Ellis Wolfe

???? - 1817


Biography

In his will Ellis Wolfe described Kent as his 'native place'. He named Benjamin Elias Esq. as his adoptive father. He married Margaret Noble who had a son by a previous marriage - William Noble. They had no children of their own. The family had connections to Hamburg with a number of his siblings married to residents of the city.

Ellis clearly spent time in both Jamaica and England. He was in partnership in Kingston with Hymen Cohen and Judah Cohen with whom he owned Mullet Hall estate in St. George. As part of his will he requested his share be sold and invested in government securities. The monies raised from this should be given to his former partners. Ellis also owned two pens in St. Andrew (Up Park Villa and Newington Pen and a house on Kings Street in Kingston. He left his wife the right to the rents from these properties.

Ellis left numerous benevolent bequests many of which were rooted in the Jewish community in both London and Jamaica. As well as leaving money to numerous synagogues he asked for £20 to be used to pay for the education of a Jewish orphan. He left £500 for the Jews Hospital in Mile End, money to help fund a Jewish Free School. He also founded a charity - Ellis Wolfe's Mite - the charity ran from 1830-1870. It involved the names of the local Jewish poor being entered into a wheel - the first thirty names out of the wheel would receive five shillings a day for a week.

He donated £1000 to Wolmer's School in Jamaica on the condition they continued to allow poor Jewish boys to enter the school with the number not falling below twelve.

He also left money to non-Jewish charities including £500 to the London Hospital, £500 to the Queen's Lying in Hospital Manor House Lisson Green and money to the Ladies Benevolent Institution. He asked that £500 be distributed to the poor of Kent - his 'native place.'


Sources

PROB 11/1594/519


Further Information

Absentee?
Transatlantic
Spouse
Margaret Wolfe (born Noble)
Children
Step-son William Noble
Will

