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The governor received two letters dated October 5 and 16. He reported that the expedition of the Independents under Simon Bolivar and L. Brion, which was previously near Curaçao, had been defeated and scattered. The few remaining men on the Spanish coast moved inland, trying to reach other revolted provinces, but were pursued and destroyed by the King's troops.
On July 29, their squadron left Bonaire. On August 8, one of the Independent privateers appeared off Curaçao, inspected a local bark, and later captured a Spanish bark in Porto Marie Bay under the Dutch flag. The governor complained to President Petion in Aux-Cayes about this violation of Dutch territory but received no response.
After leaving Bonaire, Brion cruised between Aruba and the Spanish coast, captured a Spanish warship, and conducted some raids on the coast before departing. During this period, trade with the Spanish coast nearly stopped, causing Curaçao to suffer significant losses.
On October 10, an armed vessel flying the Independence flag appeared near Curaçao's harbor. After exchanging warning shots, they sent a boat to shore. The officer wanted to speak with the governor and deliver letters for Admiral Brion, but was denied access by Adjutant Bikkert. The vessel, named the General Marino and commanded by former French naval officer Lieutenant Lebot, later captured two vessels near the harbor, including a locally-owned golet.
On July 9, 1816, from his headquarters in Carúpano, Simon Bolivar, as commander-in-chief of the armies of Venezuela and New Granada, sent a letter to Vice Admiral H. Kikkert, the Governor-General of Curaçao. In this letter, Bolivar stated that Admiral Louis Brion was fully authorized to negotiate friendship relations between their territories.
Kikkert replied from Fort Amsterdam in Curaçao on July 14, 1816. He explained that since his sovereign (the King of the Netherlands) did not recognize Bolivar's flag, he could not engage in negotiations. However, he would continue to ensure the prosperity of Dutch subjects under his command and promote trade on the island.
On July 10, 1816, Admiral Brion sent an additional letter to Kikkert, forwarding Bolivar's message and requesting a personal meeting in his capacity as Admiral of the Republic of Venezuela.
On February 15, 1817, the Governor General of
The documents also included:
The Chamber of Commerce in
On June 5, 1817, officials discussed maritime protection in the West Indies. A letter from the Governor General of Curaçao dated February 15, 1817 included several important documents:
The Dutch naval presence was being strengthened with:
This naval presence was deemed necessary to protect Dutch flags and possessions from so-called Independents and pirates using their flag. Dutch merchants had expressed concerns about these threats, requesting protection for their colonial trade routes.
Three military personnel records from Amsterdam are described:
This document describes events in Curacao and surrounding areas in 1817. Simon Bolivar, as commander-in-chief, and Louis Brion, as Admiral, led an independence expedition from Aux Cayes past Aruba to Margarita Island. Bolivar then took his troops to Barcelona on the mainland, where he had two encounters with Spanish troops and was defeated, though the Independents still held Barcelona. General Morillo arrived with 5,000 men to restore order in that coastal area. On the 12th, Louis Brion sent a proclamation from Simon Bolivar declaring the ports of:
José Ventura Santana, a refugee from Venezuela living in Curaçao, wrote a petition to Governor Albert Kikkert on July 11, 1816. Kikkert was Vice Admiral and Governor General of Curaçao and its dependent islands for King of the Netherlands. Santana explained that he had moved to Curaçao about 19 months earlier after being incorporated there through resolutions signed by M. Ricardo. Since then, he had been living peacefully and conducting trade, which respectable members of the community could confirm. During the previous English rule, he had sworn loyalty to the British Crown, which he now considered void after the island's transfer to Dutch control. Santana, who had established himself on the island with a large family, requested permission to swear a new oath of loyalty to the King of the Netherlands and the government.
On June 21, 1739, in Saint Eustatius, a bill of exchange was written for 136 pesos, 7 schillings and 2 stuivers, payable within 20 days. Jacob de Lion ordered payment to Pieter Runnels. The payment was to be made to merchants Van Hermael and Van den Boses in Amsterdam. The bill was later endorsed to Jacob van Paddenburgh.
