The Mordecai Sheftall Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Brita ...

. It is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in America. Located at the end of Coyle Street (a small turnoff of Cohen Street) in the Kayton/Frazier area of West Savannah, it is sometimes referred to as the Old Jewish Burial Ground, the Jewish Cemetery Memorial, the Jewish Community Cemetery or the Sheftall Cemetery. On November 3, 1761,

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

"conveyed a certain half lot of land in Holland Tything, Percival Ward, to David Truan." This land was at the northwest corner of today's

Bull Street Bull Street is a major street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Named for Colonel William Bull (governor), William Bull (1683–1755), it runs from Bay Street (Savannah, Georgia), Bay Street in the north to Derenne Avenue (part of Georgia S ...

and Oglethorpe Avenue. Several Jews were interred here before the family cemeteries were established. A memorial, in the Oglethorpe Avenue median, marks the burial ground (known as Bull Street Cemetery) today, with a plaque stating: "Original 1733 burial plot allotted by James Edward Oglethorpe to the Savannah Jewish Community".

History

The founding date of the Mordecai Sheftall Cemetery is disputed; some sources claim that it was established in 1769. The cemetery was founded by

Mordecai Sheftall Mordecai Sheftall (December 2, 1735 – July 6, 1797) was a merchant who served as a colonel in the Continental Army. He was from the Province of Georgia (what is now the US state of the same name). during the American Revolutionary War and was the ...

, a leader in the Savannah Jewish community, on 1.5 acres of a 5-acre tract of land granted to him and nine other trustees by

King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

to be used as a Jewish cemetery and a synagogue. The cemetery was in use until the late nineteenth century, or a little over one hundred years. Today, it is still maintained by Mordecai Sheftall's trust. It is situated near the

Levi Sheftall Family Cemetery The Levi Sheftall Family Cemetery, also known as the de Lyon-De La Motta Cemetery or Cohen Street Cemetery, is a historic cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located in the Kayton/Frazier area of West Savannah, it is the burial ground ...

, where much of the Sheftall, de Lyon and De La Motta families are buried.

Notable burials

, founder of the cemetery and highest-ranking Jewish

Officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

in the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. * Abigail Minis, patriot *

Philip Minis Philip Minis (July 11, 1734 – March 6, 1789) was an American Jews, Jewish merchant, and the first white male born in the colony of Savannah, Georgia, Savannah, Province of Georgia. He went on to become paymaster to the Continental Army in Geor ...

, merchant

References

{{Jews and Judaism in Georgia (U.S. state) Cemeteries in Savannah, Georgia Jewish cemeteries in Georgia (U.S. state) 1773 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Jews and Judaism in Georgia (U.S. state) Jews and Judaism in Savannah, Georgia Cemeteries established in the 1770s