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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND * \# c. A% L$ f) X2 u* C* p/ H
PHILANTHROPIST.
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, i( K) k" i1 u! O$ v; s$ t3 j: yBy max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. - @$ p$ S6 r0 [+ n- s# f+ H
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) {3 ?4 b( Z" v# \- e. A; J/ tReprinted from ' ~5 N( d U7 U6 b& p6 _6 Z
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Publications of the : N' A3 O+ T ?: @
( r8 }5 @7 v1 A$ L( _. uAmerican Jewish Historical Socibtt,
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3 Q; E( ~/ Q8 L$ H2 n: @No. 13, 1905.
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND / B# A d C( j" c4 Y) o: N& B8 f
PHILANTHROPIST. 4 d. [. a" j2 H V2 H Y8 [0 U
+ z0 f0 ~( T z9 WBy Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B.
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It is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak 5 {0 ?# F* @# e% d; H/ N: i
Touro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings,
d& t& \. Y, e. y7 @1 a( J9 u6 dnor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the ; u! E$ c8 _' u8 B5 y" H- k& e0 Y
name, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating ) C# L: S- y7 z- P
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- ! n; u7 o" l$ ]4 ~9 R
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 5 j: l$ z% q0 m; s3 ^
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's * ` a: P: x0 V5 k
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring
: l6 O" b/ b$ D9 n# d0 O- hthe very name of one who would probably by common consent $ Y1 a5 U, @8 E* y, Q
be singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the
9 v4 E& ]! K* I$ e1 U9 V+ Tfirst half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the ; y4 D! q& N( z3 K; U- W
relations between the investigations of local historical socie- 4 F. T6 Z" d. c" [
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account
% r9 y B/ B3 J$ r! X/ ifor the general historian's neglect of an individual's career,
( j2 {+ C% ~9 W% ?0 u( k4 Q4 ~' yignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such
3 w% J" C( x. }4 t ^4 i& X& Fspecialized investigations as our own, that the general his- . L5 ~. o- u1 d5 D% T8 E% [
torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi-
& H8 g7 ^- f. fvidual in his general histories, particularly if the man in
9 k: Z% S) F) x j' B( I" v) cquestion did not figure prominently in the political or mili- ! G" H o |6 S$ T
tary history of his . 1 c; h# i4 Q" T
3 y; U! T8 N1 mA couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written
7 ]1 }) H( o' _) a: J- ^% Lwithin a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by , x, G, W$ M9 c: J
non-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis-
( h1 i3 ?, b# `+ r1 k$ D0 [% wfactory authorities on his career and tend to show in what 0 z1 }* W( d3 |) R/ J9 b6 I
high regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
! x$ z( H# n( H7 iWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal
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' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer-
) E, r5 [+ Q. _& b) Y; w schants," published in 1856.
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% I- \* C; T/ j94 American Jewish Historical Society.
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8 C( ~" z' q& o" u" Dreminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol- ( w6 O% ] p( W' C# V, r, O
lections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or- , O/ x- v6 {, ~& \4 B
leans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information;
1 U6 u2 t. w) t2 W, b4 |1 bthough few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be 1 s# N4 o8 X* M8 S8 }
likely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog-
% D1 P7 h& m5 q* a: m9 lraphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary
" D# z/ b! E/ o9 @0 J: }/ Csketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal 7 x1 _9 P& m8 N, l. b* J
reminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago % o) l1 o; J7 N& w g& m7 t
are for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant. * S5 v+ z: t2 r( g3 s0 ~" v
Judah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known
, X; ~1 m$ s& b6 Tin his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy
8 t! r t$ x& K5 e5 z7 M( xand early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his
7 S' |" T. v$ h! ?6 E* [% O/ ?maturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no 7 s( b/ k7 w; `$ y
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and / \% P) B1 ^2 S/ l: N
more than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
6 w1 c9 ?) A2 ^3 v: Aand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish
% x: b# X* N+ G# S( Pname in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh 0 h: b* [# Y, }4 ?
unprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic ; h6 p0 p+ A9 x$ W2 C. Z
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com-
5 K7 b4 x8 y+ qmunities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore
2 n8 ^% o! [, p6 m8 D8 himpossible, in view of the small and humble means at their + O" i9 q/ c X! w- _8 W" I2 h
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the
8 A8 [; X' a% }, A& ifoundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
8 F' P J- O; y! N Dsince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry. ! y1 X( \+ K. d2 g# Q ~
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Judah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
2 w; Y& P6 I0 T1 [16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum-
; m9 a* z- C* `5 astance that his individual career thus began with that of his
* ~& K$ w* R. i5 \% }7 ~0 Nbeloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min- 3 K3 v; G, C) e0 `
ister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption
! r0 H: @7 }8 k- [$ e" mof activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by # m% j# W+ D& x0 A* ~
the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme-
! u$ }, \- L( ] B$ htery being more than a century older, and concerning whose
, s0 O8 x1 M3 Q9 ^6 u2 `career our society has already published various items.^ Isaac
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! g$ q( ~4 N6 S1 d' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854.
! e/ } ?! w$ b5 r' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew- 2 J- w" z+ U4 ^; X3 P
ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas-
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Gift
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Judah Touro — Koliler. 95 4 A* ` Z# t, {7 M' N
) u) w! D: d. `Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays,
: ]' q) j7 _7 L4 O! C3 e: v0 G8 qin 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and 2 q$ G. Q$ A/ h( j5 R. [; l1 w
Eebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and + k: d3 t% E! F
died in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem-
6 o8 A3 k( ^; T+ u1 l5 a# u! n" ybers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city $ \3 |% b/ u" N' e
during the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de- 9 n: A8 A/ a5 h7 y
parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December . x7 D$ @, k4 O: d
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country, # l% l& M: ]; K7 {
and became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays, & |* N. j1 q! a, B# _
brother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead-
- b2 w* h: Y/ P; g; Ping merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
& j+ F9 q, G' \3 pber 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays, ( [# w" r9 A# L: v6 z
Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely 3 s7 @1 g3 i& Y3 R
those principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood
5 B8 C Y, C. S4 athem in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
, s9 P+ a: C8 A, K8 ~! ] Oalso brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
# X1 p$ Y3 r5 Q6 S4 Onent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views : C8 x+ ?& x* _3 W6 m" T/ [
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac-
5 W$ p4 N3 } |+ f* vcompanying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays * q6 V9 i( G/ a6 A t
was an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the 7 l- K4 o( p- \# W
patriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
! `1 y4 j/ ^/ u- W: x4 WMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the
& \( b0 e$ D, m3 h+ C! Z- _" Pfirst American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist,
D/ \' q) N$ A- Iwhile such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition-
# \- R- W8 }: i6 [0 |ist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these
( O, Z5 q) d9 R, L, v4 O7 Kearly associations can probably be traced the sentiments which ; W3 p% c4 n+ ~# [! f/ N$ P8 Z; w6 k
induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase
1 W' ~0 m7 ?! B" p( i" [slaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and . y% I% a; D" f) V
Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and " Y c- d4 N9 U3 W
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trow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid.,
! w) K: @+ r' |No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No.
