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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 2 I( ~7 `' o: N# N" s$ a
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9 [ j# C" W6 G7 y3 G' S- [3 S. f) [JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
$ {) K: T7 }( ^( _# zPHILANTHROPIST.
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* j K' }, r2 B x9 N1 R- x' a; f9 ]8 O9 v1 x* ?7 S/ z) y) F7 a) {% ^
# Z, _0 R& s* A% A8 T6 SBy max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B.
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/ x6 R ~& u& {+ J% M0 j4 rReprinted from , q; Y- y w9 L& \# ^+ p4 f
1 b o& i! b( {& b+ wPublications of the
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i. J4 a3 }, B W( K! J' D9 x) gAmerican Jewish Historical Socibtt,
% Y5 ^5 p/ G- r! p& v$ _7 V4 T" n
/ A3 v$ l9 A; z& E- b# m8 KNo. 13, 1905.
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9 t, H4 E- q& F- f: ?! s% {% l$ L2 W. q7 o7 J' J3 E9 o! s
JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
, y' }6 r% Q8 H: @$ ePHILANTHROPIST.
E6 U! {5 T! L; C6 b* k. v
' n/ k; ?, I+ v- @By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B.
6 _; b! N9 Z5 L! \7 m3 J6 Q" q
It is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak , l8 ~+ n! C: ]( Y8 I' @% V" y
Touro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings,
3 p( j! s7 e- A& o& |; ynor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
6 @+ m9 j/ J( s7 t/ t) C7 _name, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating 6 C) C U' Y- u! f1 Q& R1 X
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- * Q; f# w2 G) ?4 e$ c$ `
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 0 c( S3 R8 E8 V8 `/ I+ M$ H- ?; ?
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's
; I: W9 f( k5 F4 o3 J/ `History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring
* m6 i7 G; o" tthe very name of one who would probably by common consent J1 X+ q( q- j: T3 K5 Z' m
be singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the
: x- }% X3 B9 X; M& efirst half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the ; A# A3 v% E/ t$ k
relations between the investigations of local historical socie-
: z+ q) c5 x" ~* D+ Cties and more general historical writings, can readily account - m1 U+ o- v" V, T' e o6 v
for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career, , U- d5 r# ~" D% e1 e' x4 W2 ?7 h
ignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such " h0 x9 g: J, W) v- k3 |
specialized investigations as our own, that the general his-
d2 E; n2 l8 z' K. d9 g" ^' E" ]1 ktorian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi-
" O* d9 Y0 A% U7 f7 T+ f- u' O6 Xvidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in
% w7 w5 E$ ]2 w8 [8 T9 V. hquestion did not figure prominently in the political or mili- & y' Y' Y. _9 i2 [
tary history of his .
( _& |& w- u; W$ F; M
( E) j3 z- Z+ I3 a0 ~A couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written
0 u$ O. z2 ]& ?9 m, u! vwithin a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by
# h- K$ p/ w& ?5 |, P( @$ l# nnon-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis- ! E- U& H5 u. s/ x- [) Z
factory authorities on his career and tend to show in what ! H$ S, g; @8 N e6 b4 b0 C
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
0 s" N p) G, J2 I3 S bWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal
" r" f7 ^$ G6 g0 S1 ^% W+ m/ C. H2 J8 p' J% I$ Q- u1 _/ Z
' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer- % Y' r7 `+ G2 J6 _5 R
chants," published in 1856. : z( Q4 C) E4 \0 m6 r
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93 6 S5 f0 B& r5 X# n) N+ y. v
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94 American Jewish Historical Society. ' O V* x9 i; Y1 I- d/ Z5 W( a
W, F' U- b( e6 creminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol-
& H. V) T8 r0 \& v5 L+ l' qlections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or- : N% K6 B" Z2 f3 Z6 x$ Q2 ]# M
leans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information; # c1 E9 w; V( n2 l- @: r W
though few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be 8 v/ m/ U) f, ^
likely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog-
5 d5 |3 ?* F; A2 e8 i- ?) eraphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary
+ ]' x+ Y0 ?& k1 E |) I2 S: o" h9 jsketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
6 N5 w5 [ t9 s& }# S3 E Ureminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
. |$ k7 l l1 I$ b* Uare for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant. 9 Z* I$ B+ Q" U! w4 y
Judah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known , t* K$ c! j6 T8 `& B- `
in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy * R# `, R. T& P' _+ p* f
and early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his $ P; ~8 g+ Q) ~* u6 _0 |: \+ v
maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no
& ]# F* P6 m$ bguile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
. Q+ ]% H4 C" \more than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
; _2 X+ j# ?8 J# P' dand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish 0 N3 d& E! ?& X- V) S6 Z, R+ a; h
name in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh
. @! C3 ]' K. Y. a: R+ ounprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic
5 k n& w7 ^2 ?% Sgifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com-
5 c( k9 Q; Z+ \7 Umunities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore
: c( G, ^$ b G1 Fimpossible, in view of the small and humble means at their $ s7 m2 H7 G# ~+ Z: y' `$ D: b, q5 ^
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the
) s t5 S# g: g4 d* L$ Z4 q+ _foundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
( }: q: z+ b6 j7 ? f: ?% usince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry. 5 l7 |5 ^1 ~/ E
9 L) y" N7 W3 q2 GJudah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
( V9 D! o- t8 X) b. U9 b* Y7 e) w16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum-
8 ]2 g3 X, L. K T4 R: P( Istance that his individual career thus began with that of his / p* ]# o6 u) m0 [
beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min-
" V! ~; F9 T, ~4 D* `4 n7 g- hister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption 4 q q3 }" U5 b' W# r! E
of activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by 4 K$ H6 R. T n& ?3 ]
the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme-
! J& N& u# a$ Htery being more than a century older, and concerning whose 2 p y- W, s% ]7 O/ H! R/ Z
career our society has already published various items.^ Isaac , R3 g; q7 d' E% ?% x' S _+ f
5 u' E6 b0 N! m' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854. 0 H! H: b; }$ |8 ^* w6 ^
' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew- 1 m. L% H; Z9 P: P1 m, b D# Z1 B
ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas-
; ^ L/ P/ h; f/ N/ u# P% Y4 S; v- n9 g7 _3 ~/ {
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( E4 G/ z! d) jGift
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5 }9 y1 m1 h/ f( }% K( `(Person^
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Judah Touro — Koliler. 95 : Q( O( |$ r x
; ]$ D+ c! g0 g4 wTouro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays,
1 r& k9 [+ }1 \8 _) C$ i8 m7 {in 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and b7 w2 o0 q+ @
Eebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and $ R# Q8 ]8 i% k
died in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem- - B0 D! r5 N+ F7 `* F5 H! l5 D @
bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city ) G- }- x) `( c0 d
during the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de- . f& _. p+ M' f0 i
parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December / W/ V( T& x! U( p
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country,
7 V5 B' G# a6 D1 Q# m5 band became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays,
7 \) t9 I' Y! Y8 U- Rbrother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- ; z4 E, {2 ?! H+ B# ?5 L8 U
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
. i* T* ^: h/ J, l! H8 J* m5 ober 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays, " b* i) c3 T' P! n0 j5 V6 m; O
Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely
. _; p' t( _8 N( qthose principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood 6 d- j p- a9 }7 f. Q% o4 I. B' R9 {
them in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
! g+ n5 l0 O: P! s$ y8 ualso brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi- ) T' ~4 P' W6 A! }
nent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views
* `: D4 Z7 S; U& n+ Kof those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac-
' ^% M* o0 f4 _3 Z8 k7 v5 Ocompanying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays & L% [& u2 V9 @
was an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the
2 h G: @( e. [ z& ]patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
" q& I- Q1 Z1 F5 \& jMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the
' P8 H ?4 P3 _* M# nfirst American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist,
- M6 M; L$ W$ Xwhile such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition- ) m+ B# N. l8 ^7 G
ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these
: ^3 Y0 G5 U, U% v3 o! n+ U) g0 Tearly associations can probably be traced the sentiments which
! x |+ ?# W1 S: v+ t2 n o8 S" pinduced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase 4 i7 T# c* `6 H; g s' n {! P
slaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and
& d7 y9 m Z9 i# z- x! V" UJudah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and $ f: Y( T- v: ^4 e
! D: D5 s0 }% C' ~* P+ q+ y. otrow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid., 2 @2 U/ M* r, m! i7 x( [
No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No. ( W: g# z3 ^! W- |- J
8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport # r& |6 u/ ^, D& o3 m
and New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
& M" O" A; l7 m6 U5 t5 S \. d! pof Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New- ; b$ D6 ~3 J, O
port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105; - e& z/ B# ]4 o4 I5 k1 v2 v
Rev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews." ( H/ F* ?. z$ A4 y3 p
( a q# H" ]* M& h7 w8 v& G% O0 @" \( t
s& y* ~1 a4 Z5 ?7 ?96 American Jewish Historical Society.
