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B2 F y; J( Y9 CCopy 1
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" w) P' X* p% v* g4 hJUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND 3 Y* Q7 e3 P6 T
PHILANTHROPIST. $ U1 a5 B+ }% N- j( T
5 E: P1 B0 Z' _0 Z5 A: u! J& D8 \3 `1 N
5 w, \+ z2 G7 a8 _5 H* k
By max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. 4 l, _+ Q, k9 |1 F9 Z; O. N5 |
) z7 ~& Y8 M L) N) Z, }: Q2 p) f/ C0 S7 W
# p8 J1 P6 D# {- |; ^Reprinted from 2 \3 a9 C9 A/ S* G5 M
- R9 p/ }$ n2 }3 b# b. k+ l: o* z
Publications of the $ V+ f. ?/ z* @
, z3 ^& @, E: W# s6 _7 u) UAmerican Jewish Historical Socibtt,
( S+ s5 W6 R# k$ r% |' j! J' h# [7 C) J
No. 13, 1905.
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1-377
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# Q9 R0 X6 {& ~
JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND 1 g. }4 c( P8 }; R- m- r
PHILANTHROPIST.
& M3 x4 | H$ y% c* H7 ^/ T; U2 F) y5 L
By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B.
( a5 N, [4 _2 j1 C6 ?- B6 y, P' ^3 r- Y
8 U2 c0 s' Z) U5 |* J3 OIt is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak
( [0 m" E# n. D6 L/ b$ \% lTouro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings,
* y- `+ r+ \" u$ qnor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
; C& G% g5 A. v, ~9 @name, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating & q) C* P. ]0 z2 _( A; Q! Z( ?
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- 5 ~: [* D/ y/ e" w
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 4 O( n" T/ D2 L# b( a$ b
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's 2 v: q$ q: S' v% v& W4 z
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring 5 h9 Y$ i# G0 `, ^; k+ C: [
the very name of one who would probably by common consent
* ?& A. y/ z- z4 Y( T, Obe singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the 7 C4 W; ]8 n/ ~9 ? I2 ~5 `
first half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the ' f( d2 w6 F- I
relations between the investigations of local historical socie- , m& E6 \7 [1 y2 \0 T) Z4 b. i
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account 6 g/ A C7 w% T! r: K
for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career,
# s! E1 H' }, P' U6 Nignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such 5 T' h! n# b" g$ c; W1 U
specialized investigations as our own, that the general his-
' {% Z- u& F. D* q$ q/ [torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi-
4 [5 r$ q; K/ x. O& p/ |vidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in
! ?6 i1 D5 y# ~5 s \# dquestion did not figure prominently in the political or mili-
- j1 h/ S1 ]. O+ p" Ctary history of his . R0 P) Z( Y7 f( B# M$ I
2 V8 d2 W9 b4 ?1 B7 R, D
A couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written
8 p8 R: G( U- O8 O0 r N" jwithin a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by
9 v2 _7 j" x4 g8 ?: l% G! x' ynon-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis- 7 D* o' S- t1 p
factory authorities on his career and tend to show in what & R9 b0 |/ s5 p- K; H, v
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
0 l; b& L* y' M" e8 j2 d7 FWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal
3 c; r1 y1 C \; l6 r4 `5 ]6 z1 t# z0 h3 n6 c
' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
* x; ^5 G, Z2 d5 G3 V$ r" b; nchants," published in 1856. 8 W% g' s: U- G9 W/ `
+ V y6 j# ^$ Y
93
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1 {$ g' y+ T- n& g94 American Jewish Historical Society.
: o% N% y4 x" ^8 a) p3 i7 i0 [- r8 i$ l: s1 O( u7 Z |
reminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol- ( K3 g, |; `! }, G
lections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or- 0 i: @3 E2 j- }3 D1 o
leans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information;
0 [' ?; n: [) V# M+ [1 W3 Zthough few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be
5 ]$ A# h% e) Tlikely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog- / v9 j8 x G2 a# f
raphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary . G+ \& U [$ c; t2 r7 H
sketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
3 X; U; i# y$ Freminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago & S7 ~" x7 U/ t# t- Q1 S& _
are for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant.
0 y% N# ]; Z1 P" {+ A0 y J4 VJudah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known 0 x8 y7 `8 G$ l2 Q9 A
in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy - _2 Z+ J& c0 b4 g" T
and early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his 8 D8 X9 _- h$ {
maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no + Z! r! E9 R( n; \0 p3 X
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
6 R a- u+ A* ^/ S2 ~more than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
# d, U: b4 J2 E7 }. \# Cand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish 2 S' n4 _3 O: w F/ A# J$ [7 {
name in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh 4 M, l2 W z6 M" u" r2 L
unprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic 7 ~7 j$ @5 Y. o' |9 D$ v
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com-
& V" f2 y8 N( @% bmunities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore 0 z4 d0 s+ } c7 n4 `; Z1 u8 J
impossible, in view of the small and humble means at their $ e( a& p2 _( a* f/ s- K
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the 8 N& e& y; ~! F. `% q; X
foundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever , C% h! @; |3 D5 X2 S
since been the pride and the boast of American Jewry.
/ O* @4 `. _/ \" p
+ Z- F- _6 |: wJudah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June 2 F- I/ d, Q! S* S1 {6 s8 l
16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum-
. ~/ T/ P! O) u$ ]" m1 Bstance that his individual career thus began with that of his
6 {' z, O7 {$ {; w4 k) D* |beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min-
0 Q" n" h; f; \' S5 I" ~ister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption 8 H7 f/ z. B9 M; C2 p
of activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by
4 p! m& M# ]. i2 I& a bthe dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme-
9 y: ^ j7 Z: W% ftery being more than a century older, and concerning whose
8 n' U" I% V1 x/ z- j# vcareer our society has already published various items.^ Isaac
