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4 A2 s# j$ s6 R/ vCopy 1 5 B, Q& A8 r! S' O
! E, p9 i% g8 D1 o" w) _JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND - J1 o0 x6 e* T/ s% D+ C- T, j
PHILANTHROPIST. $ d3 G: i' B b% W/ @
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! }. w) [7 z& w6 Y$ l1 S1 C u9 e; S- ~2 M) ]# n* l8 O1 j/ n
By max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. $ o. W4 ?. ~ `9 B5 z, [& @! O
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Reprinted from & H4 s9 U1 Z; ]- j
! a. P. C3 v' _/ o X8 ]0 B4 ~+ MPublications of the / `/ F) S2 w. [6 ~9 w3 X
& P+ G! `9 [: }# j6 P# ?American Jewish Historical Socibtt, ( @' S* J8 q; N* E z8 v
+ C5 x0 r+ e" h& U [: u& b/ V; e
No. 13, 1905. . |( L# z0 R$ e! Y. E
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$ e$ c" k' V7 N! N, F% h; |JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND & P9 j, a% h8 P
PHILANTHROPIST.
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By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B. 9 {7 p6 b6 P! r1 F, N" s$ A
% z! j; _" v D/ n; d7 s) n
It is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak
8 `6 M( ~8 y& u. KTouro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings, 1 Y8 M5 g# R6 S' a; a
nor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
% v; U* g* j- `6 Yname, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating
+ l U9 E, y( q4 {from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor-
1 @4 b! _! n( L5 @% x$ F. Wmation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in " d/ ~4 P0 K3 g: ^5 h/ X: k9 K |
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's
$ f- H( | ^; X8 ^ v/ ?7 P. @ }History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring , R D: O: ^3 Y' x7 j) a* L
the very name of one who would probably by common consent + t" t2 R9 `) L! u& W H* u
be singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the
; Z1 H7 B4 r$ Q0 f5 n, pfirst half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the
( z+ {: b! j4 y* }* q2 w' Q5 b L' E& q$ zrelations between the investigations of local historical socie- ' t; u+ L4 r( V C( M
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account 4 p/ N: N& j O3 D( i( W+ A7 W
for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career,
, v. K2 t8 {5 Q) @ignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such
5 o8 q5 V! X) b1 k# M* gspecialized investigations as our own, that the general his- ( c4 b" N* J5 t" X* X1 \
torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi- " e' e* J7 x# D/ }+ s, \
vidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in ; X5 l8 T7 u1 @. U4 K
question did not figure prominently in the political or mili-
6 L% ^. x7 k/ n% e, Xtary history of his .
1 T3 I- u1 C% d- U/ ~+ ?: @3 p$ A" T7 E: d5 c
A couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written ( A. x& C: ?4 l
within a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by
' B* e2 P t# p: s6 c9 W0 {non-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis-
7 f# n* A, U" e9 ^factory authorities on his career and tend to show in what ) e5 u# b/ |5 R1 Q' a, U9 z# M
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
* M4 R. ~1 @7 u. t, o( kWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal
$ ]( ^$ L. ^) O/ n! v, w. E3 R) l6 A! V: W6 t% N
' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
7 Z7 c8 |' O1 `' G# ^$ Lchants," published in 1856. . N1 O, ~7 ~4 ~8 a9 a) H
9 B+ m5 H! _& a$ b
93
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- q6 i( ~7 J0 X+ m7 D4 k- }4 e94 American Jewish Historical Society. ! \# _$ o/ z; I2 [
( n7 l) N& i$ U& V( y" {reminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol-
9 M! R4 d9 j4 }+ V# V4 T olections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or-
2 z4 w7 n! B2 `; Tleans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information; 3 L, M6 S% K5 A1 \- S# I% D
though few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be
& r* V/ y0 v& @* Olikely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog-
6 T' I8 Y! R# Z/ ?raphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary 2 Y! y- s B9 ]* _
sketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
( n( a, n# S8 v# X$ T2 O- D" B* rreminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
! t; ]: p; P4 M3 b9 P1 u( X2 Hare for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant. 5 ?" A* i* C' u9 p
Judah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known 0 s) x2 M) \4 f: u; O7 F3 g. K& C: ~
in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy
) j. T7 V+ D0 b: i2 x) t# X. j5 hand early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his 4 |2 P& t, X- P6 {& k1 Y7 W
maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no # ?# r; d. A$ }; |
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
3 ^# }6 ^, s2 P; ^9 ymore than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect . C3 e0 v" T$ w3 \
and admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish
' f2 A H+ Y9 {4 T6 O4 E7 b, Wname in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh
) V4 u2 R+ _7 b( uunprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic 7 w' s6 Z2 q0 E4 ]- F* e
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com- 8 K8 N, [ T# c* O- X& Q
munities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore
) P% f; x% d/ Mimpossible, in view of the small and humble means at their 2 t- t- J& | s8 _; g
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the
6 K& ^1 ?$ |, k$ _0 Wfoundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
- G( I7 Q: h; asince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry. ; x, U; N4 H$ T; h1 e
f( f4 O8 V5 v6 ?5 ZJudah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
3 F b" }% E6 U6 H! } n' [7 ^# Y16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum- . W7 P! G' G& H$ Q6 W
stance that his individual career thus began with that of his , Y' W2 B# L. S+ A3 o4 Q% l
beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min- $ D: d4 _3 O1 W5 s" \# f
ister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption 9 [! s h; c; ^; d0 T/ v
of activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by 0 J7 o+ e7 j0 l5 G o
the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme- $ I" y5 I( ? H6 l
tery being more than a century older, and concerning whose 1 u' N/ v4 i0 W& R1 A6 n# V0 H8 Y
career our society has already published various items.^ Isaac B a6 v' r) Y; O$ e f( T
/ O+ ~% k* m8 @! D% H" P' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854. 6 [! z4 G4 m% t3 l$ i
' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew-
5 V1 L* e e0 `- ^0 }ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas-
; e" j, N5 x) F7 U! V& v
+ q$ r8 b% w1 V |& ^( [ u/ E
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$ ]5 q) [% ]/ j7 D5 o0 Z4 \+ eGift ( Y2 R+ \, a' H0 K/ q! p
Authc:
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(Person^ + M8 H9 _. e' `4 p! f4 ~- O
" {) f& b' @ n' L19 JI'OP
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0 x! R0 J$ u. ?Judah Touro — Koliler. 95 % E8 m) n! [, s3 D. m" m6 i
( K" V6 [0 Q W3 sTouro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays,
: [- M& ^3 f* F" Jin 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and
& P+ K" Y; t8 O+ k9 A7 KEebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and ) v! y- S' `) b" `( G5 m
died in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem-
7 a$ S# k1 Q! ?' K- q+ N6 Rbers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city & a" F+ e" z1 V3 F. R% V
during the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de-
9 I; y! ~$ o9 L U- O; `. S+ Y ~parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December ; j& L' C' W! v4 U+ m7 w
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country, 5 Q7 j+ `* X1 U, g; } C
and became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays, 9 @; q# r5 T, d; D. i3 ?
