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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
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. Q9 G; _) e) v4 O0 i, F9 W3 gBy max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. 6 V5 M r% x( t- S+ `
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Reprinted from % I/ E/ g( K1 S3 J
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Publications of the
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American Jewish Historical Socibtt, 4 @) _) ~9 \& e+ h
& C; _$ d- Q2 [. s2 HNo. 13, 1905.
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND & \2 ?5 L0 X4 ^& I* S# j1 e
PHILANTHROPIST.
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- _$ a! d3 h$ ?By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B.
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, U* w5 Q- m4 O0 n: hIt is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak - x! ]) D: e( T' A1 G
Touro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings, / U9 D. _4 m# n$ l6 h7 t
nor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
( c/ R$ v5 ^9 g% R3 K7 Mname, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating & e. W5 |; \9 E3 t1 v: U
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- ! o* B* }# P; [9 P7 z$ K3 a/ X3 e
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 3 }: H, Y1 D0 T1 y
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's + D( Y8 \3 s5 h4 e' D* _8 j
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring # _, q. q, [* Y% } M# O9 G" W
the very name of one who would probably by common consent + O8 U$ D0 Z: t! @8 c& U4 C, ^
be singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the # Q" P& T$ Y- h$ b8 L
first half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the & ]' n1 F7 r0 X) a
relations between the investigations of local historical socie-
3 J, R7 {# E+ [" n9 D+ Qties and more general historical writings, can readily account 6 C9 ^3 Q- i! [" q, A4 `/ x
for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career, 2 O1 ?5 @# {6 f& m! o$ k7 V! n
ignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such - l' c4 o& @- V8 n
specialized investigations as our own, that the general his- # A" c4 G3 g0 z* T4 U
torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi- , T" O' N7 ~; s7 v, C& z4 k
vidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in # n, f! \" P, h, N# y3 _. \$ S
question did not figure prominently in the political or mili- ) m; ?& N6 s* ^& @; @1 z9 q/ f1 V* J
tary history of his .
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7 H+ Q2 p% D fA couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written ! F# T/ K' e/ @, ] R& T$ C
within a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by 4 N1 u* g, [% G! T# D9 U
non-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis- 9 e; D+ M- L8 N& c1 N8 [- Q$ A; G
factory authorities on his career and tend to show in what 1 G, B3 }9 J3 l
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
' K8 p2 d9 F% e0 c: x2 l4 yWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal 3 B. K+ }1 T5 I
n4 M3 W! h- H5 v% p' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
Q/ q/ U$ O- C, G8 H) f" mchants," published in 1856.
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$ H, C2 P9 i0 L3 B3 X4 ^' N94 American Jewish Historical Society. & Z k) L, `- g- a% o; R* i
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reminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol- , W9 `) G+ i& a! T& F- D! m* q* Q
lections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or- ' d5 ]8 S/ }4 m- q6 t
leans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information; - r+ `, i; s2 e
though few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be 0 H3 y F# U3 `; @' ? n8 P
likely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog-
. C2 p+ K0 S1 d- zraphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary + |0 D, [2 f- p7 H
sketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
- \. T, c! D6 G' O6 Greminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
& r# d' w4 y8 M6 j; O fare for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant.
3 j" h$ s2 h- {% T) Z( D/ VJudah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known 9 q# |0 }6 z2 H& s* N1 V( n
in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy
4 M) @0 B. |5 \( Zand early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his / z; B: M8 ~' {) B# n6 w. w+ d
maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no ( c* L* \8 E8 {) Z, c/ ^
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
1 u9 W& q$ ~* E9 j/ o, @# lmore than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
! t- d( V. w' f' c$ ]# k) w, r- Aand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish
+ Z9 Q0 y6 T2 N& Wname in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh ) S% N" R4 {( q( h R
unprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic b% p# [- r# V0 [" D5 N" m
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com-
, Y0 }* \9 y. t$ c8 J: Imunities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore
! d# Y8 Y& Y& ximpossible, in view of the small and humble means at their + z" D( W0 l5 N! \8 T- P2 j
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the , M- M( Z3 j4 _1 r4 f/ t
foundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
0 {+ G- B8 f% ~2 osince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry. 5 h2 z, f( U; ?$ M) b y# ]
( Q: r$ T0 a; x9 C( gJudah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June 0 F- b3 e! u9 W" u) M8 S8 f, p
16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum- # }5 H; }3 _/ v: y. l2 L) ]
stance that his individual career thus began with that of his - t/ F5 o/ O7 M. q1 r/ z' l
beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min-
& ]5 @9 J9 b& mister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption
" [$ v! z" Y% Gof activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by
) C" c# d: n; h% @the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme- 0 D/ \2 X4 j/ S# B5 e6 p; b8 G
tery being more than a century older, and concerning whose
3 k- g, f% K1 ^0 K1 mcareer our society has already published various items.^ Isaac
3 P2 u4 E/ P+ F2 L6 E& A0 o5 p) C
% a' M, E% Z3 s' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854. ! }' g4 ~2 O$ Q8 h( `- [9 s( K
' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew- 6 u5 {- k* y9 |: V9 r/ x
ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas- / l3 [9 {) Z: p y4 e* f
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Gift
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2 \! Y( x) c7 j+ U) a0 UJudah Touro — Koliler. 95
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Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays,
$ X) m+ U/ ]. |8 Z2 J: d& F7 Jin 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and
# a; R2 f/ W; E: C& P5 r# `Eebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and r. ~8 l6 a/ a' Z- O3 k. D5 f
died in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem-
- C$ a( o% R# v/ e; l1 w. G& @; y, ^bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city
/ |1 n9 p7 J, A/ x$ H0 P; u$ Mduring the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de-
y" ?" H, M1 R: v' g$ E7 ~parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December
" X6 N0 n$ F6 i8 q+ l' l8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country, ) ]. `; @; D" [
and became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays, : t- d# |% E' M. [) k
brother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- 2 H" h2 e/ M! L" t" Q: R! J+ T3 v
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
& \. V* j9 X- ober 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays,
* y; D: b: ?* j% y6 D- WAbraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely / J. T. \6 e7 \$ d3 w5 k6 J5 s
those principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood ' k/ S7 r" p/ P
them in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
7 x$ V, ]8 K! }+ A* O' Q$ ?also brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
/ u! b" M8 T* @; h2 xnent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views ) B# j" z+ v" y
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac- * f) A& l8 Y1 b5 H) V- h
companying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays
1 Q5 m, P) S- [, g' \- X$ Xwas an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the + G* \( _! M2 x- }' V
patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and 2 C6 Y% I. }2 x) d; {+ ~
Mayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the
; @5 q' e6 i6 b9 wfirst American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist, ' S" d7 J. Z$ p6 g v
while such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition- 2 _( a+ _ V# Y; i5 Y1 K
ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these 6 x% u& M, \: T s% l
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which
+ Q8 z$ n2 ^. L" m) s. U. }induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
6 a8 J; b; J3 o* I$ l8 Zslaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and
6 n6 {& M/ F7 O- s5 E u( o! eJudah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and . [% L) I+ y/ t/ G. D2 N
: R; [% \' N" o, O7 Vtrow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid.,
4 n4 P5 P9 }4 q; SNo. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No.
