Touro family (Newport, R.I.) Papers
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
Contact information: phone number
001 212 294 8301
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
RCMiller@cjh.org (archive and library services)
Inquiries@cjh.org (research inquiries)
Inquiries@cjh.org (research inquiries)
Reference number
P-195
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Touro family (Newport, R.I.) Papers
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Touro family
Date note
late 1700s/1849
Language(s)
eng
Extent
3 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This collection contains letters and papers of the Touro family of Newport, namely of three children of Hazzan Isaac Touro (1737-83), namely Judah Touro (1775-1854), Abraham Touro (1777/78-1822) and Rebecca Hays Touro Lopez (1779-1833).
Box 1, folder 1: documents of Judah Touro, including a letter to Mary Anne Gomez Lopez acknowledging the receipt of a painting and silverware (1846), a deed of trust executed with Aaron L. Gomez for the benefit of Edwin Lopez (1849), and a photocopy of Touro's will (1854).
Box 1, folder 2: documents belonging to Rebecca Hays Touro Lopez, namely a petition to the Rhode Island House of Representatives regarding payment for the caretaker of the Newport synagogue and cemetery, and the legislature's answer (1823), and an unsigned copy of her will, specifying Joshua Lopez and Aaron Gomez as her trustees (1833). Among her intended legatees were the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society of New York and the Congregation Shearith Israel, New York, as well as friends and relations in the Lopez and Myers families.
Box 1, folder 3: documents of Abraham Touro, including an insurance policy for a ship owned by Nathaniel Cushing, for which Touro was one of the underwriters (1812), and a letter written to Solomon Jacobs of Richmond, Virginia, regarding a contribution to the Richmond synagogue (1822).
Box 1, folder 1: documents of Judah Touro, including a letter to Mary Anne Gomez Lopez acknowledging the receipt of a painting and silverware (1846), a deed of trust executed with Aaron L. Gomez for the benefit of Edwin Lopez (1849), and a photocopy of Touro's will (1854).
Box 1, folder 2: documents belonging to Rebecca Hays Touro Lopez, namely a petition to the Rhode Island House of Representatives regarding payment for the caretaker of the Newport synagogue and cemetery, and the legislature's answer (1823), and an unsigned copy of her will, specifying Joshua Lopez and Aaron Gomez as her trustees (1833). Among her intended legatees were the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society of New York and the Congregation Shearith Israel, New York, as well as friends and relations in the Lopez and Myers families.
Box 1, folder 3: documents of Abraham Touro, including an insurance policy for a ship owned by Nathaniel Cushing, for which Touro was one of the underwriters (1812), and a letter written to Solomon Jacobs of Richmond, Virginia, regarding a contribution to the Richmond synagogue (1822).
Archival history
This collection results from donations by Charles Seixas Nathan in 1916, Theodore H. Joseph in 1927, Mark Bortman, and the Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation in 1979.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Touro family was a Sephardic family of wealthy merchants, famous philanthropists, and prominent Jewish community leaders. Its origins in North America date back to Hazzan Isaac Touro (1737-83), who moved from Amsterdam to Newport to become the spiritual leader of the local Jewish community. Hazzan Touro was in charge of building and overseeing the Sephardic synagogue of Newport (later named Touro Synagogue). However, as a British Loyalist, he fled with his family to New York at the beginning of the American Revolution. Shortly afterwards, he went to Jamaica with his family, where he died in 1783. His wife, Rebecca Hays Touro (1743-87), and children returned to New England, settling in Boston with Rebecca's brother, Moses Michael Hays (1739-1805). Rebecca died in 1787, and her brother subsequently raised the children.
Abraham and Judah Touro became businessmen and philanthropists. They donated to many public works, monuments, hospitals and colleges and funded the upkeep of the synagogue, which was renamed after Abraham Touro. Judah Touro moved to New Orleans in 1801 and opened a store where he prospered. Rebecca Touro Lopez married Joshua Lopez, the son of Newport merchant Aaron Lopez.
Abraham and Judah Touro became businessmen and philanthropists. They donated to many public works, monuments, hospitals and colleges and funded the upkeep of the synagogue, which was renamed after Abraham Touro. Judah Touro moved to New Orleans in 1801 and opened a store where he prospered. Rebecca Touro Lopez married Joshua Lopez, the son of Newport merchant Aaron Lopez.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection comprises three folders, each related to a family member.
Access, restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers except items that may be restricted due to their fragility or privacy. Digital copies of some records are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| American Jewish Historical Society (Center for Jewish History) | Collections (official language of the state) |