brother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead-
; N% }/ T( v, R9 o" X4 n3 ping merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem- . ~ b7 N$ h1 R0 X
ber 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays, 4 H4 L9 I1 Y. c" Z* q# r5 l) i
Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely
4 E) R A# w( m# w$ K! ethose principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood
6 m$ q. p- [- x1 tthem in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
* P+ `6 N0 s" xalso brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi- ! N/ \7 w7 T0 k7 X1 s, }
nent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views
9 y/ C. F/ x: s: c: ]2 @: rof those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac-
B* r& c+ U1 \& Y! Ecompanying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays # C+ D# S2 N: N- k) D0 A
was an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the
; M: P1 l6 M7 m9 Tpatriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
5 L& t8 J6 ]7 b# Y: D2 oMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the " k3 c* d+ x9 C2 H7 ]
first American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist, 9 C( e+ M* m4 y; w% c8 u
while such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition-
, n8 N2 O7 A6 Q9 L wist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these . }$ w, k9 }/ J/ Q; x
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which & Q# a% j8 }* y4 p/ k* e
induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
* B; |) \, X8 nslaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and 0 W- Q( v! S$ K% k2 h3 v
Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and + a3 w% S. o3 q5 ?
' z0 B) k5 n0 P7 ]
trow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid., # v7 |9 C4 @2 a X
No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No.
7 s7 |1 B/ f3 k8 f3 Y: C D8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport . ~4 s. K {- l* `" _: ^
and New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences ' e4 \# K) s+ b0 N% m% @$ w
of Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New-
' ~, F$ h7 t5 ~2 Kport," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105;
. Q' O7 Q8 n/ `& pRev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews." - ]6 f( {! `/ h9 H( D3 U' J$ L) J
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$ s! d ?9 G1 c9 U, |& m: O2 Z96 American Jewish Historical Society. M& Q! l+ z; n1 w; V
) F9 K5 g }( w. K6 H8 T8 ~commercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in
$ T+ `# i: `+ w1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with.
( W' c' x# _' l' ^. ia valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean.
8 l& K1 n' a+ A. v! M0 p/ A: mThe voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
/ y: W7 @2 Z* S$ _* s6 evessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com- 8 M9 k$ e+ C7 D- O3 V; _$ @
mercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad-
; R( z$ V+ O' G" D3 U3 ?$ Hvised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a $ D/ z& j& a) ]" G! o# x3 x
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after
6 I. |/ H- G B3 Ca voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends ) I. j0 n& ^7 I9 R" z) L5 E6 [* y5 z
knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg-
: y7 j) X; f) Y7 T; |3 Kment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they
3 D9 J6 P% [( I$ D1 k1 W1 ^made to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in 1 }# J8 a! x! m3 k+ {4 Q
New Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- ; ?. q5 k$ G: K5 W5 [
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New-
0 X6 z6 ?# E. y" F- _0 Iport," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts
# f( |! q% X6 { U( a1 ~into six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library
8 N+ P+ ^/ Q5 \from the collections of the distinguished historian, George 2 [. r; K4 y, w5 L8 J/ [8 e; g
Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah
# V9 S" a) {& d5 I2 G$ q$ HTouro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham-
+ d5 R. E3 P3 Q) ^plain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
4 W! P2 q7 a0 K4 Glight on the scope of his business dealings.
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Tradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for
; u( n9 I0 l" {6 S$ ^: | B2 T9 v; t" `his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their ! D- j. H( O; I% P) E$ U n
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re-
' _& e& N3 _5 d' }2 Mmained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va.,
$ \2 A2 B' g# dand died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January,
' R& Y" c. [, F' W& z1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very
% l9 }& H8 j7 F2 {5 g5 j% smonth in ignorance of her death. ; |# x+ u! P5 E( X' S( p8 n6 t
, q- V' F k$ L3 S7 T
Abraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos-
3 E9 f# x7 m- Kton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an : w0 p- m I% w; E4 o
accident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his
" S' E G+ j3 L1 q1 ^- Nespecial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
8 G7 l5 |0 E1 jport, though the Jewish community of that town had been
+ i) c* e% M7 {8 z( `( ?1 Zscattered long before. Two years previously he had caused : H3 P' M) r9 u5 Z6 F
a substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for 1 e/ M: ^- C, J$ B5 F, y/ I1 X4 A9 {1 D
which he made further provision by his will, which contained
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' X& p7 G+ r) v1 k( |# {Judah Touro — K older . 97 6 ]) G# H; j: K6 b- M
; R, f/ G; _0 aa number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston
) w9 M' T6 P6 U Z: u+ ?institutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and 6 @% \. s0 K; L; Z' T6 N3 ]
Newport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly
9 p1 y- J. P( I' E$ h/ Lto the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog-
5 g. n& T6 c S; @& O# y* Rnizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly. : ]/ W1 _) [0 h6 X) \
, Q& ~6 r: P5 w% J2 Y
Eeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
- _& ^& ^& t3 m6 X# M1 yically recognized the claims of his country upon him during
( z+ }0 o$ O2 L% bthe War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, : j3 O6 W$ q6 X) E% |7 G
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or-
8 |2 r3 L( r5 G+ S: cleans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun- + p. b, m, _: `3 l# m, o% D
teered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of 5 o& z- ?5 Z3 N. u" N2 y% v v+ k
the American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
7 A6 @2 j. ] J2 L; x! V2 z+ G5 din the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve- ) [. q5 U& j# s4 U& j! E6 U
pound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that ! n8 ]2 f: v% R# E' r O) P
he was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D.
) t I* f% r3 s9 v( W0 r: [Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians
% t+ Y8 e+ R Y# |3 _7 Fhad abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death . `6 K9 k! A5 A6 ?6 K
was great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later ; V( ^% {& q' p
Judah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of 5 E6 H p% M' B" F
Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi-
V7 T$ u. f5 n2 G& p+ `7 ~: ~8 idence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep-
& ]4 E. n: ~1 ^2 E/ m( ^% _3 W/ k0 fherd had independent means of his own, he treated this large
: Z9 `: \' G$ z* nbequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes,
: C, b' \; k* Y3 e8 L. {- _so that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
1 M7 [9 b$ M1 O) Oscribed in the will itself.
: ?% A* }- ]# j2 U' z) {3 g, v g% q
Judge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred ' f2 C! ~( b' J% F7 q3 Q
to, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began
- e3 _; ?- _$ ] I6 Y' Fa brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other
/ G( m6 s" M: F- {exports of New England, making prompt returns to his % F) [# O/ v! o: P7 N" K
friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man- * T* f! Y$ ~1 W3 R- j: d# J
agement soon secured him a large New England trade, every % L/ R& I, g4 x; h# U5 s3 I \
vessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and
, X3 K( v7 W5 {% a2 \many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain
* e4 B/ }( j# l( W! H5 ecargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his + c- X' \4 J1 o+ g
funds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in
1 l6 } A3 p' |2 ^ships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His
) i) E" a) ~5 u$ S" z' j0 M/ B; j3 o. \4 R Q
0 ]! j! A; w0 `0 {' k( D' c
5 F6 E6 \& H& W/ m, b
98 American Jewish Historical Society. / |. H0 K1 D+ v( L! \
8 `9 P8 C% O( w0 w6 ~5 ]( Ycareer as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and / p) j0 x( C: u/ I
stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- # U* G a4 Y( p G! A
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn- 7 a" B! f' |% H( K0 h/ H
ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to
) }( z& h3 z$ z6 O. }/ Vthe cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents
% {! ~% G5 B8 K, S$ o/ O' Wof interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock.