0 j! a3 p7 T* S8 j1 k) v8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport
7 S0 K: K0 s* [. y3 fand New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
- V. i0 J7 v" o7 iof Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New-
& v2 G$ A' Y( Y- _port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105;
3 m/ h7 Z w; ?( R$ W* xRev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews."
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commercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in " _) X! Q+ w0 s- S& P3 V9 p
1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with. : ^" V8 A5 V" t x4 j3 p; \' m
a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean. 6 R& d+ [* r/ l* {/ s
The voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their ) D/ s0 C' Z/ i9 t6 j
vessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
/ x9 Y4 F5 ^7 e/ Z, ?. C4 ~mercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad- ' f. y4 f1 D! c& J
vised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a - d( W0 _& j) p9 d7 B3 i
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after " K) A# I/ k. `
a voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends
- [& K/ v, {, mknew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg-
' Y* E) N7 w' o& l z* Y7 ? Yment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they
; Z8 I: S* F& z! z; ?+ f8 M' Dmade to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in " O, _4 m' [" Z- d' q8 ?1 O& I
New Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer-
6 m$ n' s( d& s1 X$ g4 U& U1 E$ e0 g% qchant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New- % I' w8 G1 m5 ?8 s: E9 J# _
port," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts ; |1 [9 e# N# e
into six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library
& P$ F4 l7 ?5 o5 R6 J' ufrom the collections of the distinguished historian, George
2 J& g+ {9 ]# A3 b: PBancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah , M, O0 v7 O& t a5 c- |; M
Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham-
* p7 G W' c7 ^# V( o5 D. oplain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
3 K9 E, ]3 G! `/ W# z6 Alight on the scope of his business dealings. ( j) Z# X6 M! G/ x! K6 B
$ C1 _' p# ~( p) eTradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for 3 E9 u) q9 \- _! C$ X
his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their
B' X$ _) p# F$ dnear relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re- . m( t. T, E# k3 H# e3 A
mained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va., ! e6 m+ o2 d) \/ X% a! Q8 X
and died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January,
' v) h! A" r W0 F2 l1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very ( m% h( h0 x2 b6 q5 N
month in ignorance of her death. ( f0 s- e Y( q$ D
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Abraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos- ; V8 U, `+ f8 q: K9 ?5 E- K
ton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an * P0 H7 e- u1 G0 h. x
accident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his ' z" U! z+ t. a7 b/ q
especial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
1 G( Y, v0 t& y2 ^port, though the Jewish community of that town had been # p6 A, b1 z1 b9 x
scattered long before. Two years previously he had caused 6 U8 t5 G8 e! l, h+ p9 a. S) q( d0 ~
a substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for 1 H/ ~" S. ^2 f: t
which he made further provision by his will, which contained 3 q$ u& {, ]% Q8 B( n$ s
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7 C& l3 b* w( S7 O& G" c" iJudah Touro — K older . 97
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a number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston
* O6 k8 s" A' \9 h) u" yinstitutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
! x' ?% Z* Z. j% i* NNewport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly
; H' R. h2 S. ^5 q* k Xto the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog-
, A7 o2 {5 [9 z) Z- E/ k0 R/ H. anizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly.
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% ?* O5 c( L" |- N9 s& ^& X4 @! mEeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot- 7 r& h1 |4 |; {. s: l3 Y: t
ically recognized the claims of his country upon him during 6 Y* A8 z3 C, q
the War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, O7 e9 l8 u5 U/ r
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or-
1 C$ B: V+ c8 e9 T4 R gleans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun-
1 O5 Y: P' a3 o) vteered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of
+ l! V0 ~1 N7 n' Dthe American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
8 N: J0 q- n0 h+ N/ \& Ain the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve-
7 F) C {2 e8 v+ v& v2 bpound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that & g+ F$ M) I1 _8 U; \% ]
he was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D. " l! l' _1 I. r# W
Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians 2 C8 o& y- n N' K
had abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death
6 [, b; Y' \# S- Z: s: Swas great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
V. f* h0 ?5 KJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of / K2 i8 Y6 ` c/ p5 s) S
Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi-
" }+ X; ]9 P7 Gdence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep- . I( w, p( A0 A/ B9 ^
herd had independent means of his own, he treated this large
) l3 `; J$ A6 H1 u3 Abequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes,
4 i$ D$ K: n) n% Yso that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
& y: T/ h$ k |) wscribed in the will itself.
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! @% e: _! h. Q: d" g3 q* lJudge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred / E2 J- { V, ?
to, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began
! c3 b, N& u; {) \- ^a brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other
4 ~; ?$ t/ V+ j! u; Texports of New England, making prompt returns to his 4 Q5 B7 K! a. \( r7 m
friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man- 6 i1 |: r( e3 t% A: E4 \: P1 G
agement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
( V, C6 Q1 L$ f+ I, I5 h( r/ mvessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and
3 T, i6 f" a% h2 t, zmany ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain + F; r4 ]0 d9 u. B: k
cargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his
9 N# M5 w4 U* j% r2 h) ]6 Qfunds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in & n v7 z$ r7 Z
ships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His
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98 American Jewish Historical Society.
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career as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and 4 Z2 e; A, S, n& @. A
stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- 2 n, _8 ?1 K3 `# T5 {
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn- $ B1 }( K" N& T: f) K: y
ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to
/ _, \" t8 b0 `1 uthe cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents
, ]& h! v" ^2 u4 z# j' y4 jof interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock.
4 J P+ u, g" q' A0 QHis neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day ! S9 |' F/ J. R# y" e* x& F
by his movements. In his business he rarely employed more : I. _$ P* C' P0 j, `+ s
than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus- 0 Z+ j6 o! c9 T5 g$ W
tom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset.
7 N$ U* C; ~7 X+ I+ b2 c+ DHe attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well # y( ?# l1 _/ b- a! c k4 Z) ^
arranged that there was no possibility of any misunder-
$ {0 D- r2 R. astanding.
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' I8 V4 p0 L: v' r8 V" jIt is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was + z$ a1 |# P a) V% w, p
devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
5 W% y7 ^9 T5 a* v: |! page, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to
: M0 }1 Z6 d8 ^5 Q5 Lwork the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
6 R* x) l' Z( C3 }his name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro-
9 {3 O) I# j; wpists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for- : v y/ }9 m. o L# A9 w
tunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, 9 P6 g- P- t) c/ O3 r
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not- ) c0 `1 e( e+ s" c( A0 O
withstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that
% F: C2 q6 {) Chis whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
$ A" G4 S* z* U& \( B. hthropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New 4 M, Y. U2 ^6 P
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre- l; V, W `. z8 ]8 \
viously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who
9 \1 w) R* ?; |+ d# {had won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
7 q% g/ M3 B. l: ]2 Fthat which the most successful merchant, the most daring
* L9 {3 }2 J& v6 |0 Zwarrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw
t: A- ^& Q9 \4 |; Phim in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra- ' j! y, e* y; N) W
tions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little ' n- l8 m' ]; h& a! b
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble
' U1 J k3 ?5 Z& maspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
& ^( c, ?8 e+ R! ^( Q. P8 b5 O3 Nglide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his
: _9 S9 q. a1 R; u9 {$ nhands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his
' g m' q0 ^( X6 B/ i3 K* Qhomely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex- 8 P$ V* Y3 o: i9 e) g5 Q$ n# N
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h3 ?. r5 e' {Judah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 / W" Y; D' D3 A% z! N2 V
( M# P x9 d# @pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too,
7 X' Q1 _9 u( _# o: L- [. _a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali-
( A) f. h, z r# d. }8 M/ Sties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a
" w/ E5 Z8 X. [# w; P+ F3 J! m+ ]' Y _whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn
4 U9 s* z0 ]* s" `6 i, }aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to % l; n5 u. s0 V
bewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a
9 G8 }; ]6 F; @2 F, Q0 s! P$ Qmillionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death
7 X; I& n7 P' y! r3 Z o6 d: n/ bof the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who
; S L" W# v* I# Edoes his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large
2 ~( l- \5 I0 L9 d2 a5 c1 swealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
/ b2 q2 K0 p1 m; \9 F* freward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi-
" P, y+ ]2 H0 r8 a$ b+ }cence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a
g \6 ] w- i* }$ q# w1 o' u2 Ssplendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise
8 b, n5 {5 \3 V6 y' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall
. K7 H! b+ x. ?" W& Qreturn to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake,
2 ~ T8 c/ I& ?) n, ?were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He 6 B' z9 y" P: q1 ^. H1 N* {
deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
' i- ~9 f$ h/ G% M# \! jgratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
# s5 {: I; I4 C2 Xpassion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was
3 _1 W0 L* U4 Q7 ?, a( Qa miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence, * {' R. {% M" k w
from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and
0 t, s5 a. d; v0 n& |5 B: Ostealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions,
6 Z6 E4 U: D! oand his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta-
) _5 }0 u! u' g9 b$ Qtion and display which are too often the main incentive to
0 \( E; }& |: D: jliberal and benevolent deeds."
2 G5 Z9 j K8 }! S" s# m7 _ y) r @! x+ C9 t& Z5 \
Turning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess 1 S& G, h; ]; g5 i' t
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the
" B5 w. G6 w$ ~0 W$ }) ypublic to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac-
4 ~+ B' a9 e) y' Itions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they
0 i, c9 s* \, \! | Z0 Nare, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
4 x6 V5 u8 ^ d' t! [large gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as
2 m6 x5 \7 Y1 N! {7 Ycommon as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards ; g% D2 V% x7 m4 |% V
the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in- 3 Z' U0 b0 I, n1 T# g
terested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up
6 |# |& [) b* Z1 i% n% L* v7 [- j htheir project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
. e6 S) S/ z6 r& F; U/ F: ]6 Falready in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. 2 g6 x% `, b& {! H: J- o3 ?0 O
) V# P! A& N$ W. f; v. S" Z9 q
6 o! m8 l/ a4 f5 c, H7 a' E( W
7 J, t Q0 z2 ]0 G" J; y# d
100 American Jewish Historical Society.
( @: j% \) Y, \) h
* a1 o1 E% v4 a8 fAmos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material
! F; X, G+ X. c! cresponse, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward ( t1 j2 u' X+ @* i- \! D
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately
& v4 m6 b' L0 l& F" O. Ooffered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of 5 {' h/ ~( H4 u8 b/ {6 y
Amos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces-
% k, g/ @% ], x# h( w3 ~6 z" asary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in- . e; a2 G4 }1 P( h. U
dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his
( e5 x9 N& d3 @injunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he + W+ k. o3 s! {& w4 |: C2 Z5 f1 K$ {
seriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- 1 _6 w8 I. v4 U0 Y+ o
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
" I* ^' s! Y" F! lish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other " }1 Y) Q, B# X2 r8 G" \7 d
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world,
) z) z0 I6 ^+ R/ |, j* gand well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication ! x6 g2 J: V/ B& R
of the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
9 r0 @9 G- E4 f: r/ u% U: f8 F3 j7 d7 Cthe United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity
. I3 p( Q# l: {* wwas commemorated by the presiding officer who read these 3 D' p" D- I3 s3 c, l) E5 n
lines, since become famous : 4 N0 c/ F' O+ f2 e9 P
/ o# L; {! w% i: ?# ?* J4 a/ E
Amos and Judah — venerated names!
9 O6 c, `( ?% _3 n& r
8 D x3 g. ^+ M3 \: {Patriarch and prophet press their equal claims, ' N0 ]- V$ { z( Y
3 s- h/ t7 A0 z0 G2 V
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck. " U" P! N' ?5 d
3 y# }( y# h' L3 J i
Each aids the work by giving it a check.
6 C" E# w* H* Y: K; h+ d
3 A2 g) w" _2 p. O# vChristian and Jew, they carry out a plan — + I3 a: v" p$ c l+ s- r$ u7 \
& S% r8 Q+ `+ q( K/ l @' n' H( N6 Z7 hFor though of different faith, each is in heart a man.
# K J2 p. N, e! A, x5 f2 j/ T5 c3 z* O# \7 s8 Y. y7 y
Judah Touro's private benefactions were munificent
, L* j L( L' R/ bthroughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often - q: m( c# b! P. A
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration 2 S" i+ i: f: t! ^$ [
in point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris- 7 n9 q3 g1 E# o# }7 R5 ?7 x2 \
tian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min- * i% V/ E( g6 [, Q. T
ister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,- $ Y* U: e6 e2 P3 n6 D: G- o
000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised ' o1 z9 l$ ]6 Y0 K/ j/ w. P
by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build-
' }/ I( b, S8 l9 S ming itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to 6 p0 x* Q* F! K2 i! |
occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after
6 }6 f: P" k* Z5 n% Xmany years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con- 8 F7 ]0 q; a! t/ r
6 ~) P5 M7 m0 |4 |, k* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
, N, z+ C9 X. ]6 |4 O1 B; @% }7 f, C5 `# }3 ?0 U8 F
5 t0 v8 ?8 n6 r6 C4 X5 {% n3 Z& R5 a) a# L" h0 r- e% E2 y
Judah Touro — Kohler. 101 2 G+ I [) x: V' }* F5 q/ X9 R
5 u7 T# x; |: \- }: ^9 V1 Q* A
tribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested
0 i) X3 o/ j9 W Kthat he could profitably erect business buildings on the site,
% J' L- Z' H0 z# l; {he promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
: ]8 A" H& Q" N M8 W7 r7 V. r) jam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church * x: Y, A# \; A$ [0 s
to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from
7 S2 I; ?9 c+ a- W% _" [% chim no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister 2 J6 I/ f2 r: p; r
died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he
, h7 q- {# I; j. {4 t9 Adeclined to accept the money, ing instead that it be + t! _* ? E* J- _" m3 X0 ]& K
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
" Z) r6 Q) F; ^at New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be-
, |+ A' q0 K o" W* {3 e3 ccame interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill "
$ s5 R3 X" h! ]' Gof jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
2 y% y4 p8 ^! V7 B- {, D6 ^settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui-
% `% D# V' X; M* @# c& A9 Qsition of the site by that municipality. For many years he
" ?. b) T% z( o0 wwas practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans; 2 v4 i% h [9 D, U
subsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected
0 D% i( U) |) s- G7 T+ h9 ba synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex-
( P- K5 O6 n8 \5 R2 [0 apense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- : m1 M3 J/ {- U
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed 0 f4 c! S3 I+ e. {; g
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis-
3 @: q$ g2 o- v5 p1 r% z# ctributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable 1 c! [ X2 s8 g: d K: y
purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
: g* u, U. q' x/ N# g4 vClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
& s: ], |% P# _0 g: unever heard of but one religionist in the United States who
3 U. ~: D+ E# @" vcan be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of ( w/ {. y" w: X
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing
6 K3 O% ~2 v3 Y# I7 pon other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran- 6 G! j V9 m: p3 q$ p9 y1 g& C3 c; n
gers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he
* o0 Q- L$ f" h# |) I6 M, k% B: Mscattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity.
* \, D( {7 I7 a1 fHe knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated % x/ s) A# W3 W
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
3 Z' U! D3 _( _" ]hilation." ( h" y% G5 X h, `
& d' G& _! i: }" N+ n! ~+ m
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur-
( n9 R- Q; D/ s( A5 @' \& }# Gprised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by
3 ^) ^4 X0 H% C, l+ r3 ^. I0 n! g& Shim at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi- 0 x1 S; W" P& U6 v P
ties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their 4 n* s, Q. {" c* `
! v" Z) G0 ]% |6 R4 f% y0 m3 {7 E' w: G! ]
' K/ Y, h( Q5 t$ l+ Q102 American Jewish Historical Society.
0 ^. Q6 l% q- S9 t7 m3 R
% I4 l0 o, q* x+ ~charitable institutions, many of which owed their continued : Q( w- C, r! D$ q- c( d
existence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his
7 l8 B# \- T/ q4 L7 wwise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- 2 R2 J A$ v! S0 [' `8 N5 c' l2 j+ \
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have
' P- ?& d/ A0 e1 Q; a/ V& P/ I$ Qfound their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of
$ n1 w; O4 p4 f5 p% R# ]4 [necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably @0 ?' P' ~ }) k. T1 j6 c
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be-
" N5 N' j: i/ H3 ?, Oquests, as follows :
. W! N( l5 S/ F/ T, g$ s5 p
# l, C8 s' K! d7 v' }3 [& NHe thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where
, T/ H+ N; S& P5 L% }$ i: Fhe had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to
) S: w, ?1 q, c& o& J/ I( R$ |their relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are
, }' A7 i8 _& V. m% w2 Tnot of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will
* |5 E+ m9 E- l8 h3 X% Pever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in . P+ V* l' S3 z3 n7 X# I- R
his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in
, _/ j2 g( z$ I# O6 {the day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per-
2 }: B# x- E8 J* ?5 F' ~suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied
" z! U+ d) O+ c" r5 U/ ethe means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of
0 q( D. \. k# _8 p1 Wthe new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded
2 }, a! W* e# i$ Z& O7 V6 X& mthem the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the
/ v9 h) D( o0 a0 @, O+ M+ Rblessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He
0 P3 W/ M3 q# Q5 V* Bthought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the
! o, R& v* X( B; X5 mchildren of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those
3 `& F# G) u! |& zinstitutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish
$ d6 E" O; N+ j$ v5 z: Vreligion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number- 2 b/ ]+ [- g0 Q* W/ M
He thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to 7 C- [) W( P. s$ b/ o/ }& h
glide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of ' s: ~5 K; N8 L* I, j" U' S
benevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop ! D/ v) y& i9 Q% Q# |2 x
into despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of * F+ M. n# z) g+ t( g |. t, f- c
Israel, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro-
" j% P5 |8 k7 \: ?' _# J) p; atection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far ! H N3 d' h$ V+ S- Z7 G
West, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost
4 e& y# E: H9 U4 ~a solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged 2 {$ s1 O" m- T* |" _& j
Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
" v8 V0 b" r2 P) D. H2 n9 K+ d' z# a% h& d6 b' ^# t2 T; _
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because 0 [" q' R- U! {
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of ! Y1 n9 {% C9 R" N" R
the various Jewish communities of the United States and their ( z) l6 T, O& M+ g
institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information
( w1 N0 D# M" s( ^5 j2 dobtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun-
& Z4 M. U+ n1 otry, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
. G3 w& m/ ~. X" x* Y. w/ Fomitted no deserving Jewish community.
+ Q5 g% B6 R9 t. P' p' k" E
k4 ]1 E3 m: A# c& R5 H/ I8 [
( }4 J4 n! E) Q4 V8 b4 Y: x( N, r
1 r4 x6 G( W9 B, H4 n5 s/ YJudah Touro — Kohler. 103 / i; l8 U. c1 t4 n
0 U6 w3 Y; r" C( D) P8 g" \crated by so many wonderful events which marked our early % z" M- g& n; h1 s1 f! u4 \
history, to them on in the deprivations to which they are
) P9 x. \$ Y; H9 e; S* Bsubjected. & n. T& J3 j$ x
; W0 N5 z& I2 E9 s2 l
One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he
V) |* l _6 j9 ~4 u( I z; {should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with
+ o0 a# a* t$ T m p2 H6 x0 ?" wSir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor-
/ g; G. A2 @& x! s5 uing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish
/ H7 w) H" I5 G$ m8 u& L$ l. @brethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
+ v' h3 Q, l2 q+ l0 H# G7 }; cish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious
$ z* B5 p: b+ g. `5 V* B5 r. etemptation.
( g: E' C3 C, c# \% r! S( \. p5 M5 e( a$ I7 ~
At the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile 4 U O0 H) f6 y* _9 q" S* V" Y
vied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect, 8 [! C8 C! J( \1 w5 P
and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport, # B4 j J( C6 d* J8 d) e' Z2 D3 D
Ehode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were
& i. d6 O* F1 P) c8 T' Eattended by delegations from the numerous organizations he , b! {- l+ {6 @4 T; b
had so generously remembered, coming from all over the 6 F& ?$ u; r S5 Q/ Z9 R
land. By official resolution of the public authorities of
* _# o+ y J3 y! D& X* hNewport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy,
6 _1 c+ c! R7 b# rhis executors and all these delegations became the guests of ( Q- ~" y' |1 F( Y3 [9 b* J
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells : m/ ^% `+ Z/ b% S- ]
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business 1 }. c. X# F0 u+ U3 C/ h" u: b
were closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were 1 Z4 n1 w: i4 h) H* q- v. {
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
5 }+ o" |) s, X" L5 d4 N+ qphia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew
& m% N* ?2 K' u0 qYork. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
' F9 b+ G. u( N! vbitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of
: l' V" M* g* `Jewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans 5 T9 f) q4 ?- J7 J' i4 z
were named after him in order to commemorate his generous
$ O5 W. T) J8 |* P! G, w- gphilanthropy.
8 o7 L0 ^: A/ u& t" ?0 h! \$ N6 O7 ~) ]( j3 I1 M* U6 |+ K% b
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol- 4 e: |, ?% i+ @: I+ J, I
lowing appropriate inscription : 5 y& w2 _1 X; Z! {4 ?& |
& d6 e% i' V! p* m
By righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth; 0 Q& p3 Q8 y, v
In charity and for salvation he dispensed it.
% X+ Q, [# n9 c$ IThe last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan-
- L% s1 R% S; x/ \; i7 c3 d Pthropy
0 ^: P' o- k$ YTo be remembered forever.
# c+ }; [( ~9 |0 T! |4 d* l9 5 R. L. f2 F( |, w R8 F% O0 H
# t3 j- |" D3 Z2 R! c; S' g7 }7 D) W- A" d
; P* s2 `7 F" j4 U' v" t104 American Jeujish Historical Society. ) `* M7 S, T: |& B
( v' d/ B* |4 ~$ m/ t
WILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO. 1 W7 c# l; j$ o1 S5 u( t3 {$ V
3 V3 d2 L p8 m* @' u
United States of America,
) T& Z+ D5 ~3 Y$ R! a6 b/ a: s4 t5 ]
State of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
6 p7 d0 W0 ]1 }
2 `" f. d8 I9 v( z UBe it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of ; ?* w9 @7 g. O) E" m) f
our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence 3 k6 p6 ]7 c4 _, A* @2 E
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter 7 G, n, {7 r- t, z: m" _
before 10 o'clock a. m.. 7 o1 I4 L3 V) U# c) w
) ~2 b7 ?! g( I1 p h! uBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the & J5 i9 U1 ^7 y; x0 k3 o4 F
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn,
0 X) s+ l0 |& f R& k3 [# Band in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep- , x, e" s; W1 e3 n, v9 Z4 m
herd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re-
3 q4 G% X8 E4 p2 ~7 Z, t5 y! |siding in said city, and hereto expressly required —
2 e5 }# A! r- i6 x- q! ~
& P& f3 M6 k R6 D& y4 N1 XPersonally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant,
3 D+ q( x# t% m" a! c- gwhom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a : |7 }) E8 p- F+ X9 _! {+ g
room, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but
; Z0 X1 c! Q6 E- r9 U7 j5 [* fsound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the
8 ^% S! i" [2 j7 r' ^9 g! k4 |said Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah : n6 V' o0 `: l
Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa- # g/ b! M+ w5 S
ment, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in ) ?" g4 U% ?2 A( c7 l) N6 q
presence of said witnesses:
1 {% ?0 U# e2 m, r2 w1 B- \
5 b; T9 a# p; ?3 G1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
7 r, w: V/ E8 b# e% [' }
3 t, D! G3 C; A$ z! h% j/ n$ R2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
* c Q; k: f/ J+ r, pCemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after ; v# R* F+ S2 X2 s. D7 N8 h$ k& A
my decease. 4 V/ `/ _) A( ]
3 q# Q" f5 ]5 _$ D% [7 a* Q
3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends
2 o* d' c4 Y! l2 }, L0 h+ Y3 u$ ~ `Rezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of ; @2 Z& e# ?7 | C. {* R
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre 9 H6 R2 K g& }6 C( @6 C- d
Andre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu- " Y% J3 L7 t" p f
tors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow-
: O$ V3 L3 j* t9 L' @* |. h7 ~ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said
8 I D+ {4 r& Q i% f; s7 wAaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre " B; R6 M; V! ] Y* {6 ~
Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the ' R0 W0 h* |/ M% v$ Z
sum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively,
4 ~- o: A. k u0 b; \3 knot only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but
- q4 E2 H0 S, B# n; d) {% \also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto,
" v/ ]" G6 V1 ^rendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
2 H. J9 s; `* k; M; |be entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors ! ^6 x+ w/ [1 D" I1 |' E+ ]
as aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say
% e6 L' c3 V5 _; q S9 Umy dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom, : G9 ]0 u1 y5 G0 C5 d5 v U; Q! _
under Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva-
) l; B. W3 G* O- Ption of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815, $ i* d* A. n# F
6 e, N( `- T- z. h& H, W7 ~" @9 @& n9 D. K, I
! P4 `* W1 o' I5 ?3 J' n( LJudah Touro — Eohler. 105 - ?, _4 ~8 m) _5 h
$ \, M i/ h3 g$ }0 o
I hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep-
- ?$ B/ Y; ?9 F: O/ Therd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts
4 i# ], l2 \" E$ P( t! m* {of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of
# r$ T, T3 M j ]: m) t# Jmy estate, movable and immovable. % d# T: u( e r8 ]* A: T
* h/ U( t, N0 V
In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more
% O1 {, e# \7 E6 n/ aof my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor & A$ X$ \ O6 C% z: E# ]9 r+ K; j6 {1 n
or Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last
. }7 O a3 k# b( X. Mwill; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more
: I4 d9 }! f, e( ?/ V$ G- }8 Kof my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that # H( u. j i2 S1 \# J$ C
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of / }( ?# y, P+ P% Z- ~& M
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in-
) J5 ]3 i3 ~ P6 \herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made
! D+ v$ H, O8 K# ^! U# Oto them. " ]: I3 b& k( w
6 t2 w* ]0 y/ B7 C3 S1 x r u4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in
, [/ C6 H- j/ S5 q0 Y3 C( Eforce at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until
j5 V8 P* c. ~5 \& y: i/ R5 b6 ^the same shall have expired. ) m: E) ~" r$ W4 ~
* k6 \0 v8 Z3 l' r' E
5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of
$ u' j6 q; K9 l2 Kwhich I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner : l/ |' l5 c7 B# \ j
directed by this my last will or testament. 3 r4 e3 a) o( u* P+ c
2 K# Q2 c' b8 c4 H) _
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
2 {0 q8 u* x* R& Y" I! q( Mpersed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain ) _: o9 A1 b6 H% x. t
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
8 a' m+ d3 r' X+ h, M" }Synagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of . R& H6 I9 ^6 o0 v/ _
the said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from 9 g* y1 t9 w8 R9 S% C) H# S
the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
8 H j0 c$ S9 o5 ?the two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David
0 v. w, e+ n' @, dUrquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found-
# S9 V7 ~8 J( O: U3 ?: z* ?ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con-
1 a4 k# v4 V. T" Bgregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
$ J* ^$ `+ y4 W( J9 LReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by # X( T+ L+ Q, I4 u( P
my said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re-
3 z! Q: s- z" V! T- I# z2 vstrictions. 7 t: l( q3 B& p
8 n& c5 G. \2 w9 P7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New ' j9 v: Z# A" X( {
Orleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession 2 M* }# s2 D2 A4 @' V
sale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
, j- J O# w6 k1 s( }; Fnow known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con- : Y3 A4 n4 _$ x' J2 h8 F2 A
templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char- - |5 C3 e2 C* B# n( T9 O
itable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex- & A! T# ?8 ^$ y/ Q4 j/ k
ecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them * T4 U/ G W2 r7 H( @
conformably with the laws of Louisiana. $ O5 g- Q5 P& \; Z$ Q
# {4 S& a: X: Y- \8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of ! ]: J( S! f4 M
New Orleans five thousand dollars. % f4 ~ z7 `2 B# C$ J# A
& T* u m4 I8 k; p1 f. t( ]9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- - I5 v$ a) p% Z
garai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars.
! X/ o* ?4 a G5 x- r% i( e: i3 ^
( m# A1 f9 o$ t. G& }
+ H: X* c+ D! c5 p: S* {8 A0 |$ t3 _
106 American Jewish Historical Society.
4 O* _4 K% {# m; Z. G2 F/ f* z: E/ G/ O2 o/ A$ g) }
10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
; t& R( p7 ]: A$ C* RNew Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
- |$ S. T4 v* `) V/ x
4 C. l$ b1 O/ h6 \& H7 g* ^11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society , j& u. \) k1 F1 c% C$ e5 A
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. - L! M) z w4 _. b6 M2 E* w# l
0 [% H2 G- b% X" K6 {( e* u12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New
2 O* U2 q3 u0 r$ I$ O) jOrleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. 3 X9 }! k+ c7 a+ v& a7 l+ X7 u
# H U$ T% k# n& R13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti-
' c7 k( r7 {/ D( A- ]tute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars.
) z; c( l n& p7 ] w0 \/ R3 d D% u1 b! b. S0 T
14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
7 ^$ \5 y9 D: b- v) N0 l- ^, yof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol-
7 ?; A7 a; m* y& @/ E6 i+ Plars. a5 z9 d+ G- U$ r8 `
" x+ |- l T0 E& i3 `
15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan 5 T8 C3 M% E; O, z( T% i
Asylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou-
& S$ p2 R& Y! P# t5 U7 ?7 D! ^4 Gsand dollars.
! u5 `. O% Z* H- P; P* h' f. A& Y3 A) t/ E: V8 y, I6 ^
16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy-
; w3 v% p9 U7 r: H9 Alum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is 4 @; H, h% G; Z# f6 g
chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand . o) {# \9 \; K% X4 D
dollars.
9 S+ v" l# O8 n7 D: c$ A% j, h+ I/ N- i- s7 O& l. g" f; A
17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans,
1 X- T. Q* ?% Z0 D1 Q" kfive thousand dollars. ; t2 _% s4 }4 o5 h5 T) |; D
) G! h" {# ]2 L @7 w- C' N
18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa- 6 t, [/ Q1 ~$ |1 U$ d
tion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
7 L% L1 S4 t9 ?3 a m5 b+ w5 S, x/ m+ D" S1 X' U! t0 T
19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First 6 u+ m$ i6 X. ^# q8 @% C( ]( X( u
District of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. 2 k5 ~/ `2 L; @+ z( T( e
O6 e8 h2 H1 R* Q4 E, l
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an ' {, n7 g: H+ H, x- i
" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of % b! o. y6 m3 p
contributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity ( S8 |( T: {) [$ `
in said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000)
- ^' b. D/ ^ r6 Kand I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be
' S* y- c# ]3 w1 Dorganized according to law; and further, it is my desire that 5 K- l- y O/ i! u* C0 z7 m( W n
after my executors shall have legally organized and established
* Y' ^; P3 r i' ~: y/ W4 q; `9 osaid contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to + E8 y2 A1 e1 Q
administer and control the direction of its affairs, then such per- ( n4 @, P* s' t5 d0 x1 ~8 _
sons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
4 C) T6 P; j7 hjointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc- 5 H- E5 p+ ?" h' w
cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
4 V9 g9 }$ v; U, p* Ithereof.
4 R" w3 Q& e0 C$ b' S. A2 V- m- l- C: z# s- f+ D4 H6 r
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of
5 M5 m9 ^) \# c0 Z& |Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ) I# J! e3 y) Y& o
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the ' E5 i Z8 w+ i$ [5 y
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept
( U- l2 d# ~! H8 A1 m! T' kas a public park or promenade ground. ! n7 T' a3 \: U
8 A; \0 W# r9 g* o
22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport
: y/ J/ N/ ^+ c$ Y) baforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars. $ {( l& O- R, U) u Y6 A# T
9 M+ k3 Z5 v8 `+ O* C% R q
$ n5 a' l" t1 B2 u* k
- b2 |9 y& }/ kJudah Touro — Kohler. 107
; D1 {7 \" g6 I( p& T" B
2 m( S* D+ s- D5 q6 F: m$ G3 Q23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay
7 s5 D7 j* }7 c$ x2 @Shalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars.
& V! P+ d3 Z9 y
% i2 m7 R* J. O1 D24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
4 E0 u' h# w" y0 y/ v$ W8 S4 [ford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
* x* M' L) Y$ b" V3 v
9 Y; ~; T8 _6 T; y25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New 1 B7 B% t0 E, b. s
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. ) k) Q1 _, {1 W! I. W1 y$ e
+ G1 n. [: ^: U7 [) M
26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society,
* W* d4 U. X4 Q. U& yfor the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and
% ~" p8 U# [8 X! vState of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent),
* B! g; v$ o! l& C8 W% Yten thousand dollars. 8 g2 ]) b6 g, W7 R" e
; {4 q6 }% J6 S4 s% i, C' S# z
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir . D8 P+ g3 y. [* S! N1 q/ D0 r
Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to . j1 R8 v. }/ `5 ?8 \+ A
ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in / b2 e/ w% y( O
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of 9 a9 y9 K; G3 d/ S! G
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without ) J# X# R( g, t" z- q1 y
molestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou- " f9 O. F" {; H: w0 ^
sand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through $ N, A: |0 x4 Y9 y0 `9 M
the said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise, 8 S- ~! R% L" w
as best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of
2 z# R+ ]. G; k7 K- e2 ?# O2 uany legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry-
1 ^% @- k1 }; K) V4 h! H" u- t& E( Jing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and
( e: C1 x: [$ L2 |# L$ x' X0 ~in that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
2 J4 c- m0 X) ^* n1 bbe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the # r* R! @# t- @% p* c( T) L" y
City of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri-
$ N( M4 x: F' p/ Ican Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine,
1 D. [. t: `: ^9 s4 h9 Y$ vof the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this " Q) P6 e: B1 \1 u3 [, A1 t
my last will.
, S# _8 ` G+ Y6 g; ]4 P5 U* s) }0 |! f- d8 b
28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I
; Y, z/ S- b' R4 w: ihave already alluded in making this will, as well as those to
' J) \) q$ L+ zwhich in the further course of making this will, I shall refer, , E2 A# W! R. e& I
shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them 7 T! _% A+ Y. P. N
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and ( g1 }, F; m( `
thereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
8 @0 R. H) R. j4 } e: _7 |: Hdesire that the parties interested in such institutions and my
8 n2 \5 G1 k( @! P. nexecutors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de-
: T, W& o9 r- f& Q6 g# Lcease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to . p, r) h0 x. ^6 s) _
inherit in the premises according to my wishes.
9 f6 @; i1 g1 @0 e4 _0 F/ Z$ g, G- E9 w0 [1 E/ u1 p2 y, c, E
29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the 8 V) E1 W' s+ [+ I2 v5 V) F) F
City and State of New York twenty thousand dollars. , N9 A: t$ O7 p+ a+ `- l! K
% M# N- C* y5 j
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
7 y. T0 @8 l# s7 h9 o" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars.
' t D2 i- w$ A$ D
1 s+ ^5 t+ H5 A* _9 @# `! r. ~, w31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
0 t; k5 u: F$ z- Y" {5 s" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars.
* Z a4 z- C( _& o" p; ^+ P1 e7 U+ B3 n$ q
1 {# W' o) E" a9 I
1 R+ ~0 ?, V; L9 z: r0 ^
108 American Jewish Historical Society. # h. [# B( @0 F9 p4 H
3 r% t5 t) f0 [$ |: g' @32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund % v* ?, `* R1 @6 A) n% l3 n
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the + o5 ~$ _' r% e: a
City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand
, W" G7 L; Q9 T3 A! |4 z9 R1 ndollars. " r) a3 n8 r3 P
1 b' I" ?7 P% l' Q" D# |33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He- , P% j1 h! J* m- r. C" s
brew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, : [: x: N( [: }, X V3 C
the sum of three thousand dollars. 8 v3 H- m* m% d7 B) v! L
# S l/ r: D# w9 j" t34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- % s* @) ^& \% [1 |' _2 B
garai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars.
% A# m# D! n/ {6 p5 H- `8 O2 ^! R @
35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
! y# V6 Z, ^) X- s4 Sthe City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was
# A% U) F+ D2 u5 d9 ja directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B.
! F9 X( n& ]. w% s7 l' C$ q' b$ gKursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars. 5 h! R& A- v q, q7 {
3 }; L2 d' m/ ], p* p2 z
36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So-
! I# c7 v O0 L6 A( k- z4 ^ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- & K2 }# ^+ I. a- \5 n
lars. . d x& [0 U& V- K/ t4 E( W0 O
0 [& e1 T( i% s, V S) k, ]% t* T/ n3 Q37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of 8 h' V9 r' _0 p: g$ x
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars.
& T5 y ~) O5 }1 Q0 C H; ~" {6 F. F( C4 T6 K8 ^+ |' X
38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila-
; r6 N8 e& f- x5 Ddelphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars.
. ^7 Z5 N7 l; c0 w. Q2 `6 a
. W8 H7 \2 V( u2 l39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat 0 M, h4 G/ }/ g. i2 a5 S
Israel," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars.
* f7 L7 o3 B! ~6 c, G7 z
% l5 K: J- ` c4 D/ C- g40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth
) s0 s! z6 j. \, w2 v; ~Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars.
; g) W' v3 C5 D9 W0 }5 i3 A; Y1 V5 E/ o# t0 n4 U" y2 d# M6 F, l. e
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith
/ x2 L2 a2 c1 {1 r: G# K. l, AIsrael," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand
+ Q V B, C- }" A0 @4 ydollars. 1 F8 _( @! C0 H; V6 X: X1 Z
; v3 y8 K+ l) G T6 ^# W$ V- a
42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
4 L% t% k* a( l& Y# Ngarai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. 1 g3 \ P$ m1 r3 h7 i1 r1 @" e; Y
- j3 `0 [/ S- r3 Z! l/ H# ?. C
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
% I5 G1 E3 ]/ V7 [5 jIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars. 7 G, b+ a1 y2 ~# V( \1 |$ n
1 H( z, i2 i+ [/ E44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont- 2 D$ F0 X3 [3 A$ i g
gomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars.
4 e. x/ e2 O( f5 }- `# A
' e* R4 p( V: {45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem-
8 x# `5 H# G) `4 {$ Z& }phis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars. 6 F7 T+ Y8 F+ E8 p6 L9 N/ C
$ g1 M9 Y( t+ J1 {
46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas
* q @1 {; w, v8 j+ B; L, uIsrael," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
, e, u9 L' `) R2 V/ c7 Q2 o) g3 `: F7 s5 ^: V! D! U/ s \
47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is-
3 U2 g) l/ [! s2 hrael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars. : ]3 J; R6 w: I1 j, Q1 K% Z0 Q
/ B: X. e7 ~' z" p4 r2 Q+ r' ^
48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo- 9 @2 P& ^1 i$ b0 a2 d
dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars.
6 e1 { _/ R7 Z; k. }/ a
# s$ {8 e9 c; w) ^& j8 k" D5 Y49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati, & \3 n1 f* Y6 x
Ohio, five thousand dollars.
: `, ?, r% K4 U& ?9 c. a3 M) h1 ^9 T
5 g( l/ b! z9 E' V# H7 g: v% h N
5 I. R7 U2 P+ V9 D; r
Judah Touro — Kohler. 109
" ], R8 E. r' y8 ?8 Z' |7 q) Q; g) g7 I# v4 O; u; E m
50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth W+ A1 U. n; V2 }/ G# T4 J
Israel," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars. - A* A- q1 s2 K$ r. X, y
( a- @5 i: N' v+ Y" Z" W7 z( n
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai ) V6 g$ b) o3 @) x# z2 H, x
El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars.
/ X4 u$ W' H' s" z1 `1 ^0 G4 b3 w; Q3 X
52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El," ) f0 `$ o5 n. c, ]: b6 B: s
of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
! F+ y! ~+ ^) ^3 v, V( ]: u
1 |% i4 G4 Y' Z* j7 a2 ^0 g8 Y53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth
* H7 m9 u2 [: M/ ^* Y* Q Q) dEl," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars. & S h+ a4 N7 X. L: h
6 E/ |' z: B- G$ A. @; l54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions, i& [1 h6 r2 f! L, M
named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra-
! B6 X0 w) p+ a* K; @: o' Tham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: * X. C* p5 d' z5 r4 A8 N
0 ?+ Q4 E- C3 t, y2 ?1 zFirst, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
. s0 k6 @" _6 B, ~five thousand dollars.
4 [& |+ a2 N7 |2 c, T
# [& B" ?7 y$ z2 h" b/ w! d) O8 {Second. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, ) M: b. R+ t! T3 h# E
five thousand dollars.
% y% N* X" O/ P& ~4 [
. P h8 c! m' ?) I. ]) g. {) B/ i; EThird. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- + }$ x; h$ G& y$ R, [
sand dollars. 6 c1 T+ k5 s. S( D8 r
J/ X+ P/ j) O0 {8 I) R5 {/ F9 a0 R55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of
1 A! v) F+ Q! q3 j! apaying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew- 2 ~' X' k+ D9 c: b" M1 I* F8 H5 e5 Y
ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min- 5 H! _( [/ A+ ~0 H) B9 \6 i! u4 w$ p! N
istry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the 6 H3 I# z0 ]/ c3 {0 ?
Jewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be
: u/ Q# \ Y( r# |9 oappropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner # } R6 T/ U) O9 V2 @8 c
as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
) A& w8 j. t k( P4 ^6 ?! W% `4 nof Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire,
- k( r7 Z% e/ w6 L* ?$ Wthat David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed 5 M0 G4 y. M/ L! S
friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should 2 }9 ^9 r6 X0 U: _% a" r. v' Q
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
9 l8 n4 `; {& Y Kthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
+ X2 E. p2 G) P H% Kof services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the , r" a6 n- i- b5 K0 ^/ g) G8 h ]1 V0 C( t
sum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them, / f3 D+ J& r. G) {9 E/ z j4 o. S4 ^5 z8 v
the said David and said Nathan H. Gould.
0 Q d. Y; K9 C5 p: U" ^6 ]2 p
3 ]( q( G4 D3 O* P56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine K, E0 u5 n9 d! _
Hays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind ' o# z" h' S0 q0 H! J. Q
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me.
+ e" ]: s+ }4 _, n
( k) ~1 W9 o, _# ]6 y8 ^8 a57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and , w+ h/ }6 d1 `) k. L
Julia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of
' f2 E4 \ G C1 z% `6 T8 x1 z6 oRichmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be - g1 b0 K( D- n9 [3 _
equally divided between them. 7 A1 e/ z( I" j( g2 @* t
. \! u8 z# C( Y9 U
58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to + L1 Q/ j7 Z7 s$ p( w/ ^
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond,
' M5 C8 Y# @: tVirginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my & d) }: y5 M+ C. ?6 }
remembrance.
2 ^) S8 h6 j4 v4 m+ F8 z( b* L; f$ `4 c% X' p& q4 |
2 E- T. i, _- H% G4 ^$ n7 Z9 S
& y, s( G# O& Z' T0 [4 l
110 American Jewish Historical Society.
; S2 j( c: r$ M9 J0 |/ e; k' M8 J, {2 m h% h
59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing,
1 z' {8 j! @/ l) Hof Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
: l; F$ u- I" d; |6 k) h9 \my esteem and kind remembrance. % @4 j/ T' _) g2 j
7 \! C3 @ @/ b+ x60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
2 t& ~1 v2 @5 wmy respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a # P0 }, Y- V. C s2 e( D" u
token of my regard. - h. `( r/ H0 W. I
2 a: o. y! t( E/ p- \ O5 ~61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
! [: s& i! ^% \; D$ M% W2 Jmy friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
& O7 K7 h: z& N. z. \) H A% `wife, to be equally divided between them.
5 W0 u- ^4 o" E! m% N) x7 T _. A5 c7 I8 j, r
62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
( ^9 S3 B, }1 ]$ c; w- @0 z& Smy friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of ' ]' `" i0 }0 m
my remembrance. 8 ^2 j* M* b; I
6 G& v, ?! w8 M) T' X; l5 I% R63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
! o' M6 @: ?- }of Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex- ! }% o, t$ `, R/ N
ecutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol- + r2 l3 n4 A5 D8 ~( M# N& k
lars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
3 n0 v/ k# j0 {2 v6 Wof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
/ m9 c) a r6 }7 Wregard. 2 B' X+ L/ @- L8 n4 G
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64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars,
9 {2 l. ]# S3 y# ?1 Z4 }to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
1 E! L& @+ E- C1 Cmemorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, 7 [. b6 ]" [% a: ^, w7 U. @
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city.
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65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars
& g; n1 D' r9 T+ c3 _ ^* b$ tto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable - e, S! E9 m9 W0 n8 H2 k
memorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of
, q; q4 V- V# {- g7 G4 aMr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans.
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66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have
! D/ q3 l' ~* Y7 Y0 x( Z: @3 Fmade previously to these presents. : p+ ?4 j$ U& |% m( h W
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Thus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to
' q7 i4 T* H" D. Pme, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses
; u4 P A: @1 ~7 S3 S" q8 |herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the 6 O* Y j+ `0 K+ s2 O/ F0 y
same, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own 1 l: x! m/ G( d) H- [$ r; h
proper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this ( b* Q; D3 [, C1 z% U( O, S- Y- Q
testament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- , _$ W4 \4 {; S9 H5 d
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same 1 g: Q. \. O! \0 N4 @, @
presence, that he well understood the same and persisted therein.
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All of which was done at one time without interruption or turn- 3 g& [% T. V. V8 e" {7 B+ H8 k0 P
ing aside to other acts.
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3 o6 `8 h* A( `6 a! MThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the ( {) Q4 [4 r' ?8 \( t/ ?
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and
5 R# k6 @% N! s+ R6 @0 H; N' [year first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan & v" f! U, R- E& q
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, & Y5 _7 q* ?( X6 q9 D+ t) B
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Judah Touro — Kohler. Ill
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all three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said
s" P1 {& T/ p2 N# F# rtestator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their
" @0 B, d% U8 J7 m; Jnames. (Signed.)
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J. TOUEO, % l) I8 F8 D; O' L2 l
, v( k9 S' E+ G+ n" q
J. Montgomery, $ j4 Z6 P! ?0 U& j x& c
9 y+ S) ^9 @+ q" N0 LH. Shepherd, Jr., # D; a/ y: V0 N; P) D8 ^' ^
1 a7 u3 c1 T4 u: {! I) |6 x! nGeo. W. Lee,
2 D. M/ L! \4 |* L3 k6 V/ Q9 q+ ^+ R/ d7 }5 Y6 z% V7 b N$ e2 ? n$ |
Thos. Latton, Notary Puilic.
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LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS
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014 495 461 |
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