Jonas Phillips Papers
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Contact information: phone number
01 513 487 3000
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
MS-382
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Jonas Phillips Papers
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Jonas Phillips
Date(s)
1759/1827
Language(s)
eng
Extent
1 box
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Jonas Phillips Papers collection comprises photocopies of documentation related to this German Jewish merchant who moved to North America in 1756. It is composed of receipt books from 1759-1765, 1767-1774 (folder 1), 1775-1781 (folder 2) and 1781-1789 (folder 3), miscellaneous correspondence and documents (folders 4 and 5) and a receipt book belonging to his widow Rebecca Machado Phillips, dating from 1803-1827 (folder 6). Rebecca Machado Phillips (1746–1831) was the eldest daughter of Zipporah Machado (alias Maria Caetana Nunes Ribeiro) and David Mendes Machado, and granddaughter of Dr Samuel Nunes Ribeiro (alias Diogo Nunes Ribeiro), all former conversos who moved from Portugal to London and later, in 1733, to Savannah, Georgia. This collection also includes a certificate by Moses Lindo on July 13, 1773, attesting to Jonas Phillips's good reputation and behaviour (folder 5), published by N. Taylor Phillips (1894). Phillips had arrived in North America as an indentured servant of Lindo and worked at Lindo's service in Charleston, South Carolina, for a few years.
The major highlight of this collection is probably a copy of the petition addressed by Jonas Phillips to President George Washington on September 7, 1787, requesting the removal of the religious oath.
The major highlight of this collection is probably a copy of the petition addressed by Jonas Phillips to President George Washington on September 7, 1787, requesting the removal of the religious oath.
Archival history
This collection was received by the American Jewish Archives from Mrs Arthur Sultan, Woodmere, New York, in 1965.
Administrative / Biographical history
Jonas Phillips was born in 1736, the son of Aaron Phillips. He emigrated from Hesse to London and, in 1756, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, on board the ship Charming Nancy as an indentured servant of Moses Lindo. Later, Phillips moved to Albany and, shortly afterwards, to New York. There, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1762, Phillips married Rebecca Mendes Machado. In 1769, he became a freeman in New York.
Phillips embraced the patriot cause during the American Revolution and supported the Non-Importation Agreement in 1770.
After the occupation of New York by the British army, Phillips and his family moved to Philadelphia, where he continued in business. He became one of the founders of the Congregation Mickvé Israel in Philadelphia and was its parnas at the consecration of the synagogue in 1782. After the Revolution, Phillips went to New York. However, he soon returned to Philadelphia, where he resided until his death on January 29, 1803. His remains were buried in New York in the cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel.
Phillips embraced the patriot cause during the American Revolution and supported the Non-Importation Agreement in 1770.
After the occupation of New York by the British army, Phillips and his family moved to Philadelphia, where he continued in business. He became one of the founders of the Congregation Mickvé Israel in Philadelphia and was its parnas at the consecration of the synagogue in 1782. After the Revolution, Phillips went to New York. However, he soon returned to Philadelphia, where he resided until his death on January 29, 1803. His remains were buried in New York in the cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The records are organised by subject.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) | |
| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |