Phebe Yates was one of eight children born to Samuel and Martha Yatesof Liverpool, England. The Yates family enjoyed the benefits ofwealth and was very prominent in trade and Jewish life in Liverpool.Phebe’s uncle Benjamin Yates served as the head of the Jewishcommunity there while she was growing up.

In1817 the Yates family entertained two young American students fromCharleston, South Carolina, Joshua Lazarusand Jacob Clavius Levy. Both men soonfell in love with Phebe’s youngest sister, Fanny.It was Levy who won both Fanny’s heart and her hand, and the youngcouple travelled to Charleston, just after they married, to set uptheir new household. It would be eighteen years before Phebe herselfcontracted a marriage—to Joshua.

Forty-oneat the time of her marriage, Phebe’s arrangements with her newhusband reflect a shrewd business sense on her part. A post-nuptialagreement, executed in Charleston in April 1836, specified that hernew husband would pay $10,000 into a trust on behalf of Phebe or herchildren, and that Phebe herself could name the trustees or act onher own behalf. Nevertheless, the marriage appears to have been oneof mutual affection. Although Phebe and Joshua would have only onechild, a son named Edgar Marks, they were very active in the affairsof the Charleston Jewish community and maintained close relationsties to Joshua’s unmarried sister, Emma.