Frances Noah Hart

Little is known of the early life of Frances Noah. She appears tohave emigrated to New York in company with her older brother Eliasfrom somewhere in Germany. In 1783, at age 15, she married merchantEphraim Hart, an immigrant from the town of Fürth (Bavaria) who wassome 20 years her senior, at Congregation Mikve Israel inPhiladelphia. Ephraim later moved the family to New York, where hewould engage in high finance. Ephraim Hart soon emerged as one of themost successful stockbrokers in New York City, and helped to foundthe Board of Stock Brokers, precursor to the New York Stock Exchange.In addition, he held political offices—as state senator, canalcommissioner and member of the Council of Appointments—whichsolidified his public respectability. In 1799 Ephraim was listedamong owners of houses in New York valued at more than ₤2,000.Accordingly, Frances and her children enjoyed the trappings of wealthand social position.

Frances and Ephraim had four children, and the family maintainedclose ties to the Hart family of Trois-Rivières in Quebec. The twofamilies were joined when Ephraim and Frances’ daughter, Harriot,married Benjamin Hart of Trois Rivières in 1805. Frances survivedher husband by some eighteen years, as well as all three of her sons.Though she died in New York, she was buried in Montreal near herdaughter.

Frances Noah Hart

1840