Born in Savannah, Georgia, Sheftall Sheftall was the oldest ofMordecai and FrancesSheftall’s six children. His family was at the heart of thecity’s Jewish community: his father’s father among the first Jewsto move there, and congregation Mickve Israel frequently holdingservices in the Sheftall house.

Duringthe Revolutionary War, Mordecai was strong supporter of the Americancause. Mordecai was given the rank of colonel and served as staffofficer in the Continental Line of the Georgia Brigade, and he, inturn, appointed his son to be his assistant. Father and son fought insupport of the city when the British attacked in 1778, and they weresubsequently captured and incarcerated aboard the prison ship Nancy.They remained there for a year and half, taunted by their Britishcaptor for refusing to eat pork and tormented by letters from Francesabout the family’s struggles.

Eventuallyreleased—and after a brief spell on the Antigua—Sheftall andMordecai managed to get to Philadelphia, where they reunited with therest of the family. After the war, they returned to Savannah. Helived out the rest of his life there, never marrying.