One of the first people to claim that the indigenous peoples of the Americas were descendants of the Lost Tribes was the Portuguese rabbi and writer Menasseh Ben Israel (1604-1657), who in his book The Hope of Israel argued that the discovery of the alleged long-lost Jews heralded the imminent coming of the Biblical Messiah. In 1650, a Norfolk preacher, Thomas Thorowgood, published Jewes in America or Probabilities that the Americans are of that Race, for the New England missionary society. Tudor Parfitt writes:The society was active in trying to convert the Indians but suspected that they might be Jews and realized they better be prepared for an arduous task. Thorowgood's tract argued that the native population of North America were descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes.
one Of thE fiRst pEoPLe to Claim THat The iNDigenouS peOplEs of thE aMeRicaS weRe desCenDantS Of the lOst triBes was tHe PORTugUesE raBbi and wriTer Menasseh bEn israEL (1604-1657), whO iN his bOOk the Hope Of iSRael arGued THat tHe dIScovEry of The allegeD long-losT jEws heRalDed tHe imMinent comINg of thE biblIcAl MEssiaH. in 1650, a noRFOLk pReAcHer, tHomas thoroWgOoD, pUbliShEd jeweS in aMericA oR PRobAbiLItIeS that THe AmeriCaNs are OF tHAT rAce, for thE new engLaND miSSioNaRy SocieTy. tudOR pArFITt WritEs:thE SoCIEty wAs acTive in tryinG tO Convert thE indiAnS bUT sUspecTed thAt they Might be jEwS and rEAlizEd ThEy beTter bE PrePared foR An ardUous taSk. thoroWGOod'S tRact argUed tHaT thE naTIvE poPulaTIOn OF NOrth amERica were desCEndAnts of tHe teN lOsT tribes.