, D2 T' ]: C" ~
$ H0 \, C& P/ R1 u% V: Ccommercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in . ~* P* r* d- M2 v$ i
1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with. 0 U! E: S7 z2 x% C! I: P8 u
a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean.
. \% G B2 C- y& UThe voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
' u/ b7 ~ _. n( f) f: Y5 `0 n* |vessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
# K0 V2 ~9 r( [8 T; Z" ymercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad- - W' v& G; x& _
vised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a * ~+ Y2 a+ `/ f4 y: ]# e
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after + F( O& A9 y i" _
a voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends 6 V3 X% [$ }: h3 W' }# x% x6 k
knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg-
) _( \" ]1 d) c' s* cment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they $ k/ C) S+ m; |, q7 h9 E% D
made to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in : K8 Q7 L' q2 b" d
New Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- ( Z) Q% A4 B2 } {/ S3 J5 M
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New- 8 }5 l: |2 j- {/ G* O5 F
port," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts
4 v) M5 @2 d9 I* `4 V& Jinto six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library
+ s$ m) }. _& W5 J4 x; Q% jfrom the collections of the distinguished historian, George
: G" n* v3 e$ E, M4 ?Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah : ^6 T9 |8 Z6 s$ W* b! x
Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham-
/ N& b" G, z" u$ Dplain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
4 J- r0 t( R8 [6 H) s) |light on the scope of his business dealings.
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Tradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for * p; I3 \5 G, s0 S+ R" V/ K
his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their
) ^7 L1 A2 Y, v7 Jnear relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re-
% \* {/ {: z! S8 Wmained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va.,
9 r7 ~' C5 `! k$ O2 Z W. G0 Wand died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January,
! w9 r0 r7 |9 j* P8 `- _1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very 2 F9 Q' k* v( p
month in ignorance of her death.
2 \" T2 Z/ V) V' ^4 D! v% c- U
( b% w" O& |* j* WAbraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos-
3 K; i9 T& B& M# s# aton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an ) F9 ?6 c, O8 _! o
accident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his * F6 b/ a6 P, k3 X$ f
especial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
) I: o0 P/ {8 C. fport, though the Jewish community of that town had been
- V7 b3 q1 g7 O3 uscattered long before. Two years previously he had caused
7 e; H4 }0 {- Ha substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for
1 m L. W# B. rwhich he made further provision by his will, which contained
5 x7 I# N5 C3 m
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% d* M M4 @; O9 `7 fJudah Touro — K older . 97
5 O. j0 ?* [5 A" t3 j- k p b9 _- w
a number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston * h0 q' B0 h, ]- W! W* r) @
institutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
9 B# Y8 ]& Q6 [7 ~) VNewport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly
3 f$ Z& S$ q+ A0 Y3 }: `3 W% hto the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog- 9 ?" \& g y) \ j x
nizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly. ( u. @) i6 Y3 B( M" Q
' Q( ?( Y; M2 W: K1 u
Eeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
f4 n+ J6 z" ~+ I5 yically recognized the claims of his country upon him during
0 F3 W n# W* J3 ?* {: i& bthe War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests,
$ w# I1 d& ^5 r' R. d( Kin order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or-
6 F. [/ d4 p* b1 u* B; a4 wleans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun-
1 n9 l' o+ m8 e* d4 g# dteered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of
% p3 O( j8 ]* {$ n& n: jthe American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
- y" J5 _8 w/ s2 Bin the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve- ' A1 k; A& m6 D4 Q% u8 {$ F8 h2 I
pound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that
/ x A' k. q' Y* V8 Z3 the was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D.
% n2 O( [% _8 T' w* k: a' LShepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians , v; X+ `+ u4 V* A
had abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death
3 C, J+ f, `6 }0 N9 d9 Pwas great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
. ?6 I- y' l/ y2 `3 {- WJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of . [5 Y4 {. d/ m! o5 A5 v
Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi-
, c* {" E* E$ |4 `dence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep-
$ F6 W+ [6 l/ fherd had independent means of his own, he treated this large # H1 U) \- T* O) V) {: K
bequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes,
- p2 _( m5 A- x( Cso that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
" i. Q4 |2 G" o! V' F. Escribed in the will itself. ) Y' Q$ M6 ? Y4 Y9 p) @
: T) w" [' z0 e" h; q/ ~
Judge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred * T# S. R7 H- y# F
to, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began : ^, b9 J3 S! k7 M
a brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other + x8 Z' R% d' S" v: X/ f+ n
exports of New England, making prompt returns to his
) R0 }0 V* {: v0 E; j- Z8 H3 Efriends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man- 6 R2 N/ K9 ~* y- x: [& d/ h" s
agement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
- ~1 V0 `0 M1 p: v/ k6 Uvessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and " P& {) k3 j* r C
many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain
. i" s$ Z7 L( Q' Y& S" c* Lcargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his 3 q6 ~ D/ s8 o- A0 |8 }
funds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in
f g' i6 b8 p5 { o9 xships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His
0 {% y1 o0 b7 I ]/ |" K0 }# a% O2 o
; k6 J4 R5 j* z, }4 T/ _$ l
% K' F9 K$ `8 K6 `98 American Jewish Historical Society. % P" G0 u: A8 d5 L
& o8 p; c( p: l6 ?
career as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and
& p5 Z5 J) f2 H- x( G: pstem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- + _" U4 A; s% U
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn- ( Y( s: O: y" ?1 e- ?! D+ N7 H4 _
ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to * a8 K( Q$ g5 z$ F
the cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents # z7 k8 `2 U$ I8 D+ x' V
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock.
: K5 `% t7 x! d! X8 G/ F2 ^His neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day
6 d% J2 X5 u7 Qby his movements. In his business he rarely employed more
& B J& j* W' g/ } Dthan one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus- % I) t' m( V* p' B
tom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. ! P$ J: G" z- K% s
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well
! T! r0 G3 A/ t; W' sarranged that there was no possibility of any misunder-
+ M( q6 e1 V) l% @+ Pstanding.
5 {% p* t6 E7 b9 ]" J
0 S ?7 M1 z" W3 VIt is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was
. u0 X2 f$ S2 P" p8 {& T# ydevoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
3 V! | f$ x7 `6 o# }9 zage, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to 5 ]& J4 B6 S8 ^% A H* Z
work the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
; J7 J) r# _0 Q% m2 h& z. @his name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro- : K% D5 N4 f: O
pists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for-
: X3 ?; E1 p. rtunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, 2 H. w5 j% K1 A, o6 |
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not- ' D$ R/ V7 o0 u1 p
withstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that
J0 K) J! d1 S% Ohis whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan- 2 }- K) \. r6 W. L0 H
thropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New # P- F/ E- H6 c& T0 ^1 j+ L% _
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
, \$ ~3 n" u2 ?% i7 uviously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who
1 L, E1 d* K w) B. i. z. V' Ehad won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
7 Y. x$ F$ S) r: l; O3 b3 }that which the most successful merchant, the most daring 4 e" f* [8 g) W' d9 @ d0 C
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw 4 K# z1 y/ q+ R
him in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra- # {* K! J; i" d' H# l) g; D
tions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little 3 `& K* C1 t) p% N
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble / y& V( T E* L
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to / w4 O" {5 s3 M8 H
glide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his
5 g) r# k+ x8 ]$ rhands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his
" N0 N- x- G0 M: N: shomely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
- L9 X H7 _, d5 G$ m* o( N
& `( v4 X6 H0 z7 g; |( e2 U
# o' Y' ?9 k& q+ Z8 F) k- X3 r% |8 y+ M- v: Z
Judah Toiiro — Kohler. 99
# o3 a; `( `# g. [2 A3 w
% o0 `: f% h& o9 r; J0 ~pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, ! H" y1 t* ^3 a$ @3 w7 `" j
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali- + \2 {8 _2 L; X% ]1 t; D
ties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a $ F. m: `* p) t
whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn
) r9 M1 C" k Naside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to - R# t7 _3 a$ I; {; v& ?, e- i
bewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a , O( L9 D ^; ]6 f6 A
millionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death
6 m' D" |( L' i, T' U6 {: F- tof the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who 8 v! y* Q8 O: r/ K9 ]; T
does his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large
% V: r* B* J& H* k$ P- S1 Ewealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the 7 v5 t7 P* ~$ U
reward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi- $ D- _( a/ H+ p7 g, c, a( C
cence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a 3 r" r' k6 I; b
splendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise
8 Z" a: G% c7 l0 j9 m. p' g' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall
, d* h+ Q) Q; K! K- F! |: x$ breturn to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake, $ i! L) d) U# r. x; z& p1 @2 X: V
were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He / ?) C q4 L+ y) h* z* J
deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
+ Z& ?0 T0 c7 O/ cgratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
0 B2 ^& ?4 z3 h5 r. H% D/ S+ p5 rpassion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was
- O2 F- L( }" E1 X4 | t' J T6 aa miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence, & Q( D+ U3 ~# [/ n+ t
from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and
o v, W; v$ Y% g, X. {stealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions, ; m9 |6 b( m2 Z, z
and his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta-
$ y6 x7 U& v, f/ o. L1 G5 mtion and display which are too often the main incentive to 1 m: p3 \1 T$ Q: `" ?
liberal and benevolent deeds."
8 _6 E0 l# o9 R' p9 o
' P+ T0 P$ U* C+ B, ^Turning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess
3 S: P% T, A$ H4 ^" C [5 Z3 @) c9 R0 fthat Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the
. z& v& z" z) s8 dpublic to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac- 9 l0 C; ?: ? s/ t- a* s D
tions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they 6 F9 Q9 c/ W1 o
are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
. a {5 l) H7 x5 ^5 ?7 _large gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as
' g& u7 ^/ v, A! {3 R- E6 Zcommon as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards 0 y6 |' h( L: n" T
the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in- 3 B9 R0 A' Q2 _% R6 e# h
terested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up
$ Y |: K1 Q8 o$ x+ c9 x! ]4 ztheir project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
$ A( k: I; J+ R% C3 |already in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle.
: m+ W5 T4 R; K
4 B& j3 O3 Z; U, {. W% q# t! t9 n3 ?+ R+ \5 r. E* E
" y: z! e: O, J1 T
100 American Jewish Historical Society. ( L5 g5 o1 n1 ~# j4 O
$ \& O b; @5 O1 [Amos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material
4 h4 _' Y3 k, b+ u% Z8 iresponse, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward / O. @/ c; ]3 q9 z o1 y. S
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately
( O( s8 M# C- y* ]! ^" Z, ^( Soffered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of # z6 x$ o6 Y5 u7 {) e
Amos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces-
7 P$ ~3 v/ a4 `9 D. F, X6 esary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in-
# Q O- P' y5 o: D! f% Idignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his
8 ]9 H; l; K8 ~4 a9 a" }6 binjunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he 3 f; p0 ~* E! A
seriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- . U9 Y: B: Y9 U4 d' w4 x
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
3 [/ t% T. W$ P4 j$ M! B, vish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other / }! S! R+ k5 B
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world,
1 _5 B# u9 V& d! X, Mand well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication - Q1 v8 b% P2 `' U- q' H! [
of the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
6 q+ d& M; B9 a2 J9 Z! S3 k; Wthe United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity : y( z- n) t# R9 ^, T) |0 {
was commemorated by the presiding officer who read these ; J' n8 o& U8 X6 X2 q$ Q" c
lines, since become famous :
2 v% R1 \9 X, D' [+ o: Z/ }
8 h1 `, h2 h, W. M3 NAmos and Judah — venerated names! ! _& H$ K; j- \4 u: u
2 S9 {4 S, e$ [" E$ O8 f0 I' f1 oPatriarch and prophet press their equal claims, 1 n: Y3 s& X$ R+ R
; I, }8 ~! V1 P, S; T
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck.
/ m3 h2 B# e; ?5 s' a( E& y% t6 k, y8 _/ G6 ^
Each aids the work by giving it a check. ! @/ j+ b+ B+ P5 F* y9 {* {3 B
; ]7 ?2 @! e, f* Q b
Christian and Jew, they carry out a plan —
: D; g4 X5 ^0 A4 h* t, U7 K4 N" H: K
0 y7 r5 d* c' i( kFor though of different faith, each is in heart a man. 5 d7 k) | K) ~. L9 K5 K
! C8 B5 V: P* K0 P+ |Judah Touro's private benefactions were munificent - C" K j( r6 X" c" q
throughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often 4 N' {* ]& E3 O' J7 e, T+ }
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration ; e# h. W8 D# m- Y( [6 h1 [. \; ^) r
in point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris- . ?# C; v! m+ r5 C m' ]0 `. u( d8 R
tian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
9 x4 L" }6 A) v" b% M Nister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,- # J* F- @) H2 }) U
000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised ) H {* E6 {2 b8 s! H* Q& A
by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build- 8 L6 ]5 g M. o7 _9 ~- T+ u- A3 o5 |
ing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to & o6 e% N( a4 E: X9 ]! G
occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after
1 l* Z# U: R) C) L) Z2 B) `2 Smany years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con- 0 ]" T& c! a, ?
