." This statement is
also made in the account of his death recorded in the same paper: "He was the
first white male born in this state," and his age is there given as 55 years. It
is elsewhere recorded that at the time of the landing of the first colonists Mr.
Hume gave a silver bowl and spoon for the first child born in Georgia, which
being born of Mrs. Close, were given accordingly. From these two statements it
is fair to conclude that the Close infant was a girl. The Hebrew place of
sepulture was in the midst of the important scene of action in the siege of
Savannah in the month of October, 1779, when the combined American and French
troops endeavored to retake the city from the British. In his orders, issued on
the 8th, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, in command of the land forces, after instructing
his officers to endeavor to enter the redoubt on the left of the Spring Hill on
the following day, commanded that "In case of repulse, after having taken the
Spring Hill redoubt, the troops will retreat and rally in the rear of the
redoubt. If it cannot be effected in that way, it must be attempted by the same
route at which they entered. The second place of rallying, or the first,—if the
redoubt should not be carried, will be at the Jews' burying ground, where the
reserve will be placed. If these two halts should not be effectual, they will
retire towards camp." As the Spring Hill redoubt was not taken, that part of the
instruction as to the Jews' burying ground was obeyed.

EARLY VINEYARD OF A PORTUGUESE JEW

   As a matter of interest concerning the industry of the Jews as well as to
show what efforts were made to develop the natural resources of the colony and
to determine what the soil might be made to produce, the following account of
Mr. De Lyon 's vineyard is quoted from Col. William Stephens, secretary to the
trustees in his Journal of Proceedings in Georgia, Vol. 1, page 48: "Tuesday,
December 6, 1737—After dinner, walked out to see what Improvement of Vines were
made by one Mr. Lyon, a Portuguese Jew, which I had heard some talk of; and
indeed nothing had given me so much Pleasure since my arrival as what I

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p. 51

found here; though it was yet (if I may say it properly), only a Miniature, for
he had cultivated only for two or three Years past about half a score of them
which he received from Portugal for an Experiment; and by his Skill and
Management in pruning, etc., they all bore this Year very plentifully a most
beautiful, large Grape as big as a Man's Thumb, almost pellucid, and Bunches
exceeding big; all which was attested by Persons .of unquestionable Credit (whom
I had it from), but the Season now would allow me only to see the Vines they
were gathered from, which were so nourishing and strong that I saw one Shoot, of
this last year only, which he allowed to grow from the Root of a bearing Vine,
as big as my Walking-Cane, and run over a few Poles laid to receive it, at least
twelve or fourteen Foot, as near as I could judge. From these he has raised more
than a Hundred, which he has planted all in his little Garden behind his House
at about Four Foot distance each, in the Manner and Form of a Vineyard. They
have taken Root and are about one Foot and a half high; the next Year he says he
does not doubt raising a Thousand more, and the Year following at least five
Thousand. I could not believe (considering the high Situation of the Town upon a
Pine Barren, and the little Appearance of such Productions in these little Spots
of Ground annexed to the House) but that he had found some proper Manure
wherewith to improve the sandy Soil; but he assured me it was nothing but the
natural Soil, without any other Art than his Planting and Pruning which he
seemed to set some Value on from his Experience in being bred among the
Vineyards in Portugal; and, to convince the World that he intends to pursue it,
from the Encouragement of the Soil proving so proper for it, he has at this Time
hired four Men to clear and prepare as much Land as they possibly can upon his
forty-five Acre Lot, intending to convert every Foot of the whole that is fit
for it into a Vineyard; though he complains of his present Inability to be at
such an Expence as to employ Servants for Hire. From hence I could not but
reflect on the small Progress that has been made hitherto in propagating Vines
in the publick Garden where, the Soil being the same, it must be owing to the
Unskilfulness or Negligence of those who had undertaken that Charge."

BOTH PROGRESSIVE AND PATRIOTIC

   Among the most progressive citizens Savannah has had during all the periods
of her history, the Jews have always taken a prominent stand. No class of people
has done more for her advancement and none has done better work in advancing the
city's interests and to promote her increase in all that is implied in the word
"progress" than that people. It is well to remember that among the many who from
first to last deserted the cause of American independence during the struggle
which lasted from 1776 to 1783, and whose names are mentioned in the several
acts passed by the Georgia legislature in reference to the "person and property
of those misguided ones who, fearing the coercion of the colonies by England,
abandoned the cause which they deemed hopeless, there cannot be found a single
Israelite; while it is equally true that many of that race valiantly fought for
independence and contributed
   

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p. 52

liberally of their means to the support of that cause. It is true also that in
the war between the states, from 1861 to 1865, many of that race did their full
duty in standing by the seceding states until all hope of success was finally
abandoned. Of the commendable conduct of many of them in time of action,
particular mention will be made in situ; but, as proof of the patriotism of this
people, we note just here that, when General Washington visited Savannah in May,
1791, a special address was made to him by the Congregation Mickva Israel.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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