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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
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By max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. ) T% a0 }" L& Q7 X$ g
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Reprinted from
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Publications of the , e7 M2 N1 R" s3 x2 V8 [
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American Jewish Historical Socibtt, 8 ^# o; I, ^; Z; o6 Y1 t6 }$ ~
1 k1 ~& D2 X; _5 oNo. 13, 1905.
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND + {+ m: q2 K% O
PHILANTHROPIST. / D4 w0 ~2 ^! S6 i/ H+ D# }0 N- ]
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By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B. $ |7 U, a! [% l6 }0 b
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It is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak
- d- s- ?5 T M5 l) Q0 lTouro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings, 1 h, K% O9 @. {. U" F+ M1 z
nor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
$ l; U) Y$ H: M$ h' |name, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating 4 j# Z! n; v0 B+ O$ I+ o1 d1 Q
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- & G1 J6 k M1 n& g o
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 3 Z% W6 e7 D2 T8 P) V
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's 3 y* |, C; s9 x1 i7 q
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring ' Y* \7 P7 S. J4 D* Z6 L5 J* o5 w
the very name of one who would probably by common consent
- S0 u. a/ ]" ^be singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the , W3 S+ b7 J' l) t- Y% [3 E5 e7 R- x
first half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the 3 `2 y9 o* e6 O0 q5 M
relations between the investigations of local historical socie- : R* b- c2 m0 [4 h8 t
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account
9 F. }$ T% `% i$ a7 F$ u" }for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career,
' [8 q+ R$ L9 K6 r7 H7 l8 Tignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such 5 V9 Z) D/ E, l) z* t0 r
specialized investigations as our own, that the general his-
5 j: Q3 |9 S6 ?, ctorian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi-
5 x/ m% |" v5 s$ ~vidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in
, t7 W9 P, x$ n0 `" Q0 s/ _* u- [question did not figure prominently in the political or mili- 6 @& N4 Q' ~' D# T f- D. m P. K
tary history of his .
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. Z( G- S+ b' E1 B, Q, x; X: VA couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written
5 n, c* E& P$ N3 U$ qwithin a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by
$ K3 u, w# s; Xnon-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis-
. \9 B, }( D+ U* i# Dfactory authorities on his career and tend to show in what 7 I4 r; J5 p; E7 K1 q
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander + Z1 s5 c( P5 `3 G; I
Walker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal ! y. ^. y. [8 \# r
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' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
6 k$ n7 d* w9 y4 Pchants," published in 1856. " h3 x9 c- ~" M& M5 n
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94 American Jewish Historical Society.
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0 a& i" q: E |. Ureminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol-
- v* Q/ w( A. L3 G+ N6 j2 ^6 Llections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or-
& X1 [ m9 e/ E% N o$ ?' Qleans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information; - G( M+ y0 B6 z& V( K
though few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be 9 I& h: t/ J: v
likely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog- 6 M: x) a d" P: b- u
raphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary 7 ^9 W1 m6 _: {2 J
sketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
3 _3 w* {# U) x! Dreminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
4 c; s# s6 M$ m$ g. A+ qare for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant.
1 Z+ ]& }, F! k$ mJudah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known
" @, g2 H, f+ y: R6 W; B3 o: jin his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy
. |4 H2 C0 Y1 ?7 [ wand early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his % l+ T1 [& p# ?: h" e
maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no
, ?' I% V' Q: [- m: u! Sguile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
9 x4 n. y% R1 L. Z0 B9 }$ ~( k8 {9 {more than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect ' H/ U" ?$ V' K' Z! }8 y
and admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish " ?* {4 f8 k% @% H( s
name in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh
" Q7 v! ]' [/ C; Q, C2 \unprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic
6 X5 u4 ], z' A& d5 G* o0 r6 |gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com- \( p, i( K) D" @4 D+ O0 c V9 J
munities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore 1 q3 n q0 P4 h$ Q
impossible, in view of the small and humble means at their 3 D5 Y! a% O- W8 T9 I0 g
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the
! Z0 r( ^5 }; o- yfoundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever 9 Y9 @+ B8 Y" p. k1 n! P& [
since been the pride and the boast of American Jewry.
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Judah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
" p1 t: h' ~* c3 P$ J, P# e16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum-
$ _+ n2 l! X# w! X/ V; s$ I5 m0 u6 Xstance that his individual career thus began with that of his , s9 {% E+ R# N0 e# E
beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min- . A3 M& N5 ?& @ y% r
ister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption 5 ?) D" i8 b9 @: L* o
of activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by
* Q( t# [ b6 K# c/ Ethe dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme- : c/ v: C& r8 p, v" p
tery being more than a century older, and concerning whose
8 {4 B1 B, g6 ~5 V j& hcareer our society has already published various items.^ Isaac ' Z* n, t( p! D* m5 A- F# ~
+ V; t# F% Y/ p' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854. " r F1 \# z0 [# ^
' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew-
$ w/ ~! F9 M% qish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas-
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Authc:
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' m( m7 A- X" \4 ?; OJudah Touro — Koliler. 95
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Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays,
, \8 C0 n6 g4 U- l' B0 sin 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and ' K+ ?$ P/ {1 C: | I
Eebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and
4 J' S. g! `: I% T' N9 Rdied in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem- % I/ r4 i }8 E
bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city
1 m1 r) f, Z! W Kduring the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de- : `+ w6 |* r! ?, r! M
parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December # Y: Y" u1 O, j! ^
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country,
7 a* n4 r0 s" W" l# Rand became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays, ' y6 d# Q. z( M; z$ O1 K( [- T. c7 T' u
brother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- . F8 Z& h+ f' G9 i4 p
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
6 o5 @: r. W+ D) Q0 _, y& Ober 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays,
5 X' m, m. N! @0 h1 ^Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely ' E1 k7 ]& n5 e
those principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood 3 F- L/ d* R3 q, c
them in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
0 R, k0 H+ z; n% H5 g- n7 calso brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
" `6 l+ m X9 J+ U8 Cnent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views ( ?, A: \& t9 [. h7 h* G+ i
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac- 8 z6 c* u0 q7 T
companying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays
# r" _0 K* I% j, N; T; ^: Twas an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the & P j+ E3 V. b% W {
patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
8 Y2 @! _4 L, S- P! |+ g+ TMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the
# F) D; q0 c7 |) }first American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist, - M" H( G/ m! H9 w; M* I `
while such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition-
2 g. G1 Q8 {7 \: S, s) `) ^ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these 0 S+ {3 n8 q6 @$ q* Q" \
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which
" K9 h2 j' W: V/ L- U6 }induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
& V1 c/ Y4 V5 ?/ O7 dslaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and
1 v0 a2 c% g' ^ e5 e$ v5 d& Z, ^Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and
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trow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid.,
, h8 e! u% y* q3 J/ i7 ?No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No. ! R2 [5 s6 [# e
8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport 4 g) X8 y6 L9 R5 n2 E2 \
and New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
; V4 X+ p0 x* b( Rof Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New- ( E: T6 ~& b1 }6 b( B
port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105; 3 N5 V. p1 L2 F, L2 {
Rev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews."
