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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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/ O6 Y) q- { f; K! b" @, T; yJUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND - t0 ?7 W& }5 H3 G
PHILANTHROPIST.
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By max J. KOHLER, A. M., LL. B. # p* t6 U# `# K1 x% Z+ {6 ^9 O% q
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Reprinted from
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: U' `9 l1 Y+ u2 w- IPublications of the . X9 @8 [, J: G3 M- y9 V
( J1 `# |7 ^5 w& h2 q0 }0 ]American Jewish Historical Socibtt, . a0 m) n/ q4 L# [% Z1 U/ v" a
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No. 13, 1905. - I5 n$ I! V$ u/ ~3 N8 k- Q" u
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JUDAH TOUEO, MERCHANT AND
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By Max J. Kohleb, A. M., LL. B. $ L6 Q; Z' ?* O4 ?) j, x# j& @
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It is a strange circumstance that no paper devoted to Judak ( t$ U0 q( i/ q9 Y6 v& {1 e
Touro has thus far been presented at any of our meetings, , n5 U: \0 n8 P t6 k
nor has any sketch of his distinguished career, worthy of the ( F8 c0 v6 P6 P$ z Q- t; }
name, been thus far published, certainly not any emanating ! ?. H9 z' l7 W* V+ v5 e
from a Jewish pen. The result is that little definite infor- - r% I; d8 I0 l/ [( j
mation concerning Touro is conveniently accessible, and, in 5 I. P+ R9 K: \! y
consequence, we find the four enormous tomes of Fortier's & w* _2 f4 d) o) A) S
History of New Orleans, Just published, absolutely ignoring : C/ U( p' S* l' Y( v
the very name of one who would probably by common consent
4 N+ g2 D' h/ a4 `) Bbe singled out as the most prominent American Jew of the 5 |9 c% g! q' b$ n# C
first half of the nineteenth century. One familiar with the
8 l* i7 p0 C: A Z- @relations between the investigations of local historical socie- 8 o3 T2 s7 s8 W0 X4 G
ties and more general historical writings, can readily account $ R# H2 M: o1 u+ h4 r
for the general historian's neglect of an individual's career, : A. ]6 F3 v7 d4 G
ignored even by his own near ones. It is, accordingly, to such
4 ~/ x# @8 f5 [$ Z2 C+ ?* g5 {) Sspecialized investigations as our own, that the general his- & @; w$ M" J t% `' v, k/ u
torian is likely to turn before including or excluding an indi-
$ s9 P/ P) i8 _4 F y; @; ividual in his general histories, particularly if the man in 3 L/ B: Z8 G1 ?5 _' d1 B* |
question did not figure prominently in the political or mili-
$ k+ L) {% n) ^$ {% [/ D& ?tary history of his .
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A couple of biographical sketches of Judah Touro, written
5 B& s; U, x2 I3 i3 W4 qwithin a few years after his death, and strangely enough, by ! t( k/ [2 t, k6 {* [
non-Jewish writers, are still our most detailed and satis- 4 C. M- h4 f# j$ \* |& X6 p& W" L
factory authorities on his career and tend to show in what
1 G+ d0 U A! L# K4 ?6 S4 Zhigh regard his contemporaries held him. Judge Alexander
- z$ I% H" N2 L3 L; E$ kWalker's biography ' and the Rev. Theodore Clapp's personal / r* o( ^" a- `$ J" L# d
4 N" i' A X' M9 M; ]( [' In the second volume of Hunt's " Lives of American Mer- - l& @/ `1 E: Q5 N- ~; b, Z' L1 {
chants," published in 1856. 3 r9 ^$ ?! _' x- W! I. u
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94 American Jewish Historical Society. 0 h' d4 N& R/ f* r2 q% k
2 V/ F6 I& `+ A4 }+ T1 C/ Breminiscences in his " Autobiographical Sketches and Eecol-
- q1 j. l' M4 r, g9 F6 ylections During a Thirty-five Years' Residence in New Or- , s9 b- u; k$ w7 U
leans" (1858) are still our chief sources of information; 1 u7 S+ t6 l' ?
though few persons seeking light on Touro's career would be
2 V4 D- b. g% ?1 ]; F3 p; Wlikely to look for it in such little-known works. The biog- Y$ |0 D& j3 Q# e& r1 u
raphy of him which Isaac Leeser called for in his obituary
8 o6 G- C* m2 c+ ysketch ' still remains unwritten^ though to-day the personal
" Q2 [1 @8 f3 N4 u0 s& r/ l0 K$ Hreminiscences and documentary material of half a century ago
1 o8 Q5 f. O+ f. {are for the most part no longer, it is to be feared, extant.
1 b7 g9 F5 h* V( O6 w1 E; LJudah Touro, merchant prince and philanthropist, was known , L h: Z" p' g( N7 T$ A' |# _5 _
in his day from Newport and Boston, the cities of his infancy 6 q" g, f* N+ N( R# p; ?" J" ?7 f
and early youth, to far distant New Orleans, the city of his
6 o( b4 u& I# U! H: g) B& F% Smaturity, as " An Israelite indeed, in whom there was no " y) n) m% I- I* s: q5 d
guile," as typical of what is best in the Jewish character, and
) L6 K, [- Z5 P4 O2 R3 z) U9 N. U3 Z$ smore than any other resident co-religionist, inspired respect
( I- V) l3 y7 C: Rand admiration among Jew and Gentile alike for the Jewish # q/ n/ U( k. {; K$ F9 A! H
name in America. And beyond that, his generous, well-nigh
/ c: E0 ^9 J% Y: F6 t+ Munprecedentedly large-scaled and diversified philanthropic 5 K' G T1 U6 \( {6 I# m
gifts made it possible for the various American Jewish com- ) H% d# Z9 {: C" S- w8 @9 A
munities to undertake institutional charitable work theretofore 5 N+ `# u% A& m1 ]" t1 E4 G/ O$ S
impossible, in view of the small and humble means at their . e7 ~5 v" c" R/ P" Z; ?9 K* w# Q
disposal, so that, throughout the land he pre-eminently laid the
# t" y( L6 O* A$ d& t! C& Jfoundations for those noble Jewish charities which have ever
/ f* W0 p' t! }9 ^% N/ vsince been the pride and the boast of American Jewry. - |' e. n4 `& ` v
* ]) p$ b S, R q/ d( ~Judah Touro was born at Newport, Ehode Island, on June
4 @! Z) O& a- x8 I+ ~16, 1775, and in his maturity he often rejoiced at the circum- ( Q$ s1 L4 g$ _
stance that his individual career thus began with that of his
4 n# [; [( K& Q: N- s% |beloved country. His father was the Eev. Isaac Touro, min-
; ]6 c. V: x0 n) g7 Nister of the Newport Jewish Congregation, whose assumption
c& X. }4 Z! s D# Zof activities at its helm was marked soon after, in 1763, by 7 |0 A9 X7 V7 X K
the dedication of its first synagogue building, its first ceme- ) u c: P f1 ^8 q9 C' o- O
tery being more than a century older, and concerning whose . n/ z4 A' `8 ^5 j1 O# V6 V
career our society has already published various items.^ Isaac # m3 ]% _' V9 q- U; i6 F7 [3 V
, C+ U+ _7 T# _( h0 Q9 p P+ d' The Occident, Vol. XI, p. 594, March, 1854. , B& S. {7 X5 u
' See Max J. Kohler on " The Jews in Newport," American Jew- / E7 B3 E' `. \6 c# X. W! |
ish Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI; Prof. Morris Jas- 4 `1 s G# o( Z( }6 x, {; z5 c0 i
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Authc:
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(Person^
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: i V) j4 Y, E# F0 I0 PJudah Touro — Koliler. 95 * L: x7 S4 K; _: g) N% F
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Touro married Reyna Hays, the sister of Moses Michael Hays, 2 z& l/ M' o& t, E3 L5 I
in 1773, and they had three children — Abraham, Judah, and 6 u7 i: |. I/ u( R" `& z
Eebecca; the latter became the wife of Joshua Lopez, and
! v( p) s8 s6 W$ Udied in New York in 1833. The large majority of the mem-
, ~4 w: c, q) s4 ]bers of the Jewish community of Newport having left the city 5 a0 p! x4 m/ T8 z
during the Eevolution, Eev. Isaac Touro and his family de- 1 o, ^. c, b9 T6 l4 s* h
parted for Kingston, Jamaica, where he died on December ; V) K' @- |& }; Y" @5 G( ]
8, 1783. His "uadow and children returned to this country, ) A F( C$ T0 |1 h% Z; {
and became members of the household of Moses Michael Hays, $ w' Z: z" ~' k& `1 p( E
brother of Mrs. Touro, who was at this one of the lead- 6 T; U5 f! Q6 ~+ ]7 b: l
ing merchants of Boston; there Mrs. Touro died on Septem-
& A8 x$ a, ^ wber 18, 1787. In the home and office of Moses M. Hays,
! ?% j6 E5 |- @Abraham and Judah Touro had inculcated in them not merely + }& t# Y% F) }+ J" j$ Z3 h
those principles of rectitude and business acumen which stood
* c# u( E4 Y, _+ hthem in such good stead throughout their lives, but they were
% P. V1 S) f- Q/ u" ^also brought into close contact and personal intimacy with emi-
* ~, b3 N x0 G$ \4 j$ J) [: Enent non-Jews, and acquired respect for the opinions and views 1 c/ `& r( v! o6 w% U+ ~- T
of those of different faith and mental equipment, and the ac- : s, `8 _; c9 c U
companying increased breadth of view, Michael Moses Hays ' ]* {, n F) C# q
was an intimate friend of Harrison Gray Otis, a son of the
* E. `' f! C( H! n$ l6 hpatriot James Otis, and himself United States Senator and
4 C' ]- U7 B* m; E8 U; \+ j& dMayor of Boston, and of Thomas H. Perkins, projector of the # F; ~' U& {! G( C
first American railroad and a distinguished philanthropist,
! U, X" E# M- ewhile such younger men as Rev. Samuel J. May, the abolition-
) l. D$ I9 F% Uist leader, made the Hays' household a second home. To these 9 e' O( e5 i% k( e6 }) o
early associations can probably be traced the sentiments which 2 L- M8 H# a" {+ Q: F: @
induced Judah Touro, in his New Orleans home, to purchase , o; p8 ~0 Q" {3 ]
slaves with a view to restoring them to liberty. Abraham and ! L5 u5 p" W& L# }+ H
Judah Touro acquired a practical knowledge of affairs and
" A! ?" a0 x1 m; _) A. Y
2 I/ Z. C* y. @ c0 d/ f5 p, i& M" ~trow, " References to Jews in the Diary of Ezra Stiles," Ihid., 5 f( ]% ]+ F" [) Z5 F- ]5 c
No. 10; Rev. W. Willner, "Ezra Stiles and the Jews," Ihid., No.
( N8 d9 Y1 g7 y0 a8 `* H8; N. Taylor Phillips, " The Levy and Seixas Families of Newport
4 R' t! n2 G; |6 ]! }' yand New York," Ihid., No. 4; George E. Mason's "Reminiscences
! ^5 H6 H( j1 v* }of Newport," Rev. A. P. Mendes, " The Jewish Cemetery at New- % A5 `) P5 t/ E3 g. v
port," Rhode Island Historical Magazine, Vol. VI, pp. 81-105; ' S" p( k; Z0 Z" x7 j8 @/ r/ A- e
Rev. Geo. A. Kohut, " Ezra Stiles and the Jews."
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% P) V( f: `4 Q7 ^9 s, Z96 American Jewish Historical Society. 8 D' ?1 j- H6 y0 q3 _
' J1 h7 v) c" y4 u, A+ hcommercial procedure in their uncle's counting-room, and in 1 J, Q$ d- u2 i% D2 y5 H, S
1798 Judah was sent along as supercargo in connection with.
1 v; @6 I5 g$ `5 J2 G1 A3 ia valuable shipment made by his uncle to the Mediterranean. * ^2 A0 F! N/ \* z: m
The voyage was marked by a desperate conflict between their
% u3 f0 ~' K$ B# \/ D6 Avessel and a French privateer, in spite of which it was a com-
1 d9 `9 l2 a) S+ [4 `7 [mercial success. His Boston associates and connections ad- 3 g8 A7 Q5 t+ z8 I6 l. p
vised him, soon after, to mi,grate to New Orleans, then still a ; P( \9 }, r# ?1 q9 V
French possession, where he arrived in February, 1802, after
* O8 r. m) B# C. K! \( m1 Ua voyage lasting from October. His numerous Yankee friends
. f- o* t! r' X9 M) ~knew that they could absolutely rely on his integrity and judg- % D: m4 K! Q4 p0 M9 I. c B/ R
ment to handle, with the best results, the consignments they $ j- J" x, _# Q
made to him, and he soon built up a flourishing business in
/ r) X. Z: r% z6 J; BNew Orleans, which made him one of this country's " mer- / Y {& B9 ]& j: `7 y
chant princes." A copy of Mason's " Eeminiscences of New-
+ f6 B2 U: O+ m! X& W+ qport," expanded by the insertion of portraits and manuscripts ) H" k# |! T9 g T
into six volumes, which was acquired by the Lenox Library / G2 b% S: n2 W* D) d4 g/ k
from the collections of the distinguished historian, George 6 B8 T9 Q% e1 p" a$ F
Bancroft, contains an autograph business letter from Judah - g) ]: E& r+ J2 p- I* r4 e; G$ i- H
Touro to one of his New England correspondents, C. G. Cham- . g- O3 i1 I6 J9 ?
plain, United States Senator from Ehode Island, which throws
2 Y& {8 F2 G' x0 Llight on the scope of his business dealings. 6 \! |( e7 E$ ^$ {
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Tradition has it that he formed a romantic attachment for
# V3 N' P, [7 T4 lhis cousin, Catherine Hays, in these early days, but that their 7 |* o( b6 }4 x+ J! V$ Y
near relationship precluded their marrying, so that each re-
( J4 d" y7 }. ~2 F3 xmained single. She subsequently removed to Eichmond, Va., / x) |5 N! c% i' E, }# G" |* q/ k
and died the very month Judah Touro himself died, January, ( d p8 A5 a" g- Y
1834. She was remembered in his will, executed that very
0 g8 A$ z3 R5 R! g) ~! X7 ^month in ignorance of her death. 2 U8 e6 J: K6 R B5 |& T" l
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Abraham Touro, Judah's brother, died, unmarried, in Bos-
$ [* n, e% G* w% oton, October 18, 1822, at the age of 48, in consequence of an
" [# ^6 e6 x9 L1 c! baccident to the carriage in which he was driving; at his $ c" ^' V' `/ W7 u' f# p
especial he was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at New- 9 j! Z. ^2 s0 f6 l6 a. L) [5 }
port, though the Jewish community of that town had been
" s3 P- ?3 w# y) X: oscattered long before. Two years previously he had caused
% N& h7 \, b' l/ A0 P1 b4 Va substantial brick wall to be erected around the cemetery, for
1 U& h: S; \) N' `3 v6 a, ^' X7 y# I1 hwhich he made further provision by his will, which contained ( o9 r: f- c4 _8 I; n
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Judah Touro — K older . 97 # t3 V: \ D' t, l% T" @/ x$ H
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a number of larger charitable bequests, principally to Boston 8 Y9 X8 Y9 H3 R# G
institutions, though the Jewish synagogues of New York and
4 S( ?3 C* r" N" E CNewport were liberally remembered. It is due particularly
* W7 z0 F# l* r# R) Gto the overshadowing fame of his brother that posterity recog-
# V+ S6 o) s) M# {# ~9 Snizes the philanthropic gifts of Abraham Touro so slightly.
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Eeturning to Judah Touro's career, we note that he patriot- ( E1 p* ?( `6 P: N1 [; Y) Z H
ically recognized the claims of his country upon him during
7 r# N3 p& g' G" l% \the War of 1812, and thrust aside his large business interests, * ]) Z8 V7 v& L" g8 M: b
in order to enlist in the ranks during the siege of New Or-
5 W1 Q: ~: I% Nleans. After having served as a common soldier, he volun- 7 i& U- m Z8 i# y4 L
teered his services to aid in carrying shot and shell to one of 9 L6 C9 o) b/ e& p8 X2 f
the American batteries during a British cannonade, and while # S$ V M( A- A4 w7 r
in the performance of this duty he was struck by a twelve-
0 B+ h2 y+ p$ W* o2 Z/ ^pound shot on January 1, 1813, and so seriously injured that 9 P, m6 G4 c, x! F4 x
he was left for dead. Here an intimate friend, Eezin D. . R2 V( x3 {+ @2 c+ c' V) w
Shepherd, found him and saved his life after the physicians 7 E! p7 x: `" R V; b* A; \
had abandoned all hope. Their intimacy till Touro's death % D& k/ S# _* g8 r* Z+ C
was great to the point of romance, and nearly forty years later
8 i' u2 E; J$ L; pJudah Touro, in his last will, refers to the circumstance of
7 h9 @! K" c [* q; WShepherd's preservation of his life " under Divine Provi- 3 t- k2 U! T2 M: {# e7 U
dence," and appointed him his residuary legatee. As Shep-
+ @% F/ N# f% Gherd had independent means of his own, he treated this large & ~' @1 }1 u5 v- J! k t6 o
bequest as a trust to be administered for charitable purposes, - ~8 | c8 z& x( Y. J% y
so that Touro's bequests even exceeded the amounts so de-
/ d, p2 f- Z# w$ ]+ ~% Zscribed in the will itself.
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# p' [' a: @9 z1 c. Y% VJudge Walker, in the biographical sketch already referred 6 P1 i/ W$ A9 s4 p
to, summarizes his commercial career as follows : " He began " O' b9 Y) n7 O1 G* W$ ]
a brisk and profitable trade in soap, candles, codfish, and other
8 M& G8 N7 ] ?3 Y; H Mexports of New England, making prompt returns to his
; h& y" ]! t/ Q0 [friends in Boston. His fidelit}^ integrity, and good man-
+ ]( X( v* g) S; ^0 Y/ e/ B% oagement soon secured him a large New England trade, every
% o" q d! U$ |5 Z% L- @$ avessel from that section bringing him large consignments, and
. V5 |! o" j& O3 [: ?: }many ships being placed at his disposal, as agent, to obtain 1 ]0 B x. m7 b( c$ W
cargoes and collect freight. His business was prosperous, his : Y+ ?4 [3 N5 i) _$ T& P* e h8 e
funds accumulated. He invested his surplus judiciously in
: y G; a, Q! T$ C) Q9 \. j& fships and in real estate, which rapidly advanced in value. His - @% ^/ Z( {( H$ k
+ K0 X$ o( R% `, E" Y! R6 ]7 G$ l6 X3 e3 R* ^8 U$ y
) d1 R* ?% a7 y' d# f% l: w98 American Jewish Historical Society. 7 I( N$ R; z# A; ?$ U
# E; x: W, o8 p! j% ? Vcareer as a merchant was one of honest, methodical labor and 7 n: N( |/ ]; Y
stem fidelity to the principles of legitimate trade, never em-
; G8 ?2 z( _, [+ Wbarking in any hazardous ventures or speculations, never turn-
2 {3 ?8 b$ ]8 A# s, c7 ?ing aside from his line of business, and adhering rigidly to
8 R) K- L$ o& }the cash system. Such a career presents but few incidents 7 u: C9 M9 |4 V; N) g6 ?2 ?) K
of interest/^ He was as methodical and regular as a clock. S- d4 t5 U$ L* L+ ^" `
His neighbors were in the habit of judging the time of day
: R' g# M) [+ m. eby his movements. In his business he rarely employed more : i- i- Q! N8 [3 I7 n3 t
than one clerk, and he was generally a lad. It was his cus-
; [: y0 Y0 d1 f- m' Ztom to open his store himself at sunrise and close it at sunset. 2 u; c F" c7 x: o, V! Q7 Z, q( H
He attended to all his affairs himself, and had them so well
( D- z0 [3 A: D8 ^6 `- Larranged that there was no possibility of any misunder-
; U4 H# S0 j. x/ j) }. D8 dstanding.