( P3 A$ A P; L* Y* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
0 n& n9 \: _ Q; h. h# W$ N# {- T3 ^4 K+ M2 f2 d" Q _: d1 N
* Q$ | V, m$ \0 m6 o. j" v& L+ Z: R6 ~3 h1 |
Judah Touro — Kohler. 101
3 \1 n$ b, d! {7 Q7 D( p" J0 ~. T: `& B8 o% s$ Y) \
tribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested / W4 L6 `9 \ X6 A% h; X- ]: P1 c
that he could profitably erect business buildings on the site, ! N$ i% U9 A$ F' `
he promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I . y! ?6 W9 W' |
am a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church 5 ^5 o& @- C B1 u8 O0 X, d
to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from 2 ]. H2 y# O% l7 t
him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister
+ x& x: ~1 e; `5 Q# Cdied, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he 6 _8 @6 i: V v% Z
declined to accept the money, ing instead that it be
: z" V, d- c- p1 D/ i" z1 P5 N$ Bdistributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
- s' ? l2 T+ ?2 }at New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- L$ z& G* b; c
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill "
3 k/ {% Q. s9 n: t- G0 L6 \of jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's ; R- Y/ T: ]( ^
settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui-
1 z7 m+ ^: ] C: y7 Lsition of the site by that municipality. For many years he 2 r, u0 h7 c* ?( M3 z+ o
was practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans; 8 L. K* E- X. [, l, k2 u
subsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected . b! `9 _5 c' l8 i# j
a synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex-
( z9 }! V/ S3 d* E. c/ @/ u) l5 x* ?pense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- / d M& M, @: h2 _0 H4 M
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed
. K4 d& d0 @' J* @. AJanuary 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis- , N. Q; m+ y( a% x# _
tributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable 5 @; j. p1 m( n
purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
! I6 ]0 l$ n" bClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have & G( r5 c. w; H0 z( ?9 P: T
never heard of but one religionist in the United States who
2 Z$ L' Z3 q5 Ucan be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of 1 H) |3 z2 b" N8 N4 ]
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing 9 O7 e2 S" N* g0 R# n+ l9 n
on other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran-
- T) d, W& [1 x5 z! qgers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he 6 \+ v9 z. ?( W9 P. _. Q/ s( d
scattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity. , p7 p0 C: q6 F; u
He knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated 5 n4 l- m+ m) n4 Z( _% B" B
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
( }3 \2 x! N1 _8 ]1 u; Ihilation."
' w7 z2 U1 U1 T# D$ Z( Y0 B% I# L; J, s
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur-
2 z) w6 Z7 a" g& x6 ]# Fprised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by 9 z+ Y; r6 p8 e+ D5 w
him at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi-
6 h6 t) v( h9 U2 W! [6 ^) Lties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their / w" s, o6 M( ~' Q- E8 b$ q
, S2 a' H5 w( S* @ c# i/ ?/ O8 Q) e" C$ e9 V; H
) w8 a; R3 \5 ^4 }* I2 \, d: `$ \102 American Jewish Historical Society.
: v* N( W, X. D6 i& r. X) k! T; q$ m! `/ g7 {
charitable institutions, many of which owed their continued @9 a* o$ ^1 J
existence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his & F1 `; ]7 ^9 ?5 }5 j8 M
wise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- & } R+ A( L$ ]: r/ T
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have
+ z* J4 Y% X1 `& Kfound their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of $ {' d7 G1 E1 T* A
necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably ! C8 w" B L* u. L
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be- 8 u9 _) d9 u4 F$ r/ d. J( C1 C
quests, as follows : 0 l* t, b8 v3 e% S* \- I% D
' [4 S0 V% d3 o8 @% n7 d' M# K
He thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where
9 m$ U& g7 D$ ahe had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to
" _9 Z' g( H( W Stheir relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are 2 s! {+ M. j4 D2 F# m- U
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will
1 O. Z" T! V) {9 q/ ]. Vever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in ' i- I+ ? O G4 A# E. S! \
his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in 3 W- U. u) _) b
the day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per- + F) Y/ y8 [9 i6 o2 D
suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied + ~+ a1 U$ U7 O( E1 U
the means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of c, `9 a4 Z/ _
the new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded
4 x$ F! m% \5 x6 zthem the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the 1 O8 f& O. o0 s
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He
" D: T( E: ]: vthought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the 9 e. L3 U7 y2 o3 ~; x* _
children of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those
+ q* S) F. b) ?- `) n4 G2 O/ M6 Cinstitutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish ' E, v" K; F3 {
religion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number- ( z/ z3 E2 ^7 {; Q5 C
He thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to
) {; o+ O% `! qglide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of 2 ~9 w/ d( L% K
benevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop 8 U2 J# k$ m8 c" K- _/ a- P1 o: I
into despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of
) @1 r: {1 K0 s4 y3 YIsrael, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro-
' m y9 ?/ \- |, W2 X& ltection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far 9 V/ a9 x" }6 [( u4 Z# t
West, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost # y' ^9 _0 N2 U, G
a solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged 0 ~7 X/ z: H* q
Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
/ q) s% S0 |. ` x" Y9 F2 k& H7 \
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because 5 M/ y' k% c/ c0 ^7 |- ^4 O% q- d
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
; h) T! H: X4 s5 m O3 U# Othe various Jewish communities of the United States and their
" k- D, q( O' M& Tinstitutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information
, q/ { _/ T7 t% g7 _, b0 v6 Qobtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun-
! u3 M+ B' x: [; D, Vtry, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have $ c3 o5 y) h; u+ s2 x
omitted no deserving Jewish community. 4 r% p. w- w: b# Y$ G
1 V) |6 |. i& h% k7 A# W4 h3 |$ e' N, b
8 ^; h0 `# z0 _: o9 I. w9 gJudah Touro — Kohler. 103 ( r8 j8 }- p- o: h
2 C. D% R e- F* ? }
crated by so many wonderful events which marked our early
" O+ {" E* D2 }5 U( `% Dhistory, to them on in the deprivations to which they are ! |+ G. t5 I5 U7 r. g
subjected. $ K: M) Z( R* ~! b o$ q% x5 P
# s. S& {4 j; {One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he
0 p: ^/ ]1 F! p6 D) d7 Pshould have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with
0 l/ ^, |* r; T: k; {, _Sir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor- 0 {, {3 E, x3 f5 S3 }3 B1 m
ing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish 7 n; G; c. w, Z% i0 P( j
brethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
1 v. D5 g9 Z8 V+ y, b3 hish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious $ c% B9 k& \% M5 T) \: Z) l
temptation.
