Menahem Mona

The Nathan family claimed that Menahem was the son of a Polish king (the Lewis family also claimed that they were descended from a Polish king). The Nathan family may have adapted the story for their own needs. It is believed Menahem's father was actually Nathan Nathan of Amsterdam who was born in Portugal in 1696 and married to Isabella. Of course it is possible that Menachem was the product of a dalliance with Isabella by the king.

It is said that Menahem Mona believed his real father was King Stanislaus II the last king of Poland whereas the Lewis family claimed descent from John Sobeski and his Jewish mistress/secret wife who moved to England and took the name Lewis. It is believed that the secret that Isaac Nathan held against the Royal family was his knowledge of George IV's marriage and family with Maria Fitzherbert as well as the knowledge of his mother as Mrs Mary Lewis as one of George IV's mistresses.

Evidence of the paternity of these Royal offspring will never be proved and must remain in the domain of family legends and traditions. Documentary research can only demonstrate if such an event was possible but there will always be room for doubt. However it is better that families share their stories and legends as they usually have some truth to them even if exaggerated and can give clues to researchers. Documents can be manipulated and do not always tell the truth whereas an oral tradition may.

Known publicly as Mr Moses Nathan, but Great Synagogue Burial Records say he was "Menahem called Manish Polak ben R. Yehudah". Nothing is known of R. Yehudah except that he had another son called R. Issachar Ber, who was a rabbi in the town of Szobin or Boszin. The brothers conspired to get a stain of mamzerut removed from Mary Goldsmid, who carried it from her parents who lived out of wedlock in Birmingham and eventually left the children (including Mary) to be brought up by non-jews. When Menahem tried to get the mamzerut stain removed he was very strongly repremanded for concealing the truth. While the Rabbi's did not know the full truth, they knew that something was being concealed.