The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-22

That the Jewish community In New York
must have Increased In numbers and impor-
. lance during the early years OF the last centu-
~ seems evident from abatement made by
tho Rev. John Sharpe in 1713; 1T is possible
also to learn Hebrew here rs well as in Eu-
rope there being q synagoRue OF Jews and
many ingenious men Of that nation from 20.
land. Hungary. Germany. &c." In TIPS tho
synagogue In Beaver street was deemed too
small. and new building was erected on MIL
stroot. q thoroughfare now closed. which for
merlv ran out OF Broad street In a n ortheasterly
direction. and terminated in narrow lane
running south into Stone street. About the
same period measures wero taken for rrocur-
ing n new burial place. and two lots on the east
side OF the present Gold street. between Ferry
and Beekman streets. were purchased for tho
purpose. We should note in passing
that the exact location OF the first jaw
ish burial place has not been posi-
lively ascertained. Judge DAILY. however. sets
forth the reasons for believing that the small
piece Of land In the New Bowery below Oliver
street, now enclosed nv an iron railing and
kept as an old jewish graveyard. Is part OF
what was tho first burial place OF tho jewish
race In North America. 1t is certain that the
two lots in Gold street we're not used for the
| purpose for which they had boen bought.
We come now to the political status Of the
Jews in the colony OF New York. 1t appears
that In November. 1927. an net was passed by
| the General Assembly OF New York providing
that. when the oath Of abjuration was to be
taken by any one OF his Maiesty's subjects pro-
Tossing the jewish religion, the words upon
the true faith Of a Christian" might be omit
ted. and in the same month an act was
passed naturalizinG Daniel Nunez Da Costa.
q jewish resident Of the city OF New York.
| Nevertheless. in 1881 tho General Assembly
| resolved that none OF the Jewish profession
| could be admitted to give evidence in dis
puted election. and subsequently the same
| House unanimously resolved that they could
| not be suffered TO vote for representatives in
the colony. Judge DAILY points out that this
resolution did not imply any peculiar aversion
to the Jews. The question was sim ply ono OF
law. The New York Assembly simply declared
tho law as it existed in England for 1t was not
until n comparatively recent period that Jew
could vote at an election in Great Britain
Judge DAILY insists that SO far from being re-
gardod with aversion. the Jews in New York
enjoyed privileges not extended In any other
colonies and had among their number
some OF the most influential and re-
spected merchants OF the city. For
proof he cites tho testimony OF Kahn the
Swedish traveller. who visited New York in
1745. Kahn says There are many Jews
settled in New York who possess great prvi-
leges. They have a synagogue and houses.
and great country seats Of their own. and are
allowed to keep shops In the town. They have
likewise several ships which they freight and
send out with their goods In fine. they enjoy
all the privileges common to all the inh abitants
OF this town and province" From this period
to the American Revolution there seems to
have been but little increase In tho Jewish
population Of New York. 1t received some ad-
ditions by immigration chiefly from England.
but not sufficient to cOunteract tho loss OF
others who went to Newport. Charleston. or
Philadelphia One OF the most eminent jewish
merchants OF this period was Heyman Levy.
who continued to carry on business at his
warehouse In Mil street until his death. in
1890. On his books are entries OF moneys
paid to John Jacob Aston for beating furs. at
the rate OF 81 a day. Joseph A. Scovill. in his
odd Merchants" after mentioning that in
1868 there were eighty thousand Israslites in /
the city of New York. goes on to say that 1T is
the high standard OF excellence maint aimed
by the old Israeite merchants OF 1900 that has
made the race occupy tho position it now holds
In this city" Judge DAILY evidently thinks Mr..
Scovis estimate Of the jewish population in
New York in 1858 too high for he mnutes
that In 1872 they numbered about 10000.
Inc oa'h eoheeted py Judge DaIy win regard
10 the early settlement o! jews IN iennsyl-
Vanle are comparatively meaGre. lie shows
however. thh' several conspicuous families
were estap''sheu az fhiiadeiphi" IN the middle
OF the last century. and that here. as In New
York. they were warm supporters OF the Amer
lean heVo'ution' Precmnent among his CO.
rehGohlsts IN this respect was llaym Solomon.
a native OF roland. who was engaged in com
mercial pursuits. and before tho outbreak OF
the revolution had amassed large private
fortune. lie espoused the cause OF the colo
nists with ardor. and from his own means sup
Piled the Government with IN astonishing
amount OF money at the most critical periods |
OF the struggle As was proved BY documen-
tary evidence submitted to Congress. he ad-
vanced TO the Government not less than SdoS.-
ooo. an enormous sum ut that period for a
private individual to control. Nor was this all: |