Subject: Sephardic Jews in America

Receipt dated September 13, 1759, signed by Jacob R. Rivera of Newport, Rhode Island, to William Vernon for the purchase of 252 pounds sterling of spermaceti candles. Jacob Rodriguez Rivera (1717-1789) was a Sephardic Jew who fled the Inquisition and settled in Newport. He was involved in the manufacture of spermaceti candles and was a prominent figure in the Newport Jewish community. The Vernon brothers, William and Samuel, were Newport merchants involved in the transatlantic slave trade, making significant profits through the 'triangle trade' involving rum, slaves, and molasses. This receipt provides insight into the commercial activities and economic interactions within 18th-century Newport, highlighting the involvement of both Jewish and non-Jewish merchants in the colonial economy.

Receipt for two boxes of spermaceti oil candles, dated February 23, 1764, from Jacob Rodriguez Rivera to Thomas Vernon in Newport, Rhode Island. The receipt provides details about a transaction for spermaceti candles between two prominent figures in Newport's 18th-century mercantile community. Jacob Rodriguez Rivera (1717-1789), a Sephardic Jew who fled the Inquisition and became a successful entrepreneur in Newport, is known for introducing the manufacture of spermaceti candles to the colonies. Thomas Vernon was part of the Vernon brothers, prominent Newport merchants involved in the transatlantic slave trade. The receipt offers insights into the business dealings of these individuals and provides a glimpse into the economic activities of Newport during the mid-18th century.