“The following “History of a Heart” was written by a Jewess, in America. An esteemed clergyman from thence, who has lately visited England, says he is personally acquainted with the writer, and adds, “I know the statements which she makes, respecting her conversion to Christianity, to be correct.”” (Preface).
The History of a Heart was first published in Philadelphia by Stavely and M’Calla in 1845, and in it Mordecai describes her scepticism, doubts and ultimately her conversion from Judaism to Christianity. The Religious Tract Society naturally picked it up to republish in the UK, though it has been significantly abridged to conform to their 36pp. booklet format.
Ellen Mordecai (1790-1884) was the daughter of Jacob Mordecai, of North Carolina and later Richmond Virginia. Like her sister Rachel, Ellen spent her early childhood at her aunt’s in Richmond, where she received her education. Her father had started the Female Academy at Warrenton, and its continued expansion required more assistance with the teaching, and by 1809 both Ellen and Caroline Mordecai began to assist their father in the operation of the school. Like their brother, after the family moved to Richmond, she continued teaching there, instructing her younger half-sisters and also later several of her nieces and nephews.
The Mordecais had a long correspondence with the Irish Maria Edgeworth; more particularly Ellen’s sister Maria wrote to Edgworth objecting to what she saw as uncomplimentary portrayals of the Jews her works. This in turn led to a sustained correspondence and friendship between the Edgworth and Mordecai families.
Ellen was a minor figure in this exchange; however, the influence of Maria Edgworth may have led in some way to her conversion to Christianity. Apparently, Ellen relates: “I did not believe in the miracles of the Old Testament, because I could not feel satisfied that the miracles wrought at one time and accredited, should be rejected at another: and if the New Testament were false, so must be the Old; consequently I rejected both.” She was influenced by an Episcopal Church at Petersburg where she lived, and by making concerted study of various texts; for “At the time I said, if I found that Christianity was true, which I did not expect, I should of course adopt it as my religion.” She knew that her course of conversion would be rejected by her family, but followed through in May of 1837.
OCLC records two copies only: BL and Florida.