. A; x3 D4 t! z
3 B6 P Y" q6 V6 ~4 Q2 T. h' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854.
5 k$ W$ M# b3 o' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew- * s H0 c6 Z3 Q# C
ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas- 9 j# k9 O7 K# n3 C ~! P$ P. G
F+ D/ q! u, }+ ~5 P; `
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( G5 L% S5 {* @8 P7 r/ c4 S- o7 VGift & @: D, O' t" @: W: k
Authc:
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(Person^ 7 `. m: W$ w8 [3 t" ?4 z
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" }2 G: A0 Y" s* iJudah Touro — Koliler. 95 1 @$ P; o/ z l. P8 \0 K* X
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Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays, 4 Q4 v8 r3 |3 |1 ?/ K
in 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and
/ J/ C7 [2 [2 @3 f( jEebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and
/ w' Z- U$ J& ]+ n- X( D jdied in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem-
6 s4 K/ _2 k: q" R: T! |bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city
+ H2 M* b7 T8 nduring the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de-
6 z( h1 S7 B. I) }/ Y3 |$ h; Aparted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December
s F% E! `3 W8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country,
7 b" U9 z# q, E$ Iand became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays,
, k# B+ e6 i3 d' {; O+ cbrother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- 3 N" v g' d+ M6 G- H7 G' j
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem- , ^) }4 \! K3 a' s
ber 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays,
7 l* }0 I1 M l9 sAbraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely 1 P, X1 ]2 g- h/ d! C. x
those principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood Y, a. ?/ z9 I
them in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were 1 ~6 p, ~( z- X) S
also brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
9 E% n6 e+ @/ W/ X8 pnent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views ! F. m' ]% @) t V; A' {. h
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac- 4 W0 t! k2 [4 L0 b. I
companying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays
7 |( ^2 `" r7 l; ?, awas an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the 5 N- _ U; v D
patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
) H5 s+ O6 G; D D- i5 mMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the 3 [& K) S$ ^) r, r4 [4 X
first American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist,
4 d* `, O7 L$ v/ rwhile such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition- ) Z L5 ^/ y6 w; N4 p$ m" D
ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these - ?& a @! B2 e9 E" F: O
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which
5 `( ]2 F4 y& einduced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
! L7 J1 j" h* Q0 L# R1 ]& Bslaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and & g# w5 ]9 b6 g [8 s; W9 p5 v b
Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and
' `: q. v& B2 m: {. P, v8 b( {) E
& b) h& O) i" o: t+ gtrow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid.,
" G6 X8 Y! ^4 U. X+ U8 A( oNo. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No.
1 f2 o/ f# Q4 ^0 y- e' a7 A8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport 1 j# B8 j, L7 M+ L
and New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
# N7 F6 N* w9 z* ?' E5 s; h4 ]of Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New-
$ Q9 p$ d" h) G$ ]# w! ^1 Uport," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105; ) O! o$ ?7 n$ L: }! j
Rev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews." a- @4 M1 K& }4 E
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4 p; I7 {/ d: r96 American Jewish Historical Society.
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2 U4 c# x% K' \! |- j! Fcommercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in
! {5 A% [( O( J2 M5 }3 o1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with. 4 y6 a$ n% h3 f% v4 a' r/ n
a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean.
8 V- o5 c$ P5 AThe voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
* D4 p2 u R/ z- m ^: gvessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
3 k6 O( a/ X7 u6 Lmercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad-
1 J+ A( S2 O( d! X8 L+ Kvised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a ( C$ I. F7 N% F# X& r
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after
8 ]; J5 |; B( g. G5 f3 W/ ^5 }7 n# wa voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends
/ W, l* H+ x9 aknew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg- 4 {2 H) ?- A" _; q. ^0 x
ment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they , F2 P; }& S& D9 }$ I+ Z6 }
made to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in
8 \2 d; G; T8 A2 T2 J, Y) PNew Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- + e s1 v' y) k! f5 h) W# ]
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New- + ]/ F' J4 L; m4 u- t& M
port," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts
) \' L9 A3 O8 q2 ?9 {# T9 ~" dinto six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library 4 \6 d$ }$ E4 P, D$ v X6 B
from the collections of the distinguished historian, George 4 q6 D4 y( M9 ?7 i* |+ N) d
Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah
- i6 W; Q( U2 cTouro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham- , w7 W6 }6 S! W2 [% t
plain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws - p( c2 |; `7 Z
light on the scope of his business dealings.
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7 c( L2 O% v9 T ]8 @; }# r zTradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for - g4 W) B1 P/ V) j
his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their / J1 I: t9 z8 c8 [
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re- % P: [- k, _$ r$ t
mained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va.,
, b0 q* ?% M; i% A0 d2 K$ Oand died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January, ( d3 ?0 B( H3 Q/ u( D2 b: H
1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very
# A) T! i, m' {' }! t) G/ |* P& Rmonth in ignorance of her death. 1 x/ I3 ?, m% X2 d- Z
0 k! N4 A4 y P2 b. dAbraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos- * Q3 u0 Y6 E2 u% O8 F
ton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an
8 R, X2 k8 t% h$ k* l# Paccident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his
Z* F* a' n+ k6 X2 yespecial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
; o0 C8 m# G; q8 H& g' bport, though the Jewish community of that town had been ; H: m# q! V) k) A
scattered long before. Two years previously he had caused 3 P% N! |7 o- w' ^
a substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for
0 @+ c1 J, C) S/ r" iwhich he made further provision by his will, which contained
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Judah Touro — K older . 97 ) h- C3 B' O! G- u! N+ ~* H# K
0 x: k% Q$ t6 J3 M qa number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston . Z: x4 R) M5 ^' g8 {1 t k
institutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and 5 r5 H5 x7 ~: _
Newport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly 9 p1 q/ r0 p; u
to the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog- . a$ o; [6 P- e0 S
nizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly.
5 c; d; z& k4 e; U3 }4 t
' y8 p$ _; C+ \0 N" aEeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
: O1 J' o8 F: R2 c( \3 qically recognized the claims of his country upon him during
( [) d' c6 _- y8 I0 cthe War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, % X5 E4 U9 e% F2 E# q B
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or- 0 T/ {' a8 t: }* r1 A
leans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun-
# C4 y L8 o) M4 D0 j0 Cteered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of 3 J" t; H- _; P( n/ W" ]4 o
the American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
3 `8 B' F4 t, O' m8 _2 Q7 win the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve-
, Y6 M5 I j3 ]5 k& Fpound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that ' d3 D" f* E q- J
he was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D.
, ~* g: m# N# [' u% V# tShepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians
% w( `. U3 r, _3 ?5 \/ Rhad abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death 4 X. v, b% W% w0 q' ^! F* _
was great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
z! f( o& K9 O7 e( lJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of
# j6 j! }+ _7 U! t9 o+ k, J2 D( OShepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi- / D1 T# J: X, v8 X: g! ^
dence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep-
) L5 B' z4 S( w/ oherd had independent means of his own, he treated this large
# ?; p! O! T- L0 q, Lbequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes,
- W, V( w6 H+ M8 Fso that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de- 7 K s! q7 d2 d2 |+ |: F- l3 H
scribed in the will itself. 0 V9 \6 C; N5 B( ]8 S
9 e* @# T" l5 V7 lJudge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred
. q: z9 F: E# s" L5 Qto, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began ) B$ }( n1 C; a# p0 N0 C
a brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other / w( G- W8 h# r7 ~; ]0 k7 K
exports of New England, making prompt returns to his
: M; ^7 {) E, ] `. X5 m1 ]friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man-
( ]+ p: x2 B1 z3 m" Z3 ?6 t1 W# sagement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
( d6 F& w" T$ E2 m; [& qvessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and , J. A1 C e3 r5 K% O: z* x$ \6 C( k5 S
many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain % s4 r% u* M# ^0 g
cargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his
3 U' E+ B$ p y/ d/ @$ vfunds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in ! X' z0 d. E$ N* p" p
ships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His " p8 n. P1 o* u8 Q' H9 s& A. v
6 ^' L1 }6 s' f3 B$ r7 N/ a
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98 American Jewish Historical Society.