In the name of God Amen I Ellis Wolfe of Cowley Grove in the Parish of Hillingdon and the County of Middlesex Gentleman Being of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say in the first place I will and desire that all my just debts and the expenses of my funeral be paid as soon as possible after my decease to the payment whereof I subject and make liable my whole Estate Real and Personal. I give and bequeath unto the person who is my heir or heiress at Law the sum of four hundred pounds in full lieu but and satisfaction of any claim claims or demand which he or she may have or pretend to have to my Estate. It is my will and desire that all and every of my Engagements and conditional Agreements with John Baptist Corberand the Elder and John Baptist Corberand the Younger both of Mullet Hall plantation in the Parish of St George Jamaica Brothers and Planters shall be concluded and conducted in the most profitable manner agreeable to the terms of our Agreement and my defeazance to them Copy whereof will be found in my possession and original recorded in the Secretary’s Office Jamaica my other with all their goods of Mortgage to me on their two thirds share of said Mullet Hall plantation and slaves fully proved by Judgements in and ....tement in .............C!C! as also their Title to me for one third share of said Mullet Hall plantation slaves and Stock and other originals have since such recording been deposited and will be found in the possession of my Attorney Mr. Moses Henriques of Kingston Jamaica merchant with whom are also my Books of Accounts wherein will be found regularly entered all and every my transactions with said Messrs Corberand and an Annual Account Current Book wherein is properly copied their yearly account and attested by them each and every of us. It is my will and desire that the profits of my one third share of said Mullet Hall plantation Slaves and Stock when sold and also the proceeds of the Annual Crops of Produce from said plantation whether as my one third share of as the amount of the Proceeds to be paid on account of the Mortgage shall be invested in the funds or other Governments Security of Great Britain to be disposed of as herein after ordered. and in like manner I will and desire that all the Monies to be received from Hymen Cohen and Judah Cohen as their joint acceptances in my possession or in any other shape ............ whatsoever shall also be invested in the Funds aforesaid as often as such payments become due and are made to be disposed of as hereinafter mentioned I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth wife of Moses Levin of the City of Hamburg and unto my brother David Wolfe and unto William Noble the son of my wife Margaret and unto Richard Noble the brother of my wife the sum of five hundred pounds to each and every one of them. I give and bequeath unto Ellis Wolfe Noble the son of the aforesaid Richard Noble of Skipton [?Grange] in Yorkshire the sum of five hundred pounds and the interest of said Bequest shall be allowed and paid by my Executors and Executors to his father for the purpose of educating him or defraying any other expenses for him until he has attained the age of twenty one years when the bequeathed Sum shall be fully paid over to him. I give and bequeath unto Abraham Cohen Peixotto and Henry Barnet Ross my late clerks two hundred pounds each. I give and bequeath unto the Treasurers and Wardens for the time being of the following Synagogues [that is to say] the Hambro Synagogue in Church Row Fenchurch street the Great Synagogue in St James Duke Place the New Synagogue Bricklayers Hall in Leadenhall Street all three in the City of London and the English and German Jews Synagogue and the Portuguese Synagogue of Kingston Jamaica and the Portuguese Synagogue of Port Royal in Jamaica. If at any time such bequests are to be paid but in case there should not there be any Synagogue at Port Royal the Sum of Money bequeathed to the Treasurer and Wardens then shall be paid to the Treasurer and Wardens of the New German synagogue of Spanish Town Jamaica two hundred pounds each that is to say the sum of one thousand two hundred pounds to be equally divided between the Treasurers and Wardens of the aforementioned six Synagogues. I give and bequeath unto an Orphan to be schooled by my Executors twenty pounds to say Kaddish for me for twelve months after my decease in the Hambro Synagogue of which I am a Member or elsewhere as may be preferred and as often as may be required and to the payment of all those Legacies and Bequests herein contained or any way or manner mentioned. I subject and make liable the first dividend [?] moneys that may be at the time of signing and sealing this my last Will and Testament or that shall at any future time be funded or placed in any of the Governments Securities aforesaid until the whole amount of such legacies and bequests shall be paid off fully and properly satisfied which shall be done without delay or loss of time After the decease or into marriage of my Wife or after a Sum of Money shall be funded as aforesaid sufficient to produce an Interest yearly of one thousand pounds which Interest Sum shall be paid each and every year or half yearly unto my said Wife for her support and maintenance. I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all my Plate Jewels Watches household furniture Silver China horses Carriages slaves and stock of whatever kind and description the sum may be or consist of as also all the