Aaron Lopez letters (Small Collections)
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Contact information: phone number
001 513 487 3000
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
SC
Type of reference number
Call number
Title (official language of the state)
Aaron Lopez letters (Small Collections)
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Aaron Lopez
Date(s)
1752/1782
Language(s)
eng
por
spa
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Small Collections of the American Jewish Archives comprise several copies and transcriptions of letters from and to Aaron Lopez. They are the following:
SC-4114: Daniel Gomez letters, 1752-1767.
SC-4133: Moses Gomez letters, 1752, 1759.
SC-4111: Benjamin Gomez letters, 1753, 1764.
SC-11169: Isaac Seixas letters, 1753, 1779.
SC-5713: David Jesurun Jr. letter, August 21, 1754.
SC-29: Abraham Isaac Abrahams correspondence, 1756-1771.
SC-4116: David Gomez letters, 1759, 1767.
SC-10456: Joseph and William Rotch letter, 1760.
SC-4746: Moses M. Hays letters and documents, 1760-1791.
SC-2577: Isaac Da Costa letters, 1761-1764.
SC-7411: Moses Lopez letters, 1762 and 1764.
SC-10258: Emanuel Rodueros letter, March 29, 1764.
SC-10257: Manuel Rodriguez letter, March 30, 1764.
SC-5432: Aaron Isaacs letter, July 23, 1764.
SC-2348: E. H. Coitinho letter, December 3, 1764.
SC-2574: Accounting of Isaac da Costa to Aaron Lopez of a shipment of candles from Newport, March 15, 1765.
SC-9755: Joseph Pinto letter, June 18, 1767.
SC-5712: Jacob S. Jessurun letter, September 1, 1767.
SC-9342: Jeremiah Osborne letters, 1767.
SC-8047: A. P. Mendes letter, March 11, 1768.
SC-5622: Letters to Aaron Lopez, 1770-1771. From Joseph Jacobs.
SC-12583: Henry Van Vleck letter, January 20, 1770.
SC-11544: Solomon Simson letter, March 27, 1770.
SC-13434: William Hubbard letters, April-June 1770.
SC-10264: Uriah Rogers letters, May 6 and 31, 1770.
SC-7496: Hannah Louzada letters, May and July 1770.
SC-4359: Robert Griffith letter, June 22, 1770.
SC-12401: Ishak de Abraham Touro letter, August 22, 1770.
SC-3503: Letter from George Folliot to Aaron Lopez, November 17, 1770.
SC-4473: S. Hake letter, December 1, 1770.
SC-12018: Stiles and Brasher letter, 1770.
SC-7538: James Lucena letter, January 19, 1771.
SC-9829: Cullen Pollock letters, 1771-1774.
SC-1652: Silas Casey letter, January 12, 1772.
SC-3808: Letter to Aaron Lopez, March 24, 1772.
SC-2423: Adam Comstock letter, March 25, 1772.
SC-9298: Richard Olney letter, March 27, 1772.
SC-10106: John Reynolds letter, April 16, 1772.
SC-1037: Nathaniel Bird letter, April 24, 1772.
SC-6227: John O. Kelly letter, May 4, 1772.
SC-12325: Nicholas Tillinghast letter, May 10, 1772.
SC-2424: Adam Comstock letter, May 25, 1772.
SC-1606: Pi Capalay letter, June 27, 1772.
SC-162: Ana Alberto y Soroa correspondence, June 1772.
SC-611: Henry Babcock correspondence, July 5, 1772.
SC-6226: John O. Kelly letter, July 6, 1772.
SC-11369: James Sheldon letter, August 11, 1772.
SC-10223: J. W. Robinson letter, September 2, 1772.
SC-4320: F. Greene letter, September 7, 1772.
SC-5260: John Hulbert letter, September 24, 1772.
SC-4751: Thomas Hazard letter, September 28, 1772.
SC-7405: Joseph Lopez letter, November 10, 1772.
SC-5903: Letter to Aaron Lopez, November 14, 1772.
SC-815: Joseph Belcher letter, November 22, 1772.
SC-4900: Powell and James Helme letter, November 30, 1772.
SC-10199: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera letters, 1772 and 1781.
SC-1281: James Bourke letter, January 7, 1773.
SC-1732: Jacob Henry Chabanel letter, January 26, 1773.
SC-4625: Joshua Hart letter, February 8, 1773.
