Letter from to Isaac Leeser;May 29, 1862
- Title
- Letter from to Isaac Leeser;May 29, 1862
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Date Created
- 29 May 1862
- Format
- Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).
- Letter
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p35q4s610/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p35q4s610
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Fragment
- Manuscript
- content
-
California San Fran May 29 1862
Reply to “Wrong doings in California
Editor of the Occident
Revd. Sir,
My attention has been drawn to the above article in the gleaner of the 23d Inst. copied from the Occident of April 62—in which it states “Two Cohamin applied to congregation “Sherith Israel” to be mar--ried by Dr. Henry to widows, and he refused.” Theophilis (upon whom I suspect I could lay my finger) does not tell the Truth. I am the wife of one of the “Cohanim” alluded to, and beg to state the facts to you.
I arrived in California in 1850, and in the spring of 1852 left with my first husband on a trading voyage to the South Pacific Islands, and
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unfortunately lost him at one of the Tonga? group in September 1852l, I returned to this city Dec. 27th of the same year dreadfully distressed in mind—in fact inconsolable. My Father (god rest his dear soul) was here till July 1854 during that period he made the ac--quaintance of Mr. P. and wished me very much to marry him. I told him no—but so anxious was he, that, previous to his departure for New York he left word with a friend to occasionally urge the matter to me.
In 1858 I was engaged to Mr. P. but called his attention to Chap. 21 V. 14 of Leviticus: he said he would con--sult a Lamdan, which he did, and this gentleman said, that passage referred to the High Priest! I was satisfied and our engagement went on, to the knowledge more or less of nearly all the Jews in the
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city, for Mr. P. and myself regularly attended synagogue during that period we visited at Dr. Henry's certainly once a week (many times more frequently) and he, and the late Mrs. Henry used repeatedly ask what we visited for? On the 15th of Feb. 1859 Mr. P. applied to the Board of the Congregation “Sherith Israel” for permission to marry—which was granted and, Dr. Henry had written and fitted out our Casubba a thing he subsequently told us he very seldom did before the day it was wanted. So much for Dr Henry's refusal!
On the 24th of Feb. the day previous to the one appointed for our marriage Dr. Henry called at ½ 7 A. M. and after some slight circumlocution asked me if my former Husband had Brothers? at first I could not recollect, I felt confused and without knowing why felt certain Dr. H had not come on a friendly errand. I said I believed there were two but I was not sure
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if there were more or not, he asked me if I had had “Halitza”? I replied “Doctor you know that is not done any more at home” I cannot help it “he said” a man named Ephraim says he was at school with a Brother of your husband's 17 years ago, a Trustee meeting has been held—the Trustees leave it to me, and I cannot marry you.
You may imagine my feelings Revd. Sir, I had been in California nearly 10 years, had been a widow 7, had shown a good example and felt dreadfully aggrieved to be so served at the last moment. Mr. P. said “never mind we will go to a Magistrate” I replied no—I am very angry now, in an hour I shall be more com--posed, I will go round to Dr. Henry and ask him these questions, if he answers me satisfactorily we will marry—if not, we part. I will never see you again—if you please you may
The above text refers to Occident Volume 20 No. 1 pages 15 through 19. Click here to view. - Identifier
- LSDCBx2FF9_13
- Date
- 1862-05-29
Part of Letter from to Isaac Leeser;May 29, 1862
“Letter from to Isaac Leeser;May 29, 1862”, 1862-05-29, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/69673