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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS & _3 ~6 F- |! ^/ ?
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4 `# `* ]* [3 W& f' o) {JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
0 a4 B1 L n) CPHILANTHROPIST.
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By max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B.
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, F3 g. _3 |, M: VReprinted from
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Publications of the % Q5 i# k/ ]" P8 x/ o& u2 y
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American Jewish Historical Socibtt, / r3 b1 b$ L6 _: W5 y
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No. 13, 1905.
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) f2 k0 x' S+ @6 D8 \JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND 7 A; B" m3 X' k* Y0 M
PHILANTHROPIST.
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9 i6 n4 b! m J; l. }/ vBy Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B. ' f' v% z% G7 B( ]3 _2 ]
& a$ z+ @% q7 EIt is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak , ~' x, I/ _% E5 Y' ?
Touro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings,
! Z2 ]: S1 T4 P6 n: v o* snor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the
% `9 g/ [4 q% B1 ^# ~6 oname, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating 8 V: `+ C& j2 W: J/ \0 F9 v
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor-
4 C8 R% `( V5 Q( Vmation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in ) N& f" L# S3 q" G m
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's , ^! h( C/ w' V0 w1 [
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring
& o4 e9 V2 g7 Y5 r1 Qthe very name of one who would probably by common consent
# v5 u6 C% E- c4 F8 d) D( O$ d( Tbe singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the
3 `* I, H; K: ?first half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the 5 N' }: C% q& q7 s+ g
relations between the investigations of local historical socie- # j+ Q4 c, Y; d# X3 R. V" A
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account
( c3 F/ n* P( hfor the general historian's neglect of an individual's career, ) M/ _& Z- C- n8 ^* c0 C9 i( J
ignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such
$ ^( }- j1 I7 G- w$ P0 ospecialized investigations as our own, that the general his- 2 c/ K) l, t" w/ H* B
torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi- & ?. A9 h: b4 F- |8 I0 s: C3 n! D
vidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in ; h$ V3 c% o+ n5 T& N# P& x
question did not figure prominently in the political or mili-
# E6 w# U0 O0 q2 D7 K" Xtary history of his . / r% @& @6 @5 g7 M+ v
/ L/ J* v v7 @A couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written 8 r+ A j+ B5 U
within a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by 9 S" }9 A4 y! X7 u
non-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis-
( @: ]% _& S2 s8 mfactory authorities on his career and tend to show in what
& r4 s* Z; ^: u& Z4 W8 F7 v5 O3 j1 Nhigh regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
( ~1 |6 w5 L+ ^. qWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal $ G; L) K( a' t; n
$ K/ _8 y% z7 r& T7 e' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
( |1 z* `0 v L1 H% e5 A+ nchants," published in 1856. + e0 G: p- R5 c. x& I# i" i
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$ g; r* z4 d8 x$ W0 ~/ Treminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol- . {: p- |" D7 U5 @+ U' b6 p
lections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or-
( {; ~ V; O7 Q4 Z5 f# M+ Z0 l% S6 nleans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information;
# i. a: r7 Y; hthough few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be : B2 K) D# g' P8 W, Z& p
likely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog- # A$ Z- D/ D e+ h
raphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary
9 u! n9 D& g! _sketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal ! U* g8 d0 w. }+ m+ s, {
reminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
: }6 ]) t) g+ c; Aare for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant. : A( P8 ^6 _% V- J, r
Judah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known
4 \$ u: k, S: R7 L: ^in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy 1 e; f4 G! D# n7 C' P! O+ u
and early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his
( s* P, n3 M. y7 ~9 ematurity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no + U* b' r8 @5 X
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
6 g, K4 ~" m' _1 [more than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
. p3 d* K0 I, ]! Y4 Sand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish
# |* l! v$ ^+ e0 { }7 \% \7 gname in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh
1 H7 i) C7 E+ V1 r$ g3 munprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic 3 ]5 O0 y8 g. }
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com-
1 B7 Y$ f! |; E6 fmunities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore ( H, y; Y$ \" Q5 W
impossible, in view of the small and humble means at their : g' ~1 a* f2 m
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the , W& ^% {8 {1 I
foundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
. W ?( L0 H/ |6 _$ O- n3 y9 Psince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry.
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. h5 p" ~$ t: `6 b \% EJudah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
) m+ Y$ H. O4 N/ \. W8 A16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum-
" Q- w' b- I+ o" A) ~& |5 ostance that his individual career thus began with that of his ! z2 e+ u2 y U
beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min- ! J5 B" ]# g9 o: F Q
ister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption , S x" d# R+ M: L1 u' p# c
of activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by ( W J/ K& E% r6 m! ?1 ?
the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme-
5 v& Q& s- c; h$ O" Dtery being more than a century older, and concerning whose
2 J. A0 j: U( s7 a4 s9 B+ Fcareer our society has already published various items.^ Isaac
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' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854.
8 o: {5 G: n/ t4 X+ ]' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew-
8 V& q- D0 |1 h7 k1 v8 P4 `1 \ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas-
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- C, g( l5 F; X" A" G' }- aJudah Touro — Koliler. 95 ' b4 Y( T3 o1 R3 W
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Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays, 7 y' q7 r0 E. h. j
in 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and
1 ?3 y+ t' V% u8 ]- ZEebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and
# ~. Z5 R5 b* r" r- B8 r- [died in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem- i6 M$ q- M* M3 c0 }7 Y
bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city
: J5 R' H ?# R) P( t, mduring the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de-
% i- h. b( W0 V$ ~% y4 hparted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December ( e% U8 |, V: s$ l3 O9 w
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country, , W7 N$ l" m; g/ R* _5 T) ]% V
and became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays,
' a$ R1 k+ e" Y5 z3 g# _# dbrother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- - \6 ~4 M' ?: T; R8 T4 D' I$ ?
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
. h6 v8 e, c1 o1 |ber 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays,
9 N/ |& _( a$ c5 D9 {% p6 ]- k. O/ }Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely
& L3 z3 I; O+ O' Tthose principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood
0 s: @! q+ x9 jthem in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
0 v, E" g1 J- @also brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
% L0 q8 r; d3 V+ E. Snent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views 1 {' [9 B0 v+ `3 H' {/ v
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac- @# N6 d2 P1 O# d) y* f
companying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays
- R! Y5 V. }; M O! G8 ~was an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the - r( v( a( u. `2 W4 s4 |
patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and ; m4 |: @4 E, A8 M, p, ?
Mayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the : W' n; ?) n( d7 b
first American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist,
5 L+ M+ L2 z4 p8 gwhile such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition- ; @1 v' w- I- O& S F( i
ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these * N5 l* | h# t: `, k" K8 o( ]
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which : o$ I r/ E+ `: R4 ~- l: _' e0 @
induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
% y! P2 M6 O) sslaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and
' b: m& E( M p* [2 V5 C0 _Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and
5 @$ U* J6 Z) W7 u/ @3 \1 d4 C8 i1 H; S5 v* p' C9 n, e& ~
trow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid.,
: u4 ?+ `+ X+ k( W# A; ?No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No. . K# r3 z5 C. D9 Q4 S
8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport & z4 }7 Q; Z" d, v+ T/ }& I& K
and New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
9 R1 N/ T1 e( w) A+ fof Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New- * Y0 [& ~* `1 Z* O+ ]4 W* N
port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105;
+ z Z- L- y. o9 N- ]/ IRev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews." T; e0 S- k g! k
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commercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in : |! C2 I! p7 r: p& s# _
1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with. , T- I$ x; r4 o1 j
a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean.
5 }/ K4 R4 g' c( ^1 w& aThe voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
. s- l; x& b7 Q7 `' w+ z5 X( uvessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
F, e4 p* h: o. @7 Q( kmercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad-
7 {# _/ U( ^* Q0 N7 v- Kvised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a
7 z. r0 F0 N$ Z$ p, s' `! [French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after 5 X: J. Z: {& \. M5 H
a voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends ! B) W8 a7 ?+ I) K
knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg- 2 L; {" h" ?3 ?) L, H
ment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they
* c% ]1 Y5 i) q+ t. B2 J4 w( z, mmade to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in
$ L( G; ]$ b- ?# X( q. RNew Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer-
) ~" O$ ^# J" ?3 D" Q6 Ychant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New- 9 \/ h5 A) C) w3 I* i7 Q6 `
port," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts
5 C0 h6 c$ ~+ C$ n' b1 x4 ^0 iinto six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library ) H4 e% l. Q5 \ U! j T' }
from the collections of the distinguished historian, George % @7 _& c' _) A& U% Q7 S) ?" @1 @
Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah . j) T# s3 O, M1 k4 |* @
Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham-
5 k! i6 K6 G0 I6 U- @plain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
; ~ L) p' V( E- H! llight on the scope of his business dealings.
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Tradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for
/ w. Z+ o$ W7 w) m; u; s7 _his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their 3 E/ f( N- @: A. B
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re-
1 ~5 z n$ f# `% J4 V8 J2 j. X8 s3 U) xmained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va., ! l* ?& C9 y% q5 M. V
and died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January, 2 W: V: r$ h5 @. a2 o- Y1 ~
1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very % p, w# f9 o& O% E! ~) d4 A
month in ignorance of her death.
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* C0 O# ^' k( aAbraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos-
3 i/ A9 x- H m v2 S; S+ ?ton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an
/ [' E. X3 |- R: e; U' a# I8 I9 j% Yaccident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his
, E$ K9 `& c' k' i7 Z6 p0 Hespecial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New- ( h. e- z9 D. I
port, though the Jewish community of that town had been 3 `8 Q% a; a( L0 K
scattered long before. Two years previously he had caused
* o0 v2 y, \! r- T/ q/ qa substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for
3 V. @$ M8 `. h1 ?/ B4 T% Y: @& j2 o* Owhich he made further provision by his will, which contained
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5 [/ i- y* I C9 rJudah Touro — K older . 97
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8 S9 i& u. n' j* u! p: Q' ?a number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston
+ N0 Z2 c/ v, P, X- [# x& Jinstitutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
J: U, c+ a1 h3 I+ t/ yNewport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly 4 x' m' p( ^* L: {9 u( c2 b
to the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog- y) t5 R2 u# M4 i4 `, ^# h
nizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly.
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Eeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
9 D" c+ P) I4 L" G8 F9 \ically recognized the claims of his country upon him during 8 H7 B, H, S; F* F
the War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, / B/ E) b, j U' w7 ?
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or- 0 w4 G7 ?' e( a- k0 c* X
leans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun- % g" ?' c1 D b: o& ` V
teered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of P" H9 F4 J# s& R, f7 B
the American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
" I$ U# n8 f6 l# }in the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve- 4 F/ h" m: {8 a; P& X
pound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that
2 V6 }/ I9 @4 U) p) Jhe was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D. 8 }' W2 P- |; f3 R0 Z) E
Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians 3 O% I9 P/ M6 N3 k5 f! ^5 X; v4 |
had abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death
+ P: r( j' t) z1 z8 nwas great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
: _6 d, W/ I' DJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of & N' a' j# ~6 v( P" O; q
Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi- ' b7 @7 M4 C' y* O" I* x8 ^- c
dence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep- 0 e1 Q) e7 N5 r3 S. h% P
herd had independent means of his own, he treated this large
) h- g; v/ {; e g9 H# T/ [bequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes,
! Y' M; {, N& a' W: I0 `( Vso that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
7 ^* E j% F2 Q6 g9 O9 I3 nscribed in the will itself. , t9 W+ Y; W$ |% m4 J$ n9 Q0 ?
8 G! y3 a+ Y% o! ]' q2 e: v) WJudge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred & m2 n, a) n3 z! |4 Q
to, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began
' k; w5 e, m! F* x2 Ja brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other : n8 k$ I9 S" P% S6 r7 ^2 s
exports of New England, making prompt returns to his , K) m2 A: n! `1 ]
friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man-
6 @4 Q( h4 T; _5 {1 fagement soon secured him a large New England trade, every # ]* _2 u: b+ d) F3 S
vessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and 3 m4 }7 k, `% W
many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain
6 ]5 Y B* L- s$ ]3 [) ccargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his
$ N/ B3 _* z+ w" |" L- rfunds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in
; f8 K$ v2 A" i2 Iships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His
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career as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and
5 _2 K9 o) s. i# Y3 n, C) _stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- n* b7 [: U( l" ?7 I( ~
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn-
' A7 D! T' s* king aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to
9 ]8 D4 s: z3 N. B. Y @! @4 q2 t3 P# lthe cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents ( @7 V+ F4 u& L7 |. V- g( k
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock.
3 @& V) s3 [. P. IHis neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day
% y; ]& g& t [6 i! Rby his movements. In his business he rarely employed more
6 W6 m/ f0 ]# q9 s+ W$ K2 Cthan one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus- + u( Z7 G4 `0 {0 F7 t
tom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. * }. ?! r _+ }/ f
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well ' o' _* Y# x; m; N5 |5 I* M7 P
arranged that there was no possibility of any misunder- ; \* A7 g3 l0 Z! P% t
standing.
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) \7 Y8 j: |9 q. c: [) b Y% ^2 YIt is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was : `8 u( ? t u2 {" n. P- A
devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of 3 I4 X+ w( T8 W. I: g, ^
age, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to ) m' l& j* B" f5 l- Q, O4 e; }
work the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
" g3 O2 P0 \6 J/ D" e$ v6 D/ Ghis name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro-
6 h4 ~1 r) ]6 R, x, K. Spists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for-
a7 Z! e. C" U( ztunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, / E% e3 F$ q9 l
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not- / _$ }3 `1 \/ \/ ~: m: _
withstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that / n7 O m" R. ]7 C
his whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
6 b, a: {9 j$ l Y6 Rthropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New y8 J' R; w ^$ N
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
$ s" n& [2 a5 h+ E' E P$ Qviously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who 4 D) x4 ~( E* ^- {7 Q5 {
had won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
1 o) `( ^: N2 a- I+ x' `1 Othat which the most successful merchant, the most daring ; Q, [& L; d, Y$ S! m
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw
' l- Y8 c/ R2 Ehim in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra- 3 b ?) E N9 V/ Q. p1 E6 J: Q
tions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little - N# r/ m0 |6 e Q$ J- w4 a
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble ( B3 |2 n% Z% |, L
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
' j1 \; V5 ^5 B! D6 wglide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his . q" N [& i5 S7 J7 ?- r
hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his
6 w& |2 E2 _" p' P& Nhomely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
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3 [: c8 Y2 V, @9 v8 G0 gJudah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 1 o( c' [) x. A* @0 B
. D( U$ S# P" A$ M+ b# m
pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, / r6 f& J7 [8 g5 B8 y
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali- % J- ~5 O4 Z4 v H# e
ties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a 0 U( T( D6 L. c( z7 o% B, e2 s8 l
whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn # N. e; f; q% v$ K( l
aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to
3 F0 Z- {3 ]- S) E$ h5 R: ?bewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a
' [2 u2 k7 c0 k1 N9 g. M" imillionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death 1 ~, Y3 X. R5 N7 e4 |6 ]
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who % l# D$ |) w5 B' W: I4 H8 T. I
does his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large . m. R4 e9 H) C- N( X
wealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
5 }' `( z* W( T6 m* lreward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi-
0 q' i6 Z' V: H1 A: F- ~! tcence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a
; c! K, o9 Y3 @: `6 jsplendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise 2 W3 C) Y9 Z1 A/ f0 J( R! H b
' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall
" |* F% \' _/ Q$ `; ?- n& k1 u- Mreturn to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake,
u! L! [0 A: j# q, ?) @were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He
. Z- @- l4 m( X* ]+ |: rdeprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
9 `3 [; v9 Y: \3 Jgratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
* O& Z5 Q/ K, w) u9 q# zpassion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was
]6 I2 X* A' B. Ua miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence, * E, |8 D- c; V4 d0 C$ X
from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and
4 o& o" L2 t. u! V7 |* X5 ustealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions, 3 t m' ~% h6 p
and his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta-
3 F. n! m$ S# L' E1 etion and display which are too often the main incentive to
* [& X, X. e+ J& xliberal and benevolent deeds."
2 N' `/ i' G7 W
, o# O$ c/ p N- g: FTurning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess $ v# d6 X) d& w# o4 E
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the " {, E1 S! O& J4 U
public to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac-
% G1 v- j; h1 ?( f$ Ptions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they $ k6 v4 P! X, T" w
are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
+ C4 c U+ ?( J: Elarge gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as 6 V. ~$ @6 z) ?) A6 ^
common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards
& F% u3 w' U1 nthe erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in-
8 T* ~% q3 h$ nterested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up : T/ O4 V; f+ @2 [$ `: |1 @* U* `
their project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid
i' E/ ]9 q+ v4 v* }0 \- e/ A, |1 X/ kalready in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle.
' ?- P* B0 }5 v9 u/ w
. ]3 b6 @! x, `1 v% Y! m) X, S% {0 q7 Q- E* Q
6 d) |) g' a' f6 I) r$ N* w+ G
100 American Jewish Historical Society.
' d f' A2 y* l/ Y( J6 K+ P2 u! U3 O2 \" L
Amos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material / g( e/ C& A$ }. ?8 C/ [
response, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward $ m5 p4 k; C) f: G( A- K6 H. W
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately
8 B5 L9 H8 f1 P) r! W/ Xoffered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of
?2 M6 _9 y1 {! @4 ~! cAmos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- 5 A4 [; y8 k( i) }- e
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in-
; F3 [: Z/ T9 I$ I6 O/ u5 A; @dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his 2 ?0 a: S3 Y1 d2 C
injunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he 4 j3 p6 C) [/ a, v& U* y2 {: @+ _. G' O
seriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- ( n! Q9 z# k9 P: f
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
3 ~- B# U+ f; I4 \6 |ish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other 2 _, o/ w7 G% M4 E3 [9 K; H
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world, - J1 K* ]) T; h3 M
and well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication
. I. v: h5 E) \+ n" a- b- Jof the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
3 U' X) C+ {1 ^, lthe United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity ) o: d, w3 N) C# Y& }9 ^
was commemorated by the presiding officer who read these + r3 \1 ~4 T# ~ J& v
lines, since become famous :
) I7 K% U2 A# G* S& q0 D
: _9 P. B ] T/ h3 ?/ m: fAmos and Judah — venerated names!
# U) X5 n9 i# o# y1 Q% T# \, s& J9 a! w/ ?. L* D, T% |
Patriarch and prophet press their equal claims, . y: s' n) i5 V7 B% R& ^
& b* I) J, b4 }
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck. ( R0 D5 ]3 d9 r
6 r7 d0 A( K. x3 a$ N
Each aids the work by giving it a check.
" r" N% `. q2 ]' q! q) g
+ b5 A7 _4 u' Q. }Christian and Jew, they carry out a plan — 8 h9 T5 }& j5 a2 y
: X- R. G K, Z5 I4 K t8 h; [For though of different faith, each is in heart a man.