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It is the circumstance that Judah Touro's whole life was
3 R* e) _! n; N9 I# W" g1 [devoted to personal charitable service, knowing no limits of
6 y1 a4 [7 L1 {/ B9 H6 gage, creed, or race, and so intelligently administered as to
5 y; D3 o/ x5 Q, K1 vwork the maximum of good in every instance, that has made
1 Y/ ^; O0 [8 O1 a+ Q& Q, G4 D/ N9 ghis name immortal, as are the names of few other philanthro-
* ?1 n. _' L. ?/ ~* Z! ^) p ?pists. Other men during his liftime also amassed large for- ; ^ z. j3 _8 ?( x' d% t
tunes and gave liberally spasmodically or by their last wills, 3 ^3 \9 w* r2 F- _$ \) f I1 {
yet unlike Judah Touro they are forgotten. The public, not- 2 |5 J# M* ^# t) B
withstanding his modesty and retiring disposition, knew that 5 P3 p) `% i$ {& H- }9 {) h
his whole life was consistently devoted to intelligent philan-
# @, A" A( [, k1 G( \, R1 M* d2 Dthropic action. Judge "Walker, who was a resident of New $ f9 Y. g& ~2 [) P( n) |; [
Orleans at the time of his death and for many years pre-
+ C# v' N& J3 K3 [* \viously, well says of him : " It was the death of a man who . X4 L( X6 ~6 I. ~4 U% d7 A& Y: b
had won a renown nobler, higher, and more enduring than . s9 _& @5 j t& Q P: m
that which the most successful merchant, the most daring
, r0 f% L& B$ k) rwarrior, or the most gifted author ever earned. Who that saw
8 }5 I* g. a6 X- H0 |: l; m' L7 Ghim in life would have anticipated such fervent demonstra-
/ k- p& k7 f. b; |8 X- Jtions of popular affection and grief at his death ? How little
/ O3 l& ~" I4 Q$ U- B- n4 W4 D2 Wof the hero or great man was there in the simple, humble , P+ l' j5 T* h
aspect of that timid, shrinking old man, who was wont to * n+ v" _+ [- Z9 C7 w) F# Q
glide so silently and diffidently through the streets, with his / ?: {& {0 h0 `: S5 R
hands behind him, his eyes fixed on the pavement, and his # i1 v" Q* ?6 q5 B1 D
homely old face, wrinkled with age but replete with the ex-
% T( c; s+ a0 E6 j: ^0 d
# s8 c) }; }; p
$ t& F2 a4 ]! @8 E5 A5 |' Q
2 n& c# {) ~* m5 pJudah Toiiro — Kohler. 99
/ U; b0 t9 g' F0 y# `5 |6 T0 s- A7 ` m2 ] t) ~! F
pression of genial kindness and benevolence. He was, too, 1 f# D1 |9 u$ {" u( l
a man of no great deeds, or public services, or brilliant quali- - O$ D% A9 Y: E6 n
ties. And yet, when the tidings of his decease go forth a 4 z6 g, H0 e5 m X4 {; O4 w8 y; q
whole people, a reckless, frivolous and cynical people, turn " C, z3 P) [+ V2 S
aside from their various pursuits of pleasure or ambition, to
1 |4 W6 z1 A2 I, bbewail with heartfelt sorrow his departure. And he died a 8 c- w: Y+ Y. V- L: A
millionaire. The people do not usually sorrow over the death 7 a( p, O# S" T( ~% v
of the rich man. ... It is rare, indeed, that the man who
+ Q( q8 H2 B% }1 v. Q3 ]" Ddoes his duty by his fellow-men in life, accumulates large
8 U0 }1 ~0 p9 g$ F+ K1 i% P4 q; kwealth. . . . Wealth seemed to flow into his coffers as the
9 |7 ^& ^/ x' D1 k* y7 N: p! l& Zreward of a boundless and incessant benevolence and benefi-
' {1 ]7 ?) d3 Ecence — an ever-active philanthropy. His career was a
# l* b4 |) y& J6 ]1 ?) X. tsplendid illustration of the Divine injunction and promise # a8 q0 Q. F1 x
' Cast thy bread on the waters, and after many days it shall
O" \/ [6 G5 N# \% D9 Ereturn to thee.' Avarice, the love of money for its own sake,
3 I$ ~ \1 r2 [7 ~were as foreign to his nature as dishonesty and falsehood. He
2 |5 [; Y H* t7 ^deprived himself of all other luxuries in order to enjoy and
; g6 P" R% x; i+ e2 z6 b3 cgratify with keener relish and greater intensity his single
}5 l: G, a: @- Cpassion and appetite — to do good to his fellow-men. He was , R) D7 c: ?5 ~! \' f3 O
a miser only in the exercise of his charity and benevolence,
1 i: X# w5 L! X0 Q* {) _% Z! Ufrom which he jealously excluded others. His only art and
! K7 J3 D3 `# q9 v! D! i9 Bstealth were displayed in the concealment of his benefactions,
' D3 n' w; f# A9 Uand his chief vexation and trouble were to avoid the ostenta-
; P; [* g1 g: p0 dtion and display which are too often the main incentive to * ?3 J4 t! G4 l- @/ f, l! y
liberal and benevolent deeds."
& E9 K2 z( M1 O" v, \0 y! Z
# y9 H% ?, V6 N# a0 V/ ]Turning from Judge Walker's panegyric, we must confess 5 W" |1 l# U, k0 j
that Judah Touro's shrinking, retiring nature permitted the 5 X1 s' y4 p: }/ t
public to know of but a small fraction of his many benefac-
" P M2 {$ n e* E% E) O7 gtions, and familiarity with but a fraction, numerous as they % h3 F ^' d9 V+ ?1 U, `
are, has been handed down to us. The time was one when
5 L6 M0 C8 o5 M2 x6 zlarge gifts to charitable and other public ends were not as 7 d5 ~7 c: o# `6 ?
common as they are now. When he donated $10,000 towards 3 D+ C5 D3 d1 [$ _
the erection of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1840, those in-
# z/ n, W+ g) j; o! j, J; u" Nterested in raising the necessary funds had almost given up 8 c6 M0 J+ z+ E( B
their project in despair. Though the cornerstone was laid : p5 `' M4 Z# c. \* h1 c) j. s( V+ n
already in 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the battle.
1 U. h# R. ~- q6 z+ A0 m7 A% x; @1 V4 h2 u
, O" L* E, `; E: \6 e J
7 G4 F8 P. v, F( D. I* M8 G( R
100 American Jewish Historical Society. 0 g; o8 X6 K0 y5 ?" f9 Q. a4 A
# q% }; Y) e% d" s1 _: r0 L/ {- E
Amos Laurence's generous offers of aid met with no material
9 z7 I4 ]( l7 W# ~% rresponse, even when aided by the eloquent appeals of Edward 1 |$ ]# t5 l( ]; i) i1 E l& v
Everett and Daniel Webster, until Judah Touro privately , w( }$ O# y, E
offered to contribute $10,000, duplicating a similar offer of 6 Q" I/ C$ Z7 ~# P4 Q( Q d
Amos Laurence made in 1839, provided the remaining neces- " k h/ L: [+ e. _9 V
sary $30,000 would be raised. It is said that he was so in- " S+ y5 { o2 n" S
dignant at the publication of his name, notwithstanding his
7 _( v z4 S' Linjunctions of secrecy in connection with the offer, that he
0 i) j8 k; p1 {- J) nseriously thought of withdrawing his offer for a time. Prob- J8 {3 w+ R" Y- `: A0 @
ably this generous benefaction to New England from a Jew-
/ E2 |+ g5 e6 Zish resident of distant New Orleans, more than any other . m, `, L( c) J$ z) Z" }
single gift, made Touro's benefactions familiar to the world, & H8 {1 U, ~5 b) o6 Z, u
and well might it be, when, on the occasion of the dedication
9 _1 [; u" H' I3 F& C2 w* s% tof the monument in 1843, in the presence of the President of
4 J2 i/ n0 e7 x9 z- a% }0 ~. Nthe United States and Daniel Webster as orator, his generosity 4 d3 Q! u: a* O6 ~
was commemorated by the presiding officer who read these
2 y# S" [, L! P7 ?: t- }lines, since become famous :
( L- y1 h$ X$ l9 g7 ?# K+ V+ k* ^7 ?7 L0 y
Amos and Judah — venerated names!
, R g9 A8 z( N8 w1 u0 E
4 j. G) o! x9 ?5 Z( o7 x* iPatriarch and prophet press their equal claims, + f O1 Y3 q; }% F$ e2 v8 |. U) t+ S
# I# O& m8 h5 h8 V- [
Like generous coursers, running neck and neck. ) b9 M& u) P; D5 K5 w! K
; S7 V5 s! a$ g8 C2 G& M( X# w
Each aids the work by giving it a check. 5 Y' L* @, ~) t9 e( ?: w
' W) W' F9 h$ X2 \" |Christian and Jew, they carry out a plan — 7 U6 K) S4 X* u, y9 `' ?$ t
- M, c5 Q) Q( h# LFor though of different faith, each is in heart a man. Q8 @4 w. Y4 I
7 y1 g5 K q! a. z! A mJudah Touro's private benefactions were munificent
1 q+ N% r0 }0 r" J) ^ Jthroughout his lifetime, and the recipients thereof were often
7 |" {" Q" W; h, gastonished at the degree of his generosity. An illustration
8 g& B0 m1 |* U2 Y. {' Ain point is set forth by the Eev. Theodore Clapp.* A Chris-
5 n1 b1 T: c( V' Ttian church in New Orleans, of which Mr. Clapp was the min-
; F0 O7 a# o( e! Sister, found itself in serious financial difficulties with $45,-
1 q& y% i/ K' |000 of indebtedness. Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised
D- X2 {9 H& t( |by private efforts, whereupon Mr. Touro purchased the build- 7 o0 r3 _& {) Z5 h
ing itself for $20,000 and permitted the congregation to
* I; Z. q4 X# c/ @" i; noccupy the building rent-free until it was destroyed, after ( \: a7 A# m0 J; m: E/ R
many years, by fire, when he furnished its most generous con-
* K% ~9 i. _% h' b5 Y2 e1 G4 g; q R4 y4 s3 D5 h, _0 B R
* " Autobiographical Sketches and Recollections," p. 24, et seq.
8 E0 I# K0 j! X( Z1 L5 _+ d' D+ ~. W' s; h& T# z! u0 `2 B
7 }% O+ g, A. ~/ u" n/ [/ z1 _) A& n; s3 w9 }0 f6 j: D5 ?
Judah Touro — Kohler. 101 1 \1 \2 y& `. K4 z2 i
! k9 I' r6 m1 \( f& V# y1 H( u3 t
tribution for a new building. To a friend who had suggested & U; e U, g5 H0 M, ^0 y
that he could profitably erect business buildings on the site, # [' {; ?! c( {1 ^: d/ _6 {
he promptly remarked on purchasing the church edifice : " I
! Q) h+ Q# b2 J! gam a friend to religion and I will not pull down the church 5 M, M+ C6 B3 Z, {
to increase my means ! " Mr. Clapp, moreover, received from ; {( A; D ]1 q
him no less than $20,000 during his lifetime. When his sister 4 v& p. z- a( y1 K- q" c9 g% c
died, leaving an estate of approximately $60,000 to him, he
6 R2 n4 z8 M+ p4 rdeclined to accept the money, ing instead that it be $ e! i; b3 u% u
distributed among deserving charities. The Touro Infirmary
" x5 B+ L7 l5 b0 _. t( Kat New Orleans was established during his lifetime. He be- ; P! o& f0 B8 ~) I5 Z% q
came interested in reports concerning the " Old Stone Mill " 7 q B! T# T/ U$ F
of jSTewport, supposed to be a relic of the early Northmen's
. k' k9 y/ H3 j H( t. {# }settlements in America, and bequeathed $10,000 for the acqui- 8 Z4 `: s1 j; S) U! y
sition of the site by that municipality. For many years he
- e8 D( {: }: \0 ]* Hwas practically the only Jewish resident of New Orleans;
# C0 I, i7 ?( T5 R6 O( Gsubsequently, as the Jewish population increased, he erected 7 k% i8 p( o9 a2 v7 D$ _3 t4 e
a synagogue building and donated it for such uses at an ex- ( h: I9 M+ N3 ~2 e" {( l
pense of approximately $40,000. Thereafter he was a regu-
. F) B" r0 n2 `- D4 l& N) L0 Xlar and devoted worshiper at its services. By his will, signed , Z! k$ e9 d: c+ K7 Z8 `
January 6, 1854, less than two weeks before his death, he dis- " _# M5 q" s/ U% v0 L3 |
tributed upwards of half a million of dollars to charitable $ p' p8 m, t* Y q; e- Y1 D
purposes, two-thirds of the sum to non-Jewish purposes. Mr. . i3 e! G! M" v% `. K" g2 g
Clapp, in commenting on this circumstance says : " I have
- r- u/ F' a) y! T5 [$ v" Gnever heard of but one religionist in the United States who + {9 W9 ?0 i6 |. \6 b* C
can be compared with Mr. Touro, as regards the liberality of 7 r8 p- v( R( [% x4 M3 P
his benefactions to his own church; and he bestowed nothing 5 Y, {- S- O1 V6 Y! C
on other denominations. But Mr. Touro gave more to stran- % w, F+ O. V6 f! o2 g0 V3 \' W0 k
gers than to his brethren. With a generous profusion, he 2 W* ]6 s; t; O1 ~7 [1 e
scattered his favors broadcast over the wide field of humanity.
3 e4 t' b& g( t! p. Y7 e# O# LHe knew well that many of the recipients of his bounty hated 9 ?& Q' N6 R9 S! `1 P; }
the Hebrews, and would, if possible, sweep them into anni-
7 [5 i$ H# z7 c& a) Zhilation." $ w. [: }# `7 k+ }; v! r: l
4 O0 O8 w, r# ~
One cannot read the will of Judah Touro without being sur- ; i) X# V8 N0 e3 Q$ H
prised at the accurate knowledge and familiarity acquired by
* Z6 o# K, h5 A5 f6 N$ G$ u! x) qhim at this early date concerning the many Jewish communi- & S6 E8 A, B# C# Z ^5 C0 M- ] N
ties of the country near and far, their congregations, and their : ~) X, [; X% h; \0 @) ?/ a
: ?" {8 p9 R; J# O# b
& N1 v2 T& t/ P) \
) ~) }4 c7 o r: O102 American Jewish Historical Society. ( n* |' y9 t6 h9 W
* a6 M8 p! ?0 I$ C2 Hcharitable institutions, many of which owed their continued
1 W) d6 Y1 s6 J+ jexistence to his generous bounty/ Had it not been for his 5 e" N C8 e. K, F; h: ~3 K' J" o
wise philanthropy, many of our boasted communal institu-
; T" T' B0 V: Q, _& A% D Ptions in most distant sections of the country, would have ( A8 D6 ?1 d3 l$ _" N
found their efforts stifled for many years, at least, by want of 5 S% I! f1 b0 P3 E
necessary support. Eev. Isaac Leeser, at his funeral, ably
! B% z0 B2 \! k# P( \summarized his will, containing upwards of 65 distinct be-
9 M; J9 g" _- ?' u/ c l9 vquests, as follows : ! u G1 b* r2 u
6 l3 D( T! [) W' ^6 qHe thought of the widow and orphan in his own city and where
* j# `: m3 J' A! w/ s% ^he had dwelt in his youth, and devoted a portion of his means to
1 m* H% P0 `8 `2 ?% Dtheir relief; and those to whom he has confided this trust are
2 B& {+ Z( b# e! Unot of his own faith and kindred, and probably no Israelite will $ l: s* z1 A; e4 D! T
ever claim any benefit from the funds. He thought of the poor in & X/ I9 L7 c( ?3 h/ a D
his own city, and endowed a home of refuge to receive them in
: r( i& l/ ~/ j! }2 N s: |the day of their distress. He thought of those of his own per-
6 j. e: W' K6 ^ K. Isuasion who suffer from the heavy hand of disease, and supplied * i+ D% e' x. p6 ^
the means to afford them relief, in several cities. He thought of % _; z+ M; Y- x6 J7 m; X
the new and weak congregations in various towns, and afforded
: g2 L& v0 l/ y5 Dthem the means to carry on their holy mission in dispensing the ; b3 @4 d0 ?3 z& i, P$ x
blessings which our faith is so well calculated to bestow. He - }5 u0 T, E9 J0 b+ |( v
thought of the necessity of diffusing religious education to the 2 }. x6 w- q3 v! x9 U
children of Israel; and with wise discrimination selected those / u+ A K/ j M/ J% B. r: Z
institutions best calculated to farther this end, to make Jewish
- F' C- o# D$ O. g: Wreligion and Jewish literature accessible to the greatest number-
0 d+ L J4 \3 j; f+ P7 SHe thought of those heavenly societies, whose mission it is to
) w+ L9 X7 T7 j4 Z6 Gglide gently into the abodes of the poor, to leave the traces of ; J' l( `3 x* Z
benevolence, to spirits which, without this, would droop
# Y# n, T% e/ O1 J: h+ ^7 g3 Finto despair and gloom. He thought of the aflaicted in the land of
" A" c z" M1 `& W/ oIsrael, to provide for them assistance in their distress, and pro-
0 [" \. [0 E9 b) ^tection the arm of violence; he, the merchant in the far
C: Z9 J5 z1 p; s+ nWest, who had lived for years separated from his people, almost
( d2 E. ?1 s5 x* ]- q2 r- `! ka solitary worshiper of one God, amidst those who acknowledged % H2 W; N. F* i N
Him not alone, forgot not those who still linger on the soil conse-
( a8 W3 l9 Z9 C) L6 v. q/ L3 ~8 R* M) x
° The will is appended as an appendix hereto chiefly because
! B$ B; m8 G1 l1 {5 Hit is the best contemporary enumeration I know to be extant of
4 E8 S3 h1 j. m& X* @7 Kthe various Jewish communities of the United States and their
) y G3 z8 `2 Y% d$ Ninstitutions. Judah Touro obviously sought the best information
8 L0 e! W# D+ _+ l0 |' d# n1 S- Qobtainable concerning Jewish communities throughout the coun- 8 Y# p7 W7 G7 i, `, X
try, and came to their assistance in a will which seems to have
+ l1 y% e4 `9 Y9 l& j$ gomitted no deserving Jewish community.
