The Moses family of New York has been a prominent Jewish family since the American Revolution. Isaac Moses (1742-1818) was born in Giessen, Germany but moved to New York in 1764 and in 1766 he became a “freeman” of New York City. He became a prominent businessman and American patriot. He worked in his uncle's (Hayman Levy's) mercantile firm until he established Isaac Moses & Company with two new business partners in 1775. This firm supported the revolutionary by army accepting $20,000 Continental paper dollars in exchange for $20,000 in hard currency, thereby financing the war effort. The firm also traded for military supplies internationally and sold guns and ammunition to the army. When the British occupied New York, Isaac Moses left for Philadelphia and ran the firm from there. In 1783 he returned to New York City and continued his commercial enterprises. Despite a bankruptcy in 1786, he was generally financially successful, establishing Isaac Moses & Sons, an international trading company. He was also a major stockholder in the Bank of New York. 1
Isaac Moses was involved in his community. He was a Mason in New York City's Union Lodge and an important member of the New York City Chamber of Commerce. 2 He was also president of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, and one of the principle organizers of the Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia. He was married to Reyna Levy in 1770 and had ten children with her. 3
After his death, Isaac's sons continued the international mercantile business they had founded with their father. They were involved not only in the China trade, but also with the Mexican trade. Of Isaac's grandchildren at least two, Isaac Jr. and Israel, a medical doctor, joined the Union Army in the United States Civil War. This generation also continued in the China trade. Isaac's great-grandchild, Blanche, was a New York resident who compiled her family's papers and genealogy. 4
The collection includes papers of many members of the Moses family. The family relationships of the individuals mentioned in the collection are described here. Isaac Moses (1742-1818) married Reyna Levy and had ten children, including Moses Levy (1773-1843), Solomon (1774-1857), and Joshua (1780-1837). Solomon had nine children, including Isaac (1807-1847) and Simon Gratz (1813-1897). Joshua had ten children including Isaac Jr. (1819-1889), Abraham Rodriguez Brandon (1820-1870), Israel, M.D. (1821-1870), and Lionel (1825-1895). Lionel had seven children, including Blanche (1859-1946). 5
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Footnotes
- 1American National Biography Online. "Isaac Moses" Oxford University Press. <http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02251.html>. Accessed on March 25, 2013.
- 2American National Biography Online. "Isaac Moses" Oxford University Press. <http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02251.html>. Accessed on March 25, 2013.
- 3 Joseph R. Rosenbloom. A Biographical Dictionary of Early American Jews: Colonial Times through 1800. (Kentucky: University of Kentucky Press), 1960.
- 4 Materials from the Collection.
- 5 Malcolm H. Stern. First American Jewish Families: 600 Genealogies 1654-1988. Third Edition Updated and Revised. (Baltimore Maryland: Ottenheimer Publishers), 1991.
From the guide to the Moses Family of New York Papers, undated, 1767-1941, 1971, (American Jewish Historical Society)