3 z ~$ i, U8 W! d
8 H, G, f: ?; o6 KJudah Touro's private benefactions were munificent 0 Q4 O/ F* d% i* r
throughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often
) l' c0 X) I8 @) yastonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration 5 G$ m/ @' `/ ~- u
in point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris-
+ J+ d. S) }( p/ b' ~$ V- atian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
. c* X8 Q1 I4 M/ Yister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,- . b w; K( P$ e- m9 L9 I5 v) m
000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised
8 E4 h) b* `+ r" C, q7 D6 F' xby private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build-
3 t Y* T q# Qing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to h- x5 f7 f1 {, M, _
occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after
7 u0 L7 o+ Y- w' ]- _9 omany years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
* d+ b$ t, g! M/ j3 I/ P: {; I( A( S7 V
* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
( y. @3 t" @1 `( i2 M" ]% d' m3 N
; k# ~3 N" F/ ~( E& k6 B
3 s. t; h1 _* \+ B$ a2 j4 q! c5 O, G7 N! q* f( O- H
Judah Touro — Kohler. 101 ( y/ H/ v+ B# o# z
* _0 j5 g5 j# T4 n X) ]
tribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested
) o n0 G) i! D( U y$ o" ?that he could profitably erect business buildings on the site,
/ u; n7 k' _, E9 xhe promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
" Y; T' n7 x; i3 h" W* Y7 Bam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church
- L0 f# D! p' S* L, rto increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from / `# s& C0 o+ R4 E
him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister
% C( p* u. P$ d W; }died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he
$ w j- d( ]+ S. A8 ddeclined to accept the money, ing instead that it be 1 W n& W% {! m0 H
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary 6 s& n! p, N0 q. G3 F8 I" y. [/ e
at New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- O7 D' u0 g! w6 M# P* A
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill " / R. c& f2 \& J" R$ E
of jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
: c! T+ Z }0 f& y" |1 csettlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui-
, w' W6 C2 ]. P- {sition of the site by that municipality. For many years he : u4 [; _" V! e' |
was practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans;
2 Q& B) a! f7 g/ z! f+ Tsubsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected / S) P- c4 I" `, ^7 i
a synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex-
. [( V( R+ I" Rpense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- ! m J( V7 ]1 u; w
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed n+ }3 ~1 W3 L3 ]. R6 X; }
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis-
- y) S3 t% r& x0 ]tributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable
% b" R6 B/ y2 M. k( V: \, Opurposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
% d. w0 j; Y/ q5 D" v7 e$ _% CClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
* t4 i; {3 s$ P( G9 l5 e R9 ]8 g5 znever heard of but one religionist in the United States who 2 g" ?- s3 H) A! E) n% d0 H3 n$ d3 N
can be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of
, R2 J8 M1 k, l2 Dhis benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing 5 ~" x$ P7 R, ^- m; c2 ?
on other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran-
3 z4 i0 S2 u( Dgers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he
9 ?& Q+ l5 s/ z7 S% Tscattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity. ( J5 i1 o8 j" r
He knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated , Q; r: z- m. R: K
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni- : c8 S0 r; M' i& y) z7 {6 t
hilation." " x0 t9 w. S/ I5 ?/ L( t
( U0 @# Z' N' \( b+ j9 O
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur- + v g% J6 n) w$ d" _. a* Q
prised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by
$ p" c! J4 g1 N2 u$ uhim at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi-
* {: L, ^+ _/ Ities of the country near and far, their congregations, and their
" `) j! H& F% |
2 t9 y U2 R' h: n( T' X ~/ c/ {" t4 [, U
1 O8 W& N" \1 {102 American Jewish Historical Society.
( {- N- ]) Q- Z: g k3 [+ |5 b) _: j3 p
charitable institutions, many of which owed their continued 3 t" L3 {# g% B' Q
existence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his # `" g9 F+ u! g
wise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu- 5 N) m' Z" \1 z4 C1 O/ U
tions in most distant sections of the country, would have " | @* B: h v, h5 s% h
found their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of 6 n: |* \% K6 `; M' v3 s
necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably 3 B+ S8 h/ h# J1 g) z
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be- ) t( R( u& ^" Q/ n$ W
quests, as follows :
" ^2 ^% G8 V- s& N9 M+ Y. [( G7 ~# g4 D* u% i# u
He thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where
* f' H. U- K( }: |) y" j; mhe had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to , @5 }* i4 J) S
their relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are * c1 C6 l4 u& F @
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will
5 y. G9 Q/ L, g( w# d/ Mever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in
( Q4 `' B6 N5 @9 ~his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in
. i7 N( B; o8 C/ f( t8 |: Q/ rthe day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per-
6 E. Z; L; Y; J/ n+ B M ?suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied " Y/ P+ }* o, g) M/ s5 h: \
the means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of
2 @( e. n0 F; N2 rthe new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded ) K3 V* V& P9 j" c& g
them the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the 9 _9 o( v/ |. p4 W6 F
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He
' g$ R* M$ u0 V" t% K) `thought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the , e `1 d' C5 q* p
children of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those
# E, R* R; h% y! y3 A; Iinstitutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish 0 ]+ |9 y2 x3 y& [0 C2 M+ s
religion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number-
; G, j9 v' y" ~& THe thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to ) U2 V) T4 O; g/ c q, c- |* _
glide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of 0 f$ }/ y: u( |6 s& G5 k
benevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop
# |. e0 T; g6 I8 D- u: M1 Tinto despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of
: f; R7 y+ E( k) Y. M. pIsrael, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro- 1 M& S1 H% w6 v: k
tection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far " |1 X! y5 K9 U" c t$ b9 g
West, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost % [3 p( M- v( l. I9 x X, \; y
a solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged 5 f' z4 E0 q; N. D; F* n" l
Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
) _8 J+ X8 x/ g7 d% t: t" `
% r8 P0 J7 g A8 f+ Y& T° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because 4 N$ M; e; s/ D4 N
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of 9 y; i9 r9 a" O
the various Jewish communities of the United States and their $ t7 A7 z3 L8 q% ]
institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information H+ H1 Q( o+ s4 i* n1 k" |
obtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun- 3 Y' w5 X% C* H/ N! T' E
try, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
5 I& A- r& Q' _omitted no deserving Jewish community.
0 t* V8 V' M8 x7 M; c, J b' E- a4 ]' w- j# O( b
" D1 ]: `$ B2 b5 V4 B
7 m% O+ P* t( |0 D9 [
Judah Touro — Kohler. 103
+ Y/ e$ I3 ], u6 r3 L' i7 Y; ?9 o. \/ Z" A
crated by so many wonderful events which marked our early
. O, E; S" y2 g9 `history, to them on in the deprivations to which they are
. G+ C! E1 Y1 Y: \" p, U5 esubjected. # R/ W" P# a1 \. g: j" M6 K ]
1 Z! i. T) y0 t, i
One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he
) g7 f3 J& d4 D8 j$ A5 ~should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with
. p! h% E4 e a6 [8 CSir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor- 4 q) Q6 \3 l$ [6 M
