The published documentation contained herein was obtained from the Carnegie Institute of Learning, presently known as “The Carnegie Institute of Technology.”
The following is a partial list of the slave ships owned by Jews:
- ‘Abigail’ by Aaron Lopez.
- ‘Crown’ by Isaac Levy and Nathan Simpson.
- ‘Nassau’by Moses Levy.
- ‘Four Sisters’ by Moses Levy.
- ‘Anne & Eliza’ by Justus Bosch and John Abrams.
- ‘Prudent Betty’ by Henry Cruger and Jacob Phoenix.
- ‘Hester’ by Mordecai and David Gomez.
- ‘Elizabeth’ by David and Mordecai Gomez.
- ‘Antigua’ by Nathan Marston and Abram Lyell.
- ‘Betsy’by Wm. DeWoolf.
- ‘PoUy’by James DeWoolf.
- ‘White Horse’ by Jan de Sweevts.
- ‘Expedition’ by John and Jacob Rosevelt.
- ‘Charlotte’ by Moses and Sam Levy and Jacob Franks.
- ‘Caracoa’ by Moses and Sam Levy.
Slave-runners, also owned by Jews were the ‘La Fortuna’, the ‘Hannah’, the ‘Sally’, and the ‘Venue’.
Some of the Jews of Newport and Charleston who were engaged in the distillery or slavery trade, or both, were: Isaac Gomez, Hayman Levy, Jacob Malhado, Naphtaly Myers, David Hart, Joseph Jacobs, Moses Ben Franks, Moses Gomez, Isaac Dias, Benjamin Levy, David Jeshuvum, Jacob Pinto, Jacob Turk, Daniel Gomez, James Lucana, Jan de Sweevts, Felix (cha-cha) de Souza (known as the ‘Prince of Slavers’ and second only to Aaron Lopez), Simeon Potter, Isaac Elizer, Jacob Rod, Jacol) Itodrigues Rivera, Haym Isaac Carregal, Abraham Touro, Moses Hays, Moses Lopez, Judah Touro, Abrtham Mendes and Abraham All.
Of some 600 ships leaving the port of Newport, more than 300 were engaged in the slave trade. A typical cargo of one ship, ‘La Fortuna’, was 217 slaves which cost about $4,300 and sold for $41,438.00.
Only about 10% of the slave ship captains were Jews, not wanting to subject themselves to the rigors of the 6-month journey. They preferred to stay at home and continue their distillery operations which continued to supply rum and whiskey to the Indians for many years at a very great profit.
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