cash that may be to my Credit at my Bankers at the time of my decease to her and her Executors Administrators and assigns for ever. I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all the rents and Emoluments arising from my two Pens in the Parish of St Andrew Jamaica known by the Name of Uppark Villa and Newington Pens and also the rent of my house in King Street Kingston Jamaica and to receive and enjoy such rents and Emoluments together with a Sum of Money to be paid her Annually from my Estate in general as shall make up such rents and Emoluments to one thousand pounds Net Money Annually until a Sum sufficient shall be placed in the funds or other Government Security as aforesaid that will produce and pay a net Interest of one thousand pounds each and every year which Sum of one thousand pounds net Money shall be received and enjoyed by my said Wife for her support and maintenance and after the payment of all the Legacies and Bequests herein before mentioned provided the same can be paid without previously selling any of the following properties or if it is requisite to sell them for the purpose of paying off such Legacies and Bequests it is my will and desire that they shall be sold in manner as hereafter directed and as soon as they shall be fully paid and satisfied it is my will and desire then. And I do hereby authorize and empower my Executrix and Executors or those who shall qualify and act under this my Will and Testament to sell and dispose of my aforesaid Pens and house and my Pen of land containing by estimation two hundred acres situated lying and being in the Parish of St John Jamaica butting and bounding on Mount Pleasant and Green Vale Plantations and house by the Name of Quebec diagram of Survey by James Turnbull Junior of Spanish Town Jamaica will be found annexed to a power of Attorney granted my said Attorney Moses Henriques for selling said Pens of land when he was in England first advertising those properties in the Royal Gazette and said Newspapers of Kingston Jamaica for one month either at public or private sales for their full and ?[intensive] value and the proceeds of such sales shall be placed in the funds or other Government Security aforesaid to be disposed of as I shall hereafter direct in this my last Will and Testament. It is my will and desire and I do hereby authorize and empower my said Executrix and Executors or such of them as shall qualify and act under this my last Will and Testament to sell and dispose of my one third share of Mullet Hall plantation Slaves and Stock in the Parish of St George Jamaica agreeable to my defeazance & Agreement with the aforesaid Moses Corberand or sell and dispose of my one third share of said plantation Slaves and Stock to any other person or persons for their full and intrinsic value and upon such Sale or Sales of the whole or any part of my property or propertys to make constitute and deliver unto the Purchaser or Purchasers thereof such good valid and sufficient conveyances as shall be requisite and proper and I do order & will that all and every the proceeds arising from the sales of all or any part of such Property or Properties shall as soon as received be placed in the funds or other Government Security aforesaid to be disposed of as I shall herein after order and as to all my other and singular Lands Tenements Slaves hereditaments and all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate real and Personal in Jamaica and elsewhere or to which I may in any wise be entitled or of whatever kind or quality the same may be or consist of It is my wish and I do hereby order and direct my Executrix and Executors hereinafter named or such of them as shall qualify and act under this my Will and Testament to sell and dispose of and convert into Money the same and every part thereof and to invest the Monies arising from such Sales in the funds or other Government Security aforesaid to the greatest and best advantage and do pay the interest or dividend payable for or on account of the Stock purchased with such Money or from the Stock before purchased at each and every time from Monies arising from Sales of all and every the different Property or Properties or from the proceeds of the Crops of Produce or payments for or on account of Mullet Hall Plantation or from all and every Sum or Sums of Money received and already invested in the funds on the third day of the last Month of October or that may be received from the aforementioned Hymen Cohen and Judah Cohen and as often as such dividends or Interest shall become due after this investment of or Stock purchased from any Sum or Sums of Money ordered unto be invested unto my said Wife Margaret for ever during such time as she shall remain my Widow this clause I so insert at her own special request and upon the intermarriage of my said Wife or if she shall depart this life without again marrying all my Estate Real and Personal that may then remain unsold or unfunded as directed shall as soon as possible after her decease be sold for their full and intrinsic value and the Monies arising from such Sales be funded in life indenture [?] as already ordered for funding all other Monies then and not till then. I give and bequeath to the Treasurer and Presidents for the time being of the Society called and known in London by the Name of the ..........................................one thousand pounds I then give and bequeath to the Treasurer and Presidents for the time being of the Jews Hospital Mile End