ing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish
( B5 C( X* s2 sbrethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
8 S% `) T& p" O x7 E% kish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious
8 M) k6 n" X& Jtemptation.
D8 A N+ j$ {0 C7 E y5 e/ S% v4 J) L: h3 B& o0 ^4 A
At the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile
. i5 X! h9 N4 I) a* H6 Ovied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect, }* A! P. e; x' D! g
and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport,
. n/ r! @7 r9 j. d- xEhode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were
2 }; a5 ^" U# Lattended by delegations from the numerous organizations he : h) {" ^. T+ T5 D
had so generously remembered, coming from all over the
7 A3 S v. N+ v2 N' C9 qland. By official resolution of the public authorities of
7 f6 Y4 M% q5 d: ~& H0 KNewport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy, $ i. @- M6 Z* B
his executors and all these delegations became the guests of * w: _8 t. F2 Z" s) P( v9 q& ~
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells
- r. A8 k2 K; ^0 w5 t) sof the various churches were tolled, and all places of business
! |5 I* g( F& K' s4 \2 [( bwere closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were / @/ ~2 ^1 v* T. a
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
7 w# @* w% L: a4 Lphia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew
# i% b' M. w0 H1 pYork. A project to erect a monument to his memory was 3 {# h# ?# e$ A Q* q
bitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of 1 \/ A6 M* J; i# N, g" D# c! V
Jewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans * y( `9 s3 X6 R( \* \
were named after him in order to commemorate his generous b5 c8 x. a$ @# _' P0 s6 t
philanthropy. ! l0 H! ~( L- ?' ?# l* E0 \
k3 j/ Q" ?7 b' G# D) N
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
; w6 ?/ X+ {! }; a0 Z" flowing appropriate inscription : 2 X5 q7 O; F3 E( y5 a7 x8 Y
4 ?- w1 u$ X% g1 D2 U; W4 b' C
By righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth; ( E- Z! s& Q9 t
In charity and for salvation he dispensed it. 9 e" }/ d* X# @' C8 \3 G/ w
The last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan-
! D$ k& v2 f& B: I# d$ qthropy 5 ]1 K$ S! h C8 H& i5 W9 m
To be remembered forever. / i( i, [9 Q" D5 f% i( G
9 $ S. }* d, S$ E& O: S+ f* o
0 H5 i v$ g( m% ~
3 ]( Q/ m. l% P. V: y4 P" K$ g0 @1 C( @# k5 N- n! O3 F' L
104 American Jeujish Historical Society.
& u, R2 J1 @/ o2 ^# [
6 t6 h+ j1 `" S nWILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO.
; q; W6 t$ J; \! ]7 v- `" o9 \5 u6 L5 s- X
United States of America,
0 h. L" U/ @( o/ f
~% C/ O0 z5 U& BState of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
8 o( N" J' Q$ v, ~" M1 H! _: T: e, ^3 f" U# d" X
Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of
6 J) h( |7 I+ }# iour Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence $ U. t" @6 a6 o, X L
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter ! [, h9 R8 c Z! k& j% _3 L* l
before 10 o'clock a. m..
6 ]7 c* U2 j$ P6 z% X: a1 |! r9 g7 V6 |# [% `8 p
Before me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the 5 R7 I% s) N6 T( N+ j, d
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, 4 F2 y3 e/ r) f+ ^+ x! E
and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep-
- E P+ `2 q" P" xherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re-
1 G' d' w z! x: hsiding in said city, and hereto expressly required —
; g2 k7 ?; L d0 B6 B, t* v; B5 W: z2 J. S* L0 g% [, j
Personally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant, 7 }& L, [! D' l
whom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a
. w- q+ V2 v5 n! b/ K) u% i: yroom, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but 9 ~0 D& d8 O' c6 z
sound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the ' V R! d% e- \7 @4 P$ N- Y
said Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah . \3 t/ Z' W. r
Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa-
- {9 j: V d* N G# V, U* M" ament, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in
9 F7 I2 v; I! spresence of said witnesses:
( {) d+ E, j8 b$ Y; _
( x/ H7 G% G5 n) N1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
" d: V1 A* G {" J$ P& r7 y* o" z# E K
2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
2 A( t9 a3 t. @2 ]* gCemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after
6 C2 Z0 i! [& F0 d6 Z1 D ]3 C7 _my decease.
4 X# I* W2 M5 C% r% [3 z; K) t% F! G: ^
3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends
7 P6 W" [% I. L+ k# yRezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of * e+ C+ o1 |1 J" `- R
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre
" H" a* l _ nAndre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu-
5 \6 C/ X5 U8 v9 L, e0 s0 I2 htors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- ; e) h" H3 y$ w% r1 X6 h
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said
1 Q/ E: M- e2 g2 v7 U ?: N# S! _Aaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre
7 ?" q* w6 ?1 q" Y. {! yDestrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the
9 w' j) Z+ {3 V( Y) Rsum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively, 8 J# t q, w8 m
not only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but
/ u" J. s6 y$ D. W0 K+ Nalso as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto,
% G0 z, B! i2 E- P% drendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
) ?9 F( q" t" f3 h4 Hbe entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors
: V( A$ I- w7 nas aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say
1 V0 m9 c4 R; \9 t* h: j+ A* Zmy dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom, 3 s# p0 B7 z. D9 ?
under Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva- ' |, L; A1 r1 Q- b" F! A, c" B' x
tion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815,
$ ^% w- ?/ ^) {6 a% a W
6 ` G$ V* y a+ r4 j9 P1 Q0 c
- a% T6 v' j, n$ K& ]0 ~3 |: j9 j5 J3 w: @; C
Judah Touro — Eohler. 105 ' \$ U: R+ D$ E1 i- }1 {2 A1 U- Y
3 z- M$ k B* T
I hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep- # t/ W, N h: u6 R- a( m1 @* Z8 d
herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts * `9 A7 y, z- b, w. }) h
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of
% }( _( w N1 e. ?' D7 D+ x4 Smy estate, movable and immovable. + m: ]/ q M; J; {
4 p4 h4 X6 M8 H# u& f8 c; M
In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more 0 p! [7 G7 i) ]- S+ P3 {6 S" k
of my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor
8 Q9 ~7 a$ Q% Z1 q- Uor Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last # O* p2 X, S! b- R7 @& b
will; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more + ~8 ]7 ~6 s p9 f* r* ]: Y
of my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that ! p* c g& z7 P: R7 m: C! Q
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of
- l/ G' Q- u4 q9 {, }those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in- 1 g! K0 h. c0 Z) s2 ~7 r' K8 y, U
herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made % |- d/ Z) f( h5 \& R
to them. ' I& z, l: l/ C5 g+ q
# U9 o9 W/ p2 z$ w4 n5 O- K
4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in
' G& h2 u) o$ @: @force at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until 1 F5 w* M- K/ n" t2 A* Y$ E3 H
the same shall have expired. . p# m# J8 x. l) ?1 |
N: O! J' K( W, h1 B
5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of
# `6 Z7 ^/ D# k4 F2 {0 dwhich I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner - e" X/ @" L8 Z0 [4 X: G( }
directed by this my last will or testament.
1 `0 B8 O6 z) }+ ~1 \% ?# S- P) i; R% J* n: U9 N7 e! U
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
4 S1 F1 _, i/ ~) ~$ P' ppersed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain + t$ p2 Y' c% H; O3 ]# w- V- A
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
) w- l4 V5 U' j7 w3 _Synagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of
7 N& B# w! w+ n. a1 L! M& Jthe said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from " \' E" h* N5 R, p: H
the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
4 _! D8 L5 t9 b/ u, r0 X2 Ethe two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David
$ F0 U" F+ s. M* C% T+ O# e/ R; cUrquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found-
& T6 W( @9 R& t- i0 `ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con- ( U+ ~; H; j- s2 e5 x
gregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
3 I8 j9 p, N- p1 O7 R5 S( P2 DReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by " _$ j i5 @2 H4 e! ^/ Z2 m* F' I
my said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re- 3 T3 D+ |9 A1 u+ K! e
strictions.
' ]) ^; e8 `% b, V s: p5 u
, f! c y1 }" D: N& C7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New
! d. |2 L0 }, M8 WOrleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession
% n! b y& {! _) O) s) Tsale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building
: u4 D8 D; h/ t1 pnow known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con-
( l( O: E- Q+ ttemplated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
" j3 D2 {* G/ h9 z7 t1 A3 B# I3 witable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex-
2 f' R0 M/ R) {( p/ Jecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them # Z: c R; A0 i+ ?2 K/ o$ g% a4 b
conformably with the laws of Louisiana. % |) x3 H1 ^$ z5 Y" r8 G( [. O
4 i3 R4 g, C' z. p% N) r
8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of 1 ^- y9 x' @1 R3 A/ k; D* [
New Orleans five thousand dollars.
6 f; U( E/ ~ v! I3 c- [/ c( Z! H- }4 t% J5 v) _8 ?; G" C
9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- : P+ Q2 s" [# Y. t- Q% s0 F
garai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars. ) O" F, ~0 u5 I4 M9 ]( t
8 [' d2 K8 Q( H& _" _
# Z7 B) @. q$ n+ _; l) |
% v# d& C# Q9 l' X106 American Jewish Historical Society. ; i+ b/ `+ M4 a7 ?4 ]7 |) ~0 ^8 u
3 j% L/ Y* h* `( \6 _- F
10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of ) |4 Q: C' I% ~) s
New Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars.
' |$ n: B5 q6 l* g
2 ^: T! ]% ~+ U11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society / I& @/ R v) X& b5 o/ D1 D
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. ' B0 K6 t8 |' k
7 S( ?- J0 l( ]7 k
12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New
+ Z( D: p2 ~: w3 y, }. T% r5 UOrleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. # q, y6 K9 e' [7 {
; ~4 z* w1 t) p: _/ x
13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti-
3 K6 z t( H% c7 B% _% m4 l, f1 ttute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars. 5 ^* b% p2 W* \3 ]
. s: W \2 m6 q1 V9 V14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
3 R& R% F! r4 C/ Eof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol-
. |- O* l$ V6 B0 \/ slars. 8 c# _( e4 A) \
! A4 M' |7 O, s# I! W& T+ q15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan 8 G! u& W. L: Z+ s4 t- x
Asylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou-
& N( _6 A% V) l" X. D2 W2 _sand dollars. 1 q1 D1 f; B7 l) V0 S! b0 s
( g( Z/ h/ ~2 k1 z* P: H% {* b
16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy-
) j6 p0 d) l+ s# y4 V! M5 @lum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is 8 ^" x; }% S6 P+ `1 T) K6 b. L9 S
chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand
$ S" ]2 |3 @& g/ M8 gdollars. ; R+ Y8 @5 l$ R6 A# e* p; I" ]1 L
' l6 b2 ?5 o, ]8 L+ g17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans, 7 q" U( o/ C$ z) ~" \8 Y
five thousand dollars.
) p( ^8 f p9 Q6 d) }! G9 m
+ B5 ], b. B% m# `; {0 h8 [6 a _18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa-
& X, f6 p. x0 z3 ition " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. 3 ?0 b9 E5 p Q: c; J$ v
$ I0 J1 k0 l4 r2 F( L6 V19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
3 p/ Z: l! ~, S! h1 v0 y0 oDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
: }! p* @, X- M1 r! c q( O' R. I( K+ b: J! G2 l: s& x
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an
/ z# F/ s& p' h( [" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of
9 E% l: \, D: T) [ ocontributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity 2 V, y( j8 f/ q! E& C
in said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000)
" y" c; Z+ A& L- T' q5 dand I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be
, ^6 R7 I" l* E7 b' l: Sorganized according to law; and further, it is my desire that 3 C/ q% `- S. Q
after my executors shall have legally organized and established
; a& A1 B5 y; qsaid contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to 4 Y1 p: G& r2 m \
administer and control the direction of its affairs, then such per-
9 E3 @ k, l& H9 @ e I, Hsons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con- 9 \2 G6 p5 O! k J+ V) @, X* K
jointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc- $ Q# o3 ^9 B( R. c) f
cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control ! I3 ^/ t3 s% X/ X2 ?5 G% r* C
thereof.
' s# @9 p, @& ?7 G* B! @! [" T* d9 a* ?- U6 J6 E
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of ; S! N& M/ }$ x6 d/ G5 h) G
Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ! p5 q; T9 _& F7 y0 X6 c
the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the 7 y' n$ g5 ~. [
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept 4 [4 e( l1 g/ n2 H
as a public park or promenade ground.
) n) Z+ n" S/ p+ T5 R, J% q& |" a3 g. y7 N8 z
22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport 9 O l( ?' K* u( b; ?
aforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars. , m1 \. t6 X7 p6 ]3 G3 b: s
' U" q) b3 M3 g5 D0 f% V
! w8 f. B5 P5 G( z% P) C, G
f% J+ L/ x8 A( O% z% n
Judah Touro — Kohler. 107
' W/ W j! ]+ w H2 o5 ~7 b, g* U6 w# q0 M1 G1 N
23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay ; r. }/ F# Q# D
Shalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars.
* r. W& B. l" I z2 j3 K, O# l4 _4 g, @& [
24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart- : `1 r) `4 o# u
ford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. 4 a! }/ ~( a' J* a; i; ]1 g
4 `7 q1 ]6 O' h& m$ b' c0 ^* S25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New 9 ^# u6 z% b# e& ~8 O0 y
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
9 C7 j; I2 z2 Y+ G$ I( N. q" U2 O0 E
26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society,
N& |2 P- W1 L2 ?, G; ffor the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and + P2 u) E7 N/ W
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent), - I5 w: g+ V- {4 k
ten thousand dollars. ; n" g0 i' o, `
: J% V" U- t, k2 n
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir
3 D9 H0 D: y G3 ~Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to
( a8 P! ^2 {4 P' Qameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in 8 `) L ?3 O$ Y! x$ \! O
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of / s" H9 O- X8 O t: n: C1 D3 c# C
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without
3 m5 `; ]9 C+ a5 O0 kmolestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou- # K _2 o! A! W( r% U! W
sand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through * k) k% T, J6 o6 i2 c; i
the said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise, : J, w( o/ W+ K6 J& a# E
as best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of $ a, d+ ^9 p9 _6 o! n( p' _
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry- 8 c9 E) E0 y% Z7 y+ B
ing said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and 6 y' ~) N: q' J, M5 h" {9 I
in that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
6 K# A1 G- U4 r Abe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the
/ x. n/ K! U# w; u# @City of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri-
% j( t& q6 D) b6 m6 @! \can Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine,
h2 D# ]4 z& F' \2 F5 r% w% Xof the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this 9 ]8 ~, A1 j* M* F* Z
my last will.
