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Lot 33: 1726 Signed William Burnet Document

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Lot   33: 1726 Signed William Burnet Document
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>1726 Colonial Jewish Leader Bequeaths Slaves!</b>

<b>WILLIAM BURNET, The Royal Governor of New York Attests that Abraham De LucenaÕs Widow, 'Being of the Hebrew Nation', Has Sworn on 'The Five Books of Moses' That This Appraisal of Her HusbandÕs Estate, Containing Named Slaves, is a 'True and Perfect Inventory.'</b>
Document Signed , 4 pages, 8' by 13', New York, March 24, 1726, and entitled at top 'Appraisement of the Goods Wares Merchandize & Slaves belonging to the Estate of the Late deceased, Abraham De Lucena. Taken by Order of his Widow & Executrix, Mrs. Rachel De Lucena.' Co-signed by New York Mayor ROBERT LURTING and Francis Harison, as appraisers; and bearing as well Rachel De LucenaÕs signature ('Raquel deLusena'). In Choice Very Fine condition...

Whether a Jew was the first European to set foot in the Americas is a matter of conjecture, but that Jews started arriving in New Amsterdam forty years after its settlement is a matter of fact. One of the most prominent of these early Jews was the mid-17th century Dutch immigrant, Abraham De Lucena. He was a merchant, a leader of his congregation, and the business partner of a gentile, Julian Bloch, with whom he sold goods to the British Army. But his most important contribution to Jewish life in the New World was his tireless campaign full citizenship rights for his small. much beleaguered minority. To this end he sought to secure the rights for Jews to serve in the militia and do guard duty on the walls of the city to protect the settlement; to establish a Jewish cemetery; and eventually, for Jewish religious leadership to be exempted, like their Christian counterparts, from guard duty. When he died in 1725, he was rich, respected - and, as this Appraisal of his estate shows, a slaveholder.

Among the furniture, silver, crockery, trunks, fabrics, pictures, books and bedding; among this debts and credits; Abraham De Lucena left 'One Negro Woman Called Ruth with a young Child, One Negro Woman Called Lucy, One Called Jenny' - worth, the four of them, 90 pounds.

Burnet certifies that 'Rachell DeLucena' has appeared personally before him, and :being of the Hebrew Nation was duly Sworn upon the five Books of Moses and solemnly declared...that the written Inventory...of said Abraham DeLucena...contains a true and perfect Inventory and account...'