7 `8 r5 [6 C( u$ b' ]- v5 X7 M* E/ Z. K1 y* T
career as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and
! _9 [8 R$ k. S! \stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- . }- Z, e/ r) V+ D
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn- : I' [0 ]# r6 |
ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to ( F( z* U) o: d% Q! G' V
the cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents * m* S- G% }8 O! f: X Q7 {
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock. " c0 b3 \" _* u5 U: f
His neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day 7 P' [1 y- V- b7 `8 U
by his movements. In his business he rarely employed more % f4 s4 C7 }+ @1 w3 R$ L1 u
than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus- ; v8 G/ X4 G# T8 N2 I* Y
tom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. : J% k7 \/ t9 `" d3 B/ H8 A
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well / S1 u( Z3 f0 I+ t! w
arranged that there was no possibility of any misunder-
! A( y( c7 i8 N* v: dstanding.
5 c& a7 i0 P5 |6 a8 {. j+ H
* U+ S1 ^$ E! x, {4 n9 x7 j0 xIt is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was # o. f6 y4 N) z2 J
devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
. H1 I. ]. o9 H% e2 V4 Nage, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to : Y2 K) V. @% S+ M! O/ i% x
work the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
q1 D0 w' m( I1 `: x9 z7 t* U6 khis name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro- 7 \! b' Y& P0 }. v Z/ k, w
pists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for- : ^& }" A& R+ T5 I5 U) f$ u7 t
tunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills,
* E$ C2 v, `! V- k/ r/ Y0 I2 Byet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not-
- |, n* ^+ v( rwithstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that
3 I& f' i# n5 z. x& ?4 Ihis whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
* H7 C* ?% n) Gthropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New
. J& P6 @) L; k' S# k% p5 q, NOrleans at the time of his death and for many years pre- & c, ]. W; U' i$ }; F
viously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who ) _+ F) Y& i* j/ F
had won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than # o* L& s a9 K
that which the most successful merchant, the most daring . w) f) s3 _6 j8 L" z, Z( v
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw % G- _) P, d1 v/ z. L8 c
him in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra- + P2 i9 V5 @, A
tions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little / ~' \ M% ^ b" D2 G9 C P1 i
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble $ V( L$ Q6 i4 U
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
& a# \* i) e# P, p: v7 p, K. b- eglide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his " m/ ?& ?, `+ W9 Y+ o* ^
hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his
+ D$ B" s- g1 c. o6 h, b% ghomely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
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Judah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 - w: y) [7 r( T; M$ V
6 v) j: \: @3 U- S/ }) M" [pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too,
- z! n6 S w" a% b9 e- t" Ra man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali-
* m+ n/ V3 u8 v/ Z2 N- i9 _/ o' r% | Ities. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a
3 t0 V+ U; ]1 A# y" ?0 Kwhole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn 0 q& r6 G7 k3 h% i4 t- ^$ j
aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to
9 |) Y2 Q/ `2 _3 I1 p: Obewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a 0 \* d# `5 J: P
millionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death # K& _( Y, P: Z/ S' B' f
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who
2 U( B9 w, D8 ?4 S9 b9 G! o3 Gdoes his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large
- w- g! m; [4 j. _& g3 x9 Bwealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
7 h0 Y' C( j( Y. e1 x" R; oreward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi- ( a5 k& N. k% `" o8 r& L
cence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a ; E8 S: \# S7 E+ Z3 `/ o8 K% H
splendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise 9 L! f1 P! J% m+ Y( S3 I
' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall # G6 W& }6 C; C1 m% u* ~5 r6 z
return to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake, / |. o. i, X* s% [9 b
were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He
4 z& \3 T0 O% j7 h4 ^2 _deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
4 S1 P7 Q5 R8 n2 y+ |& lgratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
; G- g* P5 Q9 Tpassion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was : C& `: e- @3 r# g' R1 c
a miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence, 3 x, H. `0 x, ]$ {* E' n
from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and
6 B3 G5 a4 U; Y) L2 O, c! W7 ]stealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions,
+ Z: Y, R5 ?; x3 L- G# {and his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta- 2 T5 d! Q9 M8 S- D
tion and display which are too often the main incentive to 1 d3 `, {0 i6 w2 Z- c
liberal and benevolent deeds."
1 g, p, Z: Q6 R6 ]3 i: \* \6 T
" A9 A, k! L/ w( Q7 K$ j0 fTurning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess " ~& }( Z- z6 R4 m6 l! ]# \
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the 7 `% c W5 o* U6 |1 X
public to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac-
* n y1 X ]4 }4 Z. y' Ctions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they 6 i* {" H0 u, P! W; }
are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when : P* L( W, D5 \
large gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as
3 p; R m' _+ _5 q/ o% o8 f2 X( ]common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards
1 |+ [; d- y, E o9 S/ G- hthe erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in-
4 O$ H$ w" f8 A5 [3 t1 i6 V0 ~terested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up # @6 H7 Q. z* Q. K$ Z1 {
their project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
; x, m& d. n" _' A# Aalready in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. , Y1 m% x1 d3 P8 @! Q. r# k0 k
3 d4 P7 F0 q. e, T; ~6 B' I K& z; [6 ?* z& j
' b2 S% g2 U9 Y* ~- z
100 American Jewish Historical Society.
- W$ t# R1 x* H' ~& W" _2 a8 G& L
V( @% {& @* _! V! XAmos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material / O- l$ j2 ]: f, O# V% [
response, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward
! l# @) w% R6 p( CEverett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately # l. v7 T3 f. x7 b# m5 [
offered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of
. \7 \4 C7 `8 W" Y; W4 P& SAmos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- 5 [7 q. [/ a p- r7 r( @2 x
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in- / E8 p% X' P7 |# W
dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his
% l7 O9 h% a+ c. g5 E1 a. Linjunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he
/ U: S3 P0 V- H5 x& s& Pseriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- : w2 s7 ]6 x# Q$ e9 Z
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
- Z* V2 a1 d$ E' S* I" W$ {ish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other 8 b9 e7 K7 v, x
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world,
+ ~8 I. y- T$ ]: D6 mand well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication # f3 [% H( c1 y
of the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of 1 f) P: D7 W) m9 S
the United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity
3 O: ^9 D3 A n5 c6 ?was commemorated by the presiding officer who read these 1 O# C- l. F/ N
lines, since become famous :
% \' B: [0 }- K6 Y
) Z( S% X5 E* I. y# k! @( aAmos and Judah — venerated names!
# b6 V* A7 T0 F0 b7 s$ E
3 n$ e7 a* J9 e: J+ ?5 E9 {, SPatriarch and prophet press their equal claims,
5 H) m% W4 D; _4 t8 I
9 }4 q: q( y# C% e/ L* ]( FLike generous coursers, running neck and neck.
$ Y, E7 Q4 h- b! s+ [0 g8 ?: |8 Q, [ R; k1 O/ a6 X
Each aids the work by giving it a check. 8 n) O* q* A: U3 q. Q
5 a. M# ~: i/ x O
Christian and Jew, they carry out a plan —
1 G$ v$ Z' Q, d5 r; C4 z( R
( \7 o. Q$ M# a) ?. L5 DFor though of different faith, each is in heart a man.