* z$ p" _6 E, oHis neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day : ]% M R9 s2 v% ]/ `1 G
by his movements. In his business he rarely employed more 3 b" j) f9 t: s1 Y) i
than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus-
1 r2 k0 R3 H; V9 a6 h% y8 m+ K) Mtom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. $ h% D- }* m+ A1 F
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well ; V# h+ b7 U% Z _' b
arranged that there was no possibility of any misunder- ; p% V' d" R4 m" P" U7 H8 ~# k
standing.
$ v: D) J q+ V+ J# E: [- o7 j0 C7 x1 B; R" x9 X
It is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was 6 y, K! V" m! r- l* ~' c) ]! j/ `
devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
- R0 w7 q- G0 P( {9 n" I* K2 _age, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to `; j) V+ t& r1 {& K) A# [0 b# w
work the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
2 c7 g c/ h6 a9 K3 zhis name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro- 9 }: D* Q" l; `, O# C0 i
pists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for-
' w" \9 u( d5 _tunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, # z8 |! R) _) @1 J0 z5 ~
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not- 2 R$ w4 [! a% w6 U
withstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that 1 k6 m. d0 @: @/ Y+ a
his whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
2 k/ g+ p Q- V, xthropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New # f" w6 K( a* d4 f, m0 Y
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
: d: H* y7 w* B9 k3 iviously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who
! c% p$ n( m# }' u, yhad won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
' t( |' | J& l0 V. tthat which the most successful merchant, the most daring $ d F5 V5 [8 e4 g- N' v
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw
' v- v# w2 |. Zhim in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra- $ a" Q) f4 b0 V4 P0 f1 C6 @
tions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little
' Z% H$ y6 X! E" f1 E( o1 fof the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble 8 o, e# Z2 x7 \" _
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
9 m, D" q0 q' a. R! z/ A# T; cglide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his 9 w1 w- x' @+ |$ P5 K3 M& z7 L+ |
hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his
3 {/ d+ z( Z4 o1 s+ N0 M. Bhomely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
( X# E8 Z9 K+ C; Y" G5 V8 b d+ ]5 k: a9 X
5 ~9 P, a. }" f9 `7 J6 C) b" Y) L- }! a8 v$ C* |7 P7 M. y) ?
Judah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 / s: ]# _& u/ u4 i
4 X3 J& ?4 T/ ^ ^% N' f
pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, 8 @' z; \8 {3 |0 q4 ^
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali- ( R7 S# f" q7 l9 G) A. T! g
ties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a
; [' k0 H: r, S0 }' Y6 rwhole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn , |& G- E( l( ?" V
aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to
! U3 H. C* C( y$ S' A5 @ Qbewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a
6 X( V( A% k6 b$ Q! s# kmillionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death 6 w' }& w/ H( [9 `7 k% ?
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who
( y5 e5 j, p8 t7 z* ^does his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large
/ _- N( M. n1 k7 T: ?& Twealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
: ^) T; d9 v4 z( t- m& s$ y( j" Wreward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi-
0 K5 H2 U% l9 S! |+ T- jcence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a
+ O+ \- A4 u4 [# C3 ~splendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise
- v" {) |& @5 R, E; }, E' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall $ \7 ]2 v( w9 t* E; ^3 f
return to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake,
) ~9 W% D' N% Z0 X- P( o+ Zwere as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He
- h( j Q* i' j0 H6 j) pdeprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
, ^9 {/ @( j% b( ~! F _$ ggratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single u2 t) j. J$ [4 f1 `: o. {( h. m
passion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was 2 X6 A! N' r: ]1 Z1 D8 Z
a miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence,
+ ~# u$ P& |% Y6 {7 hfrom which he jealously excluded others. His only art and 8 X$ U) Z- [7 n3 H
stealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions, ) ~' T L' F& O& L& w* a: P
and his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta- / j3 G7 o" F- B
tion and display which are too often the main incentive to
! k, ~6 y8 O. Yliberal and benevolent deeds." 2 i8 x: ^& w2 z! [! h
$ X3 J# l- K7 q, {+ C) F2 d; TTurning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess
, v, G' ~: R! w4 p; h; |7 @that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the
2 k! I' v, g1 `' ?8 M+ Fpublic to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac-
" n! r# |& J: q' B; `tions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they
" w8 E8 q2 r6 g$ d; ^9 C4 z4 ?are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
: g* }3 h. v5 I3 z6 I+ llarge gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as ( i4 B6 ?2 ]6 j( r, W# ]
common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards
8 X, k' e' W% ?2 T6 `9 p2 dthe erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in-
. @; r6 \) T) v% m: Gterested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up
# B- _1 m; n4 htheir project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
3 I8 m. C* j: t4 n0 ealready in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle.
$ q% \; L @. q1 W- B; [
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- b* r+ |3 _* [6 v
& O+ R! T, X* B1 f$ [100 American Jewish Historical Society.
3 [$ c4 J% B# F4 ~; ~8 y+ p: u
* P9 x/ e1 n6 E3 GAmos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material
+ s) Q" h0 X% i- H2 Gresponse, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward 8 r: G% K3 i U0 G5 A k8 a7 E
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately
) g6 Z- W$ G9 n' b) [+ woffered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of
; v+ k; U' {4 B% K6 o( @+ h( IAmos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- * E2 x8 e6 m7 r% p/ Z' G
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in-
. B8 ^3 _6 q6 C3 x. Xdignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his
+ n! c6 m& ]5 I8 _1 |injunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he
% \1 _$ @2 M$ e1 oseriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- * l, T/ v+ r7 s4 k9 l& b- Q) S/ _4 ?2 C
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew- 0 L2 o8 A2 d* c
ish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other
! H! [& z) X2 J' J$ d: Q9 W: dsingle gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world, 9 q" g7 @3 a2 A: {
and well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication # }2 \' m- i/ t
of the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
3 T) y% U6 u. o3 _the United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity : G; L8 }" D$ H9 H% b# `
was commemorated by the presiding officer who read these 1 n0 A5 y& ?" l+ e+ j, K7 i6 o
lines, since become famous : ) e4 ?6 F) g: X) s- ], m* l8 \$ I
- C0 K1 g# ~& h U' n& W
Amos and Judah — venerated names! % g7 F2 G" [' U q
# } t" c" s. Z- U% Q6 A% R6 Q- J9 TPatriarch and prophet press their equal claims, 6 m: E8 d: t5 f
$ [0 m: O/ s# w( E( v0 u. }3 mLike generous coursers, running neck and neck.