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commercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in * U" D; R( _% Z% {8 k
1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with.
- R7 m( A5 U2 ?# K' `& ~a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean. & l4 j) G8 s0 _) C$ D
The voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
( ^5 |6 T9 L7 u. \$ jvessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
6 E2 Y" S% t! X7 Q/ t/ C amercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad- 5 B/ ]) u5 V+ T: B/ f7 S" [4 ]
vised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a 3 a6 {, f3 X! }' r* i
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after + O. J8 }. B$ S+ e* U8 T
a voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends ) s: _& {$ u- b0 ]* E
knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg- , \/ I/ t9 l" L1 y$ @5 Z* M
ment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they
; l" l% i# h) X; U$ L8 `made to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in " |& {1 m6 ~6 }6 [& ^# m% Y
New Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- : q' w" V# `+ I" ?- R1 ~5 s
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New- 8 a7 f0 M) j: |- U) k" b5 @9 f
port," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts
- i3 [0 e2 r' ~1 Y4 Iinto six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library 0 M: A* {! H8 j) }
from the collections of the distinguished historian, George $ K3 Z5 Q/ D- J$ X' a, ^
Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah . R# s- Q4 \( Y( B, k0 R4 ~
Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham- 9 F* q, ^( r, R
plain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
7 H I% b8 ]8 D: Zlight on the scope of his business dealings.
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Tradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for
5 t4 Z+ P$ D# h9 z+ W% Phis cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their * h8 }* ?( g: Q5 }- g
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re- - j! u- `, O! F. F9 i
mained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va.,
- ?; f0 ]3 s9 Jand died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January, # m3 ]$ J$ Q# E% t6 s
1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very * N. {- l8 i- R9 H1 t! P
month in ignorance of her death.
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Abraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos- + }2 ]0 N, E% S" q+ L9 \3 U
ton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an
' r) @, I" Z6 r/ N5 n, q2 J. Maccident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his . U5 m$ W4 n7 W9 L7 n
especial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
% M- y# l. t* v; @5 p Q4 a' Cport, though the Jewish community of that town had been ; Y0 [5 @" o4 v; z8 E8 i! n
scattered long before. Two years previously he had caused
+ c3 D3 l! I. Q4 A% sa substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for " Y5 i/ F/ N+ Z# s& X
which he made further provision by his will, which contained
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* E' C- v8 _; GJudah Touro — K older . 97 6 F. x& |* Q! l4 C- a7 o- k/ a
6 u. |. y( C/ p; B0 Ka number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston
* D9 V/ o t) N1 Cinstitutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
& K8 e6 m5 d/ l0 a! @Newport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly 6 p2 ^- C7 t; y* }* e' j
to the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog- / i, T5 P3 H8 r' @ e
nizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly.
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Eeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
& B* J* |. f. Z- uically recognized the claims of his country upon him during
8 N/ O- ~; j2 Z$ ?7 othe War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, / J7 v" p5 R( N3 d5 l* V4 }3 i4 C
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or-
$ \4 ?( D1 N0 I0 |5 c4 ileans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun-
( c) B- x; s ]0 U: V. c4 n4 s8 Yteered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of
* Z$ m+ W& j" Q5 a7 F/ Q: b9 ]the American batteries during a British cannonade, and while " W @ d0 x! B
in the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve-
! }: n$ t9 w8 \8 n' Z+ Kpound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that
l+ y }7 f5 n7 M* m9 o5 M2 Khe was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D. , |% R' ~& {% k
Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians
\4 I, Y8 k% G% V' F, t5 bhad abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death # e$ F+ {+ o/ }/ j* Q6 v
was great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
$ O( C' y% ~8 P9 P" p# d6 e9 ?; a6 oJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of
- Z7 e6 Q/ k+ ?Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi-
, L: U4 C- t6 ^6 G6 s2 W: B7 @" B5 Mdence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep- 3 _8 @" \' b8 W( q- y" r3 a
herd had independent means of his own, he treated this large
* j7 |. e: |* cbequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes, * i: E' |# G c# l6 U
so that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
- [/ B1 g( W# j0 l4 m% h4 F2 Uscribed in the will itself. $ ?+ w0 i$ {) }6 f S) j; [
; a5 J: W8 I) @, n5 EJudge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred
% e! Q- e: _; e( gto, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began - v; @' S9 w6 _" E& `
a brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other
" c% t7 f6 `4 D& s, c: gexports of New England, making prompt returns to his : a' s, P0 ?; H+ B3 S1 L
friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man-
! {/ s* e0 l oagement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
5 V" r' x( I. _8 Z J/ Mvessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and ; f9 n E1 g: G- S/ V5 d
many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain
9 ~# l/ ~+ t$ W3 C# M6 }cargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his , t2 C) B; I' Q; M7 z
funds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in " {. X# s" i3 O: y
ships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His
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98 American Jewish Historical Society.