; R# g9 w1 p. G6 R: X4 o+ F. T, X: i5 u' U" u7 A
Judah Touro's private benefactions were munificent
8 t- u8 J, J4 P1 W1 C# I3 Y& @throughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often 5 ~) E: m% F4 \! O* d
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration 4 B4 R, M% V2 c1 ^3 a( _
in point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris-
' O R k* D* j7 b, p4 etian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
$ n2 f% b6 N+ t3 a0 N5 [' lister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,-
4 @+ W9 g9 F5 t1 B; d& b000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised ; J* r- F! y- |0 Q1 U
by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build-
9 G5 o$ t2 \# Q9 W' m' wing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to
: m7 K6 G; L& N; u) X8 a0 z! h# b4 C- Boccupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after
5 g9 O* i2 n+ a; k! I( nmany years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
+ a4 z& R. V+ A4 w
8 H, Z5 f$ C) A j3 d0 {* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq. ! X, ?' @2 N, p/ |! s
9 }+ _& `( T4 T2 T' s5 l
. T* h; E9 Z& x# ^. F1 z7 Z$ t4 X
+ ?- i* h8 K& A) B: jJudah Touro — Kohler. 101 ( ]- k# B/ U0 V/ y' D- S
; N4 |3 v7 }0 n9 K% `+ I/ rtribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested
' }3 ~1 v& ]! S, f7 bthat he could profitably erect business buildings on the site, 3 \, D7 h E m
he promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
3 K8 {; [; i; U/ G8 Zam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church
v7 F2 D. T: R; y3 [3 R& `to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from 8 C: K/ r$ f/ _4 c2 i9 R* W
him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister 0 y) r( z2 |2 E7 z$ N4 D
died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he
7 S4 p t2 U5 O, ~% p; Rdeclined to accept the money, ing instead that it be 9 u4 A' i. e) A8 r5 n/ @ P
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
" m0 Y# y6 {. {' gat New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- ( q/ Q w/ j/ i6 Q
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill " 6 e* e* [: J: w& g$ G
of jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
- D( W7 o* [! J/ f$ @settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui- # h. O B8 d* ?! `# [
sition of the site by that municipality. For many years he 3 _2 ~8 f- @) I# z1 \
was practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans;
8 o6 C. S" u1 A/ x) ]! {subsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected + S7 ?6 r. ^0 U5 }
a synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex- " f, R1 p5 P. S2 ^0 M1 }
pense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu-
4 N8 ^6 _: I3 ^4 }lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed 1 r m( _/ Q/ z6 a) e
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis-
8 T, {% U$ ^: r0 W7 Ptributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable 4 w5 f; L( i t& j
purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
0 b# f1 l; D% |# a. l6 Z4 CClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
& [7 i0 F- [3 M1 h8 A- Mnever heard of but one religionist in the United States who
& Q6 |/ j7 z% A+ K0 N% h9 `8 wcan be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of 8 [2 e. E, _+ \0 P
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing
1 {5 L( j( l6 J$ A2 Q+ G# Xon other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran- 2 a- ?$ b9 h' p0 f
gers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he
& t F. {. M8 O( Qscattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity. , D! R3 D" w3 d& o. ^, I5 h
He knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated
& X8 Y0 W6 o: B; S) O% ithe Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
) Y7 n0 S1 y& M1 l6 b; b- qhilation."
N& D8 T) X5 Q$ U( W) O, K2 a
" y, O. P3 g+ ^. `. x8 a. kOne cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur-
5 ?( n, x9 `% L7 Hprised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by % {- X9 w& N) n! j# I) o
him at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi-
% v1 B# O$ L; ?; ?( c6 @* |' fties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their
/ }3 u6 \4 j2 Z0 G( t/ |5 j& l( t \2 C1 F
9 H L W/ {) Q: F2 \) \- N2 i2 F8 y; F7 @: N' ^3 K+ {6 C2 L! N E
102 American Jewish Historical Society. 3 r- v+ s8 o: R7 U& _7 G% X$ L
: [9 r% Z, y# g. V
charitable institutions, many of which owed their continued
3 R' ~8 q1 m2 w! h/ jexistence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his
, B' [9 \# m, H8 a! fwise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- 0 ^4 q- Y) q2 `( d2 a R" L
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have
/ O$ i( X# {/ t$ n1 mfound their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of / Y4 b) X' ]: `+ }% |& v- c, [* \
necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably 1 [, v: f( T, H/ l4 P4 M9 [! [
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be-
: A! C/ }+ k7 Pquests, as follows : 2 K2 m, p) O( U4 J5 Z: f
! F( I! \( j5 [He thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where
+ \1 n! L3 K7 D v1 hhe had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to 8 ~2 ~! k) G, i% w
their relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are f$ s6 S8 d! Q! G
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will 9 M' E) A/ k3 t6 t1 F2 t! k
ever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in
4 j! [0 [ }& c' vhis own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in # E* _* M$ G) K1 X% r0 F2 ?
the day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per- ' {& k# ?3 E* J$ j3 n
suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied
7 s# P2 Y% k/ f# h1 ethe means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of
, n! Y) z) [) p9 P3 _6 ^$ U: w6 jthe new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded
" b" V+ N* z* h! ^. Q' sthem the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the
# z q% n+ b# M2 K Lblessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He # q. a5 \% u0 d, [( E8 ]
thought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the
% }$ }( |. y8 Y2 ichildren of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those : Q0 h7 b3 a2 G9 [: A0 K; W
institutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish
$ a5 N2 g% J. L6 Qreligion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number-
) A( f" U8 g7 c6 D% zHe thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to 1 P6 p( \, W- y, ^% v$ Z7 }
glide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of o9 Z6 M3 C- M5 U* B
benevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop
; H" k, l6 i9 c; r' _% `8 W; O* uinto despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of 0 g0 J+ f1 G% M8 O5 H
Israel, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro- & |1 C% ^ Y6 B3 a3 T
tection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far
6 X, T; ?' e1 ZWest, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost
# h: v$ Y! T1 ?- X/ b; s; ja solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged
2 C/ _8 V7 M' k t* k4 `. V/ v: RHim not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
, ~; g$ |- R% X& }8 n! c
2 A( Y9 z, L v, C% [- U) Z° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because
. k7 H" n {* k" Cit is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
- J0 l1 c& C8 V+ U, d0 j$ jthe various Jewish communities of the United States and their # n( p. e9 T* k! ]6 O2 R
institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information
( W7 n* p8 K( ~obtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun-
) M) Z7 ~- }5 M: P9 Atry, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
`. t$ I* F b3 @' `- g* V; Momitted no deserving Jewish community.
2 q, L, M0 q4 G% G+ @0 t1 K" \- I" ?* |
3 Z% K" m4 i: R- S( l" Z
% I0 l& R, b) K% c" {% E! n
Judah Touro — Kohler. 103
3 s/ s( f3 u0 g6 e% _3 c$ K7 [1 a; U% d7 t
crated by so many wonderful events which marked our early
- J. v/ o, F: Q# B" L# Ihistory, to them on in the deprivations to which they are
7 l/ ?) g8 C3 Q+ `4 f1 d$ Rsubjected.