% v1 P8 r3 e# M& g
. e' }9 n4 D x. V28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I
! s' Q- |4 ~, e3 Y) Chave already alluded in making this will, as well as those to
/ l7 s/ R9 f( F7 o' b0 i( swhich in the further course of making this will, I shall refer, ( y# g6 T3 H% Q3 i
shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them ; X: o& I% H! n! y
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and 9 G- J+ T3 `/ o$ {0 i# `
thereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
4 Z0 J' U% x% F s; N. C& J# rdesire that the parties interested in such institutions and my a& y( k3 l0 ?: u) l
executors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de- / {1 e8 Z, W% P
cease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
+ ^% D4 z- M. V; |inherit in the premises according to my wishes. 8 Q6 t- N$ D; N/ j6 Y1 I3 [
$ c4 Y- S( j$ X* V* f29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the ' L6 s" ^- ?2 T0 I
City and State of New York twenty thousand dollars.
: _: q8 e' O8 _/ n- L( F) d
1 ?7 u' U; X0 @; a% {1 A30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
, s& e" c, q. C* V+ M" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars. 6 T3 \: w/ S8 O2 L1 O% g
1 W q& Z4 _0 T2 K
31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
* }: z% ^. H2 c0 Q0 s" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars. 4 y' s1 E8 n- _
8 N! W5 }& E$ ]( m: W6 B8 X8 ~% u/ I8 ~! A5 m6 ?
7 \% X% t: x* `& y, W; l# i$ q" E% e) q
108 American Jewish Historical Society.
_, r( \; v3 z' `5 O& W' y) a
, N6 G! h3 J6 O7 a" @32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund r% a; p# E# D# Q" [
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the ' E/ g7 [& m! m% c
City of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand $ A: f0 C5 d0 N- M6 G% o
dollars. # {4 b' w# \; ~$ Y1 C
7 h1 n$ b; I% e9 h33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
8 z5 }5 H, W: b8 n4 Abrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York,
& C! g* w a) q3 }the sum of three thousand dollars.
! k' p6 v5 @! g" P- Y |3 o6 m7 r# H, r
34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
9 l! B* d+ Z2 B% C: E1 fgarai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. . P/ w1 I" o) {& u# F( t
6 y. n+ b: O' N; A* g5 ~35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of 7 ~# W; F( l& a
the City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was 1 S# }& R! F3 q0 P
a directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B. & }2 x$ e! h3 M) p, Y, }0 @
Kursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars. " I$ j% m$ q) c5 w* O2 c
- v+ v; \& a# T. M36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- ; q% W( i, R( _* y
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- 1 Q7 x6 u5 E0 S+ l( G: H
lars.
0 m" K: U4 t$ _) t/ j+ x# p: p5 J/ |+ ]0 Y& u
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of & u! J" v. L) [( u# u4 v
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars. , H6 x1 U' s6 T8 t
) ^5 w. W' C- Y5 b+ H7 D! ]38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- ; g- |# T. u; a
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars.
5 w! n- {. ? L) }
: b7 j U: P2 @& A7 A! Z8 s39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat
2 b7 L. }8 r; ] M9 JIsrael," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars. 2 N* o6 ?5 l g" \9 t( H
$ s3 O6 K& `1 A% Z40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth
( X( f: D2 T5 CShalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars.
- k" s" T. N" ?+ x- ~( |$ v+ S4 m: ~* f
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith 3 E0 R( D! j# i* S2 |# C
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand
: k5 Z$ B2 W/ idollars. . t6 w# I+ c* ^# z
* c! {" X: J, p( y+ J V' a% a* d
42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- * r/ O* _# g( f* C, T: x0 @
garai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. / {& M3 p+ m0 J7 g/ y4 y
1 {. k, i9 Q. u5 @5 ^
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
. l' S. Z, ~% F( Y( uIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars.
4 h3 N7 E" p- T- ~. H) H. X5 z0 }* H5 ?$ X: x# B
44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont- # `; w1 M2 L: l: j7 |# n
gomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars.
, h, B" H* k% c+ G* q* t- T6 c i* u- ^: n5 _$ k
45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem- 1 ~7 h2 a1 z1 J# Y+ F- W
phis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars.
4 O7 F% b0 l' D( t
2 u/ p& c3 R$ o1 ^. E5 @! ^4 x+ z4 F46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas
) q. S5 g$ I! H1 A- eIsrael," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
* i& S, L. J0 P2 Y0 \9 p* D u7 ?
% n& U: Y- ~0 o; j& D6 _+ @$ k47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is- 6 h4 R( h. q: E- s/ W' w5 j
rael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars. 0 @) E Y) J/ n5 }7 t
" d3 g5 C4 D* f: ]; B5 N$ C, x, f48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo- 3 V6 \, E# J: ]: W4 ^. g
dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars.
6 I5 Q, x8 s% t; A9 j
; r6 b0 A2 i r& \" ?: l49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati, ! F, a v0 T" r7 h9 U
Ohio, five thousand dollars. 5 B" s& p$ k' {' N" p% W5 \# ]
% O8 t0 j2 q0 k0 G, `7 A+ t2 T' ~: z- @- J5 x6 ?7 u/ z
" H4 n8 [- u0 X
Judah Touro — Kohler. 109 & H) Y( F3 O; f, i
2 u2 w6 _8 R, O* H4 B" C( m50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth 0 }- m0 u% W$ W3 l2 P) U
Israel," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
- f+ H! m& N3 }, t# _: m. f4 C0 ^% u3 M+ V! n1 i/ s% G
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai
$ U( Y3 V6 _9 B5 U' a. N, e4 l: M% `El," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars. : i& C0 C/ V7 X3 }9 @! C
# p8 _ M! q! ^* O
52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El,"
/ J6 n) `; V- Z, X" mof Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars. ( P2 M. u+ `0 t
0 q, ]) a5 k5 R. N; x: K- e9 u) d53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth
1 t/ F+ `0 d ` ^' MEl," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars. $ n/ q6 z9 r1 m2 S- C& S3 i
* H8 E( _6 s- A: ~2 k) \
54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions,
! `, e0 e3 c% L; ^named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra-
( _( c! J, Z6 y. e2 pham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: ' c M: N6 I4 V, C' S- \+ u% r R. D
4 d) H/ p H+ c
First, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
2 Z+ `% g X0 A2 g8 l' ~1 S5 kfive thousand dollars.
7 F+ ?; r& _0 @8 I
+ |0 M! \- `5 c( |! Z- bSecond. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, - R% |; h8 R( z; \: c/ v
five thousand dollars. ! S" M9 a2 E2 I7 d. O
7 A: t% W, z* ^6 V
Third. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- 9 m4 s i3 T. r1 z2 b
sand dollars.