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1 p5 G+ i. k9 B& ocareer as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and $ j1 a- S X7 S, Q# E
stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em-
- E& E, | A b C0 y4 vbarking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn- 7 D. P# u6 i: Z2 w" P
ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to 2 }) \% e" \+ e( h4 I4 D
the cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents ( K, }# s9 I% S& E; y% E: ?# C
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock. ) d6 S- P; T. C% n1 e s0 Y1 r6 k
His neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day
/ S4 p2 @& Y+ Vby his movements. In his business he rarely employed more
/ v/ l0 ]- l h2 {! ]than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus- ! F. o% K8 [& `$ r6 K
tom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. 7 K- x& ~' H _3 E" g+ M$ t
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well
' h7 u% U* v" K. J" b1 j( X6 w( qarranged that there was no possibility of any misunder-
) N7 k8 M2 n. O: Gstanding. " F" G( } T' m$ k' J _ t' r- k
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It is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was
& N# |* G0 g& N% @- N- Udevoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
, X5 H6 Q$ l/ i8 p8 h4 ^age, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to 1 H2 d) y2 U8 C
work the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
* W, y) C; B V6 E {* _ Vhis name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro-
; i; m) i3 x0 K; v6 rpists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for-
$ g' K. Q8 h/ D6 h& T0 G# X4 Qtunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, 3 @# i4 { C( ]1 g2 w: W
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not-
/ `- G3 z' Q6 x" t; Y. o( r) p: Rwithstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that
% t7 V4 u1 a; k0 \5 v3 Hhis whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan- 3 M% }* |! l6 R
thropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New
3 r/ h1 L( c1 ]) E' HOrleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
0 _: n; j, h" h6 B P4 K1 w; y/ `7 aviously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who k* L# \1 [6 ~/ B5 y9 K2 q
had won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
: J% a; n9 h) M* f' v1 Dthat which the most successful merchant, the most daring 9 `- d8 @" q7 q$ d
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw
* I- y6 O% S* `1 O) D1 o; _him in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra-
/ M) D5 N5 Z! Otions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little 9 w% J4 N7 J2 E
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble % P# k% c. Z4 t( N( B. @
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
+ q" o- I$ T+ Z! ]glide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his
( P, g+ `/ ?" Y) O l& ]1 a) K0 }7 _hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his 6 f I4 `$ n) A5 t) e) z! Q H
homely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
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( `3 d; f1 V1 a. t _2 O/ e kJudah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 + m6 B: w2 `0 k7 U4 r9 Z! W
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pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, , }$ Z% C0 I: r, L* a
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali-
' \" Q2 H1 ~6 U Xties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a ' J8 C6 _) T9 h7 k$ W* ]
whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn
6 X; b. b3 s$ {2 L" k/ W: ?aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to 4 q1 \$ V# F8 p# y: r. G
bewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a [. N8 K T6 E6 L% p* A3 D
millionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death ' L* K1 f+ Q" k4 k7 X
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who w* g0 e. h2 ^% P- B% b) R
does his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large # f! m c- ~3 q! T0 s! s
wealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
% O7 q' X D3 f/ h! m, yreward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi- ; b/ T0 `- w: r0 ^8 @% G( u' @$ k
cence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a - N: c7 z5 A. W; H
splendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise 0 X9 ~9 ~ d, P N) P$ t
' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall 7 ^/ G0 l9 K% R
return to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake,
( G, J4 |' J. o) l0 pwere as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He 8 w& A% J1 s ?) @
deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and 0 C5 b" _8 x. w4 @* x1 O$ u5 d/ f
gratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single I1 l7 r4 v( U% @1 h& m
passion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was 9 w% X4 a5 \* X. z, d7 w
a miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence,
$ C! a3 x& }/ w2 d) b! ~7 M* |from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and r3 J1 @/ r" l1 t
stealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions,
, [- s9 @% z6 U# e. A: o, P! d( I' gand his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta-
! v' }& N! [/ T6 t4 Ution and display which are too often the main incentive to " F" a( L: a7 I- j: w! Z! z
liberal and benevolent deeds." 5 F; }; t% w: O! T/ A6 e
# P- P* f7 O& N. k* k; M
Turning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess ( |5 h( G6 [( y; q( Z
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the 4 u/ A4 B" Q/ H* a: ]
public to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac- 9 E0 v8 x9 B3 K" O
tions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they
& n: l# p1 j: x- w$ Bare, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
' C$ J d Q" N; @large gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as & \# F+ ]) t2 `6 Y) b9 j1 {
common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards
9 L' P: r7 R" R! H& u7 `the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in- % c, o) M9 Z. ]8 N' h- \
terested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up , O6 ^7 d2 \$ `* z2 ^! V
their project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
9 g- P$ S- _7 B: s; F5 ]already in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. 1 W* D: N) A( ^. O1 U; d* K
; x- a% ?7 X2 a5 e
/ Q" ~) T& t g, j$ \/ @/ d: ?
4 W' A7 t$ m* @/ V2 ?100 American Jewish Historical Society.
5 l; [$ E/ K- J5 x5 |6 k& G( w6 z6 u! Y# H% C% r- B6 b
Amos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material ( {/ T2 n8 J8 c2 d3 \
response, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward , ?% W, Y1 Z/ \- m" B* v2 u
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately
8 ^* s* C' O9 I- C4 g l( s9 xoffered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of
; d$ {2 @) [7 [. \: ^Amos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- 3 \, t! a, F, W Y- s
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in- 8 d( I( X/ C" h
dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his + N4 b: e7 ~( @+ s' H
injunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he
3 {- }8 c* X5 w9 Qseriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob-
1 K. k! \/ A+ Gably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew- 9 B/ ], L" [+ p( |3 M0 K
ish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other % s; S- [9 x+ \/ {- X" T5 I
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world,
- y* E2 u/ R/ ^ |/ ~: u* mand well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication
* C; C# U( c4 d2 @0 {1 F# H' aof the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
5 {' Y' Z @: Z4 P- ithe United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity
* m' R/ O- B# |2 V$ W( j5 T: {8 Hwas commemorated by the presiding officer who read these 3 x o v- j8 i- e4 L
lines, since become famous : |& x; Z1 i2 l
$ f5 s- o& w t# {7 l x0 i
Amos and Judah — venerated names!
, c: _+ v) r5 ~1 t
' \; G5 ?/ G# S# @5 [Patriarch and prophet press their equal claims, 5 V" N: Q0 W/ T+ V
8 n/ S, E# c; s( }6 T
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck. * D7 T! j7 A% G' l
Q+ }0 q0 j/ g) M" Y( b4 Y
Each aids the work by giving it a check.
" R, F: I, i, u% t& V! {: C
( c1 V! n" `* x8 K2 Q$ [1 X7 vChristian and Jew, they carry out a plan — , l3 h; m9 q+ z6 z$ j: }( ], H" Q, Q+ [
& a+ O0 k T& G# r
For though of different faith, each is in heart a man.
0 c0 W9 X5 C$ A# E( j# Y8 C1 N! T- @& H
Judah Touro's private benefactions were munificent
; T% I* Y& Y2 m. ]2 P4 w( Ithroughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often 3 _4 w- m3 d( I# S K. y* R( m
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration
! u3 O. L6 j! J( z: Fin point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris- D4 w/ _8 O: T+ U* f
tian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
; ~* a3 H* d! U8 {! Qister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,-
9 N- r J [, | \7 A( H000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised
+ b% c" p& c- G- e9 nby private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build-
' D' S. v; w4 X0 Aing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to
$ H# a. ]# v) E1 Q. f. m& q+ ~occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after
, F' N8 Q* a: A) k, g# P# ?many years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
) i$ V2 _5 u1 b: Z& Q- [( T4 o$ C
* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
0 I9 v i! C R5 T" U t y0 e$ K% ~. d) e2 b: q
0 ~# ^% l# Z& q" A4 |
0 E9 I# C& |/ O9 S! TJudah Touro — Kohler. 101 ' k P4 `+ Z: M1 F% F
1 p$ x; |+ A, O5 T( v ytribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested ( A" [& V# B9 p! W
that he could profitably erect business buildings on the site,
- T! r$ Z2 V3 `; h3 u( ihe promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
$ v- Q) @( G1 b" K9 J# I8 jam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church * `/ s% u& o1 a& {" b$ ?; _
to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from . J) u# N# c; f; V9 M. a
him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister , f% S$ B& S. I9 P
died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he / f: z6 _- a% W3 N
declined to accept the money, ing instead that it be ; @% r6 q) F6 [ |2 d( N
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary * _7 J! @ I% B
at New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be-
! g, i3 Z2 r; R" z' V/ tcame interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill "
: z j) R. W2 D/ B2 i. Tof jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
6 Q8 ` k- U. O; E+ ~settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui- v% x% }' Z% o4 ^* g
sition of the site by that municipality. For many years he ( V* I. p9 `1 [! G1 ^/ B7 H
was practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans;
7 R! E; Y1 N% R& x' U% S) ssubsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected
& V! ]6 u* C+ t1 `+ x* Va synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex- 0 \9 V& _: u! L1 |6 g; l! S
pense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- ! i3 X! s, d% w- C/ z' M N: k7 E
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed $ v ]6 X' Y i- B. j
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis-
+ z, p% X- Q- X3 Itributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable
! A+ g1 `2 J6 {purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
0 s1 m4 D# o! A+ W, @5 k# L" ` aClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
* a& l5 x* O7 A: N- Anever heard of but one religionist in the United States who
5 r3 L0 w, L8 e- hcan be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of 5 _4 P) O( {* F+ B. P/ ]9 J- @
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing 8 q. }, Q/ v5 `
on other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran-
. P# \. t a x0 z& h2 U! [& Wgers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he
8 i5 C$ A# I7 z" j1 F, {9 vscattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity.
