Quick Facts
Biography
João Moisés Benabides Dinis (Montserrat, January 21, 1789 - Ohio Territory, 1835; drowned during attack from Native Americans aged 46) also known as Juan Dionis and John Dionis was a Spanish-Portuguese Jew whose paternity traces to court Jews of Spain and Portugal. He was a descendant of David ibn Yaḥya ben Solomon.
Early life
Juan was one of two sons of Ricardo Moises Benabides Dinis. Juan was frequently in St Eustatius, St Kitts, Nevis and Hispanola prior to arriving in Richmond, Virginia. He applied for a passport in 1818.
He was 2nd cousin of Benjamin Musaphia (Dinis) as well as 3rd cousin of Menasseh Ben Israel (Manoel Dias Soeiro),
Life in post-Colonial Virginia
According to the date of his passport application, he came ashore to Virginia in 1816. His occupation was As a vendor of hardware for plantation owners (plows, shovels, chains). When he arrived in USA he lived in Richmond until 1822. In 1823 he moved to Charlottesville.
In 1789 a group of Jews established Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome (The Holy Congregation, House of Peace), a congregation based on Sephardic tradition (the Jewish culture that began in medieval Spain and spread through the Mediterranean basin). It became the first congregation in Richmond and the sixth and westernmost Jewish congregation in the United States. By 1822 K.K. Beth Shalome members worshipped in the first synagogue building in Virginia. (This building on Mayo Street unfortunately no longer exists.). Joao Moises Benabides Dinis helped build this Synagogue.
Joao Moises Benabides Dinis had three children by Elizabeth Brooks; Guillerme Moises (b. 1825), Iacobo Hezekia (b. 1823), and Francesca (b 1820). When Joao died trying to expand family fortunes in Ohio Territory, his wife struggled to keep the land in Charlottesville Area of Virginia. Elizabeth died of cholera roughly two years after her husband leaving three orphans.
The children were adopted by a neighbor, John Augustus Harlow, who changed their names to William Edward Harlowe, James Hezekiah Harlowe, and Frances "Frankie" Harlowe. Joao Moises Benabides Dinis was a Scottish Rite Freemason who was in the same lodge as John Augustus Harlow (Widow Son's Lodge No. 60).