' ~. P. u7 C/ Y) m) o8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport
- s, ?+ G# \3 `9 W# ^! m( Aand New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
x# e$ s* n4 [, y1 J$ v) {4 S( bof Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New- 2 f! [* w+ k2 U; x: H4 W/ H
port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105; ' `. ]/ z% ~, s$ v
Rev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews." / H- `0 R* b) l+ x& r7 l% f
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96 American Jewish Historical Society.
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commercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in
3 n" b. Y' U- Q0 K/ C: v2 j1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with. C5 m4 @2 O( B& K1 q" S/ x/ X
a valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean. " b% x! _- b9 b
The voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
1 ^1 j$ f% C* i+ g: qvessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com- " K; u5 x+ n) C4 p2 m' b
mercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad- ) g& S p5 m9 U. R: U
vised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a ' u6 P7 i9 Z1 p. j, d! F$ {! A
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after
' @2 d) ]0 ]9 }. g' ]4 P( b( Ua voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends s" n( k1 Y& |, e- b4 S3 D' \
knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg- * f( B3 p, m$ L& ~, p( T( {
ment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they
" u# H/ q* K4 y% ]# bmade to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in B# C1 [3 n2 r/ B9 o) i& E
New Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- 0 P3 m+ W2 q2 H M
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New-
4 ~' z f- f+ L# Y3 sport," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts ' s& ?/ \! e3 J# F5 M2 E$ v
into six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library & k! q' ?) d O. { p# c0 `/ Q8 }4 r
from the collections of the distinguished historian, George
) A5 s+ Y( A& w. |+ @) rBancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah
2 b }" B( |5 ~6 ~Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham-
+ ?0 r E. U9 w4 {" j. X/ U6 A5 splain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws & d; _1 v2 d& E* I- @8 \$ Z1 ^
light on the scope of his business dealings. . k8 M% T: a. j" M" z' ]& `' V. M# {
x1 R4 l/ ?3 \5 Y- uTradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for 2 }: C) R1 Q8 {! F5 K) p3 p
his cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their 2 f+ W# o+ {" K" `4 q
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re- $ S X9 j9 C" C8 Z" y
mained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va.,
, f8 U4 ?: g J! @" ?and died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January,
) I4 D" X. ~9 b1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very
) G2 b6 S4 Y/ q' V+ v$ {5 Hmonth in ignorance of her death. ( J/ p1 t9 [0 k8 e% k/ k3 [1 c
. `( b- d; D7 x$ sAbraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos-
# d: Y7 y2 Z% Y5 a0 Dton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an 1 X r4 Q0 W8 n7 F! g" s
accident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his
( t' z" T; @, y x) p$ Y1 o- `1 \especial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New-
& f" g) v$ o, W0 X" v* K* G! [port, though the Jewish community of that town had been ) U% C4 Q5 w, L1 N7 x; A- o
scattered long before. Two years previously he had caused , J- F& O7 I) `8 }, W
a substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for
* _9 P, q$ n3 S! S T' A+ t+ ywhich he made further provision by his will, which contained 5 g2 n+ X$ e) B) _0 l. }0 L
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Judah Touro — K older . 97 6 o+ \0 A/ I8 ~/ n
0 N! m$ x/ _/ s6 X$ w. Y0 \a number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston - G# R5 Y m* O4 {1 k( }; k1 z+ |/ Q( E
institutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
! ]9 X4 f( ?' zNewport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly
& f8 d2 [- A1 o- p2 Fto the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog- ' u) d0 [+ ~) k+ e
nizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly. : l* `7 |( w9 S% o% F# N" a
) ^ \5 g+ c( I6 H7 k- ]% ZEeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot-
( R8 R. A7 Q8 t; }4 E5 o% lically recognized the claims of his country upon him during / O* b3 \9 y2 I' z; a" L" N6 `
the War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests,
( N3 a8 j: I* K1 P5 P/ Ein order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or- 4 S5 y) C+ ^6 n1 Z( G9 @$ R
leans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun-
3 K) n; V" W& L% a- Gteered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of
+ e1 e/ q* P% sthe American batteries during a British cannonade, and while
E! \9 W8 i! ~0 j6 V7 iin the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve- ! c4 w0 C4 K1 J! q2 F% \
pound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that
- g4 D# }1 h& ^: Y* m4 j: ~he was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D. 9 ?/ x2 J. o- C0 c
Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians 7 C7 S$ n6 H2 i' @2 y0 O2 {
had abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death
9 ?+ v* p. {3 ~6 k; }: twas great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later * Q# l' v1 c* v
Judah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of + E" t3 }+ p! w! {! v3 a& W
Shepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi-
0 v2 e2 t/ e6 S2 R: @: `dence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep- 9 k( X; X7 h# k' k) U
herd had independent means of his own, he treated this large / x+ K8 o+ R0 S+ R' T* S% o% i2 M' G: F
bequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes, 4 b; U5 b+ K$ e9 }
so that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
) t: z2 A4 f$ N2 V# tscribed in the will itself. . b5 A( N2 _" i) t, @
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Judge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred
8 d& D4 a7 a( o' P7 bto, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began
7 R$ S: X9 D# p7 |4 Ua brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other
/ k" w* S1 N; U8 w4 b6 pexports of New England, making prompt returns to his
7 }9 I( t; c6 ]; O( t$ Vfriends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man-
6 V& ]0 w w: S: T4 q8 Y4 gagement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
: Z, c% i7 y3 H# K: s* a% v7 i' w0 Gvessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and
9 M) A/ d" G s7 S# B" `2 O$ E9 Gmany ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain
, c* L6 }' ~2 X, O9 C7 ^( W- Mcargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his : m5 T6 t/ m; w' B7 N7 f( F
funds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in ; S' F8 B8 j& {- B! F! g
ships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His 0 N, [1 k5 [/ U, s. F
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$ i2 n* H7 j9 q2 Hcareer as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and
! I) M) J1 P* `" \0 U4 Mstem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em- + c( ?# Q6 \# r3 M) h
barking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn-
1 k4 @: ^' h# b! b0 c' w9 U) n) Ning aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to
% o. t$ O; ?% d: E3 y- |3 c3 k) dthe cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents & i3 z2 R. i& z; A0 s
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock. $ t7 N! B# c2 `
His neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day
( Z8 |* q) G/ o; u& K4 f& U& j4 P {& Kby his movements. In his business he rarely employed more . I9 Y( B" @2 i
than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus-
/ {3 z# F2 O4 q6 ^8 Ytom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset.
9 q: q. A1 X: G. ]He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well ! ?( I9 a: O) j- \- J
arranged that there was no possibility of any misunder- 4 S. Y* ]6 t9 Q" v, R4 I% N
standing. - E2 j% b& ~, A0 r
/ }, Q0 N7 X5 K0 QIt is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was
7 g, O& p. A; t; z& |devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of ( B# S' |. d' K
age, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to
3 `3 K# o4 M" d! |7 d: Y% U- Pwork the maximum of good in every instance, that has made 1 Z' b* s1 Q0 s+ B
his name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro-
2 F# P( ?8 f' A7 Cpists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for- " D: K( a5 J1 g
tunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, 0 m8 ~6 U6 ^6 Y4 t O
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not-
4 J D7 B3 T7 nwithstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that & U4 l. I: U, v. I
his whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
' \, H R/ ~4 S8 X, _& ythropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New 9 c6 D1 K v& @+ g( v
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
/ f2 s+ ~; ^3 @9 U& v+ Gviously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who
( T& [1 A& v& d/ h# _5 m" bhad won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than
0 z/ r- ^5 J5 |* qthat which the most successful merchant, the most daring 1 g* ], _" q- f/ L4 w
warrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw 4 C9 B# z; {4 q' M- G0 _ I6 R
him in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra-
: E( U# S; |; C) o5 R4 wtions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little " V' K& A5 t2 Y) \/ T7 T
of the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble + A6 \( T' V4 V1 o. M! z
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to
: L% _5 i, [/ H( z* ]: O- xglide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his ) C2 ?/ \; ^+ d
hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his 5 X7 |( f2 V7 q2 o
homely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
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Judah Toiiro — Kohler. 99 / L( b. B$ b! W, S9 X3 X
7 G$ B d t+ i/ Q, L" k/ u* \6 Jpression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, : b. b. j- f. c' k
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali-
- C$ P, V; U G \1 fties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a 1 ~4 r/ g1 I$ d* M* ^
whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn
* T- O4 M* x$ Yaside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to , W0 ^$ D J/ n h7 E! k4 s
bewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a / k0 s+ e7 m0 W: v/ \
millionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death # I$ y9 Y I$ n. w' d E6 F
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who / r4 H0 P: K' P
does his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large $ X. U* _4 y. R4 L# ]2 ]5 h; u- }
wealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the 1 A/ p* X7 w6 I7 m- d5 B8 B% f
reward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi- ' B% ^5 g% N# ]
cence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a
* C/ {& A" e) O% `splendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise 9 L7 E% k8 m' H2 L/ y. e7 M& l
' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall ; F" _" q9 y) c) M+ L3 ]
return to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake, 9 K, e' `* i% e# e& Z
were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He 8 R/ E/ Q) l7 @7 u7 J d3 b
deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and % K/ }& T$ x) Z1 y: l; c' W
gratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
' e1 M# j Z% B' q. ?passion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was
, {; I3 W/ v" y. I& x9 n! sa miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence, 7 X. r) z6 ^ f. x+ F6 s6 b* R
from which he jealously excluded others. His only art and " x% E& S6 C5 h; [' N1 {+ k |
stealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions, + m. S+ G n* A. _3 N0 v$ u' e
and his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta- 7 z2 y8 K5 b) H: W# D$ k9 A
tion and display which are too often the main incentive to ( h% h. f/ G& [' D7 ?+ b- D
liberal and benevolent deeds." / ?, a, T+ T* V) N1 {
( `, q2 a& A7 z& Z7 s8 mTurning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess 0 M. e/ H; o. o7 @3 b
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the ; s/ {9 e: n# w8 P0 V$ }
public to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac- / a2 k3 I$ l0 \& o F
tions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they 0 s$ p$ \6 Y* ^( q* e. y
are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
% R1 P3 V" J! p5 u5 j( I# Y" ^large gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as
- d* m3 ^( f# O: y& S! \common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards ) V: X% n% V" m. u! Z& w( \2 i
the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in- ; c2 r/ v: o# \
terested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up 3 ^; k3 K" K9 T! P% W% f3 s
their project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid - e8 c2 L) ~( T0 b" l! K6 c. o7 u! c
already in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. $ f" H* \4 v8 u0 t2 ~
9 F/ N: k8 Y i: }6 i. O# D- {; o: S6 T8 Y- `- \
% I8 P+ o7 z }. g- d. K100 American Jewish Historical Society.
. a) p" m u* a$ N; t# o0 c! g* d$ I
Amos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material
* j' d: e* v5 Dresponse, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward
z/ x" X* Y4 `- r, h/ DEverett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately % J) o4 E- n9 G; X& |* |
offered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of 4 G6 E t7 y1 ^+ y' E. P6 q
Amos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- 9 k# o* N# B# k" f
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in-
, z ~. I6 u( ^dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his + ?5 T% L6 l( U" v
injunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he / @! B9 H: @, n7 i) m, p5 E
seriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob-
9 [4 ]$ q7 _8 m( e; p: K2 Cably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
* A+ f; b, P/ ?( zish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other
/ \1 D$ Q! F4 |$ C8 ksingle gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world,
& ]0 @7 {$ s3 wand well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication
- ]0 X& B/ C, Q' M2 M, j. k8 {of the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of ' v) i- Q1 ]) Y) w7 t: j
the United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity
0 F! ^4 k. W( o- c5 V1 ywas commemorated by the presiding officer who read these 1 a! g4 U$ G! R; Z
lines, since become famous : ) Q" @: ?7 y0 I. O7 `
# S1 h6 T" T0 ?6 v, E! l# }Amos and Judah — venerated names! & e, U; F# u0 u2 V
) k+ @8 ^9 ?: }* s! v0 f, e7 v
Patriarch and prophet press their equal claims,
9 n4 R8 @. e0 b* y6 _$ `- T. |* S1 w, c8 x( X" Q0 v1 q
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck.
5 I) p5 s, K9 U" k, L# B5 E8 `4 K8 x. j9 k# I( b* ~. H+ v
Each aids the work by giving it a check. 2 N% C5 }, O1 T" I% e
& s$ J- c2 r8 t8 U, RChristian and Jew, they carry out a plan — " m$ t% ^3 ~# x0 |. R! U
1 c& `" |+ m2 q0 t& A3 k! v' ?For though of different faith, each is in heart a man. 7 D* O5 t l6 N
: _! U* v$ P1 W, S" g/ N: AJudah Touro's private benefactions were munificent
6 Y, _% W0 s! t. ?throughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often $ V* s y& M1 f0 W) C2 z5 g( Q. l( ^4 c
astonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration
3 W% u* {1 N, c' E" A% J# [in point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris- 8 y$ _% l) F! S
tian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min- ) [4 |- \9 V) x
ister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,-
! J9 Q' o' f' c' _) R L- Q000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised 7 ?8 @; J3 |+ Z ~" w
by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build- . R: r7 Y# T* G0 _- g) [, p; j
ing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to o+ W% n3 ]& r
occupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after 8 L# v+ T( }: ]5 A
many years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
n2 D. ~0 A9 ?8 O4 L( B/ b4 P
5 @+ @4 t7 V" a3 V* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq. - L) J! Z' }# e" g7 f$ T) W( n
/ s" q* y$ h8 `1 }4 ^- s% L L( F/ I. [; M4 m' w1 ~
% n9 Y6 ~* r( h
Judah Touro — Kohler. 101
% W# c k- d. V! r: Y/ h% t. a [
: v2 c9 ?6 m: ?$ I3 itribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested
2 [# b& _6 Z" h+ U' a" Hthat he could profitably erect business buildings on the site,
8 _" ?: J: K" K5 ^' n: Ghe promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
1 e0 c; l& b" g c9 O+ e0 e( Zam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church ; N) @8 p2 P# ~& m7 j
to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from
/ L* P: B: p* ]- x9 ]him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister - V% d0 C0 u7 r2 A
died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he . P3 H, Q0 g1 `: J
declined to accept the money, ing instead that it be
r0 E- U! h. x& j- q* [ Jdistributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
# N4 R% z0 ^0 V, t& C% x- D* uat New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- & l# d; [% \+ y5 ]( X: h1 s
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill "
4 i1 J9 `8 C6 E1 J# p' @0 s8 E; `of jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's % s! f# U& T7 n
settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui-
: A! _2 C# ^; w7 F3 |sition of the site by that municipality. For many years he
# e3 p0 e* r4 e# d' J( Xwas practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans; $ S% b4 t( E! d/ y" b) T% d
subsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected . N6 N) L* ^- z& G! A7 R
a synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex-
3 c2 V) [$ \3 z4 @pense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu- / B2 k" W3 p$ Z/ C) y" P
lar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed
: R) A$ x) T K. ?January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis- - c4 _/ J. b0 D- A0 r
tributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable
: x" ~9 V8 g& t4 t: gpurposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr.
0 K' I$ k, k5 B% z7 AClapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have 0 |' B& n# w+ n9 I- J R
never heard of but one religionist in the United States who
/ w# v% }- y8 V9 hcan be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of 9 H2 y: `! M" ] n7 U! \# L8 |+ ]% G
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing 1 ` G" k, a7 ~: y, f2 E$ z0 c
on other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran- 7 }+ z& j& T4 v4 G4 l$ h; ?
gers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he ; A( s4 R9 D# c l2 Y
scattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity.
/ y( p/ C2 K- RHe knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated
5 u, b3 }/ g" j' I }, E) Tthe Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
. p3 N5 \, B: p8 {2 C; ^6 G* f: ?hilation." 4 ~7 n& ]% e/ O
& Z# k% m+ d% d% V& m
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur- _# P4 c: ?3 d
prised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by
5 C& t5 X2 v Y* Vhim at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi-
. r z6 v: t4 b# i5 o8 Xties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their 1 c. a+ ~' F; p
; M; `2 @% P! X" Y- n; \3 X( y2 O
8 t9 g/ t% V6 a
+ l# A0 T+ m* c" U102 American Jewish Historical Society.
9 l$ o7 O3 l: F6 i% d- A$ ~6 _9 n3 ^8 T
charitable institutions, many of which owed their continued $ m; @4 V) L' C* l" ?5 t; C
existence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his
4 I2 j2 J2 ^3 H! Dwise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu-
# E4 o; i+ m/ W6 h2 k6 y" I7 Ftions in most distant sections of the country, would have X6 ?( K6 \% {( X4 _
found their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of
5 L( R3 P/ ~% {necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably 8 A5 `8 @* k7 o3 d, N2 D/ [
summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be- # D9 g7 L5 p5 a
quests, as follows :
+ r( S* I3 ?2 K" { Z
( q; A5 R8 {2 ~3 d/ jHe thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where " F+ |9 Z4 B2 d( I* u
he had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to ( q% Z) q! X8 r4 }
their relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are ; R! Q) Q) U3 c( Q; d2 U
not of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will & f. A/ k+ D% c# V3 a- d9 H
ever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in 1 L B+ G1 P1 H
his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in
! w& q& I6 i0 _% L4 j9 G2 Ithe day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per- 0 \& _' T% Z6 a: Y' C
suasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied - d6 e/ j. |- R. I: D! C& _2 C
the means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of 5 s6 R- W) {8 S) L
the new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded 2 \- D3 `1 N: C' F
them the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the * D4 u( }# L: c4 {
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He
, L5 C! E4 S. Kthought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the
. w9 R1 t0 C9 s6 b" gchildren of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those ) `- O- t% k1 e) v0 I. `
institutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish 9 J/ P& o# H1 @
religion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number- " D( y7 I5 o& s/ m
He thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to 5 u1 d* d$ z9 h5 U" D7 I+ ^
glide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of
+ L. o$ _$ {) vbenevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop
. Y# J3 c/ p, [* X6 G" A" ^/ Sinto despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of - P# r6 ~4 o: [5 @9 Z. u
Israel, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro-
, h. F1 H9 I; J# k) S# A6 Z. ltection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far
( [$ I+ t# M! R |West, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost ( S$ a( Y* D5 {+ i; a7 E
a solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged
4 D( r- m0 V6 K7 F5 k% E- r+ ]Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
8 ?2 B* @0 ~5 m7 o! u3 T! ?: x: z6 n+ f: w A8 X% G
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because ' t; s/ M; ]; M: p( |) ?' u2 C
it is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
5 o6 \. M4 \; }2 F1 {% Kthe various Jewish communities of the United States and their 6 B, _- ]! h' o- G) r0 r0 I+ u
institutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information " D5 g% x! n- a/ _$ j- |
obtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun- 3 A3 R+ y: a( r0 Q: I
try, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
. n( y* m6 ^- d; S5 @8 ~, Bomitted no deserving Jewish community.
! i6 J1 m. f& \3 D( n- |, ], x+ E) Z7 n _& Q2 V
2 i( N+ g* A: g5 J# u4 k
! T. _- T% ~$ L0 B
Judah Touro — Kohler. 103 - _) L7 B8 ?8 x5 r# ~
% j6 t7 C# | B
crated by so many wonderful events which marked our early + G ?* I0 W+ ?( \$ B
history, to them on in the deprivations to which they are , F1 Q0 o2 f7 H2 i5 o
subjected.
) t$ c: G% c. K3 }, g3 s
7 }0 |' V+ k3 yOne reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he % @, ~) v, a$ n. p3 ^' J
should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with $ Q( r/ v: _7 h N; f- R! f+ r$ O* ]
Sir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor- + k1 r2 T$ ^0 x4 |: i6 K5 l( @
ing to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish
6 v! s5 q! o% v# V. o0 z; `) Ubrethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
3 r& B8 B8 O6 G" aish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious
, ^$ q$ R/ N5 {7 X/ I; Ctemptation.