5 U" O0 l% o u. y0 v* A
6 [9 D/ w# V5 l7 a+ @& P0 }Each aids the work by giving it a check. 2 }) L) G; H* J" e8 l H
) O5 O7 _$ U5 A0 D GChristian and Jew, they carry out a plan — 0 w I9 S4 B. f0 g) T+ ~1 q
) {$ `2 w- r& ~For though of different faith, each is in heart a man. % W) R2 S- q8 D; @/ m; b
) c, z+ O F5 r. d G) B
Judah Touro's private benefactions were munificent % q+ r, N% N: L/ h+ t+ |' Y
throughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often 7 A! I* ], Q: W- U2 Y4 T
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration
4 T6 C+ F6 N1 I8 D: yin point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris- : S& O9 t0 O, U4 u5 f# w
tian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
) `, n- G6 l- c4 O8 d* sister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,-
. \0 J2 j. |4 b1 I- j& W' r000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised
( W# x z0 i- y5 V/ ~by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build- * M6 x1 q" K X( [: g! @2 M8 F
ing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to ! s* O, [3 E8 d% d
occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after , }/ ? T5 ^! X5 R5 N8 N
many years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
7 M# a+ z/ T4 u: w
6 b4 b) T" I" H# `7 A+ l- e: l* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
( ~' n* { {4 @1 v2 M; i3 D# D8 S6 S; d% |6 _
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6 L4 `8 U7 V- r& f$ L8 BJudah Touro — Kohler. 101 ( r1 J! W: v" q" b0 v7 Z; u
2 B! }9 w, T: }) O; f+ ]- ptribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested
+ S- e( i9 ~* T; |- l1 [! l" \9 _3 ~that he could profitably erect business buildings on the site, 8 _) h- c* D1 e. q9 f F
he promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
& R) c3 h- r3 J" W% lam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church
1 S- F# n3 ~" `8 w3 Cto increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from
+ B' [$ a# X/ Rhim no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister
( ]3 y; S/ x; G$ n7 B7 R% ~died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he + A" B6 i0 g6 n7 w, D/ G3 d- }
declined to accept the money, ing instead that it be * D$ X" i4 Q6 L
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
, h) ]/ P! t+ c: Kat New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- ! Y! q9 m; [, n* A& L, Y
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill "
9 f) s/ A5 x* E2 R8 rof jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
# m8 A) y5 \8 W/ m0 f1 N+ {settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui-
( H5 m) S2 ~1 w6 t, O0 Qsition of the site by that municipality. For many years he 6 g4 y! S F2 |: n2 \
was practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans; ) Z2 X% J8 _' ^9 W; P
subsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected
5 G- V% z: {; l5 t. [) U* Xa synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex-
5 x3 ]) `6 ~9 B6 R& h$ n; h6 ipense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- 1 p( r, ~$ G. ^ R2 U& V
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed 4 O% n" _7 d5 o4 t7 Y, V* _
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis- 2 m2 M5 R! D4 ^- A9 ~0 Y8 i
tributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable t6 V( X0 Y. p+ a+ B6 ?, a
purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr. ( L. `6 X+ O3 j4 \; C. h* F& ?
Clapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
3 }' P" ?$ V7 M; u( X3 G" gnever heard of but one religionist in the United States who & ]: C- C Q1 H5 k
can be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of
0 m( }. U) a6 K" S5 {2 S3 ?his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing
4 ?9 y! f4 R$ \6 l3 Xon other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran-
+ z' c. e J& G7 t4 r# G: Ugers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he
1 e+ I. \& z$ M( gscattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity.
) W( Q! g( x3 u, \+ P* z9 g, qHe knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated 4 l# G* }0 m# A
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
( [5 D% }% d; S/ shilation."
/ I3 L2 l+ }3 w% ^% k7 X0 o( }
9 F. ~/ i/ o: G% U, FOne cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur- 9 Q- d' [+ g0 }7 k9 `9 @5 j$ l/ e
prised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by
0 w5 U- r; |. D$ a! R; ehim at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi- 1 ~; `: U) R* J" D! z8 ~
ties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their
4 H0 M+ @9 o2 ^$ n2 v) E9 w& D; w: R' ^
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$ N" w2 C! y$ n1 }( X102 American Jewish Historical Society.
7 q. o+ U; J" @8 g* d& ~
! E ~: C% r ccharitable institutions, many of which owed their continued
$ q) Z, `; Q% ~' texistence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his 6 ~8 Q% N7 {4 Y$ ]/ P* I
wise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- - d9 E$ g/ @# z: _: T
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have
* b6 [: N& W6 O; W! dfound their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of 8 F5 t' B, w5 |+ c
necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably
, ]$ ]! ^! a7 L4 p# ?' t/ tsummarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be- 8 P3 {) q* k: ~6 }6 a7 i/ l
quests, as follows : ) ]( V0 E3 [: W
2 }, Q) k+ {- W! M! l5 VHe thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where 8 o I- Z1 I; ?* o( i
he had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to
5 ]3 r# u9 Q2 o$ a) Ftheir relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are 4 H$ X7 @2 f8 R- t" W* M
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will : A! Q# O2 [; F# [; g
ever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in
! O; r1 U% [* {8 R. xhis own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in
- p( Q8 M6 N6 B+ hthe day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per- 8 `6 a* `2 y" a
suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied
( m; w8 \; ^5 i" Xthe means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of . N' m b/ J0 e/ ~( y- [/ a
the new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded - p. [5 R% t+ I
them the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the & P0 Q& S# G; k0 j) y: o8 g6 o/ h
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He ' o% a b+ @' s8 _& Y$ s: N/ h: H
thought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the
! M& B9 A$ l( S; q/ Achildren of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those
7 s3 @( k% ~: a! U8 ]institutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish 0 p5 k4 @( c' X6 L! y, [) G
religion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number-
8 `. i Q7 `4 A/ nHe thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to
/ l Z# q1 O8 @+ X: _glide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of
4 x; w G8 U1 R$ S9 Rbenevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop ( A" i9 g0 i0 @7 _8 J
into despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of # \+ }# y5 v; J# p
Israel, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro- - b) U) @ G" G* l
tection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far
0 O3 R5 J* p7 c" mWest, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost % x8 n8 F; ^3 M
a solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged ( `1 _* Y; m/ N8 A5 \
Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
% _+ b4 g' z1 U# Q; b( B( w& N' V3 G2 d5 i' q4 b
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because 5 z) f% G3 t4 W
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
4 ]' Y n* F5 y+ R/ |the various Jewish communities of the United States and their 7 ^+ a' b: X. @0 i& R0 t
institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information 8 v# n6 s* F& {/ E6 K" v
obtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun- ' ?( L( Y% l' k) A% z! g+ F0 s4 C' v: w. U
try, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have 9 q5 W! e8 X' y1 \
omitted no deserving Jewish community.