for the reception of the aged poor and the educating to useful Industry for that of both sexes of the Class denominated German Jews in London one thousand pounds these two bequeathed Sums shall be added to the funds of those Institutions and appropriated in like manner as they are by such Treasurers or Presidents to whom I leave these Sums in Trust for such purpose only. I give an bequeath unto my highly esteemed and philanthropic friend Aron Joseph of the Crescent in the Minories London in Trust five hundred pounds to be added to the funds and for the sole use of furnishing the Institution or Free School amongst the Jews to the Establishment of which he has so eminently and laudably contributed by every means in his power the Interest only of said Sum shall be appropriated to the use of said Free School for ever. I give and bequeath unto the Treasurer and Presidents of the London Hospital five hundred pounds. I give and bequeath unto the Treasurer and Members of the Samaritan Society an appendage to the said London Hospital five hundred pounds. Those two last Sums I have contributed [?] in Gratitude to the Managers of these most valuable Institutions for their generous and liberal conduct towards my distressed Brethren of the Hebrew Nation. I give and bequeath unto His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex five hundred pounds upon Trust or to the intent that he do pay the said Sum of five hundred pounds to the Treasurer and Treasurers for the time being of a Society who call themselves the Governors of the Queens Lying In Hospital Manor House Lisson Green to be applied towards carrying on the charitable designs of the said Institution I bequeath this Sum to this Institution in honor of their Illustrious President for whom I have the most profound respect and admiration for his liberality of sentiment and for his pre-eminent and transcendent Benevolence To all Mankind I give and bequeath unto the Trustees and Treasurer of the Ladies Benevolent Institution for the purpose of clothing and otherwise relieving Jewish lying-in married Women at their own houses in London five hundred pounds. I give and bequeath unto the Church Wardens and Mayor for the time being of Folkestone in Kent my native place five hundred pounds to be invested in the funds or other Government Security of Great Britain to the Name of such Churchwardens and Mayor. It being my will that the Interest only of said Sum of five hundred pounds shall be distributed amongst the poor Inhabitants of said place on the fifth day of February in each and every year for ever in the Name and as the Charitable donation of Ellis Wolfe a Jew for the relief of his Towns People the day named for distributing this Money is that on which I was born. I give and bequeath unto the Treasurers and Wardens of the three Synagogues in London already mentioned or named in this my Will and Testament two thousand pounds to be invested in the funds or other Government Security of Great Britain in the Name of such Treasurers and Wardens or as many of them being thereon from amongst the Treasurers and Wardens of the three Synagogues indiscriminately as are usually received as Trustees at the Bank of England. It being my will that the Interest only of said Sum of two thousand pounds shall be disposed of in the following manner that is to say I will that all and every name of each poor individual of these three Synagogues whose names are regularly enrolled in the Charitable or Relieved [?] list and receive Charity from each and every of those three Synagogues shall be plainly and distinctly written on a piece of their writing paper each individual name separately and then put into such a Box or Wheel as is customary to be used on the day of drawing the benefits of the Mishvas [?] Chevra and in the like public manner as such benefits are drawn in said Chevra I will that such Individual Draws be drawn at the ..oal shtoop of each of the three Synagogues in regular rotation beginning with the Hansbro next the St. James Dukes Place and lastly the New Synagogue Bricklayers Hall Leadenhall Street all in London such drawings to commence the Sunday following that on which the Benefits for the Mishvas [?] Chevra are drawn or used to be drawn while in existence when the first thirty Names so drawn shall receive the Sum of five shillings each for one week the remainder of the Names shall remain in the Wheel and the like number of thirty shall be drawn each and every Sunday between the hours of twelve and two o’clock for twelve successive weeks from the first days drawing and each and every individual shall receive alike Sum of five shillings equal to those individuals that received the first weeks donation no addition shall be made to the number of Names first put into the Wheel nor shall those Names already drawn be put into the Wheel again in the same year until each individual Name shall be properly drawn out and the Wheel quite empty and containing no more Names then the whole of the Names that were first put into the Wheel or in reuse of the sooth of either of such individuals then the original number shall be filled up from among any such poor individuals admitted on the aforementioned Relieved [Piteux?] List since the first day of such Annual drawings but if there should not be any fresh issues on such lists to fill up such Vacancy raised by such flu ....] and in that case I will that the whole and remaining Names of those individuals first put into a Wheel shall again be put into