; `: l- V5 M @3 D7 ?: M% f
% S/ v/ z; A b, u! C: uAt the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile 7 H0 x+ T7 B0 W7 Y" A+ U9 o: X
vied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect,
6 }, \) `$ z2 Aand these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport,
3 }' t7 t) b* F Y# N. s- lEhode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were 6 M2 y" N$ a* Y
attended by delegations from the numerous organizations he 0 R4 W5 G5 B! i+ b* v6 {' L
had so generously remembered, coming from all over the
: i. H& I' ~7 G' G2 d& tland. By official resolution of the public authorities of
- k/ d+ X5 o1 c( FNewport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy, / r# ]: n, I* i: B J1 A
his executors and all these delegations became the guests of ; a1 `1 g ~4 B
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells : W b& k7 ]& c1 n
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business
3 r5 c; F3 B* m( ?were closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were # ~' W; D% Z) g' |- |
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
: g9 N, | V8 H$ l# R8 ~- Pphia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew 7 R9 B ?8 o0 E+ K+ W
York. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
* n9 o/ s& e' e9 W. J1 L+ `bitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of 6 i9 w c/ w, P6 s$ s( c$ M4 [
Jewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans
, V" y2 n I, ?& k5 q, Z7 kwere named after him in order to commemorate his generous
9 Q z, ]/ {4 w; l" d% aphilanthropy.
4 [$ h1 y3 L, Z/ R. O) o7 Y8 |) K8 D
( z7 s4 k+ C, n3 E3 C/ p4 u( JHis tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
* K0 C6 ^' `8 }6 V2 \/ Xlowing appropriate inscription :
9 h. u F$ w3 C7 s$ z, C# a. S( M. f- V& C. M" }7 i
By righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth;
( d) G# r( u; z6 g# RIn charity and for salvation he dispensed it. " Z: S! z& a O' {0 |
The last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan- 3 ^' Q& H" \& f+ }, B% }
thropy
3 Z1 j+ j$ S$ {/ I0 {5 lTo be remembered forever.
$ s8 ^2 r4 _7 e/ C9 + P8 \( D3 k, B7 q2 z4 J
; l5 u) h0 b" J* d! y/ k. |# t: R
+ e4 J; m8 f, Q, ^+ Q/ @: b
& b! z4 [; t1 H J- c, H104 American Jeujish Historical Society. / x) u b7 k! l) d m+ |- Q8 f+ r$ `
& J B, S& K- V6 O+ c
WILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO. 6 v* A" p; Q6 X0 _3 Y
6 t; j/ E0 H7 x! _; G3 RUnited States of America,
* I: {! J: `- Q. h9 {; a- q$ I3 e+ t0 ^' k6 F4 ?8 E
State of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
, r. v, f6 U! y5 k; Q y" D' n: d- k4 B6 l. g% P/ ~/ {
Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of
( f3 t6 c( v2 I% V+ Oour Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence ) d6 G9 G+ z% k* W: [
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter
?$ K' k) \% p( g' i) y+ t, B- K; lbefore 10 o'clock a. m.. $ L+ w; S, F" S8 r! \5 g
4 j8 @( z- B ?" tBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the 5 o: l9 Q+ _! x& @# t0 Y
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, 7 d9 }, N+ T# Z
and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep-
9 d& D: X- E: R) z5 C: T2 |2 c0 @$ therd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re- 7 ]7 ~; }, _% z+ _5 T/ [3 [7 u$ v! X
siding in said city, and hereto expressly required — - Z& @7 Q1 F. c1 s8 O. x0 `
+ R/ z9 A7 h( p4 k/ {) {Personally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant,
0 C7 [/ O$ O+ Swhom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a
0 W9 R% _. p' `7 t) z) ]& v" croom, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but 7 i+ L* O; \' w7 V+ k+ V
sound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the
* o- d8 b, ^ E8 n4 M6 Tsaid Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah
0 @- o7 _: F) I# L" ]Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa- 1 U" |0 C. G# {0 v7 H2 U
ment, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in
1 j2 V' W7 ^1 c, D+ cpresence of said witnesses: & Q( t' O1 O" f! `! {% q. v
# o& H8 |, ]3 p) a1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
7 x" m, e' @; p6 ~
8 i6 A" J0 x( c: S: o8 o/ _) T2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
% a N% D; t1 y/ Q2 qCemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after 2 n- p; G5 F) ], m; R
my decease.
. Q" \( X. m' F( ]8 C1 s$ ]# f' ?
. d5 u* a& ?+ @# y! V3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends
/ Z; m/ f* Z6 A9 A* k# w( e5 BRezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of 9 l, x; K0 G. }6 x0 d g3 ]5 G
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre
: c {3 [2 R& A' aAndre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu- ; P+ t! N0 {9 P' z* B ]9 S
tors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- ! O. a4 M$ ]; m* g
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said
: V; V2 h, C6 q& E P' C9 TAaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre & ]9 Q6 y' c& r& H0 r1 ~
Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the
- f: D r, }$ d4 F [; bsum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively,
3 x7 v3 c( \1 U8 k: vnot only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but 8 M2 p) x1 X+ c* M+ v. f# k2 V
also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto, ( H7 k# a( ^* c, ]% a# B
rendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
8 N! V% S. o; L" g+ vbe entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors
( v6 C2 q% b4 T, d3 A$ y) Xas aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say
* e; R: u& q$ `% ]& J% k- Imy dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom,
4 a! s: \- V. J: Cunder Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva-
, i* p+ [( y. l: _tion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815,
8 {$ T9 Y1 F P/ a. n2 M
: Y- p1 D t6 j H
6 V, l- T, {" ?
~, Y. e0 ^7 G1 ?- H( a* e0 ?Judah Touro — Eohler. 105
6 h; T, |9 D* J! N+ m b* u# O e
I hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep- % j4 n3 D1 t2 X$ G
herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts 9 H2 a/ V# ?. E$ P5 {
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of 1 A) J% q, f; J
my estate, movable and immovable.
. i5 F1 g( {5 k F. P6 t5 c% h5 \7 y7 X* E) z+ L* R) \
In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more $ W6 Z3 |( l5 q# T
of my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor
( E. b ^' R/ ^or Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last , H9 \+ W5 O; N$ L* {2 f o
will; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more
% ?9 O! K+ m# d' n' M* Dof my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that # g2 i! t# h& w X: G5 W
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of 3 f% z* W# \& k/ l& s
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in-
5 d& u' v; G( f- V: h# Q1 Fherit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made }; J- x! ?& ?3 U
to them. % _/ J+ b( @& i6 u
7 j1 _7 ]# E$ W! a! O, L1 |" l- C4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in 3 C) Q- O" _( f) a6 W- F# v8 K4 i
force at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until ' ~0 b2 D9 S+ g8 J" ^7 K7 `
the same shall have expired.
4 X, r+ a5 V* Q* O
% y" D8 m( M$ c. f5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of
: T$ w$ {. {& R: ?2 k- R3 }which I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner / V5 T3 r3 ^6 W3 M% i- p
directed by this my last will or testament.
