Mordecai was born in 1706 in London, England, near Aldgate (Aldersgate) in Aldgate Ward. He grew up among the street markets of Shoemaker Row and Patticoat Lane now known as London's East End.
As an Ashkenazi Jew, his ancestor's language was Yiddish in the Juden-Deutsch (West Yiddish) dialect written with Hebrew letters. The Ashkenazi, known as German Jews, originated west of the Elbe river along the Rhine. On whether Mordecai was Ashkenazic or Sephardic, Y-DNA of a male descendant confirms Ashkenazic with 98% certainty.
His family may have been members of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place (West end of Mitre Street), London, based on Synagogue records at Dukes Place listing Zachariah, David, Solomon and Alexander Marks as early members (same names given to his children and grandchildren).
The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I, though it's known some did remain. Uusry laws that prohibited charging interest did not apply to the Jews as they were considered aliens; therefore they were permitted to act as money lenders and bankers, and as such amassed tremendous wealth over the English. Oliver Cromwell readmitted Jews in 1657 when he saw their contribution to the economic success of Holland. (Is there a Marks family connection to Benjamin Levy (1650-1704), founder of the London Ashkenazi community who promoted immigration?)
In 1726 young Mordecai came to America and settled in New England. He converted to the Christian faith and was baptized 20 April 1729 by Rev. Samuel Johnson, rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Stratford, Fairfield County, CT. Mordecai was married there by Rev. Johnson 15 Dec 1729 to Elizabeth Vosien as recorded in the church records.
They moved from Stratford to Derby, New Haven County, CT, where Mordecai was a merchant with a large business. In History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880, by Samuel Orcutt and Ambrose Beardsley, 1880; it is recorded Mordecai and two other men, "in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God", deeded two parcels of land on 13 April 1747 to the church society for the purpose of a parish church (Christ's Church, later St. James) in the township of said Derby, CT, on behalf of the community.
"The said Hull, Clark and Mordecai Marks and the rest of our neighbors consent therein, for the greater accomplishment of the endeavers aforesaid in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God and surest peace and compact of ourselves, neighbors and posterity, have founded the parish church aforesaid, and for the endowment thereof do by these; presents freely give, grant, convey and conform unto the society and their siccessors forever".
--signed: Samuel Hull, William Clark, Mordecai Marks.
Mordecai died 8 Jan 1771 aged 65 years. The inscription on his tombstone reads:
In memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the City of London where he spent 20 of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby, a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a constant communicant of the church, and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal.
Elizabeth survived until 1798. Their children:
1) Mary
2) Zachariah
3) Mordecai
4) Elizabeth
5) Nehemiah
6) Abraham
~~kscott 2011
With thanks to Mable Vohland for her work on the Marks family.
As an Ashkenazi Jew, his ancestor's language was Yiddish in the Juden-Deutsch (West Yiddish) dialect written with Hebrew letters. The Ashkenazi, known as German Jews, originated west of the Elbe river along the Rhine. On whether Mordecai was Ashkenazic or Sephardic, Y-DNA of a male descendant confirms Ashkenazic with 98% certainty.
His family may have been members of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place (West end of Mitre Street), London, based on Synagogue records at Dukes Place listing Zachariah, David, Solomon and Alexander Marks as early members (same names given to his children and grandchildren).
The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I, though it's known some did remain. Uusry laws that prohibited charging interest did not apply to the Jews as they were considered aliens; therefore they were permitted to act as money lenders and bankers, and as such amassed tremendous wealth over the English. Oliver Cromwell readmitted Jews in 1657 when he saw their contribution to the economic success of Holland. (Is there a Marks family connection to Benjamin Levy (1650-1704), founder of the London Ashkenazi community who promoted immigration?)
In 1726 young Mordecai came to America and settled in New England. He converted to the Christian faith and was baptized 20 April 1729 by Rev. Samuel Johnson, rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Stratford, Fairfield County, CT. Mordecai was married there by Rev. Johnson 15 Dec 1729 to Elizabeth Vosien as recorded in the church records.
They moved from Stratford to Derby, New Haven County, CT, where Mordecai was a merchant with a large business. In History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880, by Samuel Orcutt and Ambrose Beardsley, 1880; it is recorded Mordecai and two other men, "in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God", deeded two parcels of land on 13 April 1747 to the church society for the purpose of a parish church (Christ's Church, later St. James) in the township of said Derby, CT, on behalf of the community.
"The said Hull, Clark and Mordecai Marks and the rest of our neighbors consent therein, for the greater accomplishment of the endeavers aforesaid in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God and surest peace and compact of ourselves, neighbors and posterity, have founded the parish church aforesaid, and for the endowment thereof do by these; presents freely give, grant, convey and conform unto the society and their siccessors forever".
--signed: Samuel Hull, William Clark, Mordecai Marks.
Mordecai died 8 Jan 1771 aged 65 years. The inscription on his tombstone reads:
In memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the City of London where he spent 20 of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby, a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a constant communicant of the church, and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal.
Elizabeth survived until 1798. Their children:
1) Mary
2) Zachariah
3) Mordecai
4) Elizabeth
5) Nehemiah
6) Abraham
~~kscott 2011
With thanks to Mable Vohland for her work on the Marks family.
Mordecai was born in 1706 in London, England, near Aldgate (Aldersgate) in Aldgate Ward. He grew up among the street markets of Shoemaker Row and Patticoat Lane now known as London's East End.
As an Ashkenazi Jew, his ancestor's language was Yiddish in the Juden-Deutsch (West Yiddish) dialect written with Hebrew letters. The Ashkenazi, known as German Jews, originated west of the Elbe river along the Rhine. On whether Mordecai was Ashkenazic or Sephardic, Y-DNA of a male descendant confirms Ashkenazic with 98% certainty.
His family may have been members of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place (West end of Mitre Street), London, based on Synagogue records at Dukes Place listing Zachariah, David, Solomon and Alexander Marks as early members (same names given to his children and grandchildren).
The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I, though it's known some did remain. Uusry laws that prohibited charging interest did not apply to the Jews as they were considered aliens; therefore they were permitted to act as money lenders and bankers, and as such amassed tremendous wealth over the English. Oliver Cromwell readmitted Jews in 1657 when he saw their contribution to the economic success of Holland. (Is there a Marks family connection to Benjamin Levy (1650-1704), founder of the London Ashkenazi community who promoted immigration?)
In 1726 young Mordecai came to America and settled in New England. He converted to the Christian faith and was baptized 20 April 1729 by Rev. Samuel Johnson, rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Stratford, Fairfield County, CT. Mordecai was married there by Rev. Johnson 15 Dec 1729 to Elizabeth Vosien as recorded in the church records.
They moved from Stratford to Derby, New Haven County, CT, where Mordecai was a merchant with a large business. In History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880, by Samuel Orcutt and Ambrose Beardsley, 1880; it is recorded Mordecai and two other men, "in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God", deeded two parcels of land on 13 April 1747 to the church society for the purpose of a parish church (Christ's Church, later St. James) in the township of said Derby, CT, on behalf of the community.
"The said Hull, Clark and Mordecai Marks and the rest of our neighbors consent therein, for the greater accomplishment of the endeavers aforesaid in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God and surest peace and compact of ourselves, neighbors and posterity, have founded the parish church aforesaid, and for the endowment thereof do by these; presents freely give, grant, convey and conform unto the society and their siccessors forever".
--signed: Samuel Hull, William Clark, Mordecai Marks.
Mordecai died 8 Jan 1771 aged 65 years. The inscription on his tombstone reads:
In memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the City of London where he spent 20 of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby, a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a constant communicant of the church, and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal.
Elizabeth survived until 1798. Their children:
1) Mary
2) Zachariah
3) Mordecai
4) Elizabeth
5) Nehemiah
6) Abraham
~~kscott 2011
With thanks to Mable Vohland for her work on the Marks family.
As an Ashkenazi Jew, his ancestor's language was Yiddish in the Juden-Deutsch (West Yiddish) dialect written with Hebrew letters. The Ashkenazi, known as German Jews, originated west of the Elbe river along the Rhine. On whether Mordecai was Ashkenazic or Sephardic, Y-DNA of a male descendant confirms Ashkenazic with 98% certainty.
His family may have been members of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place (West end of Mitre Street), London, based on Synagogue records at Dukes Place listing Zachariah, David, Solomon and Alexander Marks as early members (same names given to his children and grandchildren).
The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I, though it's known some did remain. Uusry laws that prohibited charging interest did not apply to the Jews as they were considered aliens; therefore they were permitted to act as money lenders and bankers, and as such amassed tremendous wealth over the English. Oliver Cromwell readmitted Jews in 1657 when he saw their contribution to the economic success of Holland. (Is there a Marks family connection to Benjamin Levy (1650-1704), founder of the London Ashkenazi community who promoted immigration?)
In 1726 young Mordecai came to America and settled in New England. He converted to the Christian faith and was baptized 20 April 1729 by Rev. Samuel Johnson, rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Stratford, Fairfield County, CT. Mordecai was married there by Rev. Johnson 15 Dec 1729 to Elizabeth Vosien as recorded in the church records.
They moved from Stratford to Derby, New Haven County, CT, where Mordecai was a merchant with a large business. In History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880, by Samuel Orcutt and Ambrose Beardsley, 1880; it is recorded Mordecai and two other men, "in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God", deeded two parcels of land on 13 April 1747 to the church society for the purpose of a parish church (Christ's Church, later St. James) in the township of said Derby, CT, on behalf of the community.
"The said Hull, Clark and Mordecai Marks and the rest of our neighbors consent therein, for the greater accomplishment of the endeavers aforesaid in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God and surest peace and compact of ourselves, neighbors and posterity, have founded the parish church aforesaid, and for the endowment thereof do by these; presents freely give, grant, convey and conform unto the society and their siccessors forever".
--signed: Samuel Hull, William Clark, Mordecai Marks.
Mordecai died 8 Jan 1771 aged 65 years. The inscription on his tombstone reads:
In memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the City of London where he spent 20 of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby, a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a constant communicant of the church, and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal.
Elizabeth survived until 1798. Their children:
1) Mary
2) Zachariah
3) Mordecai
4) Elizabeth
5) Nehemiah
6) Abraham
~~kscott 2011
With thanks to Mable Vohland for her work on the Marks family.
Gravesite Details
Thanks to Michael Harrington 46760007 for transfer 2011.