) Y! e+ f) C9 r. U' w/ Q' y
+ @0 e9 D1 U) @! N2 F( n6 A: GAt the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile
1 r u2 d$ P' u% l" Dvied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect, & w$ z* r* d9 c P& k3 B; R% f
and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport,
7 N4 }1 X u" V2 DEhode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were
" x r% c9 F" X; A r e* V" Qattended by delegations from the numerous organizations he
$ c; Q( A, C( P5 H8 ^; M6 M& c& _had so generously remembered, coming from all over the
8 s% {8 E# m5 D- sland. By official resolution of the public authorities of & L# q6 G2 l$ @
Newport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy,
/ M' ^( s: b. Y9 ^* }his executors and all these delegations became the guests of 5 Q% B7 L( s7 |, \# J* {
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells ' I- f$ X5 E2 r( }' a, a6 j
of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business
; z3 w# {/ @# m; L: y2 [) Fwere closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were ; M5 ]7 m0 T* T- d7 C
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
; j2 E: h/ T! S9 k6 _7 E8 H) l/ k8 i9 ophia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew , b7 I% x+ w5 {0 j* R+ _5 w
York. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
4 u4 A. h6 g% sbitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of 3 @( U( k" u3 m1 G- S
Jewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans
) m0 M: X2 `! Z+ J2 jwere named after him in order to commemorate his generous
& W3 D9 \7 h! ^6 uphilanthropy.
* ^9 z5 z: J4 T2 v" E9 J0 R, N* y1 A3 ]2 J
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
5 R' A% {7 ? [. Q W8 _8 P" ]lowing appropriate inscription : % m: ~4 m7 ^- R0 U! P, _5 D1 i
+ c# u: P8 Q2 E6 C& V8 M
By righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth; ) _. `# K4 w: K7 s: l W
In charity and for salvation he dispensed it.
: {3 ^# E; P' D' `: dThe last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan- : O; ]) V6 F! V' k. k2 Z
thropy ) [- q% x# w& C
To be remembered forever.
6 T6 f- j' X- g% G- j9
( W0 d' S, c, }0 p# }0 C- |, c4 R) u3 P
9 Y4 V3 [5 ]4 N% X- u" t
( v& S* v. j. {104 American Jeujish Historical Society. 0 d( s# Q" l' b- C; V
/ _1 n H* }0 t; ~9 p3 E
WILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO.
A1 E4 G1 x B; _# r0 M' w. z, Y$ d5 a% i0 f
United States of America,
1 a% k" n1 H. w( K8 U
/ h1 b, F: Y$ t( bState of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans.
; r" o! y8 o& N& ]5 |2 w2 C
U# `9 ~+ @' t$ W' r- v' uBe it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of
3 x" X/ @" E7 c0 U8 ?1 eour Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence : E6 q, X. n4 D/ @
of the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter
2 W9 _2 J, _+ ?, V) e: x! j% G% ]* u, Ybefore 10 o'clock a. m..
+ c. J$ L% b5 \" ]& Y4 ]
+ O3 u. U, D4 z. F. g1 t% |Before me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the
& w1 N% Z; x" Ecity of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn,
8 A) ~, y9 b& b2 {and in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep- / S% r9 K0 @' w ]- K/ i) G8 a
herd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re- ; s2 c- v2 N7 A' x3 s
siding in said city, and hereto expressly required —
4 e3 X/ s! O) Y* C, G
8 @, R4 G [9 }4 s EPersonally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant,
, B$ y6 }, {$ Lwhom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a
7 s- C6 M. g' i8 ~4 Uroom, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but
" f. a, Q( O' w$ N, }' y( }sound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the - k1 }+ u4 F$ ^- D- ]
said Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah
" s0 j& q, x. @) ?1 YTouro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa-
, z0 z. M- K6 ?' W5 ement, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in ! M y8 D2 t! U2 |. L/ J: {
presence of said witnesses: ( p1 s5 g1 p, w& l4 F$ W
j, d) c) l4 T1 |& A( X) Q& R
1. I declare that I have no forced heirs. : P$ Q" g" C1 m$ e3 ^
- w( i; Z& h' r) M
2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish \- R4 W- ]. S A& x# W. [3 j) f
Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after
4 Z4 \- }2 F6 d1 w0 e5 J# Emy decease. 1 J# N! s [% a/ t. |
: M5 f& }4 l" v( i3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends / o q) i3 q: U% n, p4 k
Rezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of & T2 e. O9 z% n6 B2 E4 n
New Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre / H7 F1 u- M, Q. ~- T: z
Andre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu- ) b4 p2 g. N, x+ P7 J* p
tors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- {7 g( ~) W8 n% J6 u% \5 r
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said ' H% s. L* B- h6 a
Aaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre ( N4 H/ |( ?# I& N$ Y# W. j
Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the 3 L9 ?2 X" I n( T
sum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively,
7 d* i4 T8 ]+ p6 j, I( dnot only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but
" [( _/ p' V$ j4 n* Malso as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto, ! t0 U1 w8 M" h: z& L2 p$ V! y% o
rendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would : F+ b) P w; y. _, {5 @& K0 R
be entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors 6 ?8 Y9 s2 w! i; T* C) a
as aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say , x0 Z g+ g) B2 p( u4 ~5 r0 } k. o4 Z
my dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom, 1 p. }# o) @6 C% p4 n$ E- a
under Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva- * O# J! T* v) {* i9 [ f! X) S- K
tion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815,
2 \4 P, P7 [) ? |% \& ]
1 v v; {" A0 J4 E- n7 {5 O+ j, C- v- i* D
h: [% M0 E9 }Judah Touro — Eohler. 105
/ o8 |) C, T* ?% l0 ]( q
+ b. L/ `0 p1 K5 z9 O E" QI hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep-
) L/ O: `. J3 k7 W8 F7 e3 `herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts $ u& Y4 B5 y" J1 m+ `
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of ) Y: b; z4 F8 D8 H
my estate, movable and immovable.
7 P: H- T9 N& O6 b% q/ ]8 c/ m3 C1 k7 d0 Z' W
In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more
/ I3 I, n6 k2 g" E0 {of my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor : L) U7 J9 A( Y: y1 k) c! I
or Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last
l" G# X* ^: @! T! C) kwill; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more 7 h4 r# ]* M# v! K7 K. J% J7 [" o
of my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that 8 o" ^# s4 G/ W. V* B) M
case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of ) \3 j, m8 |$ b5 G& l. c6 V
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in- ( Q$ p" Z. ~7 u) N/ s$ Q F0 B2 u
herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made
% w9 X- ~! W1 b% l6 {0 T- Dto them. 2 U( f2 ?5 c( H6 s# z
0 O. h8 c- V9 [) f- ^4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in
* G. D7 f. {7 G7 m, j( j6 bforce at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until 6 V/ Z' I$ h5 m' w
the same shall have expired. ]; {4 S( m% H0 ~; Y8 u
0 E$ s8 @; i7 E- g5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of + y$ t7 M1 d' i I( d) ]# R! [/ H6 c2 j
which I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner
& p/ b+ U) G2 xdirected by this my last will or testament.
c- W- i6 E) ~2 z; G$ p3 `# m' f+ K& H' I3 L2 E- |9 P
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
# I9 p; R5 {' ?3 A! r7 r& ]persed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain 9 u( m3 F- x: R* [. B1 S5 j, I# t
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
4 V/ [! M5 O+ ]4 s) V w+ y0 H+ ZSynagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of
# G1 G$ u" H6 y3 \. Bthe said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from 1 n- I. F: o/ @, r6 r* |
the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
7 |9 A" m3 D; \4 V- Bthe two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David
" Y/ J, U1 f. e& R$ S( Z, ?Urquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found- ; e, J& z7 h) q) b
ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con-
6 D$ w5 x9 |9 f2 ~1 p6 r) N0 n5 bgregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
5 V6 f' k0 r) K; x ^: Q* }Reader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by " t! i$ P% K' q9 a$ O1 [
my said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re-
. ~$ Z; I+ H) P2 q) b$ i3 Mstrictions.
" g- a1 e" d; d0 N7 N6 c% r- o2 q$ Y3 Z
7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New
) O! z0 t! {1 @2 NOrleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession
* O1 M+ k, ~* ]/ W3 d: S- J' D5 b( nsale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building 2 o- `) L: @ u; L
now known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con- 1 n: n o% d; H0 y6 M# |* s
templated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
- |1 m0 U9 }' u9 Q9 ]itable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex-
$ _+ n; g8 U8 _ecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them , @+ n% F1 M2 |0 d- }
conformably with the laws of Louisiana. + y! G& B; Y, _/ V$ Q
3 ]+ H% s e+ b1 t6 a& ]% c
8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of 0 V+ o( ~* K2 v5 O0 ^+ X E
New Orleans five thousand dollars.
# B% H* t2 I) G: `$ u6 Z; H4 I
7 w7 M, ~+ q# t9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
# n; N9 J7 S2 U& D" D" ?garai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars.
5 d1 t: [! ?2 b0 a9 \- p+ W+ I* Y2 Z: N$ V1 C1 a( }# l( I' X
& R$ e+ ~# j( l$ G; ^8 N. M
2 U( k* q* P+ y. }5 ~6 g
106 American Jewish Historical Society. : ]( A5 C6 ?+ |4 h+ N8 L! i
7 M5 n, x7 _% C3 ]; N1 H% r1 X10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of ) j! j; d/ A* ?3 r! I; v0 u Q
New Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. & _% R( d. o d6 C: T, w: a
* {# Y d5 r9 N: ^8 @+ X0 C' i% i
11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society # q0 o$ n5 i: E3 G! F1 ]* X Z
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. 5 _5 q6 y4 V/ M. r- p4 s. r
) O0 q9 j1 |( U) }1 s* W0 A
12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New 3 k7 ~' j3 ]+ f0 }* E2 y
Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. v1 t0 O. |* U. v
( _' H2 T, z( E
13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti- 5 T3 }/ F H0 K E
tute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars.
3 A- Q$ N" F. ~1 F( o9 _9 |7 ]
b3 ^6 W& E6 V9 r: p14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
: Y1 c" Y0 `/ C# cof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol- 4 S$ x4 J2 H) o4 S
lars. & k! p6 i1 r! G% R& w
) ?0 ^& b. C5 x15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan 1 O' ?# |4 I, d' W5 f# R2 @
Asylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou-
% d2 T; i" e+ \8 ?sand dollars.
6 V; E, K, T. X K& |7 a6 K; G t9 m& N# Q2 U) p- h
16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy- $ O* h& m3 ]7 |: V1 z) _
lum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is
9 s4 c. t' ]# g$ ^3 l; [chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand + `9 p8 ]! }, N# \2 X# a; z9 G
dollars. . g5 C- b; @% r0 E" Q
4 J0 O3 Z9 g/ E5 N; ]2 ?
17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans,
0 x, w4 ], x9 T- X1 w" ifive thousand dollars.
/ Y( S- C3 k" G3 W# o% o; g y; u
6 e! O( f' l6 e4 ?; k' b18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa-
: o& B) `/ h2 ?/ {% jtion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. : ?7 b# l$ u- \8 E# ?1 c4 ]
. s) I7 `0 n* X, ?7 T19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First
7 b+ j, C" A- y. e( Z1 cDistrict of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
/ `; A, j. K- u- ~4 A5 I- g8 I' k5 Z
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an , p9 ~' \7 U$ D7 I% m
" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of
8 x9 R, p( I1 A- t7 A1 Zcontributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity 7 q+ d" Q5 {% Z& H' ~( O# l; D4 \
in said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000) 5 @% [3 x/ {& E1 n2 u
and I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be
, U0 S, D6 S7 ` borganized according to law; and further, it is my desire that
: I" U% l/ x' ^after my executors shall have legally organized and established 1 N6 ^& p5 w8 V O% W0 t! `
said contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to # N1 N$ w- P0 }" S% S' F- z
administer and control the direction of its affairs, then such per- 4 ^7 g) z3 R; f4 {
sons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
% o, ?- J* O1 v& B1 bjointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc- * }. B2 A! |& M6 S+ k$ R( B R
cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control
3 ]- U% s1 w2 [9 G9 Pthereof.
# ^5 [3 w+ O6 L( S% [
& n& q$ ^" R7 A2 u/ B( w2 I9 y( G+ e21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of * }/ X. M: P1 \2 I1 L. v" d+ F
Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that
$ ]- s/ B0 |: {% Q6 Nthe said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the : j$ ~; p/ t% d7 M ]
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept
8 E9 f+ ^/ @8 Yas a public park or promenade ground.
+ n/ w2 c7 K3 A, j
8 [. E$ X& Z. F" m& K) F+ v! L, _22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport
, I+ q2 e! @, A; \$ N: {0 N. Raforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars.
' A. O& M& N7 C% s) v2 [% }
& B0 K8 `! l% w9 a, q0 D7 p B
2 J. W( ?. M& \ r& B. _# X! I2 E( W+ f: F( R& N
Judah Touro — Kohler. 107
7 o- J% F+ Q/ n) A- w
! I e) R( Q/ g; K1 @9 T: x23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay
+ U1 k; F" F( Q0 R- H8 uShalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars. % U- H0 X k4 R G
7 i8 d# f+ d" m24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
* s h* [1 x" s, ~9 D) iford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars. 5 Q( p: z; C D5 j: {( a4 ^. }) c* @
4 E6 d% v) s$ e& R+ l, @
25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New 4 I$ T/ H3 g1 W( ]: t& d4 Y
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
' ]1 A$ J: Q7 I! f. \ V6 @7 f+ M4 R7 V& V& K, v5 J8 T6 H, ?
26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society, 0 F( K% u" r1 D9 K% I
for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and ! u- R+ y7 A `) d$ ^ c- P3 W8 l
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent), 0 S* D2 D) M* W% `
ten thousand dollars. . R; |' L3 G6 F" K
1 ~- @1 p- r0 I9 y, T7 C: b
27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir
% @, C% b g* r7 z4 L9 KMoses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to
6 P' T3 ^* _6 Kameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in 7 J. l4 W4 }. k" a! t* C" u+ S
the Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of
. \9 Z" i [) m/ W F8 Hworshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without
. H7 f4 m7 v. [molestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou-
% z4 l; m; j+ Rsand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through
3 L+ u( e( L2 Uthe said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise,
& ?" c7 q8 M( das best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of * z. W4 M# u! o$ i6 f
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry-
2 X/ |; }0 D3 q9 R! A) x6 h7 king said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and
+ _; c ]- L7 d8 P" x5 ]) @in that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars
) e6 u' f3 T) |+ gbe invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the ' U, }' |' O3 J; ~% e- n$ l
City of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri-
3 ]; U4 D4 t8 m! U9 @/ ~% pcan Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, ( v7 O2 q; m4 J0 V
of the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this
1 [- D" ] h; q) xmy last will.
K' [# N8 e2 P" b# N/ r* @8 h5 ^% H* z
28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I ( @4 b4 D: c7 N
have already alluded in making this will, as well as those to
/ q9 g- A6 E2 X! cwhich in the further course of making this will, I shall refer,
) Y+ b1 ], B, H! P6 `# |shall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them
& q0 @9 A* y2 D4 Y% D9 orespectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and
% M* l( C1 M gthereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
3 j* p( Y& Y0 \, Q" r% ddesire that the parties interested in such institutions and my 3 u. q% M) B# Q9 q0 F
executors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de- % L* L, R j8 |) Y2 F" f
cease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to 9 u/ `* b) O, ]' ]
inherit in the premises according to my wishes.
$ X/ `* S3 S7 x5 S3 @
- @: G) R* N. Z( w29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the 4 K* p1 V; W. p! e. Y0 q: E
City and State of New York twenty thousand dollars. ) }% o U& r3 Z9 ^+ r. m& x
7 X, ]$ y( U, @! p1 m30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
& T. g8 r* o) d! h$ {' v# j+ `" Q2 }# [" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars.
- e5 p% y' u0 V. j
. C8 D$ M1 J# o4 d. ` S/ d31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
/ t1 G9 d, v6 _$ q, N" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars. + x( a! u$ ~0 t/ P$ d X* w, f
6 e/ e# z0 D$ \) }! U: |+ {# q
0 M! A/ x% n. t1 G! k0 [ j
6 g# h( \( o% o/ k1 M; @. |
108 American Jewish Historical Society.
7 r" f0 k0 E* a7 g! r/ D7 x d: ^& X1 Q
32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund
% S5 g4 _+ f* v: `# _5 xattached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the
1 x1 k9 ]6 ?4 B4 j( @: iCity of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand , p1 h( `8 }0 ^6 g, |
dollars. , G0 X K- s+ F7 v. m: R! }
# }, G x, b% j6 w' J" _! \2 C9 p
33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He-
) \1 O- Q B" |% G" B" S) Ubrew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, - d9 a" C6 Q" q" Y6 g& Q, j8 J
the sum of three thousand dollars. : r+ p E/ \. Q9 H
$ \8 E5 z0 W: g* h6 Y2 L6 T. l34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
3 ^5 y" ~4 }+ u b# u# K& J4 i! ~garai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. ; f: C5 C3 F2 p6 ?/ |+ O. R- \# h
3 e& o, K+ _6 z. C
35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
" E2 R& ?) N$ s! f+ Ithe City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was
9 X9 G6 w# c. J( P" f% ra directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B. $ Z8 V& O! W0 K% q6 D0 x. o+ B
Kursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars.
! g: @# b D8 K* V% X3 F" I# e5 Q$ W
36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- ( {( E& [: {: S
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol- 5 n. P/ G0 L, I
lars.
# X# r6 J% Y- l- m1 a+ k) H, F# j1 L! l2 f; t
37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of
! i! {3 \& r' A4 ?) dPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars.
/ G; T0 n' @; P: {5 @& R1 m/ t8 R2 [! ~5 r% b, V. X2 L* L6 C
38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- 0 w3 E4 r8 n, z# {8 w! r" e1 Y
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars. ) x( ~3 F$ ^9 w. Z* ~
, b# U0 N- {) |" h% f2 v0 f39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat
) p, h- u3 X0 M" e9 |5 z& L% LIsrael," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars. % m8 _/ ?0 U' S0 s9 ~, v
. O/ R8 d& Q P) R) C6 \; k1 K
40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth
) U! p2 r; z4 i+ ]Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars. 8 x+ P1 ?( c: f) O$ V- j B
8 M1 t* \6 c+ w0 v
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith
. _7 M7 L5 w/ m- rIsrael," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand
G( ]& N* H9 m ddollars.
4 O- T% E; f0 s9 H( P1 J- [( M8 _% {; S( o7 i* c3 O! y
42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan- 6 `% S2 X; h+ @) C& {6 d; C E, C
garai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. ; N! m; j2 o9 g9 s& }1 g8 h4 S
: L6 h* Q, C/ k/ X
43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve 7 G: _- \) l6 F' V- X: _' w9 |+ O
Israel," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars.
: G% m$ R# o% e9 Z( d5 I$ K: T- a6 h
! W4 X( R: w2 I0 `0 u8 u44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont-
+ G4 U+ B/ b6 h9 g0 Fgomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars.
/ c# k; l, i' M2 L2 h$ Z
. {. l+ ]) B$ Y6 ^0 r8 Y45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem-
- I6 u( ?8 n8 q, zphis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars.
9 P2 x7 n' n, O$ j" r
( k/ t+ D4 Q2 k: S" u% v$ @46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas
$ x) J6 g* A4 T1 SIsrael," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
/ p0 T8 S, H! X; g* @
7 j/ x( F0 F0 @1 z! n1 [; s r' ~& m47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is-
( E# ~: r/ I! k5 Orael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars. 8 q6 ]) z `5 ]/ P/ t& | G$ Z
( W: x( V$ E* b( J48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo- / O. b- q4 ?! E4 ?5 L9 f$ U, f* g
dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars.
& e2 f, p, N% Z' W6 M( g
" v6 \6 n3 g8 {6 Z' m49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati, 2 f8 w: S5 z) _( ^% g- ~
Ohio, five thousand dollars. # N- ?) A: B7 g5 X% `
6 }3 a% ^. G7 p9 H& w) w/ a
2 q( n" q6 @& V9 v4 V
+ l6 W" W. e& A* v, d: Z% ^" fJudah Touro — Kohler. 109
C/ e! F8 W, O) }/ \5 n
5 E) r; r% T% l* c1 a* } ]: p* }50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth
0 z0 U9 \- _9 r# wIsrael," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
+ L+ P9 }: x' u: Y. ^& c; V% i) H8 A5 j+ `9 d; s
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai
% C7 ^" `' _0 D, F% R0 ^5 KEl," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars.
6 [/ K2 t( I* k0 ~9 _) q J
: I* z! ^+ f" E: V6 w52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El," & ?( c1 Q& v" P( P$ t. Z. U
of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
9 O$ g8 g( w8 a7 e. d5 E: g1 s3 T+ [8 Z6 R
53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth
- b& g) r) ]# Y7 k+ {El," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars.