9 v3 n3 }6 B9 c3 {) j/ |
( e$ ?- \" Q/ Q1 R( x6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis- ; W2 G3 q5 d6 Q; C
persed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain ! v. c, o8 E/ X1 c) T
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their # u1 i4 B1 R2 b# ^/ s3 H: e
Synagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of 6 g4 l2 V7 L" C$ [+ D' I1 X
the said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from " \! S2 \$ l( Z- O8 `
the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
- I7 s) x# l+ p* Z. M" \the two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David : o3 l/ v# X* v/ ]4 h8 S+ j
Urquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found- 3 z5 B3 p4 B% c) S5 g6 `5 H
ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con- 9 d0 T" ~0 _4 M* |8 s
gregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
/ z& R9 j4 z9 K s5 v# AReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by
8 }5 R( e. z8 {% K$ I* L( fmy said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re-
; G! u# b4 q+ A/ w2 B6 O0 \# gstrictions. . V% v6 b: c" X' V C
% c, H( J/ n1 d. w% o- P& `7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New
+ Q/ R- p* g& i( Q2 O6 ]6 O1 a/ }4 lOrleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession & }! w3 E( o, v, _9 d, S7 r
sale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
( X, o- b* z5 _, `# z$ c: Rnow known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con- 0 o% D7 {! G2 f, O8 X
templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
+ V9 Z5 @2 M/ f6 Uitable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex- ' l: Q4 Z, I `' {2 A5 {9 N
ecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them ; q3 \. Q$ C2 f5 `
conformably with the laws of Louisiana.
) W- K, U% i7 T8 b, R' `$ P- J- {( V7 P: M: N9 i8 E+ S
8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of * ~: N+ E9 x) H6 m- G$ l
New Orleans five thousand dollars. - S5 \/ q. g% }4 M* w) F! d: E7 R
1 s6 F5 D: S6 T$ Y/ y6 p, D+ E8 k* R9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
' c4 {/ V U. ygarai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars.
3 b0 P# _( o4 `" D8 D6 S# U/ {4 `" I2 X7 }' J/ U
- X9 s# V# X( k, r# \
2 X6 r- G( y; b* p6 f0 |% c106 American Jewish Historical Society.
* e C" A- K+ l$ b) p
: \- }; `1 ~( \10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
. e4 \# u+ e0 ~& f9 _New Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
- }8 r8 D0 O; Y O. b# V0 @; d
/ u: O# o. ?/ L5 `11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society
h1 _, Z; g! Z' s1 kof New Orleans, five thousand dollars. - A6 O$ @* W8 Z# u5 t% j5 I7 C
. N& n( A* s5 `5 h( t7 s1 H5 F0 U- T4 h12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New
, N. G$ f8 C1 R! }0 U! Z! gOrleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
$ y$ c8 c. q: B( Z+ Z# @; o1 B# e, k0 B+ U: J8 [& ?4 o* b$ P/ u
13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti- / D' {0 U2 G+ c, X% |7 C
tute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars.
3 x E' E$ N: O8 H% F! W
1 L0 z3 R- c! ~. c# l) q* |; x14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
% T, w5 _4 s6 T, w7 ]2 h6 Aof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol-
4 W$ x4 m/ w* I) w+ Tlars. 1 V) ]( o+ T+ v3 Z5 o# I: B
3 s8 v# _8 Q2 {, [: k I) o15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan % u( f" m7 `/ S8 A7 B6 U( T
Asylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou- 3 W/ c$ L# `/ v& B7 f1 c# P
sand dollars. 2 g$ Q1 v* v( H3 n! X9 M# a/ X
$ H7 @1 i7 o+ n% b) ~2 \3 J1 l16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy- # l: b' t. l# d7 c( S0 ?
lum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is 6 `$ \" }2 c9 U/ |! |
chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand
4 n9 @3 c% }. g6 Qdollars.
5 p+ Y/ n; R+ O4 A: ]8 ?6 T d. F
* h4 M; w7 ~5 A5 y7 r1 d2 ]17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans, # ], K5 G# Q+ f
five thousand dollars. ! t& G& K G5 R2 M! T5 D' X" m) M
2 K( x- k/ e1 t1 q
18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa-
( D6 y5 E, s% v7 h/ Mtion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
7 u. g; L# i. N- p5 t
$ a {% O, D$ ?* I! w2 h19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
# O0 m1 t) x* T/ s6 bDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. - ^- E( b; t N9 t
5 n' ^: d4 Z& k4 s2 \
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an 4 a' m+ U& Q8 X
" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of " |# x8 {! E4 h5 m
contributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity
2 D$ j3 R. ?% _7 N/ L/ Uin said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000) % }% }2 o: s. o2 d1 N9 p! ^$ p
and I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be : Z7 b# V; ^' Q/ h: N; X* g: R
organized according to law; and further, it is my desire that * c0 l# b8 S! T, W$ l1 A
after my executors shall have legally organized and established
1 u$ b. @+ n4 Z3 X2 e6 g/ Usaid contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to
# s5 ~' K# c- G+ Tadminister and control the direction of its affairs, then such per- : h m: u% N! j: }) H
sons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con- 2 d3 Y! @3 D& @7 x) f7 u) e) V
jointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc-
4 E9 ^* w6 w% u' v' o1 F' ~: Acessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
; ~0 ^8 K) \+ K* F; R, H; sthereof. 8 Q; O1 \8 G- w& V( Z; S) u
* {( U* S! c+ o; C, v2 c. C
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of & T5 Z+ s$ S6 C1 C9 V1 M
Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ; M1 S7 x& M1 x
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the
# F. T4 c) U5 S& b+ Fproperty in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept 5 E0 R" M, @( l0 N& y
as a public park or promenade ground.
& | u) }( y: |7 n+ r, z
7 G, B6 `! m. y4 ~2 {- p22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport $ k4 J; O2 Y8 G! P+ O
aforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars. 3 H1 h0 Z+ k6 u( D+ ~0 z
& e$ Y$ M* U2 h1 ?/ ]' X. p. s3 A3 E& J6 T0 V% O w
& k9 ?* r m5 i# Q' J1 B* _Judah Touro — Kohler. 107
1 |+ r' V. n& [1 v0 T. O, l+ R |8 n2 l
23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay 8 m. e! K% A7 g' a& F
Shalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars.
: f, z6 O, F7 s2 @/ {' a- d4 G& |; ] f1 C5 R+ }, k- @- k3 e
24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
2 {+ x9 e, |5 ?1 D' W8 I$ aford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. ; W p; F/ w1 D+ h
% i Z7 Q1 X3 a' g$ j
25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New
! U( P8 R: l7 q" M, L2 i" [* e+ |Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. 4 e- c. v+ Z" z1 X7 f1 l. f
. h, \8 a% o" a8 {26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society, * E. J( \0 t+ E9 m
for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and : |# Z/ J0 ?5 S- Q3 o
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent),
/ N, x& T) }3 m! ]ten thousand dollars.
" E1 v4 C. s# H' U, t* ]' P ?8 G" k
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir
* D. U' r! z" |9 E6 K4 ?: K+ I$ HMoses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to
: F& X3 z5 a8 K9 F$ d" Oameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in # Q7 M+ u) `% G0 v$ f- s* \
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of ^% W" v6 v- a0 Q. |
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without 0 [% B% G3 P" e! g+ V- [
molestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou- ; i) W% N4 B3 G0 f& f8 A. q
sand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through : S+ J( f6 O4 m8 |+ y
the said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise,
: L! p. m7 W1 b% U5 V- nas best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of " g' Z+ T) J* S9 m4 q9 t6 Y# K
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry- * k$ B! v0 Y+ B# C7 c% w1 ^2 F
ing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and
: e/ ~- Y* M: z. y" Xin that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
; t% g! |3 s. M; k" e1 Q+ g; P, kbe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the
* @9 J0 R6 i, e( A3 E4 OCity of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri- + Y- p6 U1 w# V
can Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, - I% w0 |/ K' a- \ F0 j8 J/ d
of the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this 1 p4 {2 i: W# z" x. v
my last will.
$ v, v4 P$ `/ @& U% S9 `& Q: |4 v2 j$ ~# j; O9 ?
28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I 0 Z/ Z6 o; ~* s% j3 R6 }8 M$ A5 [
have already alluded in making this will, as well as those to
/ B; c! [- s. Iwhich in the further course of making this will, I shall refer, ( ]. T4 ?1 G: l- D3 W: A! w
shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them % h5 K2 H( c d% f
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and % Q/ D; c8 d& D
thereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I & x: }5 W, P v
desire that the parties interested in such institutions and my - f# r `# f9 m5 ~- U+ D o6 `
executors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de- * S" [/ H. W$ R* Z
cease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
; n5 s6 _- B' X0 winherit in the premises according to my wishes.
) m0 h* Z! W; c. Q" l2 U7 h
! H1 T: A" S! A9 d; X7 X29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the
" }' D: ^# x* K {( w7 B* J6 lCity and State of New York twenty thousand dollars.
) ~# I) W# m# |* E& s/ w" k, U! C; j: h) x1 C
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society % A7 t$ S4 O+ {: C2 a6 P Z* S
" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars. 2 X3 n/ Z, \( U% e j) _
. |( o1 e; e( p
31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
8 e% e. q2 Q ?% y" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars.
% C& I( D! B( Y' K7 ~
* \1 w+ |" r: L( j! |: z- P! e9 }$ P3 Q b
: D, Q$ P9 b' H7 Q7 n3 R* x0 ?108 American Jewish Historical Society. 7 D( |; m7 \3 b7 k$ N
7 m0 g T7 t* R32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund ' [- W7 @# _# @' a. u# I
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the 9 B/ a) R) f# l. t& D
City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand
4 H N1 k2 H! N) a( `9 ]$ n3 Edollars. : n/ q) d1 c8 W; v
K* O! B5 c _; g2 p
33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
% t# q! Q2 L W2 h$ Q" abrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, 2 {0 w x3 ?7 b: {6 z
the sum of three thousand dollars.
+ B, D% S2 M8 t" Y! m- v& f9 ^: @/ F( X1 ^4 h6 X' i
34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- ( g/ h8 A7 ` @: [5 [. _' J
garai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. & ~6 x% l; p" Y% k8 b. W" a' Q
- M$ x) q; {7 z! n35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of % H( G6 A* q; P/ }9 i
the City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was $ E7 h) n5 |3 L- Z- |1 V) L) b
a directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B. % a: b) j! x+ i" p# v4 t( h
Kursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars.
7 |3 x$ h7 r7 C; l- }! `$ k4 b% K2 q" M( K- o5 Z
36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- 1 l" D% m" G- p }% D
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- 6 a2 i' N$ f' y' g
lars.
* [, n- C* l n- N3 G7 d. W; f: L% G# b3 J8 G
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of - J% ?0 ` z" Q+ \% `7 x# R+ c2 b
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars.
; s5 d3 \1 B+ A. Z" `; h
7 A: l; f% v. N: z38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila-
; s) X8 p) C/ X; Hdelphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars. % |$ R3 }4 _. r3 `* g
) X4 t# ?* b: Q; _* w. E
39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat
$ I' ]( j# ]# vIsrael," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars. - |0 x0 U8 \$ O. d0 e) x( L) d, s
5 h: s1 ?3 I' E+ o# ]0 ~ B& U" f; t40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth , o, R% h e& y+ J8 m1 a
Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars. 0 D) g7 Y' T6 `" y4 b
2 u3 ?$ L: t) G& G Z, N0 s" q41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith 1 n% m3 `- x" X4 k
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand 5 R+ k3 z: F8 d: t
dollars. ) c# h6 v4 t, Q. w6 B" T
3 T7 N4 R! l& c/ @6 b. p4 M42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
& x1 U1 p. K: D0 V0 y9 ~garai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. " T# p+ e$ a, \7 ^$ N. v$ Y: z! `! m- d
: [- H# ~* [# h1 F3 u
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
& ]3 f7 ?# A8 R/ {4 TIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars.
4 [0 R+ y# x' X/ Y. y+ F, y3 k* |3 R* ~+ q: J# T+ z d2 b
44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont-
. X# n. m' ]" @* X! Ogomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars. * l o( m4 e" r, Z% r
( c, L. }9 D# t
45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem- / Y2 w% Y4 Q5 C0 P0 Q+ t2 n% b
phis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars. 0 e% @+ Q) m0 k3 O' p
2 D9 v8 y. O7 B" d5 w/ _
46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas 4 I6 W) D* l; `5 K/ l# k( W1 x
Israel," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars. # O$ X! T4 s! s( m
9 X7 v, P* Z- C" k6 D47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is-
% f. h" ^5 p' j0 S+ h7 \6 `+ I' Orael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars. - ^; f4 ]* c8 X: o) x) Y1 q9 h
8 u1 y" [5 M# b" s! y8 a* S s/ E
48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo-
) t. i9 R- c3 Ndim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars.
. [+ d) U; M5 W [( d& c! d# c4 F( s0 a# y
49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati, 8 p2 m8 d# {( h8 R. H3 D; B
Ohio, five thousand dollars. ! r9 ?, H! X9 X a
0 z" u- i% O5 O7 ?, ^. i) ]* l
% O$ @. ^: }- z3 q: ]; g
# Z8 ]5 R6 [% l5 @: ~4 lJudah Touro — Kohler. 109 & \: s" S1 n& b2 Y( A/ g: c
% k% b; I6 s& M" G( o
50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth
+ M z+ D' V, U4 xIsrael," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars. # T. d2 m" L6 g
* M3 s! v6 [! `) j
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai * f) U3 d, e: {" r7 P- w0 r4 |
El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars. 1 e1 l/ K8 L6 I7 s0 h9 _8 s7 }
z* a) A, {) ], P9 ]$ C+ B' F
52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El,"
1 H& o; x5 q z2 r; E& Mof Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
7 o2 q+ M! ?" p0 Z2 W3 _, s
! R z9 B* m; l, K; |! O! o53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth + h. [9 X) G& f* y4 z4 H) f: ?
El," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars. ! V) T( u" i- t& T
0 L4 g5 t6 T$ X, n9 x; \
54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions,
( Q* F6 r8 b" a) t4 b% [, dnamed in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra-
# `7 }/ O2 S2 qham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: 4 t H* ], H! i: e
/ w% P4 I$ B- o$ L: f) hFirst, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts, - U' }9 @1 Q8 a7 i- ^
five thousand dollars. - \" v3 k4 y0 N+ Y# P4 G' P$ b
7 Z1 D: h& |( [5 j: B+ T5 \
Second. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid,
2 F; \: h; @! G3 B" j+ p4 H5 g' bfive thousand dollars.
/ G5 k. c2 ?1 d* O
1 s) w5 J5 ]+ J' L. \* [; K0 PThird. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- : M$ P1 O( u' ^
sand dollars.
h& m5 E& \9 M+ r/ e) H" {0 l8 f& U) ^1 O) J
55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of ' Y. x Z9 e: s0 s. N; p
paying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew-
) Q; _1 T+ g2 q$ {( b" T- Xish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min-
5 a3 x$ w6 ]- | K: Y/ _istry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the % [8 [2 `& y( _* e# h% H
Jewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be 0 t$ L4 s8 R+ l3 E d# q6 h0 W
appropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner 3 |3 d' b' k, n7 k2 ?( W' J
as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation % h5 X5 F# P" f3 V, T
of Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire,
+ L' O* n0 D, xthat David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed
5 u7 f+ p3 a1 i% Hfriend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should 4 z7 y' ]" `, Q- }: l$ J, L
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
$ j2 M! B# x3 O- K' C* c# zthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
$ M; V' _+ b9 @of services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the
# b( H( K$ L' @7 |: N0 F3 Fsum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them,
6 y6 {! K" r: v4 ?the said David and said Nathan H. Gould.
B1 G; V3 F0 Z" e) ?5 m
0 F9 Y& K+ a$ Z. Y2 Q+ I8 a56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine $ K' @0 I! U2 c8 O7 u
Hays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind - y. _- a& T' J2 E' q w+ w
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me. 2 S7 ?5 k% d: D- ?* l ^; P+ q7 a
2 Y" |/ d' Q- E; Q9 F- T/ G6 F4 t
57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and z" }: N( a, A7 O9 d& ]
Julia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of
: u4 f* K" S$ h, f0 j, B( ^3 B' vRichmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be
% X6 w2 S8 E' Cequally divided between them.
! q' F$ @+ y! W; D& H- \0 N: j' j6 U6 W! y" ]4 ?- y: m1 ]7 T9 t
58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to ' A& h* W& V- f
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond,
( u1 U" _7 T8 iVirginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my
) g; v. Y, }# a0 |" A0 Jremembrance.
# C s8 {: K8 d$ l5 @* o+ r! ~3 [
0 h# Y6 N! d1 |- w9 [ S8 [+ g; h. K- B5 }0 d
7 g, ^+ b2 d. ~- b7 x5 c5 j110 American Jewish Historical Society.
9 H! U" A( m7 H; E
, A" O6 l3 b7 D$ X59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing, " |' ^ F* u# L
of Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of - |2 ^4 P; B U$ A/ J
my esteem and kind remembrance. / a3 P9 X; d8 }% d
$ ~6 D: ~. ^4 D5 w- ~60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 6 o9 d4 M( D* t2 K1 O8 _
my respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a
: B1 v5 {1 l1 ~8 o8 U* T% n3 W2 ]token of my regard. . X$ G q# y, r2 N; P
' ^' T! V8 t: J! F0 R61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 8 c9 h% U% k1 V
my friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
+ l+ W* k' O: Lwife, to be equally divided between them.
2 D' C5 W s. s/ [
& x( x- Y. |7 T7 Y! L62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to , H% U2 r1 r3 n% D ]# j$ H
my friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of
+ d/ }( {6 d0 N. i2 imy remembrance. 8 m J& j+ u% l8 `- `
( i3 ^+ B2 J! k8 }& O
63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
' C( P8 ~. s8 U1 K6 p# s; u' |of Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex- j+ }# f) G3 o' }: y, V2 ~! ~
ecutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol- ( F1 R3 _' h; t7 }
lars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase 0 ?6 F& s) j5 t. I
of a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
8 R+ q! j, v/ P4 Y5 Iregard. # g: f( @- r7 `2 J+ p% h9 a. E
6 C" W5 e( v, ^8 g6 m- d64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars,
, r( P# A' t3 o: V% yto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable 1 H" y& C* N/ Y% q. i6 ^
memorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, 7 I: t0 \! @& ^1 D% F4 F5 Q
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city. ; q$ x( r, v% E D
! r; _$ n7 g& A# a) G65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars 1 m5 N" ]; R4 d% y
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable 9 n( ~2 D; v+ e( O. K! B9 d( A
memorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of
3 ?* l- b3 u( n. i/ J+ M0 iMr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans. 3 s: y. r; T8 Z8 t/ B
+ H% U7 o* Y( M0 z) [0 q' F" {
66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have
" a3 w, y3 P. v* w* amade previously to these presents.
3 N( \4 o9 f1 `% |: m6 d% Q" ]" X% d R5 P- ?- R
Thus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to 1 ~/ s( ~" v$ _, u! z/ \& J
me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses
% {, G8 b% P" R& H E0 p5 `herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the , b3 a; y& ?9 P7 a) P" m
same, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own 4 E5 f0 u0 A D$ o
proper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this 2 A+ j- A( g+ R" ~6 @% m1 g4 Y
testament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- % z* @2 q! p; F( i y# O
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same 6 e' L4 P8 L! s. Z( T4 W
presence, that he well understood the same and persisted therein. ! [9 }6 b4 y7 ?) `8 V4 Z9 q* q
+ v+ D& d: N. _8 uAll of which was done at one time without interruption or turn- " z- @% t+ ~; q; T0 R- L
ing aside to other acts.
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" T* h! \1 u1 s3 t1 z. p* t1 XThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the 8 ?$ C1 j9 ]' X
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and
+ A- o' s5 d9 [! A: o7 S9 [: L4 Yyear first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan ) v6 e& q" a9 \" s+ O9 e% ~: g
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, 0 s; @# z4 T N: S6 s+ q
* k2 n/ q- H q+ e7 d3 M$ L
( Z( i/ g7 I% Y% ]( J7 Z {! H) A9 D% w0 n
Judah Touro — Kohler. Ill 6 B3 [& n1 k" Z/ h$ j& X' G
5 L* A: y( ^( ~ q C, R
all three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said / J! [' \! C4 K: @: l
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their
( [" @+ [* \' U( j+ anames. (Signed.) / T# f! t; y" u
7 R8 L: M) |' A3 H9 B# f9 ?& [J. TOUEO,
" e% u" b* y6 {* R6 B
8 I' r" `9 _& \/ j" Y) K0 ^. rJ. Montgomery, , X# C, w4 E& m& I
, y$ \3 C8 t0 ~' q' `0 R( |! X# [H. Shepherd, Jr., O& C! b$ m0 }0 x
( Y( H& w) g& \0 ^* y
Geo. W. Lee, 9 S/ F- `4 K1 E/ {5 o, C( x
9 D7 f, i6 [6 W# y/ f$ uThos. Latton, Notary Puilic.
6 D* A# ^7 d i4 F, G9 [% `8 ~6 |" ^. w7 A, G' r. o: Q$ m
1 }+ J! q1 @: H$ S( C! V4 `
2 o# t! f' k2 ?5 `& CLIBRftRY OF CONGRESS ; \8 V% U( b" T/ t4 T
9 o8 M% N' R$ G2 j6 X! g q
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4 ?$ Q* y4 C5 m" o014 495 461 |
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