The Gomez Family:
An Old Family Record
Residents from 1714-1748
By Isaac Gomez
born in New York on the 28th July 1768
The genealogy of our family as far as I can
trace from my own knowledge as well as what I have had from
my ancestors, it being necessary for every family to know
from whence they sprung particularly when they came from respectable
parentage which is the reason why I have been thus particular.
My Great, Great Grandfather, Isaac Gomez, was a Spanish
nobleman a favorite at the Court and particularly noticed
by the King. The Inquisition formed a plan to take him and
his family and confiscate his estate on account of his being
of the Jewish persuasion. The King having found it out let
him know of it by a letter in terms not to be understood by
any person but himself on which information he sent his wife
and infant son, Moses, with some of his jewels to France,
but before he could get ready with his other property to make
his escape the Inquisition laid hold of him and made him a
prisoner for fourteen years and confiscated all his property.
Whether they let him out or he made his escape, I am not informed,
but at the end of fourteen years he got over to France where
his son got to be a fine boy. He after that had two daughters,
one married a Leghorn, his name I know not. The name of the
other daughter, Leonora. He died in France.
My Great Grandfather Louis Moses Gomez (his only son who
got the name of Louis I suppose in respect to the King of
France) (his country being the asylum of the family) married
Miss Esther Markaze by whom he had six sons, namely, Jacob,
Mordecai, Daniel, David, Isaac and Benjamin, with whom and
his sister Leonora went over to Great Britain, I believe at
the time of the religious distress of the Huguenots in France.
How long he remained in England, I know not but he obtained
a letter of denization which I
now have in my possession from the Crown of England for him
and his family to reside in America which placed him and his
family on the same footing with the people of the crown, a
matter of great importance as the Jews were far from being
on the same footing with the people of the Christian faith.
With this protection and his family and property he came
over to this country about one hundred and fourteen years
ago as far as I can trace it. Here he purchased landed property
and became a merchant. After being here some years a contested
election between the families of Van Horn and Philips took
place, he and his sons took the part of Philips family
which was opposed by the other family, and their friends would
not permit their votes, they being Jews, upon which he sent
home and his protection ratified (the papers attending the
particulars I also have in my possession) this ratification
came and was acknowledged, the denization stands recorded
in the City of New York in the Secretarys office in
the year 1717 in the Book of General Entry Leber M. Folio
216 compared and examined, signed J. Wileman D. L. Secretary.
My Great Grandmother, Mrs. Esther
Gomez died in the year 1718 on the 21st of May.
My Great Grandfather, Mr. Louis
Moses Gomez died on the 31 March, 1740, being about 86 years
of age. They are both buried in New York, My great, great
aunt Leonora died on the
Jacob Gomez the first named died
on the Spanish Main being on a trading voyage. The Spaniards
came on board the ship, hid under skins in their boats, killed
the captain, mate and most of the officers. He jumped out
of the cabin window and was shot in the water because he would
not change his religion. He never was married.
Mordecai Gomez married a Miss Esther
Gompas of Jamaica by whom he had three sons, Moses, Isaac
and Jacob.
Moses married in Jamaica and died
shortly after. The proceeds of this marriage was a daughter
who was the mother of the present Mrs. Flomenge of Jamaica
who has two sons, Solomon and Jacob.
Isaac married (on) Curacoa a Miss
Esther Jesurum by whom he had several children. He died there.
Jacob got crazy and died in New
York.
Mordecai losing his first wife
married Miss Rebecca de Lucena by who he had four children,
Abraham, Moses, Esther and Rachel. he died in New York on
the first day of Nov. 1750.
Daniel Gomez (my grandfather) married Miss
Rebecca De Tores of Jamaica by whom he had two sons, Moses
and Joseph. She died the 14th of October 1727. Joseph died
26 September 1734. Daniel married a second wife, Miss Esther
Levy of Curacoa. She died without issue on the 31st of May
1753. Daniel died in Philadelphia 28th day of July 1780.
David married the widow Rebecca Silva (who
was sister to my grandmother Deborah) He had no children.
He died July 15th 1769.
