Daughter of Miriam Simon and MichaelGratz, Rachel grew up in one of the most prominent andaffluent Jewish families of turn-of-the-19th centuryPhiladelphia. She counted among her eleven siblings, Benjamin,Hyamn, Frances andJoseph. Of all of them, however, it wasRebecca with whom she was closest. Born just a year and halfapart, the sisters were both regarded as great beauties, theyconfided in each other, and their extent letters offer an intimateglimpse into the lives of young society women of the time.
In 1804 SolomonMoses, the son of Isaac and Reyna Levy Moses, close friends ofRachel’s parents, came from New York for a visit, spending severalmonths with the Gratz family. The daughters all found him aninsufferable bore, yet he found himself in love with Rachel. Thoughhe left without his affections reciprocated, Solomon returned twoyears later, and his persistence paid off. Rachel wrote Rebeccainitially that Solomon had “secured my everlasting friendship. Ithink him much improved in every respect.” Then only a few dayslater, Rachel wrote again, saying Solomon inspired “greateragitation than any other gentlemen ever occasioned me… Every dayhas increased those feelings and I cannot myself account for thischange but I have learned from my heart to love him.” Worriedthat her sister disliked the man she now loved, Rachel wrote, “Youmy beloved Sister shall decide my future. I will give up the man myheart has chosen if you wish it.” Of course, Rebecca wouldn’tstand in the way, and she even interceded on Rachel’s behalf inconvincing their sister Sarah, who loathed Solomon most of all, toapprove.
They married inPhiladelphia that same year, and would have nine children, six ofwhom survived childhood. Rebecca was a particularly doting aunt whenit came to Rachel’s children. When Rachel died in childbirth in1823, Rebecca resigned from her philanthropic posts and took in allsix of her nieces and nephews. In 1825 Solomon bought the houseacross the street, and Rebecca now raised the Moses children togetherwith a brother-in-law she once couldn’t stand.
