Ninth Generation

404. Mordecai Marks^61,382 was born on 23 April 1706 in London, Middlesex, England.^{39,61,335,382} He immigrated about 1726 to the United States of America.³³⁵ He died on 8 January 1771 at the age of 64 in Derby, Connecticut (New Haven).^{39,276,335,382} Mordecai was buried after 8 January 1771 in Ansonia, Connecticut (New Haven). He was Jewish.^39,335 The following note was received from Kerry Serl:

My source is Families of Early Milford, Connecticut (Susan Woodruff Abbott, Families of Early Milford, Connecticut, (1979, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore), 128.).

Families of Early Milford have Betty Hawkins married to Mordecai's son Nehemiah.

The book also states:

"Mordecai Marks was born in London, England 1706 and died Derby Conn 8 January 1771. He married Stratford, Conn. 15 December 1729 (Christ Ch) Elizabeth Voxien who died 1798. She was probably a French Huguenot. He was a Jew converted by Rev Samuel Johnson of Stratford to the Episcopal faith and baptized by him 20 April 1729. He removed to Derby, Conn. where he was a very prosperous merchant in the hardware business, and he left his store and trade to be continued by his sons.

In Ansonia, near Division Stret, is the Episcopal cemetery now known as Elm Street Cemetery where he has quite a fine stone to his memory. He gave land for the cemetery and the following is the inscription:

"In Memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the city of London where he spent 20 years of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and constant communicant of the church and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal."

His will is recorded in Vol 11 pg 133 New Haven probabe records."

I would assume that since Betty Voxien died after Mordecai she was mentioned in the will the author appears to have seen. My great, great grandfather (Harry Marks Ives) had Hawkins too in his little book he published.

For Nehemiah, she writes: "B. 9 Oct 1746 died St Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada July 1799 ae 52, a Tory, mar Betty Hawkins. His estate was confiscated and sold and he is called "late of Derby" but not with the enemy of USA."

Another memo at Find-A-Grave:

"Mordecai was born in 1706 in London, England, near the Aldgate (Aldersgate) in Aldgate Ward. He grew up among the street markets of Shoemaker Row and Patticoat Lane now known as London's East End.

As an Ashkenazi Jew, his native language was Yiddish in the Juden-Deutsch (West Yiddish) dialect written with Hebrew letters. The Ashkenazi, known as German Jews, originated west of the Elbe river along the Rhine. It's believed his family were members of the Great Synagogue at Dukes Place (West end of Mitre Street), London. Early records at Dukes Place include Marks named Zachariah, David, Solomon and Alexander.

The Jewish people were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I, though it's known some did remain. Usury laws that prohibited charging interest did not apply to them as they were considered aliens (or infidels); therefore they were permitted to act as money lenders and bankers, and as such amassed tremendous wealth over the English. Oliver Cromwell re-admitted Jews in 1657 when he saw their contribution to the economic success of Holland.

In 1726 young Mordecai came to America and settled in New England. It's believed he may have been part of the group transported to America by Benjamin Levy's calling. He converted to the Christian faith and was baptized 20 April 1729 by Rev. Samuel Johnson, rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Stratford, Fairfield Co. CT. He was married there by Rev. Johnson 15 Dec 1729 to Elizabeth Vosien as recorded in the church records. 

They moved from Stratford to Derby, New Haven Co. CT, where Mordecai was a merchant with a large business. In the "History of Derby", it is recorded Mordecai and two other men, "in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God", deeded two parcels of land on 13 April 1747 to the church society for the purpose of a parish church (Christ's Church, later St. James) in the township of said Derby, CT, on behalf of the community.

"The said Hull, Clark and Mordecai Marks and the rest of our neighbors consent therein, for the greater accomplishment of the endeavers aforesaid in great reverance and regard to the Church of England as established by law for the honor of God and surest peace and compact of ourselves, neighbors and posterity, have founded the parish church aforesaid, and for the endowment thereof do by these; presents freely give, grant, convey and conform unto the society and their successors forever".
--signed: Samuel Hull, William Clark, Mordecai Marks.

Mordecai died 8 Jan 1771 aged 65.
The inscription on his tombstone reads:
"In memory of Mordecai Marks who was born in the City of London where he spent 20 of his life. He lived 25 years in the town of Derby, a useful member of society, an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a constant communicant of the church, and on the 8th day of January 1771 in ye 65th year of his age he departed this mortal life in hopes of life immortal."

Elizabeth survived until 1798. Their children:
1) Mary
2) Zachariah
3) Mordecai
4) Elizabeth
5) Nehemiah
6) Abraham

~~c. kscott, 2011" Elizabeth Vosien and Mordecai Marks were married on 15 December 1729 in Stratford, Connecticut (Fairfield).^{39,61,276,335}

405. Elizabeth Vosien was born in 1710 in England.³⁹ She died in 1798 at the age of 88 in Derby, Connecticut (New Haven).^39,335 She was probably a French Huguenot.³³⁵ The Huguenots were French Protestants. The tide of the Reformation reached France early in the sixteenth century and was part of the religious and political fomentation of the times. Some sources have VOXIEN - other source lists the name as YORIEU. Yet church records of the marriage show her name to be Vosien.

Children were: