Abraham Cohen Labatt
Encyclopedia
Abraham Cohen Labatt was a prominent pioneer of Reform Judaism
in the United States
in the 19th century, founding several early congregations. A Sephardic Jew, he was one of the organizers of the Reform congregation in Charleston in 1825. A few years later he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina
. In 1831 he moved to New Orleans, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits and was one of the founders of the first Jewish congregations in Louisiana
. He visited Velasco, Texas
in that year and again in 1837 as supercargo
of the steamship "Columbia", the first merchantman
to trade between the U.S., via Charleston, Texas
, and Mexico
. Labatt went to California
in a merchant capacity following the gold rush
of 1849, and was one of the founders of the San Francisco synagogue
Shearith Israel, laying its foundation-stone in 1856. He would also serve as president of Congregation Emanuel. In 1849 he obtained a dispensation
for the David Crockett masonic lodge
, the first regularly instituted lodge in the state of California
. He served also as an alderman
of San Francisco. Labatt married Caroline Hyams (born 1821) and had sixteen children with her. In the 1860s, they moved to Louisiana
, followed by Waco, Texas
in 1869, finally settling in Galveston in 1878, where he joined the Jewish Texan Congregation B'nai Israel
. He would remain in Galveston for the rest of his life.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 19th century, founding several early congregations. A Sephardic Jew, he was one of the organizers of the Reform congregation in Charleston in 1825. A few years later he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. In 1831 he moved to New Orleans, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits and was one of the founders of the first Jewish congregations in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He visited Velasco, Texas
Velasco, Texas
Velasco was a town in Texas, United States, that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River in southeast Texas. It is sixteen miles south of Angleton, Texas, and four miles from the Gulf of Mexico.The town's early history is...
in that year and again in 1837 as supercargo
Supercargo
Supercargo is a term in maritime law that refers to a person employed on board a vessel by the owner of cargo carried on the ship...
of the steamship "Columbia", the first merchantman
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
to trade between the U.S., via Charleston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Labatt went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in a merchant capacity following the gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
of 1849, and was one of the founders of the San Francisco synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
Shearith Israel, laying its foundation-stone in 1856. He would also serve as president of Congregation Emanuel. In 1849 he obtained a dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
for the David Crockett masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
, the first regularly instituted lodge in the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He served also as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of San Francisco. Labatt married Caroline Hyams (born 1821) and had sixteen children with her. In the 1860s, they moved to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, followed by Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
in 1869, finally settling in Galveston in 1878, where he joined the Jewish Texan Congregation B'nai Israel
Congregation B'nai Israel
Congregation B'nai Israel is a Jewish synagogue located in Galveston, Texas, USA. It is the oldest Jewish Reform Congregation in the U.S. state of Texas.- History :...
. He would remain in Galveston for the rest of his life.