Joseph Simon (1712-1804)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Simon was the leader of the Jewish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
during the eighteenth century, having arrived there around 1740. By 1747, the community had enough men to support a minyan
, and religious services were held at Simon's house.
Simon was a successful trader and owned enormous tracts of land in the West; among others, he was a business partner of William Henry
--a gunsmith, merchant, and, later, important patriot during the American Revolution
. In 1767, Thomas Barton, rector of St. James' Church in Lancaster, described Simon to Sir William Johnson as "a worthy, honest Jew and principal merchant of this place...He is esteemed a main fair in his dealings and honest from Principle."
Simon had two sons and four daughters. His granddaughter, Rebecca Gratz
(1781–1869), was reputed to be one of the most beautiful women in America, and Walter Scott
may have modeled Rebecca in Ivanhoe
on her.
By the time Simon died at age 92 in 1804, the Jewish community in Lancaster was much depleted, having moved, in large part, to Philadelphia.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
during the eighteenth century, having arrived there around 1740. By 1747, the community had enough men to support a minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
, and religious services were held at Simon's house.
Simon was a successful trader and owned enormous tracts of land in the West; among others, he was a business partner of William Henry
William Henry (delegate)
William Henry was an American gunsmith from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1784, 1785, and 1786.-Biography:...
--a gunsmith, merchant, and, later, important patriot during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1767, Thomas Barton, rector of St. James' Church in Lancaster, described Simon to Sir William Johnson as "a worthy, honest Jew and principal merchant of this place...He is esteemed a main fair in his dealings and honest from Principle."
Simon had two sons and four daughters. His granddaughter, Rebecca Gratz
Rebecca Gratz
Rebecca Gratz was a preeminent Jewish American educator and philanthropist.Gratz was the seventh of twelve children born to Miriam Simon and Michael Gratz...
(1781–1869), was reputed to be one of the most beautiful women in America, and Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
may have modeled Rebecca in Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Sir Walter Scott in 1819, and set in 12th-century England. Ivanhoe is sometimes credited for increasing interest in Romanticism and Medievalism; John Henry Newman claimed Scott "had first turned men's minds in the direction of the middle ages," while...
on her.
By the time Simon died at age 92 in 1804, the Jewish community in Lancaster was much depleted, having moved, in large part, to Philadelphia.