Transcriptions » Recently created summaries of historical documents

On January 30, several matters were discussed: Thomas Cletser, a jeweler, requested payment of 1,700 for a medal he made for the lord of Dyden. The General Receiver Doublet was ordered to pay him or give him a 6-month interest-bearing bond. Aaron Querido and Rugomus Frontera, merchants from Amsterdam trading with Salée in Barbary, received permission for their agents Daniel Missie Benjamin Cohere and David Belmont to trade freely there. Aaron Querido had received permission on November 1, 1629 to export 30,000 pounds of bullets and 6,000 pounds of gunpowder to Salée. Having only exported 4,800 pounds of bullets and 1,800 pounds of gunpowder, he requested permission to export the remainder. This was granted on condition that it be shipped in one vessel. Abraham Lestebenon, Pieter Noordyck, and Anthony Aertssen, merchants from Amsterdam, as trustees of Abraham Donckers and Maerten Gerrits from Hamburg, received support for their legal case against Rutger van Egeren. Margarieta van Tempel was granted 6 guilders out of compassion. Elisabeth Cuijpers, widow of Captain John Dabs who died valiantly fighting on the Veluwe, received 600 guilders in addition to 600 already granted, to support herself and her two daughters. The city of Burick complained about:

• The Major's insolent behavior towards citizens and magistrates
• Having to pay contributions for quartered troops
• Having to lodge soldiers in their straw beds
• Officers doubling the billeting and demanding fuel, candles, salt, vinegar, and services

• Pieter Pieters received permission to load two ships with wheat for transport, provided he posted bond at the admiralty in Amsterdam.
• The clerk was instructed to deliver the answer dated December 11 to two letters from the King of Sweden (dated July 7) to Ludowicus Camerarius, the Swedish ambassador, at his lodgings.
• Tanneken Drossaert, widow of Samuel Palmer (a former rider under Captain Horatio Veer), requested continuation of a small monthly payment of about 13 guilders that her husband had received for four years before his death. The council decided to give her a one-time payment of 50 guilders instead.
• A letter was received from Gysbert Hamel, tax collector in 's-Hertogenbosch, dated December 4, responding to their letter of October 9 about his unsuccessful search for goods left behind by the lord of Wiskerken.
• A letter from the King of France, written in Chateaurierri on November 22, expressed concern about potential letters of reprisal against the clergy of Luijk requested by someone named Brandis.
• A letter was received from Vice Admiral Quast, written in Vlissingen on December 9, mentioning Captain Willeboort Leeder's ship.

• The squadron under Commander Lodde
• A 2% tax on grain imports from Moscow
• Payments for supplies provided to ambassadors to Moscow

On an unspecified date, Abraham Touro, who was living in the colony of Paramaribo, handed over a paper written in Portuguese to a sworn clerk. Touro had signed this document himself and requested it to be sealed in 7 different places - 4 with his own seal and 3 with the clerk's seal. Touro declared this sealed paper to be his last will and testament, which should be valid regardless of any legal formalities that might have been omitted. The document was witnessed and signed by Jacobus Dieusefit and Wilhelm Johan Leysner.

• Jacob da Fonseca, representing both himself and Abraham da Fonseca from London
• Diego d'Aguilar, married to Sunna da Fonseca
• The widow and children of Isaque da Fonseca
• Hana da Fonseca
• David Franco Mendes, married to Rachel da Fonseca (daughter of the late Daniel da Fonseca)
• Sara da Fonseca, widow of Abraham Franco Mendes
• Joseph Pareiva, married to Sinha Paseuran

At hearing the speech and voice of Louis le Riche's slave, he told the slave that after encountering the animals on the path, he had driven them back to his master's house, and that the slave could go there too instead of looking further for those celebrations. The slave then left him and went his way. When the deponent and the wife of the aforementioned innkeeper came into the house, he heard the wife ask her husband why he hadn't closed the house window and the duck pen door the evening before. The innkeeper answered his wife that he himself had closed both the previous evening. After the innkeeper lit the candle, the deponent heard from the innkeeper's mouth that most of his goods had been stolen, which the deponent also served the next day. The innkeeper's wife came into the house with a stocking, a child's jacket, and a bottle, which she said she found in the bushes.

In Masulipatnam on April 21, 1714, various goods were sold from the Dutch East India Company warehouses. The document shows details of sales and profits:

• Spices including cloves, mace, nutmeg, and Malabar pepper
• 7,200 pounds of Japanese copper bars
• Various cloths including scarlet fabric and black cloth
• French brandy
• Arrack (a type of liquor)
• White and brown Delft beer, with some allocated to senior officials

The total profit on these goods was 2,714 florins, 11 stuivers, and 3 penningen. The document was signed by P. Seelover at the Masulipatnam office on November 30, 1713.

A second transaction record from December 31, 1713 lists additional sales of:

• 7,200 pounds of Japanese copper bars
• 6 containers of sack wine
• 3 containers of arrack
• 9 Jati wooden planks

These additional sales generated a profit of 2,086 florins, 1 stuiver, and 7 penningen. This document was also signed by Seelover.

This is a list of Dutch East India Company (VOC) employees at Nagapatnam from a roll call in June 1693. The record includes:

• Anthoni van Middelburgh, from Sonnevelt
• Hendrick van Oudehoorn, from Saumeur
• Christiaan Duijcker, from Paderborn
• Barthous van Slingelant, from Dorth
• Pieter vander Burg, from Rotterdam
• Abraham Isembaart, from Middelburgh
• Pieter Spits, from Gale
• Hendrick van Boeken and Pieter Calandrini, both from Amsterdam
• Isaac Seelover, from Schoondijck
• Steven Vimont, from Hable de Grace

The list includes their positions, salaries, and when they entered service. For example, Andries Hoet from Bommel was a merchant, Ian Francois van Slabbeeck from Halle was a chief surgeon hired in 1685 with a salary of 60 guilders, and Iacobus Storman from Amsterdam was a sick visitor hired in 1686 with a salary of 40 guilders.

Other positions mentioned include bookkeepers, carpenters, masons, surgeons, and helmsmen. Many came from Amsterdam, Middelburgh, and other Dutch cities, though some originated from places like Hamburg, Lucerne, and Christiania.

A list of Dutch East India Company employees from 1693 shows the following:

• From Middelburg: Anthoni Ciemens
• From Saumeur: Hendrick van Oudehoorn van Sonnevelt
• From Paderborn: Christiaan Duijcker
• From Dorth: Barthout van Slingelant
• From Rotterdam: Pieter vander Burg
• From Middelburg: Abraham Isembaart
• From Gale: Pieter Spits
• From Amsterdam: Hendrick van Boeken
• From Bommel: Andries Hoet
• From Mazulipatnam: Joannes Bolwerck
• From Amsterdam: Pieter Calandrini
• From Schoondijck: Isaac Seelover
• From Hable de Grace: Steven Vimont
• From Palliacassa: Pieter Groenegens
• From Tegenapatnam: Albert van Weede

Notable positions and their salaries included:

• Head merchant and administrator: 60 guilders
• Preacher: 100 guilders
• Junior merchant: 40 guilders
• Clerk: 30 guilders
• Assistant: 18-24 guilders
• Bookkeeper: 30 guilders
• Standard bearer: 90 guilders
• Master carpenter: 60 guilders
• Master mason: 40 guilders
• Surgeon: 36 guilders

The employees arrived on various ships between 1655 and 1691, including vessels named 'Landscapes Welvaren', 'Vrijheijt', 'Waterlant', and 'Batavia'.

The text describes trade and business practices in Palleacatta and other trading posts. The merchants imposed high prices on weavers for ingredients and yarns as shown on pages 488-492. Officials used false reports to prevent price reductions on cloth (pages 494-501).

The second-in-command at Erikom made observations about harmful merchant conduct. There were concerns about negligence and the fiscal officer's involvement with senior officials (pages 507-508).

Poor returns resulted from:

• Excessive purchase prices
• Merchant laziness
• Reluctance to lower cloth prices
• Fear that quick price adjustments would expose fraud

Further price reductions on various cloth types proved merchant and official misconduct, which the fiscal officer ignored (pages 591-595). The text mentions hostility towards painters from Erikom and arrogance of Palleacatta officials (pages 534-536).

High cloth prices were attributed to monopoly and forced sales of yarns and ingredients. The Company (East India Company) suffered damages of 28,935 guilders under the pretext of customs duties. The text also mentions fraud in the Erikom paintings and anger over its discovery (pages 505-506).

On August 18, 1717, a bookkeeper and three Buginese soldiers were sent back to Masulipatnam. Legal cases were to be handled quickly and no longer sent to Batavia. The second in command at Palicol, Jan Sweerts, had died. Bookkeeper Pieter van den Berg was recalled from Masulipatnam to take over clerk duties. Adriaan Plaa was sent to serve as fiscal officer and cashier. Merchant Louis Victor went to Pallecatta to replace merchant Stephanus Versluijs.

When positions became vacant, they would be given to bookkeepers according to orders. Regarding the fugitive Isaac Zeeloover and three Buginese soldiers, they would be dealt with according to the law. Future cases would be handled quickly and fairly, without sending them to Batavia. Regarding confiscated money from executed servants totaling 3,689 1/24 pagodas, they would follow the prescribed orders.