5 p6 h: x, k3 @" l% H2 `/ p
; W& V x" P0 M. @8 I6 q9 ]One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he / {- f' m2 ^4 w6 y* V0 G; z
should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with
5 t _' `$ T4 a7 \, W8 zSir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor- ( t0 \4 \( Q; {3 d# t* {& V
ing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish
! v8 O9 i5 `! x- r2 @8 c. qbrethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
) R# G' G: T$ yish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious 9 k e2 x+ B1 J% e5 P
temptation. : B) j6 B, d, m# e+ Z
0 j5 W& r$ S* z+ j5 m' D# D; H0 @
At the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile ( m: ^) F. m, I( \# M& C
vied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect, ; d! Y. @3 M3 B$ U& J, y
and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport, , ?& p- K* X9 J3 ^% K( k* h
Ehode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were 9 l7 y- ` `3 q5 }2 E
attended by delegations from the numerous organizations he i9 m, y0 f" K) Y
had so generously remembered, coming from all over the 6 @/ y" ~" o" i" T; Z
land. By official resolution of the public authorities of
+ W0 j3 A+ v/ I* vNewport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy, ; h" r9 D L3 ^: f1 d
his executors and all these delegations became the guests of 9 M* W# C; q6 s2 G$ Z% ^* }% G
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells ?* M& r+ Q: \0 j
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business
' Y, T& K9 z) j+ n$ Hwere closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were + Q& R+ z* I3 k5 \
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel- + H0 Z3 c" _ }/ w. e
phia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew , @+ _2 I6 p9 _
York. A project to erect a monument to his memory was - H' d. A% u+ r* s9 K5 O6 F
bitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of
7 L$ M, m4 [& W+ a( j1 n" M0 _' fJewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans 3 L8 M# |/ ?6 G. g1 [
were named after him in order to commemorate his generous
* n1 n: Y' C& y' n* x( vphilanthropy. 6 R+ }3 V: Z' M5 {" r4 f1 Q
, H7 V4 g7 q0 O% {
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
' N/ o* v5 e5 N Qlowing appropriate inscription : % K* A1 C! n$ o+ m
; B$ `3 v$ Z. `# o- ~5 KBy righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth; 9 v: n: N% {( M: j9 n* h- V' [! X
In charity and for salvation he dispensed it. 3 V, q( V8 c: _ H. s8 V; h
The last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan-
, Z6 `) s# l( W. I5 \- B4 ethropy . ]6 `9 _# m$ S$ Y k) U
To be remembered forever.
* o/ w: Q; `% |$ M9
( Z& _) _! T* n8 j! h" }: W* e3 d
7 _9 k; L5 f, Z! @6 e2 U8 f
3 |- c0 ?2 L. U6 W& Y) E, D/ S9 ~, d! y9 r: R2 f6 _
104 American Jeujish Historical Society. % O0 \1 W6 o2 X) n# ?3 [' G A
* a. E8 |5 |$ q- H
WILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO.
# D* |$ n: n9 \0 r& `9 V
5 C Y& ~" U# I9 n$ t8 `United States of America, 7 | k' P: ~5 o t- d0 h D
0 _/ k2 e% ]) z
State of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
5 R+ F) l/ V# G3 m$ ^* A8 y( }) w' O: u4 i" a" o% A
Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of : P3 Q& K, f. g; g# h
our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence
5 ?5 n" j& h, v, Rof the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter
& |3 ^- R y- \1 pbefore 10 o'clock a. m..
' L0 n# n* ~- E
6 x0 O7 `, r0 [; Y8 b# i4 CBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the % E: J- _: K: ?. X0 z
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn,
$ [* H7 A! D* |and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep- & l6 Z( l9 z, F) X0 `7 T7 e; A. b
herd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re- - e- u* K2 |7 _9 J/ L6 e
siding in said city, and hereto expressly required —
E. G$ i" _6 p L# q3 t, N
. P, W! [ g8 L n, a0 H- e. tPersonally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant,
, i/ Y! T8 d' L! r% v# @whom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a
3 f# L' H3 a. Lroom, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but
- l6 n+ ~3 j" Q* c; t$ Esound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the ! g+ r, F* |# n+ i* P
said Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah . C4 B$ I/ s3 y
Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa-
% y0 r# }% r% v4 ement, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in 7 Y, O7 C) m) D: M3 A+ R, A- @
presence of said witnesses:
4 I2 ?4 h4 Q. w7 o0 S' I1 E+ n2 T3 c& M# `
1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
7 n, y$ a4 ?7 `- o7 ?
4 u+ O# P2 m3 ^/ `2 L2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish 8 K4 @' _* \" k8 E$ v' b
Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after
+ U# q4 a. \3 L" p: _+ V9 G* @5 ^/ Hmy decease.
$ K1 W! |) g2 k8 R9 \" [
, u U c4 h8 E6 [# Q6 ?3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends # i. F% A# P! r6 N1 @8 u3 q
Rezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of * T* M" T8 |0 j% ^3 M4 {' ?! u
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre
) p# ~! X4 B' I9 ]! K8 y3 ]" dAndre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu- ) Q; a* m8 J/ `* K
tors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow-
) s# z, |1 l, z$ K" T! N% y' n% W9 fing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said
" l) L: k$ e4 ^* M QAaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre - o( b$ n; P3 ]( s
Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the $ @4 q/ i. h$ _3 R- \
sum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively, ; }7 a9 Q+ a; E- O S
not only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but " F1 n2 U, Q; G0 d; ~
also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto,
0 [& n4 Z+ N- [( B I3 }! l+ Brendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
, o( L) C4 X! S4 o; p8 N* Xbe entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors
, N4 t$ [) h; A% O7 h eas aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say f% S/ r7 G/ X) @0 [! f5 g% x
my dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom,
. t ~ T! K9 D$ e$ p5 \' d/ `' Aunder Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva-
1 ~ D( W! H; o9 Stion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815, " K( |( S; |6 E2 G& x& g9 p
5 z6 q2 \# J& v* S- @
; |, n" C, q' |# e" ~& ?
$ L6 p% c2 W! G J8 Z6 L/ \Judah Touro — Eohler. 105 : l1 }3 e9 k. u+ ?0 S
& |2 o9 ?# S( H$ l2 m& RI hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep-
) U, z% d) ^; u/ G* W# @ ?herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts " @+ h3 ]3 E, H* A3 K9 J
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of
5 m/ y0 K( a. H* R3 M/ B- wmy estate, movable and immovable. ; w/ R: D; Z; K5 h6 ]8 R3 v, v
) G; R; S6 r1 P6 h/ w5 w" GIn case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more * e* ?0 g& f2 R$ E) A: o
of my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor 1 H$ @' r7 u% V, v
or Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last : t3 I% ^1 A! m$ P {- T, E
will; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more ( y$ w, e; W, ?( d% x/ _
of my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that ' A/ i- {: ~9 ~+ ]) ?
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of % F0 J4 _- B- _ r' A7 Z
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in- 4 ~/ E- ]: X1 s' `& p
herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made 3 H2 L" j+ _- u S
to them. 8 a9 Q9 t1 Z! K) ^0 K3 D1 V
$ }6 }9 o* T0 U$ @/ L+ G" b
4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in - E4 t# i+ ?& L; |
force at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until
% P( `' D+ t7 z4 Y& f! Xthe same shall have expired. 4 N) v% k. A1 [
: }) j9 ^4 y9 ?) W* z/ O# Z1 @4 `5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of
* b3 l% P8 R) q& _" I- I5 jwhich I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner
' x4 @0 X" w& H9 q) @+ zdirected by this my last will or testament.
