"Booth" Was Not John Wilkes Real Last Name?

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(03-22-2017 12:39 AM)michael snyder Wrote:  Michael Kauffman is his book American Brutus and in the article on the Lincoln Assassination he did for Blue Gray in Apr. 1990 states that Booth's ancestors were expelled from Portugal for holding what he called "radical political views." He doesn't anything about the family being Jewish. It is also stated that Junius Brutus Booth, Sr. was proficient in many languages and could read Vasquez in Portuguese. Michael Snyder

It has been stated by others that the Portuguese line was Jewish way back when, but I am not sure if that has been distinctly proven. Carolyn Mitchell on this forum might be able to help here. I have not read Steve Archer's great book on Booth, Sr. Does anyone know if Steve addressed this genealogical question?

The elder Booth was very well-read and also knowledgeable in a variety of religions and knew even the tenets expressed in the Koran.
He definitely appreciated liquor and was a tad "weird," but I think he would be interesting to talk with and analyze during one of his good days.