said Wheel and continue be drawn in like manner and given same donations as already fully described. And I will that this charitable drawing and Benefits to be continued in the manner herein ordered and fully described and distributed and called by the Name of Ellis Wolfes Mite towards the relief of his Jewish Brethren yearly and each and every year for ever- any donations or Bequests to this Institution shall not in any shape or manner whatever alter or change or cause to be altered or changed the name by which it is my will and desire it shall be called known or distinguished as above named. I will and desire if any surplus should remain from the Interest arising from the aforementioned two thousand pounds after fulfilling the intent and purpose to which it is to be appropriated shall be disposed of for charitable purposes or defraying any contingent expenses in carrying my plan into execution as the Trustees for the time being shall think fit. I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Treasurers and Wardens of the three Synagogues before named in London upon Trust five hundred Pounds to be placed in the funds or other Government Security of Great Britain in their Names or in the Names of as many of them as are usually received as Trustees at the Bank of England the Interest of such Sum of five hundred Pounds to be added to the Principal Sum as often as received on the dividend days and so continue to accumulate principal and interest until appropriated as follows (that is to say) towards rebuilding and re-establishing the Synagogue in Port Royal Jamaica which was unfortunately consumed by fire in the late Conflagration at that place. But if no attempt should be made to rebuild such Synagogue for the want of funds or otherwise I then will and desire that the said bequeathed Sum of five hundred pounds together with it accumulating Interest shall remain and continue consolidated until it shall present a Sum sufficient to rebuild and re-establish such Synagogue in lieu and in the stead of the one consumed by fire and fully completed for divine Worship to be performed herein according to the Laws of Moses and agreeable to the usage terms customs rules and regulations as now acted upon and adopted in the Congregation of the Synagogue destroyed by fire and for the due and regular fulfilling this my will and desire it is requisite. And I do will that the said Trustees do correspond on this subject with the Presidents and Adjustors of the Portuguese Synagogue in Kingston Jamaica and act in due and regular uniformity with them until the true intent meaning of this my desire is effectually completed and when such Synagogue shall be rebuilt and re-established in manner and form herein fully described I give and bequeath such building with all its Appurtenances purchased from the Monies arising from such accumulated funds unto the use of divine Worship as aforesaid of the Inhabitants of the Hebrew Nation at Port Royal in Jamaica for ever. I bequeath this Sum firstly with the Religious intention of re-establishing an ancient house of the Lord and in grateful recollection and award to the congregation of Port Royal for their very friendly Services rendered me at the time I was married to my beloved Wife. I give and bequeath unto the Treasurer and Trustees for the time being of Woolmers first School in Kingston Jamaica one thousand Pounds on the following conditions only namely that the said Treasurer and Trustees do admit and guarantee the poor admission for ever or as long as said Institution shall continue to exist of a number of children of the Jewish persuasion not less than twelve being males or kin or persons or belonging to poor and indigent parents who thereof the English and German Jews or Portuguese Synagogues as opportunity and occasion may arrive and vacancies happen or take place by a deficiency in that number who then from the Children of the aforesaid Synagogue or the Children of any other poor Parents of the Jewish persuasion or orphans from any part of Jamaica to be educated at the expense of said Institution in like manner as the same description of Children used to be educated when admitted heretofore on the foundation of such Institute in case the said Treasurer and Trustees should not immediately comply with these conditions on being made acquainted with the conditions of this my Bequest I will that my said executors shall allow a time not less than six months after such communication was made to such Treasurer and Trustees for them to consider and give an answer to such stipulated conditions and at the expiration of the said six months and in the event of the said Treasurer and Trustees refusing to receive the aforesaid ........... Child of the Hebrew Nation into the said Institution in form and manner as described in this my Will and Testament then and in that case the said Sum of one thousand Pounds shall remain and be considered as part or parcel of my general Estate and be disposed of as I now herein order and direct and be added to the Sum bequeathed for re-establishing the Synagogue at Port Royal Jamaica and be disposed of in like manner as already ordered. I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Henry Wolfe and unto his scion my Cousin Hanah or Henrietta Wolfe both of Little Somerset Street Goodmans fields London the Sum of two hundred Pounds each to be considered as Legatees of the first Class mentioned and named in the first sheet of this my Will and Testament for the payment of