& V$ _1 y0 a% v. U5 t2 P2 D' }) {/ _) ]% E5 {" x$ U* a% A
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
+ \1 H: U& l" n* Npersed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain
( }( n* E& u \5 n: o4 [0 Z& S" Wproperty situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
7 ^9 A c: T# PSynagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of + W% ]& K& D/ d7 a
the said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from
; }# ~- [6 q: T9 r# u% _the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation, $ K' t o9 X+ [$ U# ~% K
the two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David
. ^% i( d( q( g6 V1 v4 rUrquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found-
! n1 H$ p$ u: iing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con- 0 Y+ p, f5 ?' G7 i; p r
gregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
) w" q1 N6 ^4 p) H* C4 X2 c( I, RReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by
I/ q; M# L8 K) [1 S, Wmy said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re- 6 ]! `9 V( \3 C8 s3 X. B
strictions. # H' W% L/ T9 g: t
% d- c& \. \) z+ E- f! T2 o
7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New
W0 n. M2 V$ b3 V, w# V6 IOrleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession 4 B8 M8 r. Q$ x. \: x$ V
sale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
g1 t4 _8 d7 Rnow known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con-
: w9 s" } W3 _/ y# U+ [templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
1 B! ]/ X F. Mitable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex-
6 @# }5 n- Z' o- [# U9 r9 i( secutors and such other persons as they may associate with them
) P9 q0 A6 o9 m0 C; xconformably with the laws of Louisiana.
. z! W# \; ]3 h7 }$ Z. W# C% K& M1 ` f" N6 h5 q- s
8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of
' p# c+ C/ E& A, }0 s$ ONew Orleans five thousand dollars.
7 V+ T3 r3 _1 d5 D( h4 J2 B% S+ J& v8 k! ]% F4 ~: N
9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- . Z( ?1 ^; q/ \
garai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars. ' Y( s7 z3 F; y4 u
# \1 f w7 e1 B2 q4 u+ x3 ^
' C; u/ P6 _5 \4 J: O% K+ f# J* c
106 American Jewish Historical Society. 9 U% ^& ]( m9 c R7 Z( f p, j
2 n R2 t! B* M; I% o; s
10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
9 v: k1 L& D# {# w1 H* Y0 PNew Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
" n: r( c# y" Z: N* \! Z6 I; Q1 {* E K+ N( _1 y9 f
11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society + {, w# ?; q: d3 ~
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
+ M+ S6 w0 I3 q8 h- d' b. ^
5 |6 E% G" Y1 p1 M! [& v7 N12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New
L4 l; ]$ K2 s- i* |# |Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
1 \9 D8 B) |9 Q# [) V$ p" B) a1 ? a
13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti- 3 `. q# |2 _. U" K* i3 D
tute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars.
7 M( h! M# H5 Q0 ?5 x2 K9 y: b8 D* d( ?) x1 W
14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
4 m) D# r% B( g7 z; L2 Mof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol- " V: l# b" Z9 y' i6 n, N; X/ g$ X
lars.
$ K9 N \; S; a4 n) D
; f, H: j1 d" D3 J# Q15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan ; |7 b, l) e3 F- F) I" R- N
Asylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou- $ N5 F( v. q' [1 q, V; I
sand dollars.
! z( U# G ~. J# \; { c, A; P2 m# X
8 R t+ D! m5 I3 u! g" Q# H# C16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy-
' C% O2 Q, \* \, K5 glum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is 8 g! Z; ?; l9 t( P& ` ~; W0 K
chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand
& y9 ?0 E( g3 R7 f2 wdollars. 1 R9 B. \! F6 S7 c
0 ^& J( F# B2 F" y0 i
17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans, ( k% t' w2 e O: G% w
five thousand dollars.
- l! p2 l1 M9 G' p0 V9 ~+ H) W4 M1 w `+ J- f* L% C- ?
18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa- + M8 G2 X5 t5 a# G
tion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
5 W$ y ~* }9 z( e! D) E* C. q% p0 T: k- [
19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
/ O J( D7 q4 u p- [: BDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. ' w% ^' v4 s1 v. F4 r
' `$ U ?, m, A4 F7 O20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an
3 ~, l5 c: j1 E2 K( `" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of
/ u0 P5 h5 ^: Hcontributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity
+ ]5 O; f9 C- Xin said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000) % V7 O' N# ?- v1 ~2 z% X
and I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be % \ {3 r- E! g
organized according to law; and further, it is my desire that 6 n' f& h3 E& u+ ~1 J' |
after my executors shall have legally organized and established
$ f5 H0 i- E5 ^* n: hsaid contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to 5 I2 H& }1 {$ y/ e) Z
administer and control the direction of its affairs, then such per-
" F, _/ ?. k4 N1 t: V1 ~6 jsons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
$ l! ^( A2 d" u$ g% _. F- O gjointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc- 9 N Z8 V& d" |; H: P
cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
. Q/ [( y5 }% C! H; tthereof.
8 W3 h* q1 r& Z: w- l; n" [. n3 F; Z& v1 B: i9 B+ x( y* i
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of
" M+ n* s& a% R, z0 O# ?Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ) |% ?) b4 |1 q
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the % u& A) |2 e7 S, f1 X
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept
: v+ H% o3 c4 K# Ias a public park or promenade ground.
6 a! T6 U: ?/ |8 k: |
) \) J$ p; Y5 M22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport # N+ o2 q% e# I$ W! N! g w
aforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars.
' ?7 v( O- E: M. k6 q& Z; t. |7 P8 D2 S7 ?/ j( ]
+ F, k* Z3 h- y, v9 o/ i! z* l
- ^# m% b- o- j- s1 R( C
Judah Touro — Kohler. 107
2 U( N4 n& b- r' r1 O: G4 r1 W" |1 f4 D# r& \. y: x! p# w
23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay 5 X& Z X( L' H8 O- {3 v
Shalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars. q& b4 R9 G- |" h, C' I
# w) t2 r2 e3 k3 d: g) H6 v
24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
) U" n3 u% E \ c7 v9 B6 cford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
% x0 V7 x6 |, O+ _# ^. N% [# K2 P) u' r" {! C8 k6 M: g
25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New
) N6 M' k: l' d4 x( c- z5 rHaven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
: |( w* Z& l+ C! I# @
4 F: F4 v; Q; a+ m K1 ~26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society,
. N5 i7 y3 \ n) S. P: ffor the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and 6 T# O* H# a" E& F9 f. ?