SC-5159: Pierre Holland letters, April-September 1773.
SC-13250: Benjamin Wright letter, May 12, 1773.
SC-5586: Richard Jackson letter, June 25, 1773.
SC-9247: Joseph Obediente, Jr. letter, September 11, 1773.
SC-11125: George Sears letter, November 8, 1773.
SC-10454: Francis Rotch memorial, November 1773.
SC-1628: Hajim Isaac Karigal letter.
SC-2349: E. H. Coitinho letter, September 1, 1774.
SC-10455: Francis Rotch and Richard Smith petition, November 27, 1775.
SC-507: Seth Arnold correspondence, August 17, 1777.
SC-11834: Joshua Spencer letter, January 25, 1779.
SC-7989: Samson Mears letter, July 30, 1779.
SC-6726: Lee and Jones letter, September 24, 1779.
SC-7990: Samson Mears letters, 1779.
SC-2537: Daniel Crommelin letter, March 24, 1780.
SC-11449: Charles Sigourney letter, April 17, 1780.
SC-13023: James Wilson petition, April 19, 1780.
SC-4609: Henry Hart letter, May 1, 1780.
SC-2524: Samuel Cowperthwait letters, July 29 and November 13, 1780.
SC-12177: James Swan letter, November 3, 1780.
SC-12025: Ezra Stiles letter, May 31, 1781.
SC-11179: Moses Seixas letter, June 1781.
SC-2832: Joseph Depass letter, August 15, 1781.
SC-12300: Cornelius Ter Bush letters, August-October 1781.
SC-12684: Joseph Wallach letter, November 7, 1781.
SC-4952: Josiah Hewes letter, December 4, 1781.
SC-729: Tristam Barnard correspondence, June 16, 1782.
SC-10197: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera letter, December 20, 1782.
SC-3868: Joseph Gardoqui letters, 1782.
SC-7748: Samson Marcus letters, 1782.
SC-10193: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera bonds, February 25, 1783.
SC-465: Peter Arabet to Aaron Lopez correspondence, April 1783.
SC-4114: Daniel Gomez letters, 1752-1767.
SC-4133: Moses Gomez letters, 1752, 1759.
SC-4111: Benjamin Gomez letters, 1753, 1764.
SC-11169: Isaac Seixas letters, 1753, 1779.
SC-5713: David Jesurun Jr. letter, August 21, 1754.
SC-29: Abraham Isaac Abrahams correspondence, 1756-1771.
SC-4116: David Gomez letters, 1759, 1767.
SC-10456: Joseph and William Rotch letter, 1760.
SC-4746: Moses M. Hays letters and documents, 1760-1791.
SC-2577: Isaac Da Costa letters, 1761-1764.
SC-7411: Moses Lopez letters, 1762 and 1764.
SC-10258: Emanuel Rodueros letter, March 29, 1764.
SC-10257: Manuel Rodriguez letter, March 30, 1764.
SC-5432: Aaron Isaacs letter, July 23, 1764.
SC-2348: E. H. Coitinho letter, December 3, 1764.
SC-2574: Accounting of Isaac da Costa to Aaron Lopez of a shipment of candles from Newport, March 15, 1765.
SC-9755: Joseph Pinto letter, June 18, 1767.
SC-5712: Jacob S. Jessurun letter, September 1, 1767.
SC-9342: Jeremiah Osborne letters, 1767.
SC-8047: A. P. Mendes letter, March 11, 1768.
SC-5622: Letters to Aaron Lopez, 1770-1771. From Joseph Jacobs.
SC-12583: Henry Van Vleck letter, January 20, 1770.
SC-11544: Solomon Simson letter, March 27, 1770.
SC-13434: William Hubbard letters, April-June 1770.
SC-10264: Uriah Rogers letters, May 6 and 31, 1770.
SC-7496: Hannah Louzada letters, May and July 1770.
SC-4359: Robert Griffith letter, June 22, 1770.
SC-12401: Ishak de Abraham Touro letter, August 22, 1770.
SC-3503: Letter from George Folliot to Aaron Lopez, November 17, 1770.
SC-4473: S. Hake letter, December 1, 1770.
SC-12018: Stiles and Brasher letter, 1770.
SC-7538: James Lucena letter, January 19, 1771.
SC-9829: Cullen Pollock letters, 1771-1774.
SC-1652: Silas Casey letter, January 12, 1772.
