Monsanto was founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny, who was of Irish descent and not Jewish. The company was named after his wife Olga's maiden name, from the
Monsanto family, Sephardic Jewish merchants originating from the Iberian Peninsula. Some family members in New Orleans were involved in trade, including slaves, per historical records, but "pirate" claims appear unsubstantiated.
Columbus' ships carried Spain's Jews and dropped them off along the way onto Caribbean islands and continents.
The following J's were known dealers, owners, shippers or supporters of the slave trade and of the enslavement of Black African citizens in early New York history: Issack Asher, Jacob Barsimson, Joseph Bueno, Solomon Myers Cohen, Jacob Fonseca, Aberham Franckfort, Jacob Franks, Daniel Gomez, David Gomez, Isaac Gomez, Lewis Gomez, Mordecai Gomez, Rebekah Gomez, Ephraim Hart, Judah Hays, Harmon Hendricks, Uriah Hendricks, Uriah Hyam, Abraham Isaacs, Joshua Isaacs, Samuel Jacobs, Benjamin S. Judah, Cary Judah, Elizabeth Judah, Arthur Levy, Eleazar Levy, Hayman Levy, Isaac H. Levy, Jacob Levy, Joseph Israel Levy, Joshua Levy, Moses Levy, Uriah Phillips Levy, Isaac R. Marques, Moses Michaels, (E)Manuel Myers, Seixas Nathan, Simon Nathan, Rodrigo Pacheco, David Pardo, Isaac Pinheiro, Rachel Pinto, Morris Jacob, Raphall Abraham Sarzedas, Moses Seixas, Solomon Simpson, Nathan Simson, Simja De Torres,
Benjamin Wolf, Alexander Zuntz