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent),
/ U- z! u9 p# T# ?9 f* b1 p5 R8 p& a+ bten thousand dollars. , I. A* h' @5 q0 h6 s* v
6 r% Z5 w Y: L27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir * }8 R7 |) b) J9 z" t) f% y; ]
Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to 0 t! R! N$ D6 N8 |# t3 B
ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in
6 z; L$ |6 j$ g4 H2 @3 ~' U7 t5 [the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of # s8 ^6 M2 E+ M! X
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without
n* p2 I! n$ [, F: P9 x8 ^! {7 V# s# Dmolestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou-
& ?7 D+ A- S/ _! L: c. _; k Rsand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through
: N q- a/ O# ]' ^" lthe said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise,
* y7 t- s( c- `( xas best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of
, O; F" J4 c5 \2 c6 u9 b! Iany legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry- 1 E5 l6 q% R# r5 C
ing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and 0 U' W% u, G% A
in that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
4 |* x/ D) A9 X* ?) Jbe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the 1 R" w- V: m+ f- G. _6 |, o
City of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri- / N: e: t! N1 n1 z8 g8 K1 T# S; o
can Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, 3 p- l. C" `0 ]0 }( x/ N M
of the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this
# M7 s8 a4 c5 E% A- _9 Ymy last will.
& l/ s' b0 C% t/ `. K9 s1 G* s$ q0 x7 h: Q
28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I
% H1 v" U8 d0 |8 V6 f( m. hhave already alluded in making this will, as well as those to 9 g8 U/ b% z# N' ?( u, T3 \
which in the further course of making this will, I shall refer,
7 p7 g7 c% C5 ^8 Fshall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them ) d3 ^8 d/ D6 A0 C Q2 Z
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and * a" i( u& n; f: m; G
thereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I , u7 v8 G" V* h2 S9 f
desire that the parties interested in such institutions and my
M- _% i+ ]" T0 ^ v* v0 Vexecutors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de-
4 d7 F$ v$ m% @* D$ g7 |; ccease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
( c& c1 i% ]; \4 F( l! d, \- n3 hinherit in the premises according to my wishes.
& M6 Z" R# U/ J( a; @/ @$ d: E0 y
29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the
8 ~" \4 _7 |+ b+ X2 v9 n, HCity and State of New York twenty thousand dollars.
. E4 T* m2 D6 j+ o" r' r5 G: v2 z( c+ O+ M- f: ^' X) B
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
1 k+ e. b5 _, F8 R8 f" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars.
% p, a! o8 u, a( ]5 y F4 S
2 u5 m7 V7 A; x) z+ Q% P% X5 M- U31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society - a9 A7 D( c2 y; [6 s' Y
" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars.
7 T" p% t& \3 j: H( ~- @: P/ J
6 y1 d6 w$ u$ H$ t& }! U# g
0 E" M r7 p3 ~* I5 [
- e8 ]1 `3 f, R3 ~; ]4 P5 ~7 u" Z108 American Jewish Historical Society.
: B4 j% u6 t, v% Q7 r% x6 H) U1 n% N
32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund ( ?4 U5 Q# J6 c* M8 ~
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the
7 J! g( c0 N" }6 @City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand $ v/ Y; Z& p/ i% R$ P
dollars. ) X& A6 @( a: E0 [
7 T% ]; Y3 n/ X6 w1 s Q+ l9 v
33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
, D: z# D( e( D# F9 O y5 x6 z3 ybrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York,
7 b7 p( N- k* ]& p% r& othe sum of three thousand dollars. * l* o) I. P( P" K
* e# K0 E$ U( i' C8 d& Y9 r7 J7 r34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
: J: K! [* W: }: p* [5 Igarai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. . K% T, @1 y1 C1 p4 m5 t
; }: I( l0 q% u/ M35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
, ~ C; {; k5 V3 }the City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was
" Q& S* A5 ?5 J0 la directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B. x7 ?$ A& d0 ]4 b
Kursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars. ! E+ B8 r& h: E- Z( i/ M, N: n: ?
' J( k0 u }2 ^36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- 9 M+ y5 g J( v5 E: M; m
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol-
# I( N0 x2 n7 Elars.
2 M5 s$ r& T3 s, V0 Q* l; u, s' ]) U' V9 X3 V
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of 1 [0 P! |8 x/ _8 |/ Q. f
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars.
; [; a2 r+ F! t/ v# T8 v2 Y, h& q/ [
38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- 2 \* s& t! o8 `/ s
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars.
5 w0 _( t7 i& f
- u' ?2 ~8 T* ]) O2 v- s v39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat % I9 d. t5 n! s; G- a$ r
Israel," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars.
- \ N$ R: B2 j% H* ] k% W" b7 P5 E' B* `& d( ?% A
40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth 6 Q8 J# L0 h/ q" V
Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars.
3 S" P) I' q, Y) t3 t+ d7 ^$ m/ E
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith " x4 h: D1 H. `2 C, B5 a
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand 0 J# J( X1 R2 X* U
dollars.
/ D: ^7 ^3 y0 }6 B, }
7 ~: Y9 T! B) ^1 K! E42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
9 }- }8 |6 Z! [$ b/ N$ ogarai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. : m! v; i. Z% |) o1 a' C$ O, L
9 n. w& x! l- n1 H
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
4 o. c' d7 s( {) U) f/ KIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars. 1 ]& C! y4 |! h
8 F; @4 t! x3 E8 I" @* I: x
44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont- ' G9 L" ~+ [6 H3 B! J# i& O$ S% _
gomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars. % f9 V8 ?. r2 U( p2 M2 m- g$ ?
* ~) f* D7 ~# C* I5 A+ [5 ^( X45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem- 3 U* O }" X* }6 `7 I- E
phis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars. / Z7 @2 @8 F; M' z7 _. X: ?( w: {
/ `6 q: g k& X46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas 0 |) H3 U2 f) f& Q/ }
Israel," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
& u! y( a2 t7 b
; m: I) W3 R4 C: _9 \% V6 W47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is- 7 ?% r& C& d V3 p
rael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
# O l9 d2 M) T
0 [6 C) F3 F b48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo-
1 L R- E4 [3 c5 u* {dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars. 1 Y- X- I6 M5 W* J) N
5 Z4 _9 o. g1 t' _49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati, 8 l7 ~8 Z! g4 O( s* Z
Ohio, five thousand dollars. 9 h" @+ ~& V3 L& M
. r6 S4 T2 k5 y* q' t6 g$ \1 A' j4 t. x4 }- K( {/ t! w' Z9 c3 A
0 @) v( a9 W* j7 H/ fJudah Touro — Kohler. 109
) v, V; p+ n( H0 k5 B
& v+ W$ r) K/ J, x5 i50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth - J) s# D& j$ D% o% G
Israel," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
3 b" [; [2 `# {. F Q5 d" _0 O( Z* n& D
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai
4 O6 K; F' l- [0 ~- [El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars. . m% b9 T$ y* Z7 U
; F, Z% Y3 g0 k/ e" G# O4 Z& F
52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El," . H% J0 Z7 }0 R! |+ n& q! i6 r
of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
# O+ ~4 I k0 x0 n/ r6 d6 q% P$ w& B1 l5 w" b# E% j/ v
53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth 2 Q8 v/ f/ J. M+ R3 y1 H
El," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars.