) g! T2 ^3 R. |2 [0 g$ U$ {: d6 e
9 y3 |- }; M1 D; c9 K7 |' ^55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of ) t. v; m& |& N! p
paying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew-
. Y- o# L3 z! \ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min- ) x( Z" X+ I K( Y2 D6 \- X0 o
istry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the + e/ t) w* ]- Q/ \& { K8 S6 g1 a
Jewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be ; j! G: Y( b( y7 t4 A
appropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner - j) E. y4 G1 M) C4 f3 q
as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
; E' q# Y+ A. }: h% Eof Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire, + H/ ?8 x, t. C2 w t+ @" f- s) K7 `
that David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed ' q/ K! V; `% |7 u* N7 f0 q% O
friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should # S4 F% f$ \/ @/ Q
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
) `% `# q7 d0 T. Gthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
9 k9 i O; r1 {of services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the % w* n- }3 i! f+ C
sum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them,
" `4 @! w( T) C" rthe said David and said Nathan H. Gould. 8 d5 @' C" C) _% y, t: s# K
$ N5 W( b8 W$ Y4 K: l1 }; d56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine 2 `5 r8 e! v2 i4 g& I
Hays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind
e8 w9 N( E. [remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me. 0 N2 \1 z" J! ]2 ~
j6 E/ \4 `; y. K: q, N
57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and , H3 \4 \! i! u& z" }0 {% @& o6 u, T
Julia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of ' ~& n' k! U, \$ \: ~
Richmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be
+ x3 B5 U9 r; Y" _: @" wequally divided between them. ( F' ]% i: e7 R, g1 p9 k
# b2 k5 g3 N- {6 }# F58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to + R) W) A5 M) a# l
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond,
1 N* p- v1 K- ]) HVirginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my
7 o2 R% H) i- }8 `remembrance.
3 a# @: a) y l# V: C3 |4 ]8 D$ w8 R, `1 _
3 J% G: a5 w7 B! Y- f
, p) U1 A- B1 s e+ @! H" N110 American Jewish Historical Society.
- H4 |+ s$ |% \6 |0 j/ U
' Y$ o0 y# y- {$ P* w. T) n2 H59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing,
) v2 v: r. b/ L. z+ Xof Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
- u% _/ c7 u P/ i3 L. O% Smy esteem and kind remembrance. 5 z+ U2 A z0 |, S4 d
; q$ V* d. g4 }. C( Y( l# S" X
60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 3 E7 [; k5 |( }# Q
my respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a
3 X9 F/ m( g7 b$ C/ ptoken of my regard.
3 z1 E( P$ l) K; [% d, _
0 P1 D) b( g5 D8 f7 x; f. T61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
4 }) y. [ O5 `! V$ w) }; ?my friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
5 l3 b: q+ k/ [$ m% g) T' swife, to be equally divided between them.
5 B2 U; W" D B D6 k. }, v
) ^ ?5 J3 h6 p3 Z: `, a62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to 4 k; m4 D8 i3 Y7 H3 n
my friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of 4 u" u* a( H) x3 I. s
my remembrance. g$ h7 s/ ]5 ^9 h& t5 i
/ s$ J, [" [. l' [/ ?0 S1 u' h. Q, ^63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire, {1 J6 x3 g; A1 ^4 M/ s2 F" t
of Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex-
x$ e0 O1 C; F- }9 _ `ecutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol- 1 l+ R& A: d7 c* h3 x6 p
lars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
0 P( q! s* R x6 G: ] I3 V2 \& nof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind ) v6 B' o& l& x) H: m6 M! l
regard. 6 j& M w1 n# w; w0 o% b
4 A) p5 n& s3 W* D! t
64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, ! O" C7 d }6 `6 ~1 ]
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable 1 A5 e P# H! o9 ]: ^9 R" y {
memorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, 3 ]# I2 {: A4 n4 R7 j
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city.
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4 ^8 u; |7 X% p2 E& E: _7 r- q7 x65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars 2 q5 b0 K1 X" M: m1 O
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
1 V* Q* Q6 t Z7 w) Cmemorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of
( D% V% s) V. B, s: \9 ?Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans. 8 b$ R4 Z9 q5 y+ V: b
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66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have % {5 _! { K9 r/ z& h7 C
made previously to these presents. , T) u- p# |' W) x1 k
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Thus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to 0 d5 V2 Z9 X4 F& I4 V2 A- z/ `
me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses
0 G9 F6 M. Y0 z2 f Zherein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the
- ~7 @, O0 e, G, H$ m$ Dsame, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own 4 _: S/ b8 Y1 h+ z; S9 ]
proper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this
& r! C: {8 i$ P8 H( ^2 |# L6 ytestament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- , k0 e# Y9 z. W, `* T C
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same
3 ^8 f$ p c/ U8 \8 O, J8 ]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- 7 R( w! }, j; @9 Z' G7 F
ing aside to other acts.
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" f$ ]+ L! l! J/ j. rThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the
+ o/ d; u5 q9 L N* x" j( h; Asaid residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and 8 H: l9 X% C E# s' S# {* W/ K
year first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan 5 T5 Q t5 `1 y% e# i5 `/ Z
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, / \! f$ h4 R, n
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, B. ~, H( V. {# t i8 L6 M
Judah Touro — Kohler. Ill
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: V- Q [9 Y+ b$ L6 E/ V8 oall three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said . u S- h. j$ p z! d# m
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their ' q4 k7 {6 Y* _0 R8 R
names. (Signed.)
0 _7 G; t p: t& x* L( w& f! Q6 H Q
J. TOUEO, 7 g7 P2 N! X/ i! G1 d
) `( M2 K1 O8 L+ f' |' dJ. Montgomery, 1 s9 I8 l% N: }! ^5 g& ?+ f: i p
" Z2 R8 Z0 v4 f! u; X& c. gH. Shepherd, Jr.,
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Geo. W. Lee, J: ]( ?& R( `" ^* o: A
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Thos. Latton, Notary Puilic. 8 X# a: L9 M- X2 f1 [! D
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+ F, A' U4 Y: ?4 K7 Z4 a
+ L2 Q0 Q) O3 {LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS
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