Isaac married Miss Deborah de Leon of Barbados
by whom he had several children who died young except my mother
Esther and Uncle Mathias. He, Isaac, died on the 28th of August
1770. Deborah died the 6th day of August 1801, being 87 years
old, 9 months and 12 days.
Benjamin married Miss Esther Himes of Barbados
by who he had Rachel. He died on the 8th August 1772 being
62 years of age. She died on the day of Moses, the son of
Mordecai Gomez, married Esther the daughter of Aaron Lopez
of Rhode Island by whom he had several children, all dead
excepting Aaron, Miriam and Louis, all young supposing the
eldest to be in his twentieth year.
Abraham is a bachelor and a cripple.
Esther married Mr. Uriah Hendricks. She
died early in the American Revolutionary War on the day of
17 .
Rachel married Mr. Abraham Wagge. She resides
now either in Bristol or London.
My aunt Mrs. Rebecca Gomez died on the day
of July 1801.
Moses the son of Daniel Gomez married Esther
the daughter of Isaac Gomez, on the fourteenth day of May
1755 by whom he had several children whom he lost in their
youth except Daniel and (myself) Isaac. Daniel died in New
York on the 27th day of August 1784 being about 25 years of
age.
I, Isaac was born in New York on the 28th July
1768 and married my beloved wife Abby, the daughter of Aaron
Lopez desc., and Sarah Lopez and granddaughter of Jacob H.
Rivera all of New Port, Rhode Island on the 26 day of May
1790. By which marriage I have had ten children, the following
are, thank God, living: Esther, Sarah, Cynthia, Mary Ann,
Rachel, Juliet, and Moses. Esther was born on the 29th of
March 1788 and was married to Solomon Seixas on the first
February one thousand and eight hundred and fifteen and their
children are Benjamin, Isaac and Gershom.
Benjamin was born the fourteenth November 1815.
Isaac was born June the eighth one thousand
eight hundred and seventeen.
Gershom was born March the nineteenth, one
thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
Sarah was born on the twelfth day of September
one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, and was married
to Mr. Nathan Emanuel on the fourteenth day of February one
thousand eight hundred and sixteen and their children are
Flora, Abby, Marian and Gomer Le Feyette Emanuel. Sarah died
Charleston S.C. April 5th, 1852, 59 years.
Flora was born on the 13th day of March one
thousand eight hundred and seventeen.
Abby was born on the first day of April 1817.
Marian was born April, the 24th, 1823.
Gomer Le Feyette was born the 19 of August
1824. Cynthia was born on the 16th of March 1795, and was
married to Mordecai Frois on the 7th of February 1816 and
had a son Morris or Moses.
Mary Ann was born on the 3rd day of March 1799.
Rachel was born on the 9th of August (at my country house
at Harlem) 1800 and was married to Mr. Aaron Juday February
3rd 1819.
Juliet was born at Bloomingdale on the 15th
day of August 1802. Moses was born in this City of New York
on the 19th of January 1804. All my children except Rachel
and Juliet were born in my house then known by 109 Water Street,
New York.
We had a son next to Betty whom we called Moses
who died at eighteen months old. Also a daughter some years
after who died at fifteen days old. She had no name given
to here. Also a son which was a miscarriage.
My honorable father, Moses Gomez, was born
in New York on the 29th day of May 1728 and died in New York
on the 12th day of April 1789 being sixty one years of age.
Mathias the son of Isaac Gomez married Rachel
the daughter of Benjamin Gomez by whom he had several children.
Some died young, the others were Deborah, Isaac, Esther and
Benjamin. Mathias died in Philadelphia the 5th of May 1786.
Rachel died at New York the 18th day of April
1776 and was buried in New York.
Deborah, their daughter, died in Philadelphia
the 5th of October 1786.
Isaac was a bachelor and a cripple.
Esther threw herself away in marriage by marrying
a Mr. xxx and died in Virginia.
Benjamin married Miss Charlotte Henricks by
who he had three children: Esther, Mathis and Louiza. The
oldest is about nine years of age.
Copy of paper received from Mrs. Henry P.
Moses
This early letter from a descendant for
Gomez and a transcript of a recent
speech differ in some small respects as to his ancestory.
The search for the Gomez roots continues.
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