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+ w( W/ d- d P* @
Judah Touro — Kohler. 103
% J1 \" T- L& |, g
/ K% Y3 U* O( ?/ Lcrated by so many wonderful events which marked our early ! H# H9 r/ R% K" H) w
history, to them on in the deprivations to which they are 2 o4 \) H2 {$ I# u: `# }
subjected. 7 o8 \% S5 @- O* r2 F, ^
' p: ~2 h( i$ g" {
One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he 2 D9 y$ @8 L3 x
should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with + a0 _0 u) x, ]- n" t7 N" i
Sir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor-
; R" l4 {. r0 J; U1 Hing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish 1 ?+ P* w& Z! `, x
brethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
% N5 P0 r6 U* I) [+ V/ D* Wish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious / o9 ?. H; [# [
temptation.
* M( c# o- A) W. u/ e- z3 m, B" n
! S# u8 L A/ A4 OAt the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile
, N' {" n1 \8 J5 Pvied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect,
* G) I2 r8 C- B6 I# O; n: D* ^) ^and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport,
# _# o0 W& R% X/ N, B. ]* t9 fEhode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were + P; p0 C: D! J" O4 U
attended by delegations from the numerous organizations he + k& Q3 C9 U' G) P6 [
had so generously remembered, coming from all over the
8 H) N% B3 _ T) |land. By official resolution of the public authorities of % x( ^% G: a# I) v4 G8 M6 E
Newport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy,
0 K* X6 Q/ C" c7 L6 e/ Ahis executors and all these delegations became the guests of 6 B3 o) h) B- Z
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells 2 i3 Q6 t* Y! L" W
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business
( ~( d! Z& v+ F) _. zwere closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were / E Q- h) _; |3 M' p
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel- * u1 _, `3 r" f! O- Z
phia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew
' _# C7 l. I* i2 e8 |% MYork. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
. K1 V" N& m% v" j6 _bitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of
4 ?; Y# N+ B- @ XJewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans
* s5 {8 b* M( J5 J. nwere named after him in order to commemorate his generous
; q4 h* q8 U# S: W# E9 Q Sphilanthropy.
& d9 P# l8 n% K" X( P% d- @8 P) [+ p' _7 a" m* p5 ?
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
4 ^$ b- _+ i; m9 H/ F5 Nlowing appropriate inscription : $ h' t- X8 ?' f6 o
D) w0 `( I7 `( KBy righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth; , j6 s6 E' _+ M" Z$ S
In charity and for salvation he dispensed it.
- r* u$ V/ n8 l8 |. N- ~! NThe last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan- , K" O, U+ D+ z& V' S0 \& y
thropy 5 Y) L: |: o7 }- @- `+ V. a
To be remembered forever. - ?+ m+ w `7 I' \! @( y
9
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; e1 ~' G2 M }4 e; U! }4 J7 y+ A6 ]5 d N* l# n1 d4 h! t* b
8 |0 j+ M3 `0 W/ ?! Y7 b) q
104 American Jeujish Historical Society.
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$ |3 H* H% S, e" s7 i+ E; DWILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO. $ E# Z2 j6 E1 ]) s( x) U' q
) N! \& L* A: \3 v. K: r6 G& F+ fUnited States of America, 9 F) ?6 f, y4 Z+ `) O
2 o4 h" l7 o1 nState of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans. * B# U4 @4 x w5 h5 t4 ?) N
6 X* Y# q0 j+ Z$ ]" `# ]Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of
( m$ U: l8 r) n$ \4 h/ W1 ^our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence & P2 l1 C2 M3 E
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter 4 l" U; n; D' j: ~2 T$ q
before 10 o'clock a. m.. # s) f5 C& p( H% A" `# U- ~8 @2 p; X7 X
1 ^% o) |/ l( i5 sBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the ( T. i# L: |: h2 ?, s7 W
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, , @# i3 }. Q) b8 U I& U% ?- s( E
and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep- ' E1 v& g! [8 g4 y; v
herd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re-
! B$ R$ ~4 ]% t6 Nsiding in said city, and hereto expressly required — $ R) C2 c$ L9 G% p% [' z r
) `- }4 T$ \: W4 {7 J! D' P$ p( p
Personally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant,
+ j8 C4 Y' I$ E; awhom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a ; j3 ~% ]; v! E4 w3 P0 c
room, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but / {& R8 Z4 K# L% ~
sound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the
; b1 @' j* I8 ` z4 e5 }: Ksaid Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah
J; B4 E5 l4 d/ u6 ?1 }Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa-
$ g7 `3 z6 t/ C( P! b+ T9 Xment, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in
4 K% w0 Z+ U* ^presence of said witnesses:
/ e# i+ g O( ?$ W
5 _- l; B- m+ k7 u. O1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
. R+ g& f8 w: T% f# Z$ Y& o, D6 e4 D
2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
7 M' k, Q& p' a" }# t: tCemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after
5 R/ R4 K, G* Lmy decease. : [) J6 q2 t2 A- J# f
+ j5 A: f0 w. m, c5 r+ o
3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends
: ~# H# U. [" E& ^- }Rezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of + O9 q P- v* \( i
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre $ {8 p% b9 q3 _7 w: M
Andre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu-
8 G% ]3 o9 @7 U Q& b5 dtors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- # X* ?, K" Z+ v1 R
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said ' ^- I3 I2 @: _
Aaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre
& J* t: B6 R6 ~Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the
; }$ W v2 i* ?sum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively, , n& D7 R. k+ y% W3 h3 V. N
not only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but " d+ R% @* j% X. K4 O
also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto, % p& Y' ?# N1 @. t
rendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would / K* H2 `$ M o! ?( M% Y6 \8 {
be entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors
" n, s: D% Z& S3 L$ Cas aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say 5 t! O2 t9 I+ Q; J; q( @& A7 p
my dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom,
* |: H. C% ^ V3 i2 f) Z6 `under Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva-
1 X/ Z' n4 Q k, N% Ttion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815, & |% R/ m D: S( k" {
$ }# `& |6 E) L! J8 ?* y
0 ^( e* w. n: q' z- t# e
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Judah Touro — Eohler. 105
) \2 n1 y) n: v6 h
' O" v2 h# S0 _, b' n; mI hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep-
. D- Y6 ^1 D9 ^' rherd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts
3 F/ M2 T1 J- I# t9 l! Cof my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of
7 s$ D N$ m) {3 |9 vmy estate, movable and immovable.
0 O5 @8 \2 V' R. T, d) E+ z
& x7 j3 `- V* T! zIn case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more 8 E1 ~! I8 v0 g$ [$ I% ]8 \4 k
of my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor
E7 ^- U+ X/ { k6 Ior Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last
! W* [/ K% P% t$ X+ c4 awill; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more - [9 v- v; i0 }# k1 X3 ?0 q% t9 I
of my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that 0 A! x Z6 C+ Y: P5 r( {
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of 5 w. h" j7 N- H7 ~" C/ L
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in- ( q& A7 Q; U7 ^% [
herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made
2 I- \3 X1 V Y; g( v% Cto them.
* x8 |9 ]& Y! m4 [0 \; f7 {, M; Q1 ~& P0 M/ V6 K3 ]
4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in - ]& O5 [' ` y8 Q* N6 I1 V% m
force at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until
9 v- I+ a5 ~3 v0 i* ?% A% u1 R; wthe same shall have expired. $ O0 c+ G) e! W( C: V Z. b
+ d+ n- D2 }/ u1 n$ _1 W
5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of 4 M1 J8 x* P- O* U3 p! ~
which I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner
) e" z6 B) |! S; d& Idirected by this my last will or testament.
