Abraham Benjamin Nones

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Maj Benjamin Nones

Birth: Mar. 9, 1757, France Death: May 2, 1826 Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran of American Revolutionary War.Born in Bordeaux, France.

From Wikipedia: "Benjamin Nones (1757–1826), born in France, he served on the staffs of both General Washington and General Lafayette. While still a private under Count Pulaski, he received a letter of commendation in 1779 written by Captain Verdier, a splendid testimonial to his courage. He fought in almost every action in the Carolinas. Nones became a Major of the Hebrew Legion of 400 men attached to DeKalb's command. Several years after the war, he was appointed an interpreter of Spanish and French for the United States government."

From Victor Everhart: He became active in Philadelphia politics as a supporter of Thomas Jefferson's Republican Party, and was the subject of a mocking editorial published in the Gazette of the United States by a "Mr. Wayne." Benjamin's response, which was published in the Philadelphia Aurora on August 11, 1800, remains a classic defense of Jewish equality and democratic ideals:

"I am accused of being a Jew, of being a Republican, and of being Poor.

I am a Jew. I glory in belonging to that persuasion, which even its opponents, whether Christian, or Mahomedan, allow to be of divine origin - of that persuasion upon which Christianity itself was originally founded, and must ultimately rest - which has preserved its faith secure and undefiled, for near three thousand years [...] To be of such a persuasion, is to me no disgrace; though I well understand the human language of bigotted contempt, in which your reporter by attempting to make me ridiculous, as a Jew, has made himself detestable, whatever religious persuasion may be dishonored by his adherence.

But I am a Jew. I am so - and so were Abraham, and Isaac, and Moses and the prophets, and so too were Christ and his apostles, I feel no disgrace in ranking with such society, however it may be subject to the illiberal buffoonery of such men as your correspondents.

I am a Republican! [...] I am a Jew, and if for no other reason, for that reason I am a republican. Among the pious priesthood of church establishments, we are compassionately ranked with Turks, Infidels and Heretics. In the monarchies of Europe, we are hunted from society - stigmatized as unworthy of common civility, thrust out as it were from the converse of men; objects of mockery and insult to froward children, the butts of vulgar wit, and low buffoonery, such as your correspondent Mr. Wayne is not ashamed to set us an example of. Among the nations of Europe we are inhabitants every where - but Citizens no where unless in Republics. Here, in France, and in the Batavian Republic alone, we are treated as men and as brethren. In republics we have rights, in monarchies we live but to experience wrongs [...]

But I am poor. I am so, my family is also large, but soberly and decently brought up. They have not been taught to revile a Christian, because his religion is not so old as theirs. They have not been taught to mock even the errors of good intention, and conscientious belief. I hope they will always leave this to men as unlike themselves, as I hope I am to your scurrilous correspondent..."

Family links:

Spouse:

 Miriam Marks Nones (1764 - 1822)

Children:

 Esther Nones Jacobs (1790 - ____)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Mikveh Israel Cemetery Philadelphia Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USA

Created by: raytracer Record added: Jul 24, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 73853485