Transcriptions » Recently created summaries of historical documents

• A bond worth ƒ 1200 in capital charged to Pieter Vlot from 8 June 1753 was transferred.
• The seller declared he no longer had any right, ownership, or claim to this bond and transferred it completely to the first mentioned buyers.
• The seller promised to protect the bond at all times against any claims or demands from anyone, without cost or damage to the buyers, under the same conditions as mentioned earlier.
• This agreement was made and signed in Amsterdam on the date mentioned above.
• Witnesses present were Gerrit van Houten and Pieter Cortogs.
• The document was signed by Geerd Coll, Jt Huijseen, Johanna Catharina Krols, Crueks Preterma, Gerrit van Houten, Pieter Cortoijs, and Isaac Pool the notary.

Margareta Hendrina Tatum, widow of Jan de Witt, appeared before notary Casparus Henricus van Heimberg Reuvens in Haarlem on 12 January 1786 (Thursday evening between 6 and 7:30) to make her will. She was of sound body and mind.

She cancelled all previous wills and testaments she had made, either alone, with her late husband, or with anyone else.

She left the following amounts:

• 300 guilders to her half-sister Elisabeth Pieteren Tatum, wife of Pieter Vlot living in Amsterdam. If her sister died before her, the money would go to Pieter Vlot, and if he also died, to their children or further descendants through representation.
• An unspecified amount to the three children of her stepson Jan de Witt the younger: Jan Hendrik de Witt, Maria Christina de Witt, and Christiaan Jonathen de Witt together. If one or more of them died before her, their share would go to their legal descendants.

10 March 1783 Harme van Weeren, manager of the Hague-Delft ferry service in Amsterdam, appeared before notary Daniel van de Brink. He stated that on 11 May 1731 he had been appointed to this position by the mayors and governors of the city, on the condition that he provide security for his trustworthiness in the amount of 2,000 guilders. This security was most recently provided on 7 September 1751, when Jacob Smit and Pieter Vlot, both skippers from Rotterdam, together and each individually, acted as guarantors for him for the sum of 2,000 guilders. Because Jacob Smit had died, another person needed to be appointed in his place. Isaac Teering, also a manager of the Hague and Delft ferry service, would take on this role. Harme van Weeren declared he would free both Pieter Vlot and Isaac Teering from their guarantor obligations, binding all his possessions, both movable and immovable, present and future. He also stated that due to his weakness he was unable to appear in person.

• Bastiaan Mol, a deceased skipper, had representatives arrange for 3/8 of 17818 rixdollars (equal to 42754 guilders and 10 stuivers) to be paid to his widow, Elisabeth Vlot, in Amsterdam, with interest. The payment was to be collected by citizen orphan master Jacob van Rhenen and delivered through Frans Adam Carelson, a merchant in Amsterdam.
• 175 7/8 rixdollars (equal to 422 guilders and 2 stuivers) were to be paid to Lieutenant Jan Coenraad Warnesje for delivery to Frans Adam Carelson with 4 percent interest.
• 1200 rixdollars (equal to 2880 guilders) were to be received with interest by fellow Lieutenant Wijnand Willem Muijs through the mentioned Frans Adam, handled by the executors of the will of the late lady Aletta Carelson.
• A total transport of 22194½ rixdollars (equal to 53266 guilders and 16 stuivers) was recorded as an advance.
• An additional 1000 rixdollars (equal to 2400 guilders) was listed.

Jan Klanke, an unmarried daughter living in the Eerste Blomdwarsstraat between the Blomstraat and Blomgracht in Amsterdam, and Aaltje Oommers, living on the Bickers Island at the Achterom in the same city, appeared on February 3, 1746 before notary Jan Verleij. Both women were of sufficient age to testify.

They came at the request of Elisabeth Vlot, widow and appointed heir of the late Bastiaan Mol. The witnesses declared that:

• They knew Elisabeth Vlot very well
• They also knew her husband Bastiaan Mol very well
• Bastiaan Mol sailed to the East Indies in 1743 as a captain in service of the directors of the East India Company at the Enkhuizen chamber
• They had heard that he had died
• Elisabeth Vlot was the lawful wife of Bastiaan Mol, having been legally married to him in Nieuwendam in 1742
• Both his parents had died long before him
• He had not left any children or other descendants alive
• They had been on familiar terms with Elisabeth Vlot and her husband

The witnesses were prepared to confirm their statement under oath. The document was drawn up in Amsterdam.

On 16 December 1746, Elisabeth Vlot, wife of Bastiaan Molop, gave power of attorney to Thomas Pieters. The power of attorney was registered under number 308 and number 165 by Witsen.