5 Y2 }9 X& h3 l: C$ B! T
6 Y7 O% O# V- k- f6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis- * i7 W9 \1 l5 [# k
persed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain
* M1 O6 j3 L1 @+ P4 ^property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
4 E) e. i# M8 a9 D8 D9 L5 WSynagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of
8 k. J% q$ T2 i: v- L4 T/ I6 `the said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from
3 v. I% u% ]; W/ h& D7 z Q5 d* Bthe bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation, 9 N' N' |) m+ O, B. J
the two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David & j3 U' |9 Z6 ~8 B
Urquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found- , C( ~5 j* L4 N* F" S8 f
ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con-
. R/ L: R+ R, ^8 w9 U* T8 B0 y- R4 Ugregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
! ^7 t0 J# Q' ~6 |+ C/ JReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by 9 [0 e% V; ]# s" D5 A& h$ p
my said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re- 6 o# A" u5 O% d6 l3 |
strictions. . q2 k8 y5 i+ W8 E9 r( P/ |
' l' d8 O2 @5 `9 c; b: ~7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New ) y8 L- e; \ W/ c; L" o j% D: N! W
Orleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession
: o7 ?$ O7 @& P; Ssale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
0 y2 O& w# ? C4 Rnow known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con- R6 x. ^ z1 I" i( ?: P
templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
3 g1 a9 [, h# M v% u/ Litable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex-
; z: F1 }; c, D* j) C+ q8 Yecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them
" Z: b4 c; ^, p) f+ L+ mconformably with the laws of Louisiana.
+ N: }8 r$ N+ X# V8 }6 R' ?
7 O) X$ Q; W. ~( |, a" e5 N8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of - O8 [9 f* e7 B [) B
New Orleans five thousand dollars.
" q8 _! `. i5 {. m9 X
7 l# D4 p( G: L7 a* |" y9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
; x' h; D4 q* f% J3 M# Xgarai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars. 9 z. ~& a' h. P1 W% l% A! f- O& C3 Q9 \
1 m2 [- V5 S" b+ q) G
8 c/ r& V' P! u7 _. u$ D/ b' u( b8 i# O m; S
106 American Jewish Historical Society.
3 u8 E6 A* R$ {3 _6 d
6 U7 ~& m g, u4 R10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
* f0 x9 J8 p, W% A% N7 ^; SNew Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
' O0 b% I% l) v* v
) t X# x& R) E5 @7 U& K11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society ! A* H- l, W' f
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. , l- h8 q( X$ {0 h4 f
; c$ J9 U+ {% H7 m; ?. }- I12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New * t/ X+ u1 d) @. s+ Z0 r: f
Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
$ o* O3 C( D7 w+ B' z' G8 j$ b7 ^& `3 l
13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti- ! N; T C% f* u
tute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars. 0 @9 o4 y& f% |( s7 f! z! F: |. F1 u
$ w( T$ A# _8 \) u8 t$ N1 c) U' W) K3 n14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
6 g% ~2 H `( L2 {/ o# Aof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol- 4 \3 d1 ?( t+ E9 a6 T. x
lars.
) p7 ?7 u4 j; y8 u n* C0 n
8 g1 ~) T5 \9 |$ E% x; B: O7 N15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan
) ]1 P/ t& e' J+ n! l/ f! q: HAsylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou-
3 n. ~! P" I ?3 q" zsand dollars.
1 q% ?# R% i* x' b- O4 g" v0 j( t# q1 ?
16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy-
+ F/ I( z5 \! P" n5 `+ Blum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is
& f2 W/ T/ j$ g# R. Uchairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand 9 ~, s- I" q* C3 A$ D1 K
dollars.
* C# L3 Y, J2 E# o
! X0 H& W' t A g17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans,
( T. Q. ~- R+ h7 P* ]7 m1 n! ]" q* sfive thousand dollars.
3 n) D3 `# _( x( ^- m% w" F
/ A: O) u. ? m8 J( T6 w/ o18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa- , I6 L, y0 D- Q1 t7 Q4 T: `
tion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. " B" e: `: R: S- I0 ~6 N @7 U
% K% S0 Q' ]# j/ C$ i
19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
) \" D; ^! v, D" yDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
5 t/ y9 d$ L+ Q1 g# U3 {. {
- G0 L* L" M1 X9 e. C0 b20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an
/ D* c1 K7 f% l# E# j, M" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of 0 z& P# X; W" K1 h5 C
contributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity
}7 J7 P2 K; r9 @! v" T7 kin said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000) 6 x( A* C' x% C' ]! W5 ~2 J6 K
and I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be 5 u% f g4 }1 K. M
organized according to law; and further, it is my desire that 5 M" v" t/ B, }3 i) `4 U2 j8 j
after my executors shall have legally organized and established
9 @" b1 t; S( `3 G: b0 b; Esaid contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to
; F5 e1 c W0 T+ a/ ?2 Yadminister and control the direction of its affairs, then such per- 9 ~' f% V1 X& |$ b) o, }
sons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
+ e; l7 V3 J, _, t3 p: E- ejointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc-
1 O: ~" ?& T$ K6 b3 rcessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
0 e( ~0 D- ? Xthereof. / S/ Z- I- }. Z2 V$ q) l
6 Y; r3 g E* B7 w# _
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of
5 [8 O m. M! @, h" S4 g0 XRhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that 6 V0 Q: N) A/ C9 b0 J5 K
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the . ^3 P* a- X& G9 K1 ?) w
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept
o4 P7 L6 c/ [, vas a public park or promenade ground. % x# N/ h3 J0 H( |# _. v# n$ c
; ^- ^8 t# e2 P4 ]22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport 2 \ B* D! |8 j
aforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars. 2 H: E, g( g0 c3 }8 r
5 C% O2 a2 e6 a# q
+ z$ |9 {8 T% l- H2 `' U
& i9 D/ u' W4 u. z5 dJudah Touro — Kohler. 107 " e. U: }" w5 ^0 o. {! C0 }$ ]
* d( r& C; N8 W4 c: B% h, U+ v23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay
; S# m/ |1 V4 JShalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars.
' `" L7 s! y" w* x! [5 z
. N$ |5 k' O% T7 ^24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
7 }* e, i: T8 V- _3 |' k+ m; Cford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. E* c! Z. F5 F
; h. u, `5 j6 U1 j7 z1 K
25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New 2 H" {9 V7 {7 E" M& Z4 O
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. 9 ~7 o- {1 Q& B/ o5 {0 M5 ?0 |$ Q
7 f" _0 L6 x; }" `8 p26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society, % G* ^1 s4 {. L% M" L: m: N; t; j
for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and / H8 k5 S% y1 h6 v0 `7 e3 z
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent), % }; y. S8 j: a: p0 \
ten thousand dollars.