4 K! |- w% S2 w c0 x! e' r0 s( u9 T9 `# o* F b
54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions,
9 D# g: j7 N3 y4 A' snamed in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra- 9 ~8 Q5 y+ O% w0 ?) Z/ W
ham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums: 3 Q; w# @- W; w
1 d4 M# ]: J! o2 A; F
First, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
# f j% t& K/ x2 S$ [. I5 i) ?five thousand dollars. & ^0 D/ ?! I% B4 l/ J6 k
7 T/ x# G! }. X0 U) p6 ?Second. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid,
4 Q* x# ?8 y' C0 f: Cfive thousand dollars.
) a; R( j) [" p- j7 j9 A( J `$ ?, _. g# i8 }
Third. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- 3 @# F' t- `/ F& i) Q
sand dollars. 9 K; [, V& f; F
0 o) k6 W8 [2 L' _
55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of ( l! j! L5 o- o+ {" x$ b
paying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew- ) Z! i! O# g% b
ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min-
. L6 u/ d: i8 ~9 x4 }6 n! C0 pistry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the 8 K! B1 N% g9 O2 O @9 g3 Y
Jewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be / P4 z& e/ R: [& i) M
appropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner ; v) o- {) U {7 f3 n
as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
, R4 o% b' w1 m+ B% |of Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire, / p' i9 c' T0 t6 i u
that David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed
+ O/ D+ T# h+ @friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should # t3 H' ]& k/ d2 \& S1 U
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
* A9 U p& M/ vthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration + `1 [- l( o, \' S5 t7 E) n4 @
of services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the
! W0 y! S8 ?% W5 B# k3 X3 s3 o7 _9 M4 x# zsum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them, 2 M+ [, W( ^4 ^8 G5 v5 l- A; o5 A/ u h
the said David and said Nathan H. Gould.
+ A( @& r5 T! c$ C$ `
7 [2 S0 U# P4 v! q4 `56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine
+ C8 Z& _2 Z6 u4 h8 lHays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind 7 T" \. p7 n: Q( W+ c
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me. 2 |$ P. ~( U: S8 r! Z0 \+ @
9 @; E& R! A" T, O+ m& M! ^4 a' C57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and
' ?! L' W% r! t8 W) ]3 nJulia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of - K* T. e# }. d/ ]
Richmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be 7 C0 _5 T* N* |" }& m ~
equally divided between them. 8 ~$ u) p" ~: [6 P
$ o4 D- x1 v2 H* x58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to
( b& E* y' L9 Fthe surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond, 7 d3 `; f5 R- O
Virginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my 8 Y- g/ q6 u8 g( ]
remembrance. 3 O- W; H, D( O8 V. L
) N5 C4 u% H- W0 t, }9 d9 n" n
7 ~; S3 Q& o% q" X' ~0 l/ M2 r/ s* r1 k+ x0 P1 z! y9 h! U; B
110 American Jewish Historical Society. / V# \% {3 |- s1 B+ ~
) U7 A. ?2 g4 h8 h9 O59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing, % h2 q) R2 o$ Q* a: O
of Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
% d) m$ ~5 f* E+ n1 v- z% J7 @& ?my esteem and kind remembrance. . _8 Q- o5 k. |% q t6 r& _
8 l7 {/ g4 X3 ?60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
& T, y. l/ T q: P, i2 mmy respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a
# Z( {$ l1 M3 l9 D& etoken of my regard.
) C7 J3 L; j8 n- j# h) C4 ^+ M5 g1 n5 d
61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
- I. f/ |9 A/ D0 {. m* b4 ]6 smy friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
4 Q1 j$ A. W1 m3 A. Fwife, to be equally divided between them. 5 H, i* E6 b5 O! o* Q8 B' K* n' c& F
& S) Z& G$ C% _62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to
' m2 ^2 l- C: r; nmy friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of
* N4 p; k2 r: U7 Nmy remembrance.
6 T$ P* u0 M; `+ t2 `/ R. \% f
7 b/ [# L/ x6 K G: X63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire, * w5 G& \: w% J) A
of Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex-
6 V! R9 b, V f1 n0 g2 q. Y# h6 Becutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol- ' k& k: w/ E* @9 J# n
lars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase 2 h r3 s1 k1 c9 b1 L j7 e, }
of a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
/ g7 p T: z; E3 rregard. . r' p" ~' c, x
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64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars,
; [2 u/ w" N A. wto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
9 P2 `, Y3 j. [0 K$ Tmemorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs, r4 p$ r; c h
wife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city. 4 B$ ?7 U9 |$ l
4 k3 C. K3 |9 N& l" e ]65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars " d3 x O) B3 p4 y7 |$ ?* Y
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable " R ~* D3 P+ `# `
memorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of " s- `/ g9 _1 G) E; t8 x) S
Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans.
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! S' p+ C9 I* G5 o# K66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have
Y0 C7 l1 U {5 l K. |: t" dmade previously to these presents. " V. m, z4 q( b' P
" Y. X+ g. A' R# T; j& ^, ^6 a# i) u
Thus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to " J3 N7 [2 e6 O" ]# V
me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses
! t- |' h0 W% F; iherein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the
3 Y D: s* ?# X# Osame, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own 4 |# q% r$ C" F. P d
proper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this
4 J5 e$ d( j4 u. W# atestament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres-
: H* ?8 e/ K. S w2 q% sence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same - k T* I/ d% a
presence, that he well understood the same and persisted therein.
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* [4 T `. Z. c4 O/ w; HAll of which was done at one time without interruption or turn- ) c ?0 `# S% n) R% U' V
ing aside to other acts. : T2 c: Y7 }* i5 u( a
. C9 p$ N& ]( |! e: k/ MThus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the + K/ p5 L: g$ R! S1 M7 O" z
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and 0 u% W$ q/ }+ {9 x, N s
year first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan ) S% q3 O+ n& H* C5 c8 r+ i# n
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, 2 P0 \! d1 I' y4 m
" I3 z, [# `* g p& `: i, I! W$ |0 I2 k5 S- A1 b- O
, r; \* |9 R- n4 V- o
Judah Touro — Kohler. Ill
# O. g) }$ ^2 W) Z+ O$ [( P2 C# h! b# W; W3 P; E0 h9 I
all three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said 8 t* K0 G3 P% t) T% z S0 m- ]
testator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their + ]9 R6 f5 H' u- G; V' Z. O
names. (Signed.) % `5 o' H3 ]* f2 j/ L) {
. e& W1 M, j. I9 L$ q# h+ o( _J. TOUEO,
7 m$ u2 K7 o; W6 r4 A! @ ^8 Q9 N
( V: L9 Y, Q# E( J2 EJ. Montgomery, 6 k" q$ Q% q, E
" h# E. G% G+ |: t6 k" Z
H. Shepherd, Jr., : n- I3 r" U; Z( \8 T) `
; Y$ S, A. A p5 o1 h( mGeo. W. Lee,
; q- H( d7 V# o+ b! U" C4 d& _: e5 \! e5 c9 i$ E
Thos. Latton, Notary Puilic.
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% }! t7 `% b: e% U% ~
0 h+ Y& c; Z# T: R4 SLIBRftRY OF CONGRESS
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014 495 461 |
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