A second bill was written on June 23, 1739 in Saint Eustatius for 50 pesos, also payable within 20 days. This bill was written by Jan Lispien to Pieter Runnels, and was also endorsed to Jacob van Paddenburgh.
On February 19, 1788, a passport was issued to Captain John Smith, who commanded the brigantine Mercury to New London. The ship John, commanded by Captain Elkanan Freeman, arrived from Boston, having departed on January 3 and last visited Cayenne on February 17, 1788.
On February 20, 1728, Sergeant Johan Friederich Dierderich took his oath as assistant commissioner at Mauritsburg. The receiver W.H. Poppelman submitted accounts for October, November, and December 1787.
On February 21, 1788, Captain Robert Allyn received a passport for his sloop Hope to St. Croix.
On February 24, 1788, Dominus Cros preached in the morning and Dominus van Groeneveld in the afternoon. The Dutch schooner Mary, under Captain Alexander Parkson, arrived from St. Eustatius.
The passengers included:
The naval cutter Zeemeeuw, commanded by Lieutenant Cornelis Schalk, arrived after departing from Texel on December 19 and Plymouth on January 6. The ship was stopped at fortress Nieuw Amsterdam for improper identification signals.
During June 1785, auction sales were recorded in St. Eustatius. Alexander Leseune served as the auction commissioner. Multiple auctions were held, including those of Albert Thomas, Simon Aron Cappe, Salomon Levy, J.L. ter Hoeven, William Killip, and Anna Catharina Groebe.
A significant auction was held for the heirs of Hanna Benjamin (born de Lion), which yielded 2,595 pieces. The total value of goods sold was 6,392 pieces. Operating expenses included:
Later that month, more auctions were conducted for various individuals including:
A commission of 2 percent was charged on most sales. The total value of goods sold in this period was 2,285.5 pieces.
On September 10, 1794, several matters were discussed regarding the colony:
In March 1795, Thomas Ramseij incorrectly charged several people in the ledger book B, using signed receipts. These people included Wan Lordick, Benjamin Wright, Jan de Weever, and Indah H. de Lijon. The latter was in St. Croix at the time, where J. H. Schmalz had seen the receipt. Others who were wrongly charged and who swore oaths about having paid Ramseij included:
In May 1795, court messenger Willem Halman received money that had been seized from Ramseij. By June 23, 1796, Ramseij was found to owe 5,448 pesos, 2 reals, and 1 stuiver, with the possibility of more false bookkeeping being discovered. He had also received 755 pesos, 6 reals, and 3 stuivers in commission fees from auctions. The document was signed by Lucas Lans and addressed to Herman Brouwer, Secretary of the islands of St. Eustatius and Saba.On January 21, 1650 in Amsterdam, a notarial deed was made in the evening around 7 o'clock before notary Johannes Hellerus. The document concerned Cake Cornelis, a baker, and his wife Trijntje Noerten, who lived on the corner of Lenhorens sluijs in the Haerlemmer straet in the building called "The Gilded Lion".
Both were healthy and of sound mind. Considering their mortality, they revoked their previous marriage contract made before notary Jan Volckersz Oli on March 30, 1649. They made new arrangements stating that if one of them dies leaving children from their marriage, the surviving spouse would inherit all possessions, movable and immovable goods, and rights.
However, if Trijntje were to die first, the surviving spouse would need to pay:
Andries Jochemsz (soldier, about 35 years old) and Sander Cornelisz (cooper, about 24 years old), both living in Amsterdam, made a sworn statement on 22 February 1666. They testified for Theunis Jans, also a resident of the city, about the following facts:
The statement was witnessed by Dirck de Reijger and Dirck van Rumbelcq before notary Jacob Pondt.
The witnesses declared that in Amsterdam on 1696, Andries Jochemsz had died leaving no living parents, sisters, brothers, or any of their children, whether from full or half blood relations. The witnesses knew this because they had close contact with the deceased brother of the petitioners for many years. The document was witnessed by Carel Claes and Luwe Dircksz, with Roeloff Pelgrom making his mark, and Carel Claasen Coeck serving as notary.
