Ester D'Aguilar

HESTER DAGUILAR, widow of MOSES RAPHAEL D’AGUILAR.

On 6 October 1709 Abraham de Aguilar sold his part in two houses in the “Swanenburgerstraat” in Amsterdam to Jan del Court – see the image. He was the son and only inheritor of Hester Daguilar, according to her last will of 13 x-ber 1701, or 13 December 1701, before notary Pieter Padthuyzen.

When I looked up that will, it turned out that Hester was the widow of Haham Moses Rafael de Aguilar. She was slightly “onpasselijck”, but otherwise in possession of her senses, memory, wits, and speech. She wanted to be buried at Bet Haim. She mentions her six daughters, who had, at the time of their respective marriages, already received more than she was going to leave behind at that moment in time. Rica de Castro, married to Isacq de Castro, Sara Azulaij, widow of Jeuda Azulaij, Rachel de Aguilar, married to Isacq de Aron de Aguilar, Gracia Franca Serrana, widow of Joseph franco Serrano, Sinha Alvares, married to Jacob Baruch Alvares, Judica Alvares, married to Jacob Hisquiau Baruch Alvares. Hester d’Aguilar also mentions her son Isacq Haim de Aguilar, who, at various occasions had received sums of money now accumulating to 1500 guilders. He and her six daughters are excluded from the inheritance for the reasons stated above. Everything goes to her other son, Abraham de Aguilar, who had never received anything. He is to receive a quarter of the property rights in two houses standing under one roof in the “Swanenburgertraat” and her household goods and furniture. But he has to give half of those goods and furniture to his sister Gracia Franca Serrana, and one hundred guilders to his brother Isacq Haim de Aguilar. The latter will only receive the money if he doesn’t bother his brother.

The last will is passed before notary Padhuyzen in the house of Sara Azulaij in the “Nieuwe Swanenburgerstraat. Ester Aguilar signs, she could read and write, but her signature is shaky. A few months later she dies."

- by Ton Tielen of The Sephardic Diaspora group on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSepardicDiaspora/permalink/20527...)