Jochabed was the third of five children born to Moses and Catherine Hachar Michaels, German Jews who had settled in New York in the first years of the 18th century. Her father became active in the West Indian trade, shipping merchandise between New York and Curacao.
In the early 1730s she married merchant Judah Mears, a merchant also involved in Caribbean trade. The couple had seven children.
We know that Jochabed was not particularly well-liked within New York’s small 18th-century Jewish community. “There is something in Agitation with Mears and his mate,” wrote Abigail Levy Franks, in one of her gossipy letter to her son Naphtali. “You certainly will be surprised to hear [of] my mother [Grace Mears Levy] and Josey [Jochabed Mears] friendship. The Latter lives in Huntington. She came to town the week after her sister was marrid when my Mother went to See her And Saluted her with as much kind[ness] as the dearest friends could doe they was frequently together and I have of a night Seen ‘em walk with Mears between that I have acutely blushed for it to think what has been Said amongst ‘em tho’ all this friendship is but Outwardly for I am told my Mother Spares Jose as Little as Ever if you Say anything to Uncle Nat[han Levy] abouth this desire him Not to write it back Again as from me tho’ Tell him in Conformity I hope he will recant all the Cruell Things he has Said I think he Showed a Vast deall of Weekness If it be true as Mrs. Levey Tells me He has Sat Whole Eavenings as Is[aac] Levy’s Railing at Josey.