" o9 G& {# O8 `* oHe knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated ; r6 [: n. }+ d- v; ?$ P7 l: x% V
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni- % i: C8 k2 n9 y! I. q! R
hilation."
9 r* X: F/ U" B6 ^3 @4 |; @" {4 t8 f. y. M4 T
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur- " f2 ]* y& ]) @. E4 b
prised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by + B' d$ I# m7 Q' }& G
him at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi- , `, l4 L+ Z+ p+ z- A
ties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their
0 ^+ R) J: s# c! ~! Y' c) A( C' @ _) e; k3 }. a
' D n, [7 l+ _+ z* ^% ?7 j% h, J( E1 @0 J, L p
102 American Jewish Historical Society.
+ E0 f8 {1 P3 _' {
1 W+ K. [" x3 [0 B+ k3 qcharitable institutions, many of which owed their continued
. S$ ^8 u! Q1 ^existence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his % H# V9 }* i. W( t7 O4 \4 E
wise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- . _. a! m: l& M* l
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have
5 c9 ]' V8 j5 k+ a! V2 Z8 O1 |found their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of
: N" \- l, I1 G- w0 Gnecessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably 2 A* r; e2 o2 y0 U* l
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be- 9 r0 Z, y! P5 Z
quests, as follows :
9 |1 p% r9 q3 Z' }; g, s3 }* S
7 d7 P$ C8 ~( y, e7 [He thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where : @' Y2 {3 O( p7 M8 L# x S
he had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to . V2 U( ^. F3 f x2 L
their relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are " G! m4 E5 v' A2 q* X. i1 X# A2 a7 w
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will 6 Q+ x9 H) X) l. V2 d- T
ever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in & v+ r# V4 ]6 o9 q8 g. a$ K
his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in 0 b2 h. x8 W! j. j4 f5 _3 t
the day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per-
* e" T( `5 I8 [9 ^0 c& g) osuasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied - g/ _8 ?6 _. m/ P
the means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of
% P0 M0 I2 v2 z; H0 Hthe new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded
: a/ X& i [; J. Y9 J0 Sthem the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the / Q+ M0 k" @3 t. {; c
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He
6 j% t8 M$ y7 s& |7 D. D- _3 Gthought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the . V8 n D2 G) ^7 a% V$ z
children of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those
3 O+ a2 U5 W- B6 X) J6 Yinstitutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish
0 O! t! P; l+ _religion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number-
2 b$ Q6 f: x4 k: e3 ?He thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to
" h- y1 B% }! l+ N5 T3 kglide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of
- Q' u0 n' y* N$ wbenevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop 6 ^; i+ H9 g5 b6 N9 M3 |: f4 r
into despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of ?% k0 F7 K" a0 S
Israel, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro- 9 y. {% X4 q* j) @9 L; w
tection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far 7 o# Z o4 J, t6 k$ q) j
West, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost
y, A$ e2 y" E7 t- Va solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged
% e( y/ E" s; w M- u: x+ \Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
' y$ g7 N N2 i/ W& @/ \0 M& K6 w% d' D2 t* k9 v$ a% `# N
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because 9 ?3 B' Z0 o% {) j; X' n
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
+ |& E/ q4 p8 l) ^9 S# J" ]the various Jewish communities of the United States and their
& J2 V* ?5 ]( r5 |institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information
3 v2 ]2 r# g; K6 S/ t4 Sobtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun-
! {# }2 k- T; Q) K& htry, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
' u) q; K3 z2 |, {2 tomitted no deserving Jewish community.
_; b" s3 g' W" }. D, D( _! z% y9 V
4 h9 ~! O: Z, @" k
/ W! v& Z) |+ WJudah Touro — Kohler. 103 _$ x2 i$ ^( M n( }
) K' k4 D. X* M' A1 S- Scrated by so many wonderful events which marked our early
+ X0 i! j6 w# ?% lhistory, to them on in the deprivations to which they are 6 h" P+ m- N2 z% Z8 @
subjected. 6 d3 n" I3 L" h5 w1 J# L& m, ]
9 p- e5 r! A# z% m) ^One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he # {! S" R! \$ `* D* b. b$ X
should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with . }( q) ~1 `8 F- M
Sir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor- 8 |" _. [7 G" s1 t5 Q4 y1 L
ing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish 0 K/ u G$ T% g" e1 [5 U
brethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew- $ y2 S: v7 I7 O ]6 i# ?" N
ish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious
8 O1 }9 s+ D2 O9 r$ i7 Qtemptation.
% Z% n+ Q4 ~+ I6 M* w, e2 t$ h
At the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile
- a3 s' y) B4 i' F2 W. o- \vied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect,
' ]; E8 j0 l6 o* x0 O' Nand these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport,
* P9 H8 }2 L8 F8 z3 v0 ~) p/ ~2 jEhode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were 0 O3 B0 N/ {. j& u, E
attended by delegations from the numerous organizations he
1 q9 p6 V" O; X. B6 e4 d2 F" ohad so generously remembered, coming from all over the
' d- @6 J6 w. K! i- cland. By official resolution of the public authorities of - d" `) z/ `+ J7 V7 k
Newport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy,
" K, ^4 q+ b- ]' khis executors and all these delegations became the guests of & n' N, h; b/ E% @% q. f5 q
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells ' D4 L% u3 L9 I& d( E+ p/ G
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business + O, `0 _4 A+ k7 ]1 f
were closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were
" x% a6 @7 c' Z9 `- XEev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
z" l1 f4 h* J0 r0 ]phia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew
v6 c [2 G0 P0 UYork. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
/ H4 M4 {; m: X# y: ]" _, |% O& Tbitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of
& w1 U8 D# m7 qJewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans
8 I6 i' p/ x" D2 J# Lwere named after him in order to commemorate his generous
( c. H( C3 H& q+ j4 Y4 Y0 {% Uphilanthropy. 4 Z( W {' Q4 z1 R. i
! C' \0 n- O+ v `His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
8 i( s9 Y) M7 H* L) r/ t! S7 h. T) ulowing appropriate inscription :
) l! m c& t7 C1 y& w
. J/ C5 `, w& X, S# ?1 j6 mBy righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth;
% {) D1 X# t0 g: o9 p" j" O& _% zIn charity and for salvation he dispensed it.