$ F% `5 g3 L% H# [8 T: [, Y* q8 V/ f7 O( F& M+ u/ h J
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir
+ u/ Z2 J" a: p7 r) s# tMoses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to
a0 h" P' }& k/ kameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in ; v- u# l) A8 n' f0 I& d
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of
4 v9 d j5 \' H0 T u3 @1 X2 Tworshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without
0 D. G* d2 v; z+ e" rmolestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou-
$ [. B$ \6 Q; t8 ksand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through
/ U* G& o1 E# ? r( Kthe said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise,
4 T$ G' }0 P6 ~6 S3 Cas best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of ' f) u @% t4 i4 [
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry- 7 n' z. s$ T! F" N
ing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and
7 c5 ^2 \( E5 Y. \' E8 cin that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
" z8 t1 G) ]/ J# A1 f+ d0 qbe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the
% k; [1 U1 Q" kCity of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri-
3 T5 @) A2 ^1 ^6 _# ^' Kcan Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, 8 B {( {; |4 P
of the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this
& ~8 L; Y8 K. k2 s% omy last will. ; p3 a! _% x5 x6 D0 A6 n5 F& M
( ~+ r+ i) O P8 K
28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I
3 S7 w" J0 c" B, ]) [7 ~' ^have already alluded in making this will, as well as those to G9 |8 s- q* m. U
which in the further course of making this will, I shall refer, ' A- L' k" G6 G+ R7 Y3 B
shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them * ^1 X8 Q2 k n$ B: M
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and
# Q* y1 `! d( Z4 Pthereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
9 D, O7 A7 Z0 K; h" p' R; ]% ]1 [/ qdesire that the parties interested in such institutions and my
$ V7 N3 C8 ?* }# k) H0 q1 b) I, texecutors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de-
+ k' d9 A, i6 e; U% h* Q6 k1 Qcease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
: M! L1 v v9 I2 h) Z6 j2 Pinherit in the premises according to my wishes.
. |- I- }. R5 H( k, H. \ h! y: I: g( M/ {" j' m: i8 J, h( F0 t
29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the
2 }& ~- H4 P$ S' w% j1 k% ~( e JCity and State of New York twenty thousand dollars. - o- u. ~# E" v1 T0 o* r5 T6 |6 A6 _( ^
! D4 R( \. c) c. h- e; m d0 Y
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society ! l" Q- Y5 ~+ |- z) M
" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars. $ p: `" S: Q$ T9 \- j2 [( g
# z* H, p3 z$ o% T, u7 F31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society ! D5 k& k' f, r' d1 ]4 l( D t, u
" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars. 1 Q A2 Y6 H; Q F
; O% c/ p: K9 h" h1 d+ Y0 g7 V9 i2 M. C' p) o3 d& Q D
5 X( n9 y/ L: _$ ^108 American Jewish Historical Society.
, C5 g. M6 z5 H- X6 }. D7 V7 L3 i! R
32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund 4 @5 _, j' q$ ~# j. h
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the , n6 P. x( H. `% x- i0 ^
City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand
1 \- q! }- j1 f: o8 Y( w rdollars. ! e/ W4 d5 x5 T5 h, d: M
* l! P6 I9 m4 E& n4 ^ ^3 b r+ k6 j" P33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
* J- m8 _, V! L# U( xbrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, 8 q& `1 }$ W9 Y' H2 }9 @" o7 u, S
the sum of three thousand dollars.
% ]6 M, N% ~- [5 C v/ q. R+ j# }$ N/ {+ f3 G
34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
# G" Q* L4 k% m( pgarai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. # u0 y* H0 z5 X) V' l: e
3 R" U" M2 X0 G! F
35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
3 U% @$ m+ f8 a" ?9 Q' cthe City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was 8 K+ Z& f2 k$ A) ~) v
a directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B.
2 Y$ \0 e6 p- t+ xKursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars. % }; Y( x: i2 a& ?4 W
$ ?( M* x+ l) r2 a8 P: v+ L9 P
36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- 5 D1 B7 N! T( q9 V% a4 |
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- }4 C3 q/ `2 v
lars. ' m, i* |3 g( h) _
1 e6 r" }+ C6 l* i
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of
$ G* ]* } i$ j% Z% P6 q3 {9 ]+ oPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars.
" M: e4 Q. b. o0 t! ]! t- Y5 C* ], x/ n! n& h' i- W$ h6 ]
38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- 1 B" b) l. ?' k7 s
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars.
3 m; d! c6 n, ?" y& l3 o" e
' Q/ c3 e! A# U# h( V' X39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat 2 x! D: m5 S4 E8 }$ N: W/ H# t% Q9 z
Israel," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars.
( g( X; r$ e3 `. \) Y
. m9 X% o8 P5 r+ K$ p" S40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth
Z4 @ N5 _! w* [Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars. 6 ]+ G) w) {% c7 ^. L
1 U" |1 ?! z' {
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith # F V7 s- j% G- A% ^4 M* k
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand ; w3 W. f# p: g/ b9 f9 A$ M
dollars.
) C, o+ d4 d$ v) l+ i6 Y* v- X
42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
' R% P2 o$ {( j4 [: H/ Rgarai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. ! y' v% o8 \( x; _% o _
' K9 q( b+ T* q43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
; X( G/ u2 O& |$ [) K! `: nIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars.
7 ^+ S9 o& T% |% M# S
# Z7 R) Z3 N% j/ |1 A6 E44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont- 0 [' @) j9 H% Z* a I( o
gomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars. 3 M: ] S! L/ A) v4 }" i) Q
# e& }! z, P, }( K: |3 ?
45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem-
! }4 K: ^3 K0 \& y+ V) ^& s0 Hphis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars.
6 J; {7 N- X4 r* w. U& a) O: O5 O; M8 y3 w) e
46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas
# [) P# m! ?& v9 x8 F* i$ CIsrael," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
/ v3 ^& W/ p( I6 R* t" I4 I3 E, o; B- R% W6 z' v1 U3 w+ Y, h
47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is- # z' A! e- l. P: X% V2 S
rael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
7 E4 d0 l+ D$ w0 d/ \# P- @3 X y# E" x2 M7 k7 L
48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo- # `8 p B5 d6 t% x* n5 {! e6 U
dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars. + p+ @) Z) F, z$ v1 S
. Y g, t$ m4 y a- y5 ~5 D. D
49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati,
# _- |$ G( m/ ROhio, five thousand dollars. 7 r( q+ v# s# @% c8 e9 o
2 e; R; Y: S) I# b! x
" \4 j4 F+ V6 q/ Y* D/ I
- f% x* i9 S/ y- m( g7 bJudah Touro — Kohler. 109 2 e+ n; Y+ B/ b, v2 _
" P9 ^; e" ~$ e) V
50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth 9 X' S; w6 c6 ~$ h( x6 \' @
Israel," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars. & o6 [% D4 R% f6 d# G5 \. |2 D- `
2 ]* g4 d4 E$ \* X
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai , i1 \0 p9 `/ C+ U5 v6 t U5 p
El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars. 9 N. b. z. ?+ D0 f( |* x
$ |9 e' q; s/ N; ~8 m% x( ]2 }7 e52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El," : y7 Z+ y& c' |. c# D9 n( ?$ H B
of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
, @5 D% z' A* P. @$ J% _- H9 T' C" R, F* ? B8 A" T* y5 L& v/ u
53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth - g! f% Q" h7 @5 o" p4 l
El," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars. 1 V5 T* ]+ }, O$ j9 Y- V' h
, p! g2 f) e9 B4 w9 m/ f, O. Z* G54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions, $ f ^! Q5 d; ^# a( a2 y/ I3 y0 P9 o
named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra-
5 z9 {3 W4 _: a2 U5 V- y& nham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums:
. Z) S; n0 m+ X+ Z. e
8 j8 j3 a0 h# v! l% r2 H3 O6 OFirst, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
' v% J! r, D/ x- X( Z, e' m. _" f% bfive thousand dollars.
' q" g& Y) o$ N
, ~% M# B. {5 n4 x5 |! ^% f5 g0 k) ?: HSecond. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, 3 |0 ~ f3 {6 E# C
five thousand dollars. $ G. W( [- j# ?/ b
" _* a7 W X* j" H; A/ m
Third. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou-
# h. J) H4 x" P6 w. u9 xsand dollars.
7 x! d$ X4 W8 r; w, X8 ^+ P [1 m5 H ]
55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of / ~5 M% q; W) L. P' {
paying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew- ! P7 g4 l) o1 o' l6 z0 P
ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min-
; m( h# n6 e9 V" B+ ?istry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the
( F, E+ s1 q7 O' B$ z( u6 J- _Jewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be / t. l( g3 h" a$ O9 b0 g
appropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner
0 H) O8 L; S/ u. Nas my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation ) r3 D( E9 e1 d- T% T0 k' F. C
of Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire,
6 e, O) B5 p, P* _9 s% Athat David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed ( G- N8 r( q3 q! [7 }$ S( x5 K% g
friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should
# Q2 L+ m2 c8 }continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
6 c, s- C2 S3 c; nthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
+ l6 {$ u; p; \$ {8 Jof services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the 3 F9 r9 g1 I* u, f
sum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them, ! K( [# [4 q6 @3 [% [, |
the said David and said Nathan H. Gould.
0 A1 V+ b# G* y. j/ k- Y2 B' _+ d7 q
56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine - ?) q4 I, Z2 M% ]+ F
Hays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind ; m+ ~, C( e# |, n1 L) X9 Q
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me. # Y3 _; Y, E' A9 R" ~7 N
* Y; |, Z0 Q/ U& w6 R* }& O' ?
57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and
) q6 }+ }9 X) e5 z _% oJulia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of
/ A9 {7 F3 [9 \" J0 I% T! z0 kRichmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be 0 o- p# r" j) M/ l* x& S" J' S
equally divided between them.
, P3 M! e6 f/ Z% V7 ]3 _! R/ x7 i, e0 V$ C5 L# o& }) a K' v
58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to , m7 T. V0 d0 @/ M3 j4 H1 O. v
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond,
2 w% l9 P' u6 Q0 a5 pVirginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my
8 n0 e" k5 v* Y3 nremembrance.
# r1 i( |% z" [; k: Q- c9 z/ @' R# q D5 N1 d
' M8 [: n- G" M/ ]% [2 R" ^, Q; P, G' Y& v2 X4 g; i+ t
110 American Jewish Historical Society. 3 ]; @% q- e) C4 c9 F; t& w
! o# w' G1 g& S0 T5 c. Z59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing,
' c2 h& h& t( \" zof Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
n( w2 O6 Z9 Z$ R1 R0 C8 V8 Dmy esteem and kind remembrance. ( K( Z/ `+ x7 U7 c1 f$ J
6 S8 L# h3 S9 B4 o60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
2 @- ~; Y6 N8 y5 Z+ hmy respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a
4 r& x T; a) W0 rtoken of my regard. % q0 ?: s) P; @ v# I. c8 `0 e6 m
2 w! Q I9 m* y1 ?" H3 g p
61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to ( U# @' h: R! g1 E; B
my friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his ' ]1 ]. Z( e5 X3 E0 ~6 J; m9 x
wife, to be equally divided between them.
7 G( n5 z' D! E( k6 \; g8 z
$ _) g# A* l; R5 r& t0 }62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 1 O! l% n4 g5 x% j4 c/ e) |5 J# q
my friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of 7 v: J1 D. \# w m6 F. `) x# x
my remembrance.
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63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
/ _9 ^' ~ t8 Q5 d* a" a Uof Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex-
. O- o$ C7 l% q% G( Decutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol-
, ]2 l2 a' D+ mlars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
8 y# P3 O2 Q/ |. A3 \4 eof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
( u7 X# J3 P/ d) pregard. 1 `4 D5 x) h2 ]4 w. k9 t1 y1 i
% R. q: |9 {+ Y1 Q9 `0 l1 d64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars,
) J8 U2 `! v* z _% ~2 bto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
! r" X6 ~' ?: |: X( y' v0 q4 c: `6 mmemorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, ' P9 r8 l3 ~; O6 P7 S5 q( p, ~
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city. t( Z3 G) n" R/ Y
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65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars
: a! I9 e% C1 c4 b- [to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
& d4 D- x- G [! Q: ememorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of , X. P9 B9 Y+ U; Z
Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans. 4 r6 D2 V+ P, p! V1 k0 `8 I
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66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have ' G8 @1 g* K/ y }0 r- p" P( j$ s, p
made previously to these presents.
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Thus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to 5 l% L4 v) P1 b( ]! Q
me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses # X! K4 b7 |- ]- n+ n0 Q
herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the * x5 @5 K A, L; \1 y: H. P3 U E1 C
same, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own
! m- F5 }$ j5 T2 z, P8 lproper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this 0 z7 F U! V2 K: {# j
testament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres-
' S$ n' G0 j- e& F% i. aence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same " h( c$ r4 \0 l3 s6 L# N
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-
' C* m+ F/ k) _ing aside to other acts.
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Thus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the ( [1 Z/ f4 U" k: H
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and
4 \: V& J$ s" |; F# ~" W4 Myear first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan / y4 e! r. q2 }/ j: g" J
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, ! L3 G* i: V6 v% j$ T# O/ p% h% u
, m, q0 B* q3 Q/ B" @
% m) ]# u, S1 K; e
: T( p) o( K% E4 NJudah Touro — Kohler. Ill 0 t6 N. j7 w7 i2 M& g) p2 ~
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all three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said 9 J1 [6 i& p9 H2 b) L* @" D2 l
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their
! R$ ^6 G8 y4 k6 A6 lnames. (Signed.)
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J. TOUEO,
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0 F! ~! M) U4 |9 NJ. Montgomery,
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H. Shepherd, Jr., ! ]6 ]3 l3 S! x D# s/ S
' W3 u1 Q* c/ r, ~) t2 X9 t
Geo. W. Lee,
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2 Q! q, A/ g$ l6 `" G9 o5 kThos. Latton, Notary Puilic. 1 P1 N- o3 d# O
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; k) G" G4 h; d' U; D v* F& y) i6 tLIBRftRY OF CONGRESS $ x+ g1 c4 ` ~. `
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6 ^. \, y+ q. L5 v V5 u& X014 495 461 |
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