Jacob Mordecai

Jacob Mordecai (1762, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1838, Richmond Virginia) was a pioneer in education, in Colonial America, having established the Warrenton NC Female Seminary, also known as Mordecai’s Female Academy.

Mordecai was the son of Moses and Esther Mordecai, observant Jews who in 1760 emigrated from Germany to Philadelphia. 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.

It is worth noting that despite the fact that 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. Subsequently, 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.

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