SC-3808: Letter to Aaron Lopez, March 24, 1772.
SC-2423: Adam Comstock letter, March 25, 1772.
SC-9298: Richard Olney letter, March 27, 1772.
SC-10106: John Reynolds letter, April 16, 1772.
SC-1037: Nathaniel Bird letter, April 24, 1772.
SC-6227: John O. Kelly letter, May 4, 1772.
SC-12325: Nicholas Tillinghast letter, May 10, 1772.
SC-2424: Adam Comstock letter, May 25, 1772.
SC-1606: Pi Capalay letter, June 27, 1772.
SC-162: Ana Alberto y Soroa correspondence, June 1772.
SC-611: Henry Babcock correspondence, July 5, 1772.
SC-6226: John O. Kelly letter, July 6, 1772.
SC-11369: James Sheldon letter, August 11, 1772.
SC-10223: J. W. Robinson letter, September 2, 1772.
SC-4320: F. Greene letter, September 7, 1772.
SC-5260: John Hulbert letter, September 24, 1772.
SC-4751: Thomas Hazard letter, September 28, 1772.
SC-7405: Joseph Lopez letter, November 10, 1772.
SC-5903: Letter to Aaron Lopez, November 14, 1772.
SC-815: Joseph Belcher letter, November 22, 1772.
SC-4900: Powell and James Helme letter, November 30, 1772.
SC-10199: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera letters, 1772 and 1781.
SC-1281: James Bourke letter, January 7, 1773.
SC-1732: Jacob Henry Chabanel letter, January 26, 1773.
SC-4625: Joshua Hart letter, February 8, 1773.
SC-5159: Pierre Holland letters, April-September 1773.
SC-13250: Benjamin Wright letter, May 12, 1773.
SC-5586: Richard Jackson letter, June 25, 1773.
SC-9247: Joseph Obediente, Jr. letter, September 11, 1773.
SC-11125: George Sears letter, November 8, 1773.
SC-10454: Francis Rotch memorial, November 1773.
SC-1628: Hajim Isaac Karigal letter.
SC-2349: E. H. Coitinho letter, September 1, 1774.
SC-10455: Francis Rotch and Richard Smith petition, November 27, 1775.
SC-507: Seth Arnold correspondence, August 17, 1777.
SC-11834: Joshua Spencer letter, January 25, 1779.
SC-7989: Samson Mears letter, July 30, 1779.
SC-6726: Lee and Jones letter, September 24, 1779.
SC-7990: Samson Mears letters, 1779.
SC-2537: Daniel Crommelin letter, March 24, 1780.
SC-11449: Charles Sigourney letter, April 17, 1780.
SC-13023: James Wilson petition, April 19, 1780.
SC-4609: Henry Hart letter, May 1, 1780.
SC-2524: Samuel Cowperthwait letters, July 29 and November 13, 1780.
SC-12177: James Swan letter, November 3, 1780.
SC-12025: Ezra Stiles letter, May 31, 1781.
SC-11179: Moses Seixas letter, June 1781.
SC-2832: Joseph Depass letter, August 15, 1781.
SC-12300: Cornelius Ter Bush letters, August-October 1781.
SC-12684: Joseph Wallach letter, November 7, 1781.
SC-4952: Josiah Hewes letter, December 4, 1781.
SC-729: Tristam Barnard correspondence, June 16, 1782.
SC-10197: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera letter, December 20, 1782.
SC-3868: Joseph Gardoqui letters, 1782.
SC-7748: Samson Marcus letters, 1782.
SC-10193: Jacob Rodrigues Rivera bonds, February 25, 1783.
SC-465: Peter Arabet to Aaron Lopez correspondence, April 1783.
Administrative / Biographical history
Duarte (Aaron) Lopez was born in Portugal in 1731. His father, Diego José Lopes, was a Spanish converso who operated as a tobacco contractor in Portugal. Nothing is known about Aaron Lopez's early life before moving to Newport in 1752 with his wife and daughter. There, he joined his older half-brother Moses. Moses Lopez, whose Christian name was José Lopes, had left Portugal as a young man; he went to London and later crossed the Atlantic to New York City before establishing himself in Newport, Rhode Island, in the early 1740s.