5 \4 X& o, o( s' b! Q! g2 n- m5 A* q% l J& M1 t
& }, b$ g# F. E! T9 @
p8 e* E3 [: p2 i# H& s
Judah Touro — Kohler. 103
+ c$ E2 K5 q/ J/ t$ w: c* o
2 n2 c0 n/ o9 d) M% ncrated by so many wonderful events which marked our early 9 D+ a4 r' d7 v. v& R ~' [
history, to them on in the deprivations to which they are
6 n% @$ u, w0 c+ jsubjected. 2 k9 U' {$ T1 K& C4 M7 H
, }- Q0 }0 S. b: [ B' c2 J) ^One reading the will cannot regard it as accidental that he ; Y7 ~8 {5 x- K1 F* S: C
should have expressed his "earnest wish to co-operate with
9 c& s6 }% z/ e6 R# [Sir Moses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavor-
2 E- W7 T9 h8 b2 t+ Ning to ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish
2 y) Z2 @& O1 V. q9 B* b- Tbrethren/' and to make a comparison between these two Jew-
2 q' n" o0 u$ Z/ bish philanthropists of the nineteenth century is an obvious
9 K( g6 E7 w9 M$ Wtemptation.
! y; I/ E- G ?% c! l' T$ q2 @8 X7 L% W' O/ B% z& y. K
At the funeral exercises at New Orleans, Jew and Gentile ; O9 r9 t4 H* S+ a( B7 m
vied with each other in their expressions of grief and respect, 4 g, }" ^( W1 v2 j+ @8 x, v& d
and these were even more marked at the obsequies at Newport, 5 a) D/ W5 U+ N" r, Q
Ehode Island, on June 6, of the same year, 1854, which were
: f5 Y& B' O& p. h/ Kattended by delegations from the numerous organizations he
( n% e+ H) {( S( w! o) T, B/ l& ohad so generously remembered, coming from all over the w+ \1 B R, ~! B, Y$ G, e5 B" t, [4 v
land. By official resolution of the public authorities of
4 n! m0 Y* A: [* G, HNewport, which had benefited so largely by his philanthropy,
`! z7 I, c E, _8 W1 n0 Z! ~3 Shis executors and all these delegations became the guests of : r7 w) x6 \+ z7 G1 h
the municipality. During the funeral procession, the bells
& X" n. i* M8 B ]8 ^of the various churches were tolled, and all places of business 7 k! j9 Z' J; l; B9 x6 u0 c
were closed. Among those who officiated at Newport were , ?* u) r# R* U; Z
Eev. J. K. Gutheim of New Orleans, Isaac Leeser of Philadel-
: z5 z, W: U: Ophia, and Eev. M. J. Eaphall and Eev. S. M. Isaacs of '^ew
& J& n- @$ f! W6 w k w+ HYork. A project to erect a monument to his memory was
: L; u! E& n) i. tbitterly assailed, a few years later, as an alleged violation of
( e, O* o2 ^' }( [3 g5 t% Y- xJewish law. Streets in both Newport and New Orleans
4 p% m, c1 M( U" y2 H6 Cwere named after him in order to commemorate his generous # V, z6 C7 W4 F! o* W2 m, H
philanthropy. 8 _- V' q% @. Q, E% M. C) I5 P+ u' C
e( n% B5 E9 K& r8 n% J- `
His tomb-stone, in the Newport Cemetery, bears the fol-
3 k* q' P/ a' Llowing appropriate inscription : $ X- j6 Z! _3 Y9 g
0 o* S- d e1 z* Y$ z+ `
By righteousness and integrity he collected his wealth;
5 y* V4 f2 {# q& U2 U& CIn charity and for salvation he dispensed it.
1 Y3 d' _5 B1 S4 SThe last of his name, he inscribed it in the book of philan- - c L1 P" V9 Q- u, L
thropy % n2 Q2 v$ f$ J. a
To be remembered forever.
4 g/ m8 a) P! W7 o* }9
) a# S* ?- C% t5 m+ c
5 h& h0 l4 B2 @& h' s4 D3 _1 t# g- N3 V" A) N
) A. G, f. s0 ~- Z
104 American Jeujish Historical Society.
9 q) N: e% S( \+ e
3 P+ ~5 G; x) }5 ^- z* s4 QWILL OF THE LATE JUDAH TOURO. # {. H7 c+ F+ Q' `0 {5 A" q
' N$ G8 o( Q- r2 o T" U1 q
United States of America, + C6 {$ v( o2 u% E$ B: P
& y7 w) m/ |/ J% N. o; Q
State of Louisiana, City of New Oeleans. y" k) F" A. t6 `9 d! o
8 D, c. ^4 I% a* w
Be it known that on this sixth day of January, in the year of
" L$ S6 B/ ~1 b2 i9 {3 l; s% Kour Lord eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the independence
9 N0 \3 M9 P' L0 Gof the United States of America the seventy-eighth, at a quarter
0 Q/ _- c" _. }! X2 ~# d0 f$ Mbefore 10 o'clock a. m..
, Z1 p* J9 A- d- _% j
& U q' K/ L; t: `; m0 g gBefore me, Thomas Layton, a Notary Public, in and for the 0 B$ {& k9 n' v
city of New Orleans aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn,
# ^6 M. I8 F, @0 ~, g& Kand in presence of Messrs. Jonathan Montgomery, Henry Shep-
) j! T# W9 {! C) t" F. w3 Aherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, competent witnesses, re- 0 {1 ^! D0 n$ y2 h' ?1 \2 X8 k* M) W8 j
siding in said city, and hereto expressly required — % r) v5 L8 f0 N' K% x) ?2 G/ s9 P
: `1 a' ]$ d& {5 P0 i) f. q' cPersonally appeared Mr. Judah Touro, of this city, merchant, , c% ~8 u, |7 J5 }; U+ g1 J
whom I, the said Notary, and said witnesses, found sitting in a
, O7 K: ^1 k% _5 X; eroom, at his residence, No. 128 Canal Street, sick of body, but 5 o% s& ^3 t" L" y0 v( E
sound in mind, memory, and judgment, as did appear to me, the
2 D/ |0 L, H( i! j% p0 Nsaid Notary, and to said witnesses. And the said Mr. Judah ; l4 d G4 G' L7 n; {% f4 M+ w
Touro requested me, the Notary, to receive his last will or testa- " B5 q: _4 P' Y9 z% d) G, P
ment, which he dictated to me, Notary, as follows, to wit, and in ! L8 r: s2 Z+ Z2 V& A) u
presence of said witnesses: 1 b8 X- A" n) ]6 R; ]
% G4 z2 m( H8 E- H. Q1. I declare that I have no forced heirs.
. h2 m5 g+ m" R$ h: h8 |- O4 j9 r2 Q( L( l+ E; m
2. I desire that my mortal remains be buried in the Jewish
" T5 O' X/ d) S0 r- ^Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, as soon as practicable after 2 g( W* N5 k* l+ ]
my decease. : e* k& A2 ~4 A& k
4 X1 m1 X) e; A8 Z/ U$ r: I& s3. I nominate and appoint my trusty and esteemed friends
- v' }8 r0 @/ e F, U6 n, O5 e b( ORezin Davis Shepherd of Virginia, Aaron Keppell Josephs of
8 J( ^( c8 h/ R5 INew Orleans, Gershom Kursheedt of New Orleans, and Pierre + [ Z9 K! m# c' V" d
Andre Destrac Cazenave of New Orleans, my testamentary execu-
8 F3 m! |* M; C( S& G+ C- h P3 stors, and the detainers of my estate, making, however, the follow- ! f8 Y. b6 i, {8 r- `% s8 I: w% r1 Y
ing distinction between my said executors, to wit: To the said
( \3 x* |- z: Z+ ?, X# R$ oAaron Keppell Josephs, Gershom Kursheedt, and Pierre Andre / G, e, J! q6 Z! Z, ~% i6 Q
Destrac Cazenave, I give and bequeath to each one separately, the ; x0 r' v8 _) a8 O. H% G, V2 Y
sum of ten thousand dollars, which legacies I intend respectively,
. w$ c5 g# H/ Q7 X# M6 m' {, Fnot only as tokens of remembrance of those esteemed friends, but 7 X7 O: F/ ^, @5 S* P
also as in consideration of all services they may have hitherto, r. X. r0 e7 i) y
rendered me, and in lieu of the commissions to which they would
. h, W$ p' n) c" w% c' Lbe entitled hereafter in the capacity of Testamentary Executors - S7 \/ k1 j0 l# @
as aforesaid. And as regards my other designated executor, say 8 H% Q: D9 b- p& I8 f0 k1 z7 z
my dear, old and devoted friend, Rezin Davis Shepherd, to whom, 3 e1 N6 o1 W3 R# C2 D
under Divine Providence, I was greatly indebted for the preserva-
1 @, B: P7 F* Z' E; Etion of my life when I was wounded on the 1st of January, 1815, 4 e9 k# ^$ i& r
& f/ O& l* {2 _
5 I% m3 L5 M. N/ Z1 V, m; a2 J5 m% O# F8 u% t$ ~$ u: |; G. Y
Judah Touro — Eohler. 105
! X4 K: f5 S5 R: n) [$ N2 M
( x. j% D r9 D1 p' w6 E! yI hereby appoint and institute him, the said Rezin Davis Shep- 6 w# _2 Q, ~: R0 b4 M2 J+ L# y
herd, after the payment of my particular legacies and the debts - ?- L( M m* l
of my succession, the universal legatee of the rest and residue of - i }, }3 K6 y! @8 P8 P
my estate, movable and immovable. ! t# u$ p3 @; d% ~& H
/ U) [) J) D8 s
In case of the death, absence or inability to act of one or more
- @( j% y0 Y1 L9 {, N0 Xof my said Executors, I hereby empower the remaining Executor
; L$ _$ T' L# Vor Executors to act in carrying out the provisions of this my last
/ a* g% R/ q% w8 R7 r0 ^will; and in the event of the death or default, of any one or more 5 x) J. s3 W+ J1 D7 ~
of my said Executors before my own demise; then and in that
$ c5 q4 Y. _( N' {+ z. ~case, it is my intention that the heirs or legal representatives of 8 C9 O" G9 p6 B: E2 t8 H" n8 J
those who may depart this life before my own death, shall in- 9 t: J0 M1 [0 u; D, k4 c
herit in their stead the legacies herein above respectively made
, f* u; m5 h8 h: yto them.
$ H& p7 O' u( ^: U$ r* h2 f/ G4 s) r: P1 p
4. I desire that all leases of my property and which may be in & | u% [& y; u, A! X: `+ T" \
force at- the time of my demise, shall be faithfully executed until 9 S/ `0 z. N/ D; U3 }1 E( B- E
the same shall have expired.
q8 {9 J: i* ^# w6 |% l/ T$ j9 a1 Q4 t; b( U6 {
5. I desire that all the estate, real, personal and mixed, of
9 U. w6 `% d: G$ c+ X% V( } r+ gwhich I may die possessed, shall be disposed of in the manner
4 B2 \# U$ i) R* ~& A, `directed by this my last will or testament.
; ^" w* b3 Q! H9 X% {3 x# }9 L8 ? x& w0 J4 P/ Z# g8 j
6. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation the " Dis-
- e$ L4 b. J% k7 }persed of Judah " of the City of New Orleans, all that certain 8 Y$ ~. V9 r2 H) ~
property situated in Bourbon Street, immediately adjoining their
% Q' K9 Y) o$ G8 V5 ~& ASynagogue, being the present schoolhouse, and the residence of 7 |3 ]4 j% V' l0 C/ [
the said Mr. Gershom Kursheedt, the same purchased by me from 9 \" \! R; E, p8 ?1 T8 A
the bank of Louisiana; and also to the said Hebrew Congregation,
' F3 w2 `- V8 @; g0 tthe two adjoining brick houses purchased from the heirs of David
! ~- s- k, r' s' L1 _, aUrquhart, the revenue of said property to be applied to the found- 0 x: J. }$ L4 ?
ing and support of the Hebrew school connected with said Con- + I0 |+ A) q, T+ ~# B0 ?: C
gregation, as well as to the defraying of the salary of their
: J. Z" Z8 y3 B. X* x: hReader or Minister, said property to be conveyed accordingly by
* ?4 Z' I' D8 f F/ x, |my said executors to said Congregation with all necessary re-
: u( i% N. Z# S7 J! y8 Sstrictions. 4 r: u' |' ^1 M2 Q0 \- u6 f
$ T6 u9 c0 x! H' [6 [+ L- T7. I give and bequeath to found the Hebrew Hospital of New 4 C) B/ A, N2 d3 z
Orleans the entire property purchased for me, at the succession ! K; b& j/ ]0 O5 m# `+ Y
sale of the late C. Paulding, upon which property the building / a6 Y6 ]: Y2 O+ v+ @" p% [
now known as the "Touro Infirmary" is situated; the said con-
3 r( m; E0 l" A$ W& qtemplated Hospital to be organized according to law, as a char-
1 l/ \8 P, d" S3 C& r8 y ^itable institution for the relief of the indigent sick, by my ex- 8 Z/ Y2 b$ q+ `
ecutors and such other persons as they may associate with them
$ I/ P/ Q" A. N) @0 K1 b$ J( yconformably with the laws of Louisiana. ' M# L. \2 R# g2 v
* }$ y; o# } i" \9 r. c3 y
8. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Association of
3 j$ ]; X* P+ P/ z% S i, {New Orleans five thousand dollars.
, S) p; A, ] V) L0 {. y
- l0 |0 b& e+ Z8 ~8 @9. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
2 K. F T# T. x) Ygarai Chassed " of New Orleans five thousand dollars. ' H$ P$ G" r6 ]
1 A, U K( C) v N& n) b
( x0 x7 ?! C0 W# Q( g+ q2 o
! z( P% n; K2 J- n106 American Jewish Historical Society.
/ v$ s$ A. a7 E6 c) Z [
& i/ i/ {, s! L10. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of
2 ]$ g) t% U7 G0 P1 u! y: K7 YNew Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. 4 q- C e a$ X q
' Y; u4 k. D! u3 A6 j' x11. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Foreign Mission Society / z' v$ B6 y- W. W/ A0 j
of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
5 q y' L. B; G, h( [# L
& h v& t; _/ N0 |/ w12. I give and bequeath to the Orphans' Home Asylum of New " t1 Z @$ l. Q& [- e* Z
Orleans, the sum of five thousand dollars. ) T# [; T3 B# V7 r# N" \* L/ T; t0 e
7 ^, m3 e5 N2 X# X4 j13. I give and bequeath to the Society for the relief of Desti-
# K, {7 i m$ vtute Orphan Boys in the Fourth District, five thousand dollars. $ v2 x" `: k k9 @; x8 W
, \. g( M* {& M6 }5 j: R( V14. I give and bequeath to the St. Armas Asylum for the relief
/ n) z9 y0 w \1 Oof destitute females and children, the sum of five thousand dol- " o& ?8 p& ^0 t* B
lars. 0 k6 U! g! s6 i9 t
3 n6 Q! U% b4 P- C- B15. I give and bequeath to the New Orleans Female Orphan
* S5 a w. G; t# e) |) R% }! bAsylum, at the corner of Camp and Prytania streets, five thou- , }) I# }& q1 Y. N
sand dollars. 7 g3 j5 m) J; R, X
4 [5 A9 t+ ] |9 X. Z7 \( q16. I give and bequeath to the St. Mary's Catholic Boys' Asy- 3 Z$ r6 w# U- `
lum, of which my old and esteemed friend Mr. Anthony Rasch is # t G" F! k* x' m( U+ _
chairman of its Executive Committee, the sum of five thousand 8 ]' G4 k7 c+ Y0 t- w% \& R
dollars. 1 |- T t. g" O6 G% _
" p0 n9 {2 M" X% K: K. n17. I give and bequeath to the Milne Asylum of New Orleans,
8 Z8 b' o: a2 tfive thousand dollars.
% O3 ~) M( C/ K" K: R$ W7 b5 a9 J# k o( S
18. I give and bequeath to the " Firemen's Charitable Associa-
5 v0 O& [' l6 A* y' \, X1 mtion " of New Orleans, five thousand dollars. ' H" y* X* F) }$ a0 w+ N
8 i9 _4 a9 b$ c. Y; p' |
19. I give and bequeath to the " Seamen's Home," in the First + r4 m/ e1 B" ]7 X6 ?1 z
District of New Orleans, five thousand dollars.
m! ?4 {( m0 v7 g0 Z% L( R5 `2 K& K: Y1 r
20. I give and bequeath, for the purpose of establishing an
. l7 I5 i; p( g$ D$ t8 x" Alms House " in the City of New Orleans, and with a view of ) [: o, X5 o0 v9 B0 Z$ m7 ^; I* |
contributing, as far as possible, to the prevention of mendicity ; H/ Y! O& ?( e0 {; ~1 _6 E& w
in said city, the sum of eighty thousand dollars, (say $80,000) 1 A* e6 h' Q6 ]0 F
and I desire that the " Alms House " thus contemplated shall be
0 _ C1 c+ g' A1 ]organized according to law; and further, it is my desire that 9 t0 r* b3 h6 x. F% J# r2 F
after my executors shall have legally organized and established ' S: ` R* j% L7 a# Y* v& S" B
said contemplated Alms House, and appointed proper persons to
1 A" c8 Y/ @0 e: \% [) D t* y' `administer and control the direction of its affairs, then such per-
4 s7 h) K! n" j- tsons legally so appointed and their successors, in office, con-
" ~' s4 ]+ n# \1 cjointly with the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and his suc- ' P$ R$ y4 Y# H% z+ @
cessors in office, shall have the perpetual direction and control 6 i+ ^% X+ c. A9 z5 d% V6 r3 x
thereof. * I4 u# C7 z; i! E: K4 \
" G! {9 g7 S* ^7 r3 O0 ~
21. I give and bequeath to the City of Newport, in the State of 2 s: O3 J* a' G. W4 A1 ~
Rhode Island, the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that
- |' N4 G5 _; }! \: xthe said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the 6 {- k- x P* R0 G2 Z9 w
property in said city, known as the " Old Stone Mill," to be kept
6 V- W& O6 w' Ras a public park or promenade ground. + m% K5 T1 I! O8 T* H4 z
; D# J; _: U5 }) B/ {6 s T& j22. I give and bequeath to the " Redwood Library " of Newport
$ M( I# G1 g) Y2 R4 y! X, W& L; m h# X8 a: daforesaid, for books and repairs, three thousand dollars.
/ g3 Z; l+ M# v7 E! A) b0 C! F! d% [% s* M7 Z
( w" c: h+ F& G# i3 q1 c I# s) Z) N3 a$ T& p( v8 z
Judah Touro — Kohler. 107 2 V/ H; K" A% S
/ o0 g' c: m& b/ Q
23. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Ohabay
# z# N5 D; {2 e9 Y* d$ S& FShalome " of Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand dollars. ) Q& [. N! n) x6 w* u8 v
5 o* z3 F) X7 I6 x+ Q* {( J0 F# d
24. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Hart-
" g# {- R0 @# @% r, z9 aford, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
9 A6 [$ M+ ^% O6 L/ h
' @3 W3 W8 o1 X9 A: ]25. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of New * n! C0 |% T1 C4 ]
Haven, Connecticut, five thousand dollars.
! D4 G& ?6 u+ h' }, f, T4 Z* F2 M( [; y% t. D2 A7 h
26. I give and bequeath to the North American Relief Society,
0 T V- d8 O7 w6 k+ z6 ^for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, of the City and ) h& w7 j5 w2 ?( m7 u
State of New York (Sir Moses Montefiore of London, their agent),
* B. x* T+ \2 J3 W! Q/ z ?! Eten thousand dollars. * D/ Q; R/ j. `) B; C
2 w" p. e" f* ]1 \- L) d27. It being my earnest wish to co-operate with the said Sir
0 _+ v. d4 I$ W2 R7 t* x( AMoses Montefiore of London, Great Britain, in endeavoring to ; @2 w8 X) e% Q0 p( {- z
ameliorate the condition of our unfortunate Jewish Brethren, in
5 S9 S5 `/ A8 l- S5 Nthe Holy Land, and to secure to them the inestimable privilege of 1 M) x+ N% S3 v4 R
worshipping the Almighty according to our religion, without 9 w1 z ?, O2 B2 U+ ^
molestation, I therefore give and bequeath the sum of fifty thou- ' e# L% ~0 `" m
sand dollars, to be paid by my Executors for said object, through
/ {, ?! Q: {* L5 p; @7 ^the said Sir Moses Montefiore, in such manner as he may advise, % @/ r1 \6 j( u( x, o- [
as best calculated to promote the aforesaid objects; and in case of $ N; V) b: [7 D0 J4 b2 @6 \5 ^
any legal or other difiiculty or impediment in the way of carry-
2 q, m3 _$ e4 ming said bequest into effect, according to my intentions, then and
, i$ x( D. b5 M0 }, a! tin that case, I desire that the said sum of fifty thousand dollars ! Q- c" D; b8 ^" W6 Z/ Y
be invested by my Executors in the foundation of a Society in the
# A! k r# g* [4 ACity of New Orleans, similar in its objects to the " North Ameri-
$ A# O8 B, c4 e2 ecan Relief Society for the Indigent Jews of Jerusalem, Palestine, ( F. L+ J" i% N9 I- b# E
of the City of New York," to which I have before referred in this
/ z! h( ~% |8 b! S* v$ B* a) R; mmy last will.
6 c+ p) q! o/ w2 e) W' R
! x( C. R8 _) t f. J28. It is my wish and desire that the Institutions to which I , }6 D0 ~, D9 K& b; @6 O' W9 n, T
have already alluded in making this will, as well as those to
; q! m7 X! W1 S+ _% Vwhich in the further course of making this will, I shall refer,
3 O0 @! ^2 ~0 [/ k6 m5 qshall not be disqualified from inheriting my legacies to them ! r( {" q7 d5 k8 x
respectively made, for reason of not being incorporated, and
5 R" N# D1 b9 V$ Tthereby not qualified to inherit by law; but on the contrary, I
, J$ |' y' H7 c: E7 m- H" hdesire that the parties interested in such institutions and my
4 {4 `4 W; a: ]- Y( uexecutors shall facilitate their organization as soon after my de-
$ I) b8 D4 J; n& J% `' Zcease as possible, and thus render them duly qualified by law to
) F- z, K" O- K. b- Q9 X+ jinherit in the premises according to my wishes. % V7 y: @) }6 v2 s0 t; {6 _
/ r% b, G1 E/ o6 k3 J' K: k) C$ r29. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital Society of the
4 U9 Z) B8 i- X: k4 kCity and State of New York twenty thousand dollars. ! E, |1 L& A' C* O- ?! A5 \
+ j; A Y3 n" Y3 a# h7 H" @
30. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
7 a# j9 N% G/ p$ K8 q" Meshibat Nafesh " of New York, five thousand dollars.
* F) \- U7 _, s0 L& `: n- j! B. d$ N a3 E& A; P
31. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Benevolent Society
7 a3 Q$ [/ n3 N3 u. x& v* W1 q) i5 s" Gemilut Chased " of New York, five thousand dollars.
* {6 ], v4 i9 @& |; [: W+ Y1 Y& N' c
: } X' B9 _1 D0 T3 z D! ?( c7 v
; v" i+ f/ r$ p% O! s
108 American Jewish Historical Society. 9 O% L J; r" z5 x, c0 m
: @* e+ _# h! C! j0 ^- }
32. I give and bequeath to the " Talmud Torah " School Fund ; Z6 h2 n2 k& {
attached to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith Israel," of the
0 r) A9 F. |9 V* O( u$ U0 jCity of New York, and to said Congregation, thirteen thousand / O8 L" [: n/ ^( ?0 ]
dollars.
. F! I2 O- ~+ }. z! p# U- ?* k( h% r
33. I give and bequeath to the Educational Institute of the He- ' _$ K; }+ K7 Q3 S+ N( X
brew Congregation " B'nai Jeshurun " of the City of New York, $ s0 f+ E/ |! ~; s! M
the sum of three thousand dollars.
9 R2 d9 C. N# r5 s% L4 M- w/ P+ M9 T2 t- C7 @7 B: y
34. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
3 q; Y3 e( ^$ i7 Qgarai Tefila," of New York, three thousand dollars. $ c& w- K6 {5 X: z. q
$ E5 n4 a+ U% L- a' K9 F3 k- Q& A35. I give and bequeath to the Ladies' Benevolent Society of # g2 f: A0 k' l1 F5 [& {
the City of New York, the same of which Mrs. Richey Levy was 4 |, s; n/ }) r, {6 Y- Z
a directress at the time of her death, and of which Mrs. I. B. 5 A1 T# K/ v- a+ {+ E6 z4 q( L
Kursheedt was first directress in 1850, three thousand dollars.
; F( i/ E4 A# Q2 p
6 s. N; v8 m( j4 f/ s' l36. I give and bequeath to the Female Hebrew Benevolent So- , l- _, P& c/ o. i8 }
ciety of Philadelphia (Miss Gratz, Secretary), three thousand dol-
) k. X- ^. n! T9 \lars.
1 Z4 E. O3 K" E
4 V7 h* D W$ O. `1 }! V! _6 R37. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Education Society of
1 U8 u/ G7 S/ a% uPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, twenty thousand dollars. % u5 P; ~$ x0 C! K: x, C+ u
( H V5 l4 F3 F38. I give to the United Hebrew Benevolent Society of Phila- . t& ?# }0 M3 r2 ^2 ]! a" `* ?, v
delphia, aforesaid, three thousand dollars.
1 w" I# A3 D; _) e: ?) ?% w
. u' ~4 z/ W, ~/ V39. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation "Ahabat ' {9 W4 y- W) f2 D( Z& @
Israel," of Fell's Point, Baltimore, three thousand dollars.
c! d- k9 W" z0 Z+ r: J/ z( O8 _: P D# N; `
40. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Beth ( _$ E1 i" U0 s, K
Shalome," of Richmond, Virginia, five thousand dollars. B$ K4 ] ]; x1 K' e
" x7 r8 C4 E4 i" m7 Y& [$ X
41. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shearith 0 E' Z3 w% Z* L) L
Israel," of Charleston, South Carolina, the sum of five thousand ( I% y/ y( R/ x. Q+ T
dollars.
% d" k7 S( j% P' Y8 f$ y0 |2 A8 Y7 D7 u) l) @1 N
42. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Shan-
7 L8 N6 @4 m" E- Z% }0 \4 Bgarai Shamoyim," of Mobile, Alabama, two thousand dollars. M$ F$ V2 M2 c/ v+ Y8 z+ }; B- J
# z" W( P! @* i; n9 q& a43. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Mikve
3 W1 N2 T4 r- b) PIsrael," of Savannah, Georgia, five thousand dollars.
/ x. b. p9 k. n4 Q
: y: |" l; M. E I! V44. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mont-
3 ~0 |6 y) p2 g+ jgomery, Alabama, two thousand dollars. 5 B; F, q, `4 c) D& p! H* w9 u
& C1 g- Z" f& S: {% v C Y! B
45. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of Mem-
8 k, {- a4 K4 j! P/ qphis, Tennessee, two thousand dollars. * J. g& r1 T4 x; S, u4 c, m
/ O% q5 E9 y: h b0 G" p6 l% \46. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Adas 0 e0 {. H# C. v
Israel," of Louisville, Kentucky, three thousand dollars.
5 t% b a# q4 z0 _" U Q; R# c: G. U3 {+ M5 C2 D6 P' {2 h8 @
47. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation " Bnai Is- . d& o' ^4 F. K
rael," of Cincinnati, Ohio, three thousand dollars.
) v* j% x7 k, f: t% B$ x
- D+ R, G+ l6 H6 d3 J48. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew School, " Talmud Yelo- & x) F9 o1 L' Q: ` D: f' \
dim," of Cincinnati, Ohio, five thousand dollars.
6 ]% ?0 i7 r" |4 N# ~+ y. B& B, r$ p% z- P* `$ }9 T
49. I give and bequeath to the Jews' Hospital, of Cincinnati,
1 ~+ v, `5 U& n. ]' Z5 z, U! rOhio, five thousand dollars.
5 I; w( t8 F, A# H3 s0 _% r6 i2 }( J
2 I% _3 k3 ?4 E8 g" s6 @
# P/ r K/ x7 OJudah Touro — Kohler. 109 : r/ D- |8 a$ T$ e' L1 L/ j
4 n/ ?6 n1 b! J: [- G5 Z% R50. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Tifereth . v5 f) Y* L Z+ E
Israel," of Cleveland, Ohio, three thousand dollars. , ]8 r' n6 v$ Y0 X$ p5 V+ e
; G/ i. s: g8 q/ a, N4 }" D
51. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Bnai
3 G) c/ j2 s$ M8 gEl," of St. Louis, Missouri, three thousand dollars.
/ g# T+ {/ X$ M0 B3 a& l
, _5 ]! _! {9 R2 a: h52. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation, " Beth El,"
5 W% x, S8 _, L4 j( f% G( }of Buffalo, New York, three thousand dollars.
. ~- K1 z/ L' N% K3 ^* }1 E3 g
# E; N( `7 H! P7 V9 Q53. I give and bequeath to the Hebrew Congregation of " Beth
2 G! T5 F/ ~# _8 G( U2 e0 m8 IEl," of Albany, New York, three thousand dollars.
/ _6 j) O5 F4 ]* {, P
4 O7 E& l2 J7 B: D- X0 K% D54. I give and bequeath to the three following Institutions, " l ]9 u; m9 U; d; v R
named in the will of my greatly beloved brother, the late Abra-
/ G- v% {! P0 ?6 q" ~: Q# tham- Touro, of Boston, the following sums:
; _# g$ ]$ v5 |1 W7 R2 V* _7 S% b k! M1 c) k! Q
First, to the Asylum of Orphan Boys, in Boston, Massachusetts,
+ B* o2 ^3 ^ H" O1 l/ Bfive thousand dollars.
( o; \! p( O( |# y+ ?, Z7 G# w& E
7 M: _9 T! Q, g" qSecond. To the Female Orphan Asylum of Boston aforesaid, 6 I2 A- i' }- ~
five thousand dollars.
. \4 T- W8 [2 ^. J
% e" W# Y6 V! PThird. And to the Massachusetts Female Hospital, ten thou- # {' w: z4 s' m# F' {2 ~
sand dollars. ; t" o6 y P& f: C( M
$ x2 r/ [5 \7 T. Y+ D( D( n, t/ Q55. I give and bequeath ten thousand dollars for the purpose of 6 i ^4 `( R# `% A I4 e
paying the salary of a Reader or Minister to officiate in the Jew- - D- t; ~8 H$ k4 j) {. z4 o$ Q) n6 N
ish Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island, and to endow the Min-
* F- g q/ M3 X* B& Iistry of the same, as well as to keep in repair and embellish the
. Q- t4 _. ?# I: T2 a3 c1 P" iJewish Cemetery in Newport aforesaid; the said amount to be ) P# s7 d6 |. m, p! I, E
appropriated and paid, or invested for that purpose in such manner
7 G& Y3 \. k, }7 c; g# }as my executors may determine concurrently with the corporation
+ y+ P9 |# F+ `5 X8 s6 o* h* W ]of Newport aforesaid, if necessary. And it is my wish and desire, W$ A+ v' F8 ~ [8 s! v4 I
that David Gould and Nathan H. Gould, sons of my esteemed 5 u* `- X6 s. @
friend the late Isaac Gould, Esq., of Newport aforesaid, should 6 ?: [6 m2 u7 j
continue to oversee the improvements in said Cemetery and direct
/ P* g3 {, z' d* J1 x: K. nthe same; and as a testimony of my regard and in consideration
* q: y; i0 o wof services rendered by their said father, I give and bequeath the 8 N, ]. \9 n5 v
sum of two thousand dollars to be equally divided between them, # W9 T: q5 k" Y5 K7 y$ V
the said David and said Nathan H. Gould. 0 ~1 ^+ ]6 N. A
. }0 J+ `0 q3 h; V4 ?6 j
56. I give and bequeath five thousand dollars to Miss Catharine ; A2 n+ s1 I9 P3 r3 z8 b: E
Hays, now of Richmond, Virginia, as an expression of the kind % z0 c6 g1 W7 l5 W
remembrance in which that esteemed friend is held by me.
4 U% G5 ^) n q0 f" \" f2 l2 W l
% x0 j$ Y$ b# f57. I give and bequeath to the Misses Catharine, Harriet and
. v3 N* p x( s ?1 k: `1 lJulia Myers, the three daughters of Mr. Moses M. Myers, of
0 \# {: Q0 }# {& N* T3 a# I7 SRichmond, Virginia, the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be
" Y) L. {9 q! [( j2 Y& requally divided between them. ; @! `1 {. h% h3 U) y
) H& A: j3 S4 @3 G( C/ ]5 e
58. I give and bequeath the sum of seven thousand dollars to 9 j; _9 ? L. W
the surviving children of the late Samuel Mj^ers. of Richmond, 7 @" z6 U) y% V: ?
Virginia, to be equally divided between them, in token of my
5 ]4 e) h) J6 r, ]/ ^' j& G# Qremembrance.
, P$ q5 h5 G0 q9 M2 {& X* F- v% o8 \, [0 ^4 i: a7 c5 B" _
# U& ^( ~6 U7 y& e3 P6 p/ x; f- K5 W" k9 y* U
110 American Jewish Historical Society.
1 C/ D8 Y- M5 T2 I# Q. F! r8 a8 w2 c4 Y
59. I give and bequeath to my friend Mr. Supply Clapp Twing, " D* L* q4 C( l
of Boston, Mass., the sum of five thousand dollars, as a token of
2 p7 G" I9 Q( T% amy esteem and kind remembrance.
" Q& w8 r$ W: ~& w- X, K$ ^. m% p. P
60. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to % q- t. j) b$ a8 _, J
my respected friend the Rev. Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, as a 5 `7 y' Z k" l" w p
token of my regard.
( v, w* w, L6 k
" e, ^$ p5 n. o* O8 E9 w6 v- D61. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to ( P" n3 L/ A2 K% Z o6 k
my friends the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, now of London, and his
$ `# ~( N$ @* e' ]6 ^% rwife, to be equally divided between them. 6 ]( V, p$ I9 l) Y1 {
4 n; [5 \4 p, O4 _! m) i& k
62. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars to ( a+ W% y& X' Y% L8 i6 O k
my friend the Rev. Theodore Clapp, of New Orleans, in token of
@0 \; l. R8 o' Y6 b- x c0 Emy remembrance.
: v$ G/ I% r5 Y' F) Y" h% x$ p9 w$ g" d( A) b+ t% b- g# M6 {3 s
63. To Mistress Ellen Brooks, wife of Gorham Brooks, Esquire,
2 i# ^" P# k3 @6 wof Boston, Massachusetts, and daughter of my friend and ex-
& {+ D# [* ^! B. R/ H& \ecutor Rezin Davis Shepherd, I give the sum of five thousand dol-
* r3 U8 z0 A/ v8 B; g+ r: i3 T) Olars, the same to be employed by my executors, in the purchase
2 ^+ a5 r/ M2 n- Sof a suitable memorial to her as an earnest of my very kind
+ |5 P5 E2 M0 S* Vregard.
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64. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, $ M9 |: N& b. j$ F, t* V6 ]: H- i
to be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable $ v1 a" P X' p: c0 q8 t
memorial of my esteem, to be presented to Mrs. M. D. Josephs,
- d% J% U4 x. ewife of my friend, Aaron K. Josephs, Esq., of this city. ! i( s2 w9 v+ \7 s a+ v5 n6 s
+ C) ?7 D0 \5 A, H
65. I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars
% r0 W; b; G$ `6 T* M% b( P! Vto be employed by my executors in the purchase of a suitable
n$ r, N5 X- Q4 X' kmemorial of my esteem for Mistress Rebecca Kursheedt, wife of
$ d- \- K+ F3 c2 O$ G8 ~Mr. Benjamin Florance, of New Orleans.
+ t! T3 n8 s/ z0 w% d* h* X: ]* {! v6 E- P! U ^. |% O
66. I revoke all other wills or testaments, which I may have
P8 x9 L* V% V$ cmade previously to these presents.
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& B, q) ^& h2 Z- W0 i aThus, it was, that this testament or last will was dictated to
( X6 z" ]! p3 S! s; i4 A* |me, the notary, by the said testator, in presence of the witnesses $ ^; F4 n* t; k
herein above named, and undersigned, and I have written the $ v! c( ` V2 j6 @- Y
same, such as it was dictated to me, by the testator, in my own
- a5 w4 R2 ~4 Z5 `7 Zproper hand, in presence of said witnesses; and having read this
5 T5 R- ^. w$ z% Ttestament in a loud and audible voice to the said testator, in pres- ; E5 C; {% S! ?* L' l
ence of said witnesses, he, the said testator, declared in the same 9 O/ C% j) Q4 n0 w
presence, that he well understood the same and persisted therein.
1 _0 |. u8 s& H2 D2 V" l4 ?# ^: c- _3 |
All of which was done at one time without interruption or turn- 3 u* ?$ o4 d& j7 H, t* [$ b
ing aside to other acts. 0 g! M* {- F& v7 ~9 g5 r
4 ~, C. i3 G9 m8 `1 a: K
Thus done and passed at the said City of New Orleans, at the ; Y9 G+ f7 I; S( e- R# G5 y; ?8 y+ N
said residence of the said Mr. Judah Touro, the day, month and & P) e: R0 F% e7 j8 r( [
year first before written in the presence of Messrs Jonathan 9 q( m3 b( {8 W0 F9 _
Montgomery, Henry Shepherd, Jr., and George Washington Lee, ( y+ r. D; o6 }1 Y
! D5 ^9 w0 m) v/ R2 x* [: w1 G$ M3 [6 ]% C7 {3 Y ^8 h
, Y9 g {# V& P3 O( P: B( y0 `: j
Judah Touro — Kohler. Ill
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: d3 p+ R+ Q; H7 }+ Xall three being the witnesses as aforesaid, who, with the said
) O+ S4 S" B" J# ^* {/ xtestator, and me, the said notary, have hereunto signed their W( x0 S: w- `5 R
names. (Signed.) 1 O2 _) K4 z5 W5 [% ~
( Y$ b& f( P5 e6 U& FJ. TOUEO,
% `7 p! R/ w8 r% v, Z4 E
A8 Y% P3 \# p- C+ q6 MJ. Montgomery,
: ]* n8 C" g1 \. {. c* |. A; [: k7 X+ j9 ?
H. Shepherd, Jr., ' e7 N5 j# L; o5 ~; L M
. n% l. i Z. g
Geo. W. Lee, 9 k. }0 r6 ~! o# M6 W; @* t
7 T0 @1 H. M# W7 p- M- t: C: @$ V- b
Thos. Latton, Notary Puilic. ) P4 Z* ^; x: T, L8 A3 _9 }
0 g' E) k, C' s% {
1 T: U& C4 D% v) l# M
7 `% c8 O* g/ e, B2 \7 Q HLIBRftRY OF CONGRESS ; Z1 n5 K% Z+ f" v
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014 495 461 |
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