Mendes da Costa , family , of London

Emanuel Mendes da Costa was born 25 May 1717 in London to John, alias Abraham, and Johanna Mendes da Costa. A Sephardic Jewish merchant and public notary operating in the City of London, he engaged in the trade of goods including books and geologic specimens. He was interested in the study of natural science and served as Clerk to the Royal Society of London.

Emanuel Mendes da Costa's siblings included brothers Jacob, alias Philip, David (who was involved in the supply of bread to British troops in Flanders) and sister Sarah (married to Abraham Fernandes Nuñes).

Other family members included Abraham, alias John, Mendes da Costa, who refers to his brother Jacob the 3rd, (died 3 March 1752) in his will, and Moses, alias Philip, father to Abraham and grandfather to Emanuel, Philip, David and Sarah.

Emanuel was married to Elizabeth Skillman. Members of the Skillman family were living in Hendon during the 18th and 19th centuries as evident from the admission of Richard Skillman (recorded 5 May 1761) and Elizabeth Mendes da Costa, formerly Skillman, (1767). Elizabeth also figures in the apprenticeship of William Skillman, nephew of John Skillman, serving a carpenter in Hendon (1799).

In the 19th century, descendants included Emanuel Mendes da Costa Skillman (died 1903, aged 76), married to Caroline (died 1906, aged 73). They had a daughter, Amelia Jane Skillman, born at 1 Landseer Road, Upper Holloway in December 1871. Emanuel Skillman, a carpenter by profession, resided later at 54 Kingsdown Road. He and Caroline eventually resided at 7 Cromartie Road, Islington at their time of death and were buried at Islington Cemetery.