Following his arrival in Newport, Duarte quickly redeemed himself and his family as Jews, assuming the name of Aaron, and, with the help of his brother Moses, set himself up in business. One of his earliest ventures involved participation in the consortium established by several Newport merchants to manufacture spermaceti candles. By 1760, his efforts to engage in the wholesale commodities trade had also proved successful. His business activities grew widely over the next 15 years to include whaling, a few ventures in the slave trade, and, especially, the trade with the West Indies. Lopez traded to a wide range of markets in North America, the Caribbean (Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, Curaçao, St. Eustatius, etc.) and Europe (Bristol, London, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Cadiz, etc.) through a vast network of agents and correspondents, and transacting a great variety of goods: sugar, molasses, rum, spermaceti candles and other whale products, wood, cloth, furniture, hardware, earthenware, live animals, and even kosher beef and cheese.
In 1761 Lopez, along with fellow Jew Isaac Elizer, sought naturalisation in Rhode Island under the Act of 13 George II, ch. 7, which authorised the naturalisation of Jews as well as dissenting Protestant groups as citizens of the Crown within the North American colonies after seven years' residence. However, the two were refused by the colony's courts and the legislature. After seeking the advice of renowned Boston lawyer Samuel Fitch, Lopez set up residence in Swansey, Massachusetts, and was finally naturalised at Taunton in October 1762. Elizer was naturalised in New York a year later.
In Newport, Aaron began to establish ties with gentiles of his station, including Ezra Stiles, the Congregational minister of the town. Stiles, who had a tremendous scholarly interest in Jewish scripture, came to know Jewish community members during his residence in Newport. Following the death of his wife Abigail in 1762, Aaron also established broader ties within Newport's Jewish community by re-marrying Sarah Rivera, the daughter of his business partner, Jacob Rodriguez Rivera.
With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776, Lopez suffered a dramatic downturn in his business, along with most colonial merchants. Lopez evacuated his family to Leicester, Massachusetts, where he set up a retail shop and a modest commodities trade via overland routes through Salem, Boston and Providence. Over the next four years, he became a key supplier to the American forces, providing such necessities as flour and leather breeches.
In 1782, while on the way to Newport with his family, Aaron Lopez accidentally drowned in Scott's pond in Smithfield, Rhode Island, while watering his horse.
Following his arrival in Newport, Duarte quickly redeemed himself and his family as Jews, assuming the name of Aaron, and, with the help of his brother Moses, set himself up in business. One of his earliest ventures involved participation in the consortium established by several Newport merchants to manufacture spermaceti candles. By 1760, his efforts to engage in the wholesale commodities trade had also proved successful. His business activities grew widely over the next 15 years to include whaling, a few ventures in the slave trade, and, especially, the trade with the West Indies. Lopez traded to a wide range of markets in North America, the Caribbean (Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, Curaçao, St. Eustatius, etc.) and Europe (Bristol, London, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Cadiz, etc.) through a vast network of agents and correspondents, and transacting a great variety of goods: sugar, molasses, rum, spermaceti candles and other whale products, wood, cloth, furniture, hardware, earthenware, live animals, and even kosher beef and cheese.
In 1761 Lopez, along with fellow Jew Isaac Elizer, sought naturalisation in Rhode Island under the Act of 13 George II, ch. 7, which authorised the naturalisation of Jews as well as dissenting Protestant groups as citizens of the Crown within the North American colonies after seven years' residence. However, the two were refused by the colony's courts and the legislature. After seeking the advice of renowned Boston lawyer Samuel Fitch, Lopez set up residence in Swansey, Massachusetts, and was finally naturalised at Taunton in October 1762. Elizer was naturalised in New York a year later.
In Newport, Aaron began to establish ties with gentiles of his station, including Ezra Stiles, the Congregational minister of the town. Stiles, who had a tremendous scholarly interest in Jewish scripture, came to know Jewish community members during his residence in Newport. Following the death of his wife Abigail in 1762, Aaron also established broader ties within Newport's Jewish community by re-marrying Sarah Rivera, the daughter of his business partner, Jacob Rodriguez Rivera.
With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776, Lopez suffered a dramatic downturn in his business, along with most colonial merchants. Lopez evacuated his family to Leicester, Massachusetts, where he set up a retail shop and a modest commodities trade via overland routes through Salem, Boston and Providence. Over the next four years, he became a key supplier to the American forces, providing such necessities as flour and leather breeches.
In 1782, while on the way to Newport with his family, Aaron Lopez accidentally drowned in Scott's pond in Smithfield, Rhode Island, while watering his horse.
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Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
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| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) | |
| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |