Henry Cohen (Philadelphia merchant, 1810-79). Autograph Letter Signed.

(ANGLO-AMERICAN JUDAICA).

23rd January

London

1844

Courtship letter written to his bride-to-be Matilda Samuel (1820-88) of Liverpool.

Henry Cohen had come to Philadelphia from England in 1837 and established a wholesale import stationary business there. He met Matilda in 1844 when visiting his family in Liverpool. They promptly married and returned together to America. Settling in Philadelphia, they joined Mikveh Israel, where they both became active in the affairs of the congregation and the greater Jewish community. Mrs. Cohen became close friends with Rebecca Gratz and together they gave their time, energy, and resources to several worthy causes. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Matilda Cohen became a member of the Women's Branch of the Sanitary Fair Committee. Taking a leadership role, she led Pennsylvania's Jewish women sewing bandages and clothing, packing food, nursing soldiers and raising money for military supplies. Under her leadership, two hundred and fifty Jewish women joined the Ladies Hebrew Relief Association for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers. In the midst of the war, in 1864, Matilda Cohen wrote a letter in response to General Benjamin Butler's published account of the capture of five Jews accused of smuggling across the military blockade. Butler had written that he was "from the force of circumstances, unacquainted with any other Israelites than those engaged in the contraband trade". In her remarkable and articulate response, Mrs. Cohen writes: “This is a satisfactory explanation as far as it goes but when I refer you to the history of my people, your intellectual mind will readily perceive the injustice you have done to us. I am a native of England, but America is the land of my adoption, having dwelt here 20 years, my sons and daughters glory in "being natives here and to the manner born". Mr. Cohen is among the earliest member of the Union League, taking a deep interest in the success of the national cause. I have established a Hebrew Women's Aid which cooperates with the U.S. Sanitary Commission and has added many stores for the sick and wounded soldiers. I see a great and glorious future for this century if, at the close of this war it truly proves itself to be the ‘Land of the Free’ to all races, and to all religions.” Henry and Matilda Cohen had nine children. Among them were Charles J. Cohen, who succeeded his father as President of Mikveh Israel in 1879, Mary Cohen who was an accomplished writer, and Katherine Cohen who was a well-known artist. See http://www.mikvehisrael.org/lib653478bjw67bjh4tw76bj3467/tx_doc_20130107_162050_8385322.pdf. See Gertrude Bosler Biddle and Sarah Dickinson Lowrie, Notable Women of Pennsylvania (1942) https://doi.org/10.9783/9781512814477-098.