0 P1 C% e$ x/ M3 i! I) {: T
6 B- H1 n6 Z7 S$ x; I# R. z54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions, $ u3 s( g& D/ Q+ Q0 W5 R
named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra- 6 h9 G ]% t u0 X) J2 Z: ?: R
ham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: . y# P8 Y s8 w+ L3 b' ^
8 H" [3 j, ^; ?
First, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
1 G: Z& I/ Z1 D) v1 y6 A1 _9 M$ efive thousand dollars. 7 e& {" p6 y) ^! J6 Y! Q. h/ i
( L6 E/ }- E& N/ ~, D4 aSecond. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, : I( z4 S) i- s+ S/ W, \
five thousand dollars.
- l$ c0 T5 v! E6 O
# s8 u- g" C8 l! t$ _Third. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- " R+ Y: s( \9 \8 X) z, ]- A6 H- P! L
sand dollars.
$ E- ?( X5 A/ M: R( x! c$ P5 N. O. g! F4 n
55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of
% {0 L. d4 x# e, `3 j ~5 qpaying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew- % B/ t* `0 Y" _7 @! |0 T
ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min-
- r3 c1 A4 ]7 Histry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the
% _. k8 @2 h! \. zJewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be
9 u7 d l8 `2 u Z; ~) @7 r5 happropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner
' z J* Y4 W9 o; X8 o4 |/ R9 ?( L5 Fas my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
/ e: N- ^( |7 sof Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire, " Z7 S" A. H9 s# c' w+ s! ?* [
that David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed 1 }3 a5 O3 ~4 i) _7 L* L) _
friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should
9 ]6 I' m: U3 X# K. C9 g) xcontinue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
0 h! o9 u( C: F' p1 q6 g8 Fthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
* p9 I" |# d# P3 O& _. ]! x; gof services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the
! z* t# }8 \( |! A0 _5 K2 G( i1 Msum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them,
2 N4 N) ^ t3 h/ ^5 {the said David and said Nathan H. Gould. 8 ^. s3 o0 h7 t8 |0 K; P
. l+ k$ F. n! s# @, {4 K7 o56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine
' X4 Y' m, L0 d2 s" RHays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind 5 U- W, W& I0 l5 J V
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me.
. _ D8 e2 f- V
[. g$ E0 B% }2 [57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and x8 C* P7 v6 g( i* H- q0 S8 C
Julia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of
& ^6 J/ h8 I8 U' k# TRichmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be / c/ z4 E: @/ X% ^' G. ~! h' m
equally divided between them. - [, G! Y3 h7 }* c
( f* j! |9 x" D7 S4 n58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to / K1 A0 O( E5 C5 X: J
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond,
: R) Y9 \/ _2 R2 mVirginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my
. K% s) {" K+ j3 ^# ~remembrance. : w1 I- L4 F4 q+ Y
, ]% e1 q2 w8 e, Q- V% y
: V3 g% \0 _. @& b
" r1 F. i p! P5 ]! L9 q4 ^110 American Jewish Historical Society. , R" ?/ g5 W Y6 ~8 o
5 ]7 F7 C5 V6 q9 [; E0 m59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing, % l( _. j, A( x" ^4 K' B
of Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
2 [/ w7 v2 }( T) n# U' tmy esteem and kind remembrance.
1 ^& J7 ~7 F$ t. K: X
P& p) X$ M1 g s60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to ; g$ l) H2 _( [
my respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a 2 a$ i& A# y6 {9 P4 P( F- [" o0 `
token of my regard. 0 i0 A5 _2 T$ M h
1 r& g: U' U" d, ]! o: X61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
; S9 `/ \" [% e7 L( w Smy friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
( ~+ S/ [% |" q; J# pwife, to be equally divided between them. 0 h$ x& P& j" i3 `; l; }
( b' b$ _: c; M! x9 G
62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
+ t" f, C' w9 emy friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of
0 z& U! W; z! ?my remembrance.
9 E2 [. J% |: J. ?1 y( I
2 u7 l. Y9 T* T [5 q" ?63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
3 A0 ?' ^& G, fof Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex-
$ N W! [% \% j7 E+ a! v: X; B5 necutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol- ; ~( z$ n' D$ t3 z0 Q" n
lars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
- w$ p$ o/ Q% gof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind 1 T5 ?3 U1 P7 ~( N" i" Y
regard.
7 ?2 j9 z, F5 {6 w5 V( I
9 n& ]6 y) M% m5 r* X64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars,
3 f" w3 r6 J" P7 n& F0 @& s: Vto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
5 ~- A# m# ]: l* V. Pmemorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, 4 ~& A% ^* ~& \& 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
. A4 z5 ]1 T ]to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable " X* T" g, v' X$ h
memorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of 7 D( R( j8 l' L- z
Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans. 1 m" B5 j- N: z. F) S
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66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have 0 `4 C0 J2 O7 I; [; p$ ~9 `! K
made previously to these presents. ' a3 O" _# g: g6 N* c% E
' Q# H' m$ d$ S; iThus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to
1 @- |# `7 m, Rme, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses 4 S) C# M' p* R! I$ ]9 _$ A, ]
herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the
. {7 m) J2 E9 i! Z$ S/ G" hsame, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own
# v" q2 K% P: [2 T7 fproper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this
1 |+ \; n% E3 g+ Vtestament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- ' _3 [9 C; ?. e: M+ D
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same 0 Q' @+ P/ R. N, H; _7 P( K2 {
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 s$ g/ ~" U: B2 c: A: J6 xing aside to other acts.
5 ]9 ]8 L4 ]6 K: G- D' ~6 ^
7 C5 n4 J+ h$ x5 ^, U" iThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the ' v) U8 u3 _. M
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and
# V# ^' u; c! s& x* B! Zyear first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan 4 @! A0 [; \8 d' D: n* D
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, - T% \0 K0 [6 ~0 v7 i2 X+ x L5 `
# v1 U" \% Z0 E8 {) ]# h6 Z6 A- \
/ d7 r9 M* j" h3 z, T& E& @9 h
# k& q: r2 T, Y% E N/ h; CJudah Touro — Kohler. Ill , Z+ D9 z. C2 Y# K2 D R
/ q! p) C6 b& H( c7 j/ Iall three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said ! X+ k# l; E' q3 |
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their 1 v, w8 `- J+ I* u: r. x6 `
names. (Signed.) 6 h0 r0 O1 z% ~3 }: O8 c
& V3 v" u5 e7 }! c' |( I
J. TOUEO,
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J. Montgomery,
$ j( K3 s2 D2 b" c4 {+ D2 Z' P# X. }+ B" w( T& R
H. Shepherd, Jr.,
O, O! M1 K4 m5 S- q3 z' D: i6 ^. _8 h$ h
Geo. W. Lee, 4 Y7 F9 o/ m0 O
, \# S/ q. ] L% wThos. Latton, Notary Puilic. 9 V. [1 w* x5 |. M+ K
5 d5 {1 O1 x2 T
( C6 B3 ~# Y: U# g# w
8 T& p, u8 X) x0 U5 Z; tLIBRftRY OF CONGRESS
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2 w, p0 T7 y7 z8 ]# ]0 m$ \7 R6 m- i G' J' U, ~; Y/ s! \. N, K
) H6 J; V! U# W/ ?8 J B) T014 495 461 |
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