Celebrate Opsail with the Myers Family!

As the boats of OpSail parade through our waters this weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to see tall ships  similar to those that local shipping merchants would have commissioned over two hundred years ago. The Myers family of Norfolk was one local family who attained prominence in the shipping industry in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In addition, the Myers family were the first permanent Jewish-American residents in the Norfolk area, and would compose the region’s entire Jewish population for over a decade.

The patriarch of the family, Moses Myers, served briefly in the American Revolutionary War and helped to aid the cause for independence by acquiring military supplies for American forces. After marrying his wife Eliza Judah Chapman, Moses moved to Norfolk and began building his business.

By the height of his career in 1807, Moses owned his own fleet of merchant vessels, with an average of six ships at any time in the fleet. Ships with cargoes marked for Moses Myers arrived from ports all over Europe and the West Indies, carrying goods such as textiles, spices, sugar, liquor, coffee, tea, and iron. Moses Myers also traded in Smithfield hams, which had a reputation for exceptional quality.  He shipped hams to buyers as far as Great Britain, and sent them as gifts to friends and business associates.

Moses’ business suffered during the embargo of 1808-1809 and the War of 1812, rebounded, but then was devastated as a result of the crash of 1819. Despite these setbacks, Moses sat on the Common Council from 1794 to 1800, served as consul to France and the Netherlands, achieved the rank of Major in the militia, was appointed Superintendent of the Norfolk branch of the Bank of Richmond, and was a founder of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.  His wife Eliza gave birth to twelve children, nine of whom survived to adulthood.

As you celebrate Opsail, consider stopping by the Moses Myers Historical House to learn more about the remarkable mercantile family that lived there for five generations!

The Moses Myers House has been on
Freemason Street for more than two centuries.

Moses Myers House

FREE ADMISSION
Open Friday through Sunday
Noon—4 p.m.
323 E Freemason St Norfolk, VA 23510


You can also contact the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library to learn more about the Myers Family Papers, which contain a collection of family correspondence and business papers dating from the 18th century into the late 20th century.