In Amsterdam, on October 27, 1672, in the presence of witnesses Cornelis Spijker and Eghbertus Daalder, several transactions were recorded. On October 29, 1672, Cornelis De Ghrijp helped transfer property at the request of Jan Jansz van Alkmaar, a master mason, and Jan Barentsz Ghruijs, a broker. The transfer was made to Andries Jochemsz, who was the doorkeeper of the Amstelkerk.
Jan Jansz van Alkmaar and Jan Barentsz Bruijs acted as guardians for the underage children of Jan Dirksz Roos. They also had legal authority from Neeltje Gerrits, a widow, and Engeltje Jans Roos, an adult daughter of the late Jan Dirksz Roos. This authority was granted through documents signed on June 3 and 29 before notary Pieter Pathuijzen.
The property in question was a plot of land with a house located in Kerkstraat, opposite the Amstelkerk. This had been purchased at an orphanmasters' sale on January 22, 1672. The transfer deed was prepared on September 8 of the same year.
On an unspecified date, before notary Jan Barels in Amsterdam, David Vaz Martens appeared, giving a statement about his sister Ribea Vaz Martins, widow of Samuel da Costa Mendana.
Due to special affection for his sister, David agreed to:
These payments would continue as long as his sister remained alive and unmarried. The agreement was witnessed by Leon Bongas and Andries Vlaming. Ribea appeared before the notary and gratefully accepted this donation from her brother.
On March 8, 1753, several people appeared before notary Daniel van den Brink in Amsterdam. The document concerned heirs of the late Judike Vaz Martins, widow of Isak Mocata, who had died in the city. Her will was dated November 8 and notarized on November 21, 1752.
The heirs included:
These heirs appointed two executors: Benjamin Vas Martins and Doctor David de Meza Salomons, both living in Amsterdam. The executors were given power to sell all goods, furniture, bonds, and other effects left by the deceased, either publicly or privately. They could receive payments and transfer ownership of the sold items.
The document was witnessed by Willem Appels and Hendrik Wylhoff.
On an unspecified date, Jan Bosch, a public official, witnessed several parties appearing before him. On one side were the appointed guardians of Maritgen Jans Cramer (daughter of Jan Jansz Cramer and Celijtgen Willems): Jaspe Lasse (a blue dyer), Jacob Teuns (a broker), and Herman Wasselincx (a pump maker).
On the other side were the grandchildren of Celijtgen Willems through her daughter Fransgen Cornelis:
These grandchildren were entitled to one-fourth of Celijtgen Willems' inheritance according to her testament. The parties declared they had reviewed the inventory and accounts of the estate of Jan Jansz Cramer and Celijtgen Willems. The grandchildren's quarter share amounted to 5,000 (likely guilders).
On September 9, 1652, several witnesses appeared before notary Henrick Schaeff in Amsterdam. The witnesses were:
They testified about events on October 28, 1651, when deputy sheriff Vlasvath and his men forcefully removed furniture and belongings from the house of Liurens Pieters and his wife Jannetgen Douwes. This was done on orders from pharmacist Lubbert van Diephondt. The officials even pulled blankets and sheets off a sick daughter who was in bed. The eviction was so harsh that Jannetgen Douwes fainted and appeared lifeless on the floor.
Marritgen Symons testified that she went to Lubbert van Diephondt to ask if the family could stay one more night, but he refused, saying it was out of his control. Pieter de Jager witnessed the blankets being pulled off the sick daughter and questioned the officials' cruel behavior, comparing them to heathens and Turks. When he asked to see their authorization, the deputy sheriff refused and had him pushed out of the house. The deputy sheriff also forcefully took the house key from Jannetgen Douwes.
On December 17, 1672, a marriage contract was signed in front of notary Dirck vander Groe. The groom was Willem Cornelis vander Cloet, a stone baker and widower of Celitje Willems van os. The bride was Lysbet Joosten Perniet, widow of Carel Jansz van ujtrecht.
The contract included these conditions:
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