Moses Family of New York papers, undated, 1767-1941, 1971

This collection contains personal, business, and genealogical materials about the Moses family of New York. Isaac Moses (1742-1818) was a prominent New York businessman and American patriot who helped fund and supply the US forces during the Revolution. His descendants continued to be prominent Jewish businessmen in New York, traveled internationally, and served in the Union Army in the Civil War. The collection contains business and personal correspondence, journals, clippings, and genealogical information.The collection has a particularly large amount of information on Isaac Moses (1742-1818), including a Receipt Book. The collection also contains a diary of Simon Gratz Moses of his journey to China, a portfolio of clippings on Isaac Moses Jr.’s Civil War service, a series of letters exchanged by Israel Moses with his brother during his service as a Civil War doctor, and genealogical material compiled by Blanche Moses on the family.Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Moses Family of New York Papers; P-1; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.Gifts of Blanche Moses, 1943, and the Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation, 1979.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 â€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. (Source: American National Biography Online. "Isaac Moses" Oxford University Press. <http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02251.html>. Accessed on March 25, 2013.)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. (Source: Materials from the Collection.)Finding Aid available in Reading Room and on Internet.far0315digitize