They awaited instructions on how to deal with Sadraspatnam servants Marthinus van Heuven and Jan de Gast. There were concerns about handing over the warehouse workers in Masulipatnam to local authorities, even with promises of fair punishment, as this might encourage locals to demand custody of Company offenders in future cases.

This is a Dutch postal regulation from The Hague from July 1893 concerning telegrams. The basic rate for domestic telegrams was 15 cents for ten words or less, with an additional charge of 15 cents for each extra word. For foreign telegrams, special rates applied. Messages could be sent with "open delivery" at their destination without extra charge. Telegrams could be verified for the same price as a regular telegram to the same destination.

The text includes a specific telegram notification to A. V. Desel, a former military officer. It informs him that his engagement payment for the third quarter of 1893 has been arranged through the paymaster in The Hague. The Desel was directed to collect his payment from the Dutch Bank in The Hague (where Mr. Seelover was the Director) by presenting the required documents.

In Nagapatnam, on June 7, 1707, Isaak Seelover submitted a report about trade activities in Coromandel. The document was verified by J. Spits, a clerk. A group of merchants from a new trading company in Nagapatnam, including Aboeta Wellappa, Tauduwa Moetij, Armogan, Naatsjappa, Moetappen, and Sjellembron, had their accounts checked by chief administrator Hendrik Grousius. They compared their records against the trading books of the Company.

Their financial statement from August 1706 showed:

• Cash payments of 3,742.9 3/8 pagodas
• Various textiles worth 8,125.10½ pagodas
• Sample clothes worth 60.7½ pagodas
• Dungarees, gunny sacks and rope worth 765.17¾ pagodas
• Total payments of 12,693.21 5/8 pagodas
• Remaining debt to the Company of 118.17 pagodas

The merchants signed this statement in Malabar script, and Hendrik Grousius confirmed its accuracy as chief administrator.

On October 27, 1731, Frederik Elliot, a merchant and administrator at the trading post, along with deputy merchant and warehouse master Jean Jacques Japin, appeared at Coromandel. They met with deputy merchant and fiscal officer Galenus Mersen to verify earlier statements about underweight nutmeg flowers. The witnesses confirmed their testimony by raising two fingers of their right hand and swearing an oath to God.

This was done and recorded at the Dutch trading post in Mazulipatnam on September 21, 1731. The document was signed by A. Meerkerke and G. van Alst, witnessed by Frederik Elliot and J.J. Japin, overseen by G. Mersen, and recorded by clerk W. De Jong.

On August 31, 1731, assistants Adriaan Meerhuijzen and Jacob Seelovertijde, appeared before first sworn clerk Wouter de Jong and witnesses. They had been assigned to inspect a container of nutmeg flowers (macis) that month. The container was labeled No. 94, transported by the sloop 't Gecroond Zwaard from Nagapatnam on March 7 of that year. The package contained a note from Banda Nassau dated November 22, 1728, signed by D. Velds and witnessed by Joannes Crijn and R. Church.

On November 24, officials in Nagapatam received a letter dated November 18 regarding wood supplies. The letter discusses kalliatour wood needed for shipping cargo. While there was no specified quantity in the provisional requirements, there were still 30,890 pounds of wood available from 1691, which had cost 7/8, 1¼, 2/16 per 480 pounds.

The letter was signed by several officials:

• Barthout van Slingelant
• Isaacq Seelover
• Hans Wolff
• Dirck Hackaert
• Ioannes Dubbeldaart (sworn scribe)

The document was dated November 19, 1698 in Geldria. A post-script mentions that after signing, they received additional paperwork from Masulipad which would be forwarded with this letter.

In this legal dispute from 1654, there was a discussion about taxes in both rural and urban areas. A merchant named van Slingeland wrote a letter to his advisor Sr Seelover about this matter. The text uses a saying about a cat and monkey trying to get chestnuts from the fire to describe how these men dealt with the situation. The dispute centered around an 8 percent customary tax. While this tax could not be found in rural areas, it was well known to exist in the city. The authorities were reluctant to publicly discuss this city tax except when absolutely necessary, and even then they made many trivial excuses.

On May 25, 1706, in Coromandel, officials were forced to please a local leader named Medichan by giving him gifts. Cornelis Comans was relieved of his duties and summoned away. Cornelis Boudewijnsz de Heure was appointed in his place at Palicol. The troublesome local leader followed his own wishes and paid little attention to Niersjamma and Medichan the military commander, making it necessary to keep him satisfied. When Medichan arrived in Palicol, the officials there also had to give him gifts worth 682 guilders and 16 pennies, after which the military commander left satisfied. Cornelis Comans, the bookkeeper of this trading post, had requested to be transferred elsewhere. This was granted on the condition that after transferring his duties to bookkeeper Cornelis Boudewijnsz de Heure, who was chosen as second in command at Palicol, he must report to headquarters along with junior merchant Isaac Seelover to answer for the messy housekeeping at Daatcheram.

