Minis, Jacob Florance, 1852-1936

The Minis family arrived in Savannah in 1733. Abraham (ca. 1694-1757) and Abigail (1701-1794) Minis raised nine children, including Philip, who records indicate was the first white male child born in Georgia. He married Judith Polack in 1774 and worked as a successful merchant. Edward Telfair (1735-1807) was born in Scotland, but moved to Savannah in 1766. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty and served in the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1785, signing the Articles of the Confederation. Telfair was elected as governor of Georgia for 1786, and again from 1789-1793. Mordecai Sheftall (1735-1797) belonged to one of the few Jewish families in colonial Savannah. During the Revolutionary War, he fought against the British and served as Deputy Commissary General. He was captured as a prisoner of war in 1778, along with his son, Sheftall Sheftall. They were paroled in 1780.

From the description of Jacob Minis colonial papers, 1768-1793 (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 76945115

Jacob Florance Minis (1852-1936) was a commission merchant and broker in Savannah, Georgia. For several years he was associated with his father, Abram Minis in the company A. Minis & Sons (Abram Minis, Isaac Minis, and Jacob Florance Minis). Around 1894, after the death of his father, he started his own firm, J.F. Minis & Co. with J. Cooper Harris, which ceased operation in approximately 1905. He was the last president of the Union Shipping Co. and vice-president of the Savannah Brewing Co. He served a term as a curator of the Georgia Historical Society and made donations of Minis memorabilia to the Society.

From the description of Jacob Florance Minis letter, 1917. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 122932101