Abraham Mears (fl. 18th century), born to a prominent London-based Jewish family, was the author in 1738 of the first translation of a siddur in English (under the pseudonym Gamaliel ben Pedazhur). The historian, Cecil Roth, in his 1935 article, "Gamaliel ben Pedazhur and His Prayerbook" notes that the Mears family (also, Moers) was one of the oldest established Jewish families in England and that Abraham was either born in London or else was brought there at an early age. By 1738, he had converted to Christianity and was living outside the city. Very little more is known of him aside from that he had a Jewish education, a Cockney accent (attested in his transliterations), was not a rabbi, and that he was still alive in 1758 when a printing of the first part of his siddur (describing Jewish customs) was reprinted. If you know more, please contact us.