Jonas Phillips
Encyclopedia
Jonas Phillips was the first of the Phillips family to settle in America. A founder of Mikveh Israel
in Philadelphia, Phillips was the father of twenty-two children and the grandfather of Uriah Phillips Levy
, the first Jewish Commodore
in the United States Navy
.
servant he lived in Charleston, S.C., where he was employed by indigo
grower Moses Lindo. Until 1759, when he became a freeman and moved to Albany
.
He moved to Albany, and then to New York City
, where he became a merchant. By 1760, Phillips had joined a lodge of Freemasons in New York. According to researcher, Jonas left Albany with the intent of securing an introduction to Rebecca Mendez Machado, a Sephardic Jew (see Machado
).
, he favored the Patriot cause. In 1776 he used his influence in the New York congregation to close the doors of the synagogue
and leave New York rather than continue under the British
. The building was abandoned.
Together with the majority of the congregation, Phillips and his family moved to Philadelphia, where he continued in business until 1778. In that year he joined the Revolutionary Army, serving in the Philadelphia Militia under Colonel Bradford..
T
here are two important things about this letter. First, Jonas enclosed within the letter a newly minted copy of the Declaration of Independence
. And secondly, Jonas wrote the letter in Yiddish
. Since at war with Britain Jonas would have expected the letter to be intercepted, but by writing in Yiddish they would not be able to read it. The British did intercept the letter and not knowing in language it was written concluded it was in code.
was established in Philadelphia, Phillips was one of its active founders, and was its president at the consecration of its synagogue in 1782. After the Revolution he moved to New York, but soon returned to Philadelphia, where he continued to reside until his death.
, on January 29, 1803. His remains were interred at New York in the cemetery on New Bowery of Congregation Shearith Israel. His widow survived until 1831.
Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel
Congregation Mikveh Israel, Mikveh Israel synagogue, officially called Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel is a synagogue located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was founded in the 1740s. It is one of the Oldest synagogues in the United States...
in Philadelphia, Phillips was the father of twenty-two children and the grandfather of Uriah Phillips Levy
Uriah P. Levy
Uriah Phillips Levy was the first Jewish Commodore of the United States Navy, a veteran of the War of 1812 and a major philanthropist. At the time, Commodore was the highest rank obtainable in the U.S. Navy and would be roughly equivalent to the modern-day rank of Admiral...
, the first Jewish Commodore
Commodore (USN)
Commodore was an early title and later a rank in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard and a current honorary title in the U.S. Navy with an intricate history. Because the U.S. Congress was originally unwilling to authorize more than four ranks until 1862, considerable importance...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Childhood and emigration
Phillips was born in 1736 in Germany. The place of his birth has been given as either Busick or Frankfort-on-the-Main; he was the son of Aaron Phillips. He emigrated to America from London in November 1756. Working as an Indentured servantIndentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
servant he lived in Charleston, S.C., where he was employed by indigo
Indigo
Indigo is a color named after the purple dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and related species. The color is placed on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nm in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet...
grower Moses Lindo. Until 1759, when he became a freeman and moved to Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
He moved to Albany, and then to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he became a merchant. By 1760, Phillips had joined a lodge of Freemasons in New York. According to researcher, Jonas left Albany with the intent of securing an introduction to Rebecca Mendez Machado, a Sephardic Jew (see Machado
Machado
-People:*Alicia Machado, Venezuelan Miss Universe*Staney Machado, RN Podar Physical Education Teacher*Anderson Machado, United States baseball player*Antonio Machado, Spanish poet*Bernardino Machado, Portuguese statesman...
).
The American Revolution
Phillips was an ardent supporter of the Non-Importation Agreement in 1770, and at the outbreak of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he favored the Patriot cause. In 1776 he used his influence in the New York congregation to close the doors of the synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
and leave New York rather than continue under the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. The building was abandoned.
Together with the majority of the congregation, Phillips and his family moved to Philadelphia, where he continued in business until 1778. In that year he joined the Revolutionary Army, serving in the Philadelphia Militia under Colonel Bradford..
The Yiddish Code
In July 28th 1776, Jonas sent a letter to a relative and business correspondent of his in Holland, Gumpel Samson by way of the Dutch Island of St. Eustatius. The letter begins by discussing his last letter and other business matters. He moves on to discuss the conflict with England and laconically mentions that the Americans have 100,000 soldiers to the British 25,000. He finishes the letter with an appendix of items he want sent to America so he may sell them.T
here are two important things about this letter. First, Jonas enclosed within the letter a newly minted copy of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. And secondly, Jonas wrote the letter in Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
. Since at war with Britain Jonas would have expected the letter to be intercepted, but by writing in Yiddish they would not be able to read it. The British did intercept the letter and not knowing in language it was written concluded it was in code.
Jewish activities
When Congregation Mikveh IsraelKahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel
Congregation Mikveh Israel, Mikveh Israel synagogue, officially called Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel is a synagogue located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was founded in the 1740s. It is one of the Oldest synagogues in the United States...
was established in Philadelphia, Phillips was one of its active founders, and was its president at the consecration of its synagogue in 1782. After the Revolution he moved to New York, but soon returned to Philadelphia, where he continued to reside until his death.
Death and burial
Phillips died at Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, on January 29, 1803. His remains were interred at New York in the cemetery on New Bowery of Congregation Shearith Israel. His widow survived until 1831.
External links
- Letter Of Jonas Phillips, July 28,1776( English and Yiddish )