On May 25, 1706, concerns were raised about activities in Coromandel. Van Noort received warnings about disobedience at trading posts near Masulipatnam. The authorities were worried about bad advice and greed from local Brahmin merchants causing a second decline in business. A letter from April 4 showed that Van Noort had complained about not being authorized to force merchants to pay their debts through harsh measures. This reminded officials of previous troubles during merchant Seelover's management, when similar practices had caused problems.

On September 7, a letter was sent via the Drakensteijn boat. The boat had arrived at Nagapatnam on September 5. The letter stated that merchant Colijns and his family would be transported from the Vinserom river. Before leaving, Colijns had to properly hand over his administration to his replacement, merchant Seelover.

Four letters with attachments were received, dated September 16, 21, 29 and the 7th of the current month. The first letter detailed increased expenses of the cashier for Company service in the villages during June. This was mainly because he stayed longer than before while collecting rendos (taxes). The letter also mentioned Reverend Anthonij Clement, who had arrived in good health aboard the Drakensteijn.

An administrative document dated June 25, 1705 from Coromandel discusses a request made by Isak Seelover. He asks to be reappointed to a vacant position, citing his 17 years of service to the East India Company and his need to support his large family. He acknowledges past debts and claims to have already suffered enough punishment for his oversights.

The document was signed in Nagapatnam on June 7, 1707 by Isak Seelover and verified by clerk J. Spits. The document also mentions local merchants from a new trading company in Nagapatnam:

• Moeta Wellappa
• Tanduwa Moetij
• Armogan Naatsjappa
• Moetappen
• Sjellembron

On October 20, 1703, repairs to the Company's trading post in Narsapur cost 255 guilders more than the estimated 759 guilders and 15 cents. Van Stelant declared that the repair bill showed no excessive charges. The ship Popkensburg departed on August 28 and arrived in Masulipatnam on September 11. According to Van Steelant's letter dated October 6, which arrived on the 16th via the sloop Drakesteijn along with Reverend Antonio Clement, the ship was scheduled to depart on October 7. The vessel carried 1,492 packs of various linens, including 741 packs loaded in Nagapatnam and 751 packs from elsewhere. Although unrest in Bimilipatnam had subsided, the situation remained uncertain, even though Prince Anandarasoe and his brother had ordered their people to leave the village where resident Vrijmoet was stationed.

On May 25, 1706, in Coromandel, Comans was given gifts and supplies and was called back. De Sterre was appointed as second in command of Palicol in his place. Comans was ordered to come here. The treasurer Immens was also to be sent back, with his function transferred to his brother Johannes Immens. The officials there could not avoid giving gifts and supplies to Medichan, which cost 682 guilders and 16 stuivers. The military commander left there satisfied.

The co-head of this trading post, bookkeeper Cornelis Lomans, requested to be relieved from there and transferred elsewhere. This was granted on the condition that after transferring his duties to fellow bookkeeper Cornelis Boudewijnsz de Sterre - who was chosen and appointed by us as second in command of Palicol - he must transport himself here to answer, along with junior merchant Isaac Seelover, for the messy housekeeping at Daatcherom, to the extent that he might be found guilty of this.

Furthermore, we have also ordered the Palicol treasurer Nicolaas Immens, due to his bad behavior, to be sent here and to employ his brother Johannes Immens in said function, about whom the Masulipatnam chiefs give good testimonials, contrary to Daatcherom.

On May 25, 1706, trade disruptions occurred in Coromandel. While cloth trade continued, Anandarasoe's ambassador visited there and received gifts. Military camps were set up near Sicatol under his brother Prince Wenkera Pitti and commanders Patmanabadeeuw and Paijkrouw. They threatened the local ruler to set everything on fire if he wouldn't agree to reasonable terms.

Due to these problems, trade slowed significantly in Bimilip. The local chiefs had to request 5,000 coins to continue the cloth trade. Despite the difficulties, they hoped to place orders for desired cloths since they maintained good relations with Prince Anandarasoe.

Sommerasoe, Anandarasoe's ambassador, visited the Company's lodge and promised to help maintain friendly relations with his master. In return, he received a gift worth 2 1/60 coins. Jampille Wenkerepitti Rasoe, a favorite and relative of the prince, was also given a gift.

• van Slingeland's natural disposition
• General accounts from people who knew him as cashier and head of Palliacatta