Jacob Mordecai

Jacob Mordecai (April 11, 1762 – September 4, 1838) was an educational pioneer in Colonial America, having established the Warrenton Female Seminary, also known as Mordecai’s Female Academy. Biography Mordecai was the son of Moses, a German Jew who emigrated from Bonn to London, and Esther Mordecai (born Elizabeth Whitlock), an English-born convert to Judaism. His parents were observant Jews who in 1760 emigrated from London to Philadelphia. His parents chose to emigrate to Philadelphia because his father was a convict, one of several hundred Jewish convicts that the English authorities had encouraged to move to the American colonies. He attended private schools, receiving a classical education. At age 13, Mordecai served as a rifleman when the Continental Congress was resident in Philadelphia and later helped supply the Continental Army as a clerk to David Franks, the Jewish quartermaster to General George Washington. After the war, Mordecai moved to New York City and married Judith Myers. In 1792, Judith and Jacob moved to Warrenton, North Carolina, a small town well situated on the roads linking Richmond, Charleston and Savannah. Though the Mordecais were the only Jewish family in and around this small town, they remained observant Jews, keeping a strictly kosher home where Shabbos was observed. His wife, Judith, was a woman of delicate constitution who died at the time of the birth of her seventh child. Mordecai married Rebecca Myers, the younger half-sister of his first wife. Mordecai first made his mark as a tobacco merchant in Warrenton. He was not, however, particularly interested in his business pursuits. He managed to obtain an excellent knowledge of Hebrew language and literature and studiously devoted himself to literary pursuits, especially biblical research, and wrote many scholarly articles. Reversal of fortune made it necessary for him to give up his business, leaving him with the dilemma of how to support his large family. In the summer of 1808, some of the locals met with Jacob and offered to help support the establishment of an “academy” for girls, on the condition that he would become its headmaster. The influential town leaders regarded him highly for his learning and wisdom and were sure that he had the skills and temperament to be an effective teacher. In 1809, the school opened with 30 students and quickly became a family project. In the beginning, Jacob and Rebecca taught all the classes.