Tabitha Mears Bush

The daughter of Joy Franks and Sampson Mears, Tabitha was the oldestof three known children. Her father and uncle, German-born merchants,were involved in the Caribbean trade, traveling frequently betweenJamaica, London, and the American colonies. Tabitha’s sister,Grace, was born in Spanish Town, Jamaicaand her brother, Judah, in London.Tabitha’s birthplace remains unknown, however by 1753 she hadmarried Prague-born Matthias Bush and was living in Philadelphia. Thecouple had eight children, including Elkali andSolomon, who, as a lieutenant colonel, achieved the highest rank ofany Jew serving in the Continental Army. According to a letter ofcommendation from the the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvaniain 1779:

…itappears that Major Bush has, on many occasions, distinguished himselfin the public service, especially in the winter of 1776, when theservice was critical and hazardous . . . in the month of September,1777, acting as Deputy Adjutant General, he was dangerously woundedin a skirmish between the militia and the advance of the BritishArmy, his thigh being broken and he brought off with greatdifficulty; that being carried to his father’s house, on ChestnutHill, and incapable of being moved, he fell into the hands of theBritish Army, when it moved up to Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania inDecember, 1777 and was imprisoned. Colonel Bush was ultimatelyreleased in exchange for British prisoners held by the Continentalforces.

Tabitha Mears Bush

c. 1720–1760