the Legacies and Bequests. I find and subject and make liable all my funded Property as bound and made liable to other Legacies for their payment and the payment of the several Bequests as therein before mentioned I give and bequeath unto Benjamin Elias Esquire my adopted father to be paid to him immediately after my decease one hundred Pounds for the purchase of Mourning and any other Emblem of Mourning to be worn by him in commemoration of my departed Soul. I give and bequeath unto my Executrix and Executors herein after named thirty Pounds each to purchase Mourning and wear the same for me. The remainder and residue of all my Estate Real and Personal which I desire to be converted into Money and funded in like manner as already ordered with other Monies to be funded I devise to my acting Executors and trustees I trust to be distributed by them among the Children of my aforesaid Sister Elizabeth the Wife of Moses Levin of Hamburgh and among the two Children of my deceased Brother Levy Moses Wolfe late of the City of Hamburg also and among the Children of my Brother David Wolfe of Kingston Jamaica the Males to receive their share at the Age of twenty one years and the females on their day of marriage or on their attaining the Age of twenty one years all share and share alike to be held by their Executors Administrators and assigns for ever. I have now a request to make of my dear Wife having so amply provided for her in this my Will which is that she will during her life distribute or cause to be distributed from her funds and monies each and every Winter Coals to the amount of one hundred Pounds among the poor and indigent Sons of the German Synagogue in London and also provide and leave a fund at her death to continue such Annual distribution for ever to be willed and distributed by the Name of Mrs. Ellis Wolfes Charity Coals. I hope and trust my said Wife will do all in her power to fulfill and accomplish this my request and for which I will reward her in the next World if in my power, I will and desire that it may be understood that the Sums of Money mentioned as Legacies or Bequests in any shape or indent or whatever shall be paid in Sterling Money of Great Britain. I will and desire that my present Attorney in Jamaica shall not be supervised while he continues to do his duty as heretofore and for his conduct in managing my Affairs in Jamaica he merits my best thanks But if it should be found requisite for one or more Attorneys to act my Executrix and Executors may add them to him to act jointly. I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Wife Executrix and Hymen Cohen and Judah Cohen my late Co-partners and esteemed friends and my esteemed friends Aron Joseph of the Crescent in the Minories and my friends M L Newton of Prescot Street Goodmans fields all of them of the City of London Merchants Executors of this my last Will and Testament. I do not intend that the appointment of Messrs Cohens as Executors shall operate as a release or discharge of any Claim or demand I may have on the said Hymen Cohen and Judah Cohen or other of them at the time of my decease hereby revoking all former wills and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament. The various Sums of money I have herein bequeathed for Charitable purpose I have done so with the most religious and sacred intention of performing part of the duty I owe to at most Merciful and bountiful Providence for his infinite Mercy and Goodness in having protected and provided for me through life and for having brought me forth from Obscurity to light and from distress to Affluence!!! And for such divine Interposition I am bound and so are all Mankind to distribute part of the divine Blessings for the use of my fellow creatures who may want relief and for such other purposes as I hope will be found just and approved in the sight of My God and Mankind at the same time I have endeavoured to make such of the table distribution of my property according to its extent as to satisfy the expectations of my relations or any other person who might think they have anything on me. I feel much Gratification in signing this deed this day being the Anniversary on which I sailed from England for Jamaica 4 [?].9. 1790 when my Grain was scarce and my effects were few. In Witness whereof I the said Ellis Wolfe have to this my said Will written and contained in this and the proceeding ten pages of post paper to the first ten whereof I have set my hand and to this eleventh and half page have set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of November in the year One thousand eight hundred and sixteen

[signed] Ellis Wolfe

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Ellis Wolfe as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the sight and presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witness hereunto Thomas Henry Riches solicitor Uxbridge, Robert Hazell Chemist Uxbridge, William Townsend Clerk to Mr. Riches.

PROB 11/1594/519 Proved at London 31 July 1817 before the Worshipful Richard Henry Cresswell Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the Oaths of Margaret Wolfe Widow the Relict, Hymen Cohen Esq. Judah Cohen Esq. and Aron Joseph Esq. four of the Executors to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer. Power reserved to Moses Levy Newton Esq. the other Executor.

Occupation
Merchant and plantation owner
Religion
Jewish

Associated Estates (1)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1811 [EA] - → Other