# c5 `( w. q/ Z7 C( gThe last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan-
5 g, W* k* w7 k' sthropy + l4 z. h. {4 E; Y; b3 `
To be remembered forever.
+ D' C$ V8 A: ?, f0 f9 ; \8 Z+ [% [- k. ~; L& f
2 Q! r/ X9 k# b+ d, @! R5 O( @0 V# D5 I2 V W7 s5 m; N8 b: h: i
' b* a. ~+ h; ~
104 American Jeujish Historical Society.
r* m! h7 p, V/ a. ]' e5 s% f% i& R
WILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO. $ r. ~7 s3 j( r& r! q# {
/ ]1 ~2 c5 s6 J2 z
United States of America, 1 i. @7 c3 p" {$ ^* P6 H
: J. u/ q9 B7 h# cState of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
" _! h$ x6 X7 U8 y& c( j* h W1 A# J1 P& ?3 f% S& l
Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of 2 x. S' J& z) d! a0 M$ f
our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence & j* v4 Q/ c G! e; {' f, V8 I
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter
2 m# z8 i: p4 [, o9 ]before 10 o'clock a. m..
; O, a' s6 C' y
' x1 W$ _. l& X! B4 K0 qBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the
" f' d! L* W& E/ U" Ucity of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, # W3 ~( k8 a" C# x4 h$ V+ C7 D
and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep-
+ \" U, N; B; `; r. W* |herd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re-
! l( N# I; n% \siding in said city, and hereto expressly required —
" Z- r' f9 b. C% a' m7 d+ S" b1 |5 B+ a3 b" w7 C9 ?
Personally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant, * }6 u; X9 m4 A+ S
whom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a ( `8 w2 z9 J5 g% d: o6 I" J$ t! {
room, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but
- {+ O& T) b0 r" w' p$ u. \' asound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the
7 C6 L: ^" u; s8 g' K& @said Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah $ @& x5 c4 `( u% R# m8 \4 w8 U
Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa-
1 ~* s) k% r3 r" B: o4 \ment, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in
2 D* w5 _2 g P, p% s2 ^) l0 Npresence of said witnesses: * Y i. o4 P# Z4 S5 f
f$ e2 ]9 n' z, B- e$ G1. I declare that I have no forced heirs. 7 c, O: o# s$ a
$ `) X% Z/ e( L7 X5 l8 v5 U# J
2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
) {5 i1 ^9 O! ^5 SCemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after ! N' f# S# z7 d4 _; j
my decease. ) F& l4 A1 g' y# W* z8 R
4 h$ h% U. w: u+ p/ y, }3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends . a$ C U |" h' _
Rezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of 6 l) l" \, R) E. X
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre
* z: A3 m( K# a0 k8 C4 b5 gAndre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu-
1 c J/ X6 i# v" Ytors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- ' Y2 ~! P/ b9 G( v# @; h/ M
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said ' i: c/ r8 N, X4 }
Aaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre
& a$ X& _7 l1 aDestrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the
# o# d1 U+ `* a6 }! w( rsum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively,
7 _, q3 d4 L. p) Tnot only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but . \. S. y+ R" v! q4 v( m
also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto,
2 _/ i+ l+ J6 P, K4 Brendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
# k" R: G4 ~$ ^6 J. W8 K. dbe entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors
- L) c3 b0 |4 ^2 vas aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say
' E4 X$ r: j& h) \% @" a; Z- {/ l1 jmy dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom,
$ p+ R' s2 W- W; e8 ~2 }- l" Uunder Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva- + ]/ _& a7 \% E# {/ ?# x0 m% B
tion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815, # [9 o( `! O& \5 O- B% z% O
5 P$ I9 P7 J9 a$ V/ |
. x' u1 d" e$ f6 ~/ D7 |/ r: u
$ i2 u5 F3 }" D5 L4 [. ZJudah Touro — Eohler. 105 {) Y$ k: t) @
. G& w0 O7 d& H. L; _5 }, pI hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep-
& r6 K, \; `; j0 [" X& l- }" @herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts # S' U4 S$ ^1 B; I0 _
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of " S4 p v, }0 Q
my estate, movable and immovable. 8 l) T; v) Q; D4 q, ~
) D% f( d* Y! y2 H! J# r0 \In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more
. m. M" J; L9 E5 lof my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor
9 b/ ~4 G7 r" M, F4 lor Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last
: ^5 z+ g6 d8 e8 M. e- [, l9 U4 ~will; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more
3 C* ^$ f0 a N7 J3 ]& W' r( Hof my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that
( q# q1 ?, Q- ocase, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of
, b' Q6 U6 k4 B( X' O4 |those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in-
/ Y4 j$ D2 d2 ]" Y/ vherit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made ( a" ]2 w( T1 y- b( V" q
to them. . l2 S e: A* L8 A) T
& H. R5 B6 V, u3 V9 y! l4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in
, M& H; ^$ L5 G3 Xforce at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until - T: i( K' n. W6 E9 ?
the same shall have expired.
- t0 E# F4 C$ S) ^( M; G8 x8 J3 x$ R7 b7 l2 U7 b
5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of ' m+ O( {3 b" @
which I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner - N; ]3 A7 j1 ^
directed by this my last will or testament.
8 T0 x1 ]) ~/ s- C; j3 L8 |/ m9 |6 L* N; s
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
8 k% n3 O8 n, jpersed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain 2 S: o9 Z. U5 L% J( \2 r9 w
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
" H: R% {: r# z1 z4 p8 uSynagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of
- I0 O. z9 e1 z8 o" qthe said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from
- k% ~3 P+ b: T5 C( i4 W# f hthe bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
2 H7 H9 R( Y3 o" L1 g# p; R8 othe two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David 7 e# i. }1 u. P5 c
Urquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found- 5 {/ v" s; L3 j/ }8 {4 r
ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con-
+ u/ [- q I. [( Igregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their + a9 K l4 t) B6 H
Reader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by
) l; w, H- h, Y1 v- P: U% Jmy said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re- 7 d* Y& b- P3 Y7 k5 }2 h
strictions. " y! R/ W2 k+ [7 w% ~! {7 Y
! P$ U- E& x, o
7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New
: e0 D/ Y8 z2 J7 S" nOrleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession
; d, B! X$ b/ A6 J; j4 o& B2 ?sale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
* t( _! P) j( u( |- n( v+ `now known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con- $ q# _% ^; R. R- L4 [( [
templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
, f! q5 `; R) q6 xitable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex-
4 O3 D$ Q" d6 l; s8 secutors and such other persons as they may associate with them ! U/ p/ O5 n, e. S' V4 t" F- h
conformably with the laws of Louisiana.
! M8 W- p/ N8 A# e+ d8 ]
4 z; f& \- n; Z; M8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of 1 q. G; V6 Z! J; ^ Q
New Orleans five thousand dollars.
$ S. Q- I/ S! l7 l. a _3 _* q% D. H
9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
9 G+ z. [0 G$ k. h K) Pgarai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars. 7 x- e# h, y8 R+ f& m$ m! a; T- [
( p' b) v3 p7 u+ w% z6 n9 k, H6 U; x+ x, B3 n0 u0 f
7 r- q/ H2 D& y$ ^
106 American Jewish Historical Society. $ v" H0 B0 w( D7 C7 x
6 w( D v7 ]( Y, O/ h8 V1 U0 P10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of $ R7 b/ X* R, Q! H/ ]% S9 y$ r
New Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
A% u% u, c8 ]$ `7 N: i) i
+ a4 k3 L, ]" m0 [9 {2 Y11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society - J' P. G0 l- K: R
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
8 P5 k. A* M8 b5 r: Q4 k! C6 W+ h# z q2 L7 E: X
12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New ) M& X- r) ^. [; y# x
Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. ' f7 C4 Z, ?( G5 G9 ~! m5 s
7 B2 S1 G$ M3 D a. Y" G$ e0 S8 p13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti-
, j5 k1 C( T- | }# X' c( stute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars. 9 U1 o1 ^4 @; e4 f! Y& L1 O5 B) |
- O8 N7 R+ L6 j& o5 \14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief " N( ~ _* \9 N9 V4 N
of destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol- 9 \- V8 c/ c& |: q4 T
lars.
4 V% `% C2 P3 A# i. W
) d" U9 H7 q3 U# E3 @15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan
: H. v6 D2 E* I3 Z/ `! MAsylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou- ) n, I, u9 g0 g
sand dollars.
! n; Q& s8 t0 J6 I5 |1 D5 b) h" p4 a6 V% u5 A8 v. q* N
16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy- * m) c p# F& ~2 p/ Q( n5 m7 k9 X5 Z
lum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is
2 l1 `& d8 O* Schairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand
( k8 A, u( Q a9 ]$ ~3 n5 h/ _dollars.
6 h; n# V R2 n4 g. u! F4 x
; [( }: H7 k: Q* j17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans,
8 v- {& _. _+ e1 x4 B Hfive thousand dollars. 1 ~6 N* l" L9 Z! ~2 p! e! z
' W6 V& r. x: o: L1 K2 C
18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa- 1 j/ x/ X4 d% J8 c- y, @
tion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. * A0 t$ M6 N4 c/ n% H
$ y) ~5 k0 Q" J4 S6 Z- g/ f3 d
19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
0 G+ o1 Z4 v/ d8 s* G' eDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
* H% u6 z" ^, g& k9 R3 o8 q# x1 X* d2 J; I& u! K: e3 }/ ?
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an ! p" x+ p9 _4 F) @
" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of ) J7 t$ v7 q, Q, ]% L8 h
contributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity : Z# @. J( D: p/ z9 W$ ]
in said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000)
* H f* I4 D; |: land I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be
9 p$ R* U: B, {organized according to law; and further, it is my desire that
( o$ [2 d* r& Y) X8 c+ b! Hafter my executors shall have legally organized and established 9 u2 X( R; h" k: _3 m, j
said contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to
! j# j) Y e" oadminister and control the direction of its affairs, then such per- & W- x+ o0 S: z* u0 b4 X
sons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
& p7 e! m8 k; V h' r( F! ^jointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc-
$ p; B- _5 o: y0 b) c& [cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
4 c( F$ |8 l7 W$ G- j+ c* E, e6 @thereof. : Z% J& m' n/ Z( ~
- H2 w, s1 D, H1 l, F5 _2 U8 f9 n21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of
- \- M4 H ~) b+ y% J2 h2 U: _Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ( Y6 M) J$ T* A* B5 G6 H: F) q
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the
2 q" ~. }9 c' q% O0 |0 [! Mproperty in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept 5 ^: I) W) S7 S% T
as a public park or promenade ground. D( p+ I+ |" {4 F' M+ R( }( V% v
V& P, O1 a' x% r7 N/ k' Z
22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport ) E% H9 d( X: x" M
aforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars. 5 \! I4 ]1 h- K) P" `
* z. u. ^; `& d Z" Z' w) v- U$ a
- r" {0 g# N; Q% U5 ~: g8 g( @6 C6 G4 ?0 `$ t! H
Judah Touro — Kohler. 107 8 s/ J3 a1 N) E. u. C: t8 ~+ x9 i* I
) Z1 R6 @; Y$ t- U4 i. g8 b5 ]0 x23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay + \7 y, x9 l; B
Shalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars. * S% u! y+ q' E" d
+ ^, h7 ]. A( r: N! Z. F$ l$ E
24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
5 \$ N& p j: _4 Rford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. * X2 t% {) o7 v0 C+ `) [0 J4 k
2 Y4 \( F6 u A2 M R, C4 N
25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New 3 a8 ]0 q y, |, s- I* c- F# P
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
5 O' x7 \. N* K0 C0 Z
: X6 T6 E! K0 l( a/ n26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society, ) c Q- r# o. H
for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and 7 T; B5 A) C7 @6 n$ ^( k
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent), ; h8 y) n, v/ ?
ten thousand dollars. + R% J! |- e/ z: l) N6 l
2 p& e `9 y! i0 U# m" V
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir 7 {# Q9 [8 ?* q- z0 H- [" a
Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to
$ O- O7 G- K+ c, Oameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in ; C) L9 B2 T1 E1 F9 j! n
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of / W4 K: g# F! y8 G6 A
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without
Z2 H/ c7 E' ?- W4 k; Hmolestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou- ; b( I5 H1 x% ~( G5 E
sand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through
, X# O7 N$ y# C+ v% O% Q2 Othe said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise, 1 O1 `8 b' k, s; _ g
as best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of " ~8 O# @' q [0 U/ \
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry- / d2 q5 ]+ y) a8 q
ing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and 9 [( I& r& I; H
in that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars ! O4 P i0 a1 \) Z' d
be invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the
% N5 j" ]% Q) a+ n6 Y- MCity of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri- ' V6 B7 M$ I3 `3 |! I" O% w4 X( k& d
can Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine,
4 K4 t5 c0 v4 B l8 h0 }" N' rof the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this
$ v) S- I# o6 G7 `: _) Z2 o' Xmy last will. $ Y9 Z5 g* a) Y* d8 A, ^" @
4 S2 L ~5 c: Z% H28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I 4 J" R3 f" L. H; B# L, u/ E* j3 ?9 J
have already alluded in making this will, as well as those to ( k4 I- M0 K- i
which in the further course of making this will, I shall refer, * y6 L/ V& R# m- B6 N
shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them
- v$ }9 W+ X6 f. j4 B9 H! ]respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and ; Q# R* h a# l2 L- s
thereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
9 _# o- O9 O+ s9 f/ h3 S5 q, \desire that the parties interested in such institutions and my
, I0 s: o4 h. e* Uexecutors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de-
5 q% G9 r2 r$ f4 }cease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
2 P' ^5 v3 T/ P# w$ Finherit in the premises according to my wishes. # W7 I8 C3 k3 }. H0 v' \
3 r+ }9 ]! v6 D3 ?) O) a9 }29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the ! ]3 s1 |% s K
City and State of New York twenty thousand dollars. V& r I, g/ g* ^0 f S
( F W5 ]( m6 A ?4 R, D" D
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
6 ]6 A) ?! k6 ~: F" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars. 5 g" J, M- `1 f% l
9 r% s' ]9 h; y8 d$ r* Q31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society $ R* |1 b: N* y1 H- W4 d
" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars.
6 \# n( m# T( Y* j- }! B2 n
8 p! {% J7 C% B9 r2 \1 D; @& @0 D& C, X- o! U
8 Z. E$ `6 b4 Y$ [1 N108 American Jewish Historical Society. ) ^8 H ^! o6 a$ K# V
4 l$ |% k V0 r6 n
32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund 2 i p) [$ t. J7 J3 c
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the 3 o( S+ H# D- y" c" `2 q
City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand
! ~5 o- J9 \6 l' v0 Ldollars. 8 d/ ~* m/ w! N3 v# d
6 [2 Y, R+ [0 N- E33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
, Z$ }- F: X k; t t6 Vbrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, , r/ [3 E) K4 t2 Z9 O( }/ e
the sum of three thousand dollars.
% {1 V2 C4 t) e) Q8 E8 W5 I$ ?* n" D, l* U
34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- 2 n7 P9 |0 h7 z. I
garai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. - |" f P; w; k$ ^) |5 _
* e- ?: Q3 V* r/ `$ D" p35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of - ^9 y [6 G1 o0 A8 |+ x
the City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was
?/ W5 D# W( L! n5 }7 fa directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B.
) f1 w+ c: E. x. i. r/ H3 s5 Q2 WKursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars. 4 F% v2 v4 W) O" e
% \6 Q2 y* ~3 C. p2 K
36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So-
+ ^8 B! y( I, bciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- " Z. [& P4 {9 i& M( i: z$ E
lars.
) L0 R, R3 a9 y# z( @8 Q5 t: P- T! u
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of 5 c7 k& e- a+ n! e2 {7 P
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars. % I% a" T: p8 c7 t/ | b8 u
& m. k& v( ^6 A2 J- i
38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- ! ~5 `$ x- C$ S9 `/ V
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars. " q+ l* `) t }2 z l- Y9 E
+ L- P( H1 H# A" n: {39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat & v q" g* `" Z" a& K
Israel," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars. ( m, i; u$ z" |* _+ E" S
0 R: E; J: m$ N4 h O: x40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth
5 r4 b3 }4 C0 ~7 R" gShalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars.
3 `; |( j7 @) k9 P1 b
' N2 ^8 O: Z" h% q4 ?% B8 P41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith + |; z: e3 F3 L0 Y& Z; A
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand
1 A! n! u0 _3 t! t1 }" Q3 o& E; Kdollars. ( x; \4 `5 K% n: k4 N- {
8 H! k7 t$ ^) [9 i! V% |3 w42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
5 i% z* P; Y% Y! a2 C! d+ m6 S! Kgarai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. 6 K c2 V7 |' Q/ o
& z8 V( z8 b8 M' l) U& Q9 B( h5 n
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
9 j( e/ r$ M) wIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars. ( d1 N1 T* |2 U1 c& T2 {! T
g: ~: b* S5 T7 K4 E/ }9 i
44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont-
3 X l6 @3 N. M9 J- mgomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars. % W- Y& g+ S7 T) T& [3 ^ O! |2 z4 \
' Q. l# D- v1 ~# y6 J6 R! V45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem-
. h7 Q) h5 x" W3 ?phis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars. 7 J8 ^+ X5 @2 ^: h5 `- b/ a
' O& x# [/ n: e7 R9 |+ `
46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas 1 w/ B; w& C1 g8 L. G
Israel," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
- j8 V/ i0 b5 k# G* ]: j. n1 L+ A _) G+ Z; i) k5 n0 \" V3 X) S/ e
47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is- ; o. H* \4 h+ e5 P- K3 s" ~- H+ i! |
rael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
) N b( U+ P T1 B5 D2 q8 d* J% E, i: K% h2 E
48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo-
( k. G* H4 z9 T& x! [4 l& `dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars. 3 S0 k. z6 n6 S
" R8 [9 H, p) }$ O
49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati,
- `' l3 |& u3 AOhio, five thousand dollars. , j4 Q" S5 Z( J L" U
$ Y, _6 f1 `- Z8 A# L, k& E5 ]5 o8 k, A) s
8 \0 J) G9 R1 n4 v" c7 n" K! f
Judah Touro — Kohler. 109 & ~8 h, o2 m* @: D" }/ m
+ Z: A$ c: T5 x4 y
50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth
' ?3 o6 N( F, NIsrael," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars. 3 H5 j. `. p7 C% m
% ]" z( W8 n" g51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai ' t' m6 D* b1 u4 Y( ~# g
El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars. 6 O( J/ k) |; @" T3 @. s, \
/ K9 C! u* W: T. a
52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El," . }8 |5 z( A( q0 q
of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
* ^. @4 [4 N/ ^7 h% } x1 j5 G( F0 {4 [6 V1 x% q
53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth W4 ^; ~" I6 g0 @9 G! T1 q
El," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars.
4 B: j& f- `1 M. ^
6 S/ q$ }: O: M' p- r1 @54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions, : L& |% [: m7 ^) N; l9 O7 a1 ^
named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra- ' C( V# x1 e% J. O6 f
ham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: ' ? D: D3 W& Q5 f6 Y C
?9 E6 D1 J. A& [. q( R N
First, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts, 9 Z% ?7 [8 p' B
five thousand dollars. ! G$ s ]$ `; x% ` r+ k6 F# @
6 G" L3 c) O& K! `Second. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, 1 R5 H* _' O! W2 e3 ^( ?
five thousand dollars.
7 w: f0 H7 D+ C+ [' c9 {2 T& i( g* x/ \6 _4 A ^
Third. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- 3 I4 H4 u0 Z r6 ~ k6 V# k7 }
sand dollars. / h% V% K* q& K O! K
' Z+ g5 _+ E9 g
55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of
* ~ F3 I c+ B; ^! Npaying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew-
& O1 v4 d, e8 k) j1 L6 iish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min- ; S) N8 i: S5 p6 _" G! K
istry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the
1 Z/ G# v. w3 f, N0 lJewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be
2 W3 s" l* [1 B) u1 P A# q3 Qappropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner ! [9 F2 s3 b) L% ?% a
as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
) ], A, P* z+ V: n/ nof Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire,
3 A8 L/ b" N9 F4 Cthat David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed
' G9 J8 R8 c" e2 h0 Afriend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should 1 F) S, @, A( n( m. p
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct 5 b/ C0 N. `7 L$ p8 ?% x5 b/ g2 F2 m. H/ o
the same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration " k2 K9 ?. t- r8 F+ x, i" w; t% \
of services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the
' Y9 M$ L! K5 k& K! psum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them,
. Q- i9 m$ _! c9 H+ ?- r/ Vthe said David and said Nathan H. Gould. $ Z4 x( N- ~# O2 Y$ y/ n" H
6 U- Y. \* @! ?9 Y3 w
56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine
9 \& {3 _ A9 m, } u& h* d0 _8 U9 ?& lHays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind # ^- d* Y4 h( h3 q$ g/ Y+ W* \
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me. 5 \/ j; T) u1 `
6 m N$ w$ Z/ B57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and 4 f( v: [$ N' }: j' p9 d" L: B
Julia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of 6 N( Z- C: o3 K1 S
Richmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be
$ F! [4 J& R, L' {+ d% }) j. |+ K" n5 @/ `equally divided between them.
8 z9 ?4 h. E2 P9 O7 J0 r; @1 _; ?$ [9 j- U& D9 G8 {& O
58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to
4 x/ a) f7 v6 l+ f' q+ Othe surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond, 5 q; l4 _. R r& K/ d
Virginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my * `/ K2 g: n0 R8 \4 W
remembrance.
9 t$ D8 ~; T4 ?2 n' w+ W+ R* C R; M% c6 O5 Y( q% p g, _. ~" `
3 T {# S4 C! z$ _1 `8 r) s# j9 A# J. ^
110 American Jewish Historical Society.
4 B2 `2 i& a9 }! ?
! B$ w) I2 C* b+ l* [, G59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing,
c& u9 V1 b! B3 w F1 F% ?of Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of + L; y3 I5 X) l1 _, J P
my esteem and kind remembrance. - V. B( t, V5 d; C/ i% ]
- r2 |4 A/ L7 V8 G) S: A# u
60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 9 [) g7 J5 c+ t
my respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a % ~( U& V* R X( D2 v# _3 Z
token of my regard.
W3 o! w P7 ?5 M: [6 V* d0 g* a; o# k( ~. W+ Y. I
61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
1 C: e/ N& N# k; ~* W- f! }my friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
% N% O1 p0 j$ J7 h3 Hwife, to be equally divided between them. ! m V9 ^, ]5 P3 r+ G
0 n, K7 |/ M; k1 c& S2 R
62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to - B' f4 r" `6 K5 { d( F- k3 `: P/ J
my friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of
% S% z$ j9 l& {my remembrance. 1 z9 f$ I; U" o0 v
4 ` ?* {; m6 B+ C7 I7 I
63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
5 [. S5 t8 c' |' {" uof Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex- - G5 |1 N4 Z R. ]1 k) v
ecutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol-
6 j" W( \% A" }4 G7 k! O( [% dlars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
, B, y0 H1 ^/ T7 O8 r( Bof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
1 A: o9 \+ a6 ^/ e: pregard. - ]2 W, J+ J( a5 }
! n; d1 ? X! t# k7 Y0 l64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, + F* L+ q& t! S! V3 [* ?4 L% y
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable / E' x4 K; c3 g7 B P1 Q- l7 U
memorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, % z3 ?$ L. ^/ i4 l, M. a" T
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city. : C8 B B; r6 R' r/ w
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65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars
9 Z8 w; t# p% A% T$ Q: Mto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
9 g% ]9 B# W: K Y8 rmemorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of 5 P% e( ` `# g& p
Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans.
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66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have / K9 ~4 R( z: L4 g, e
made previously to these presents. # k5 f$ |5 j6 y& J) A7 p
) U" w4 V) d9 e. i Y: T0 [; w2 uThus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to ) ^3 {5 L: t' ]' s9 y
me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses - }1 ?2 T7 | n9 B/ {. w" D
herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the : V2 b0 |- }" I* T0 `* v
same, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own + B& r" z2 v+ F
proper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this % R& ]3 Z9 S$ d3 C
testament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- - j" C( c1 M0 W; E: \8 s+ e" }: e0 ~
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same
% b7 L7 o/ M x4 o, {" Wpresence, that he well understood the same and persisted therein.
5 ^. n: K* S7 _. e
4 o* B$ Z- Z9 ?; kAll of which was done at one time without interruption or turn-
' t- }7 L) @* Ling aside to other acts. ( ?5 q0 [7 Y, A) ]. ^5 I. a
% h7 d$ W3 ?1 _# r1 cThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the & } G" Z% w( w, u4 K# I, t# [
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and
4 c" Z& i2 [3 M8 o, r$ Dyear first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan % U( C2 _+ s v8 l4 ^6 l" t1 r) u( ^
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, 4 A% ]% M8 V) c; A! A6 U
+ a+ G% A+ u- h
! I1 O0 B5 s+ r
1 m/ i% u6 l2 r& TJudah Touro — Kohler. Ill
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4 D8 ?9 f3 z8 }2 x: k; \7 Mall three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said . S8 n2 G, m1 Z6 |0 K
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their 0 o5 b) ~2 ]# Y1 @- E; v
names. (Signed.)
( ^9 M$ f- w& s& P& `% |/ H# b5 A+ Q* p* S$ T
J. TOUEO, 5 h% y6 k2 x: N' [/ X) z
8 G$ Y$ G7 Y! C# kJ. Montgomery,
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7 v6 l$ Q5 ?+ Z- i6 F( v, ?! WH. Shepherd, Jr., 0 c' Y4 i/ P5 G, |& P& h
6 h6 D# s8 O1 r# E2 F# c
Geo. W. Lee, # ~+ ^0 ?$ v' \) j0 h8 X
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Thos. Latton, Notary Puilic. + F3 I( @! X) K$ N2 W' Y
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x+ r4 s+ a1 }
. l" o8 I$ Z# }( g7 ?9 A8 i8 ?LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS
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