• On 28 April 1852, Johannes Gerardus Hendricus Beelman, a 24-year-old servant living on Singel street, and Wilhelmus Johannes Wiemers, a 45-year-old coachman living at Biegdstraat 64, appeared before the civil registry official. They reported that Maria Eingerer died on 27 April at 4 o'clock in the morning at Oudezijdsvoorburgwal number 4 in Amsterdam. She was 69 years old, had no occupation, was born in Bessendorf in Hanover, and was the widow of Frederis Buchholtz.
• On 28 April 1852, Jan Nichel de Zyn, a 29-year-old with an unclear occupation living at Clooyerstraat 62, and Johannes Mattheus Trooster, a 33-year-old shoemaker living at Dirk van Hasselsteeg gang 1, appeared before the civil registry official. They reported that Dina Jacoba Margaretha Kuhn died on 27 April at 10 o'clock in the evening at Prinsengracht number 3. She had no occupation, was born in Amsterdam, and was the daughter of Dina Kuhn.
• On 28 April 1852, Gerrit Brandhoff, a 45-year-old peat measurer living at the deceased's house, and Huinrich Wolff, a 51-year-old with no occupation living at Rozenstraat 42, appeared before the civil registry official. They reported that Johanna Elisabeth van Beekhoff died on 27 April at half past 11 in the morning at Baangracht near Passeerdersgracht. She was 84 years old, had no occupation, was born in Amsterdam, was unmarried, and was the daughter of Hendrik van Beekhoff and Elisabeth Knoffelook, who were both deceased.
• On 28 April 1852, Henrik Wilhelm Duyvendak, a 36-year-old shopkeeper and husband of the deceased, and Bartholomius Pasteuning, a 35-year-old lock keeper living at Eleuuscheuwstraat 157 and brother of the deceased, appeared before the civil registry official. They reported that Johanna Sebecca Pasteuning died on 26 April at half past 5 in the afternoon at Eerste Looiendwarsstraat number 16 in Amsterdam. She was 26 years old, had no occupation, was born in Amsterdam, was married to Henrik Wilhelm Duyvendak, and was the daughter of Johannes Pasteuning and Catharina Pelle.
• On 28 April 1852, Hermanus Wijnberge, a 23-year-old street vendor and father of the deceased, and Hendrik Stam, a 33-year-old shopkeeper living at Blanstraat 4, appeared before the civil registry official. They reported that Johannes Wijnberge died on 27 April at 8 o'clock in the morning at Buitenbrouwerstraat number 32 in Amsterdam. He was 4 months old, was born in Amsterdam, and was the son of Hermanus Wynberge and Maria Theresia de Ryk.

• On 18 August 1852, two marriage ceremonies took place before a civil registrar in Amsterdam at the town hall.

First Marriage:

• Willem Gessenick, a 27-year-old vegetable seller living in Amsterdam, married Geertrui Ryvordt, a 27-year-old woman without a profession living in Amsterdam.
• The groom was the adult son of Casser Gisseniek (deceased) and Maria van Barlenburg, a vegetable seller living in Amsterdam.
• The bride was the adult daughter of Adriaan Ryvordt, a painter living in Amsterdam, and Anna Pieternella Ongeboer, living in Amsterdam.
• The groom's mother and the bride's father were present and gave their consent to the marriage.
• The marriage banns had been announced without objection in Amsterdam on 8 August and 15 August.
• Birth certificates of the engaged couple and the death certificate of the groom's father were submitted.
• The groom and witnesses confirmed under oath the identity of his parents because of the father's death.
• Both parties answered "yes" when asked if they accepted each other as spouses and would fulfill all duties required by law.
• The registrar declared them married by law.
• Witnesses present were: Hre van Batenburg, the groom's brother-in-law, a 46-year-old shopkeeper; Paulus Koppen, the groom's brother-in-law, a 27-year-old merchant; Simon Maly, 27 years old; and Jacob Barend Bessem, the groom's brother-in-law, 48 years old, all living in Amsterdam.
• After the document was read aloud, it was signed by the witnesses and the registrar, but the spouses and both mothers declared they could not write.

Second Marriage:

• Abraham Christiaan Lorenk, a 27-year-old shoemaker living in Amsterdam, married Sara Klekzer, a 24-year-old worker living in Amsterdam.
• The groom was the adult son of Hendrik Christiaan Lorenk (deceased) and Elisabeth de Vries, a ragpicker living in Amsterdam.
• The bride was the adult daughter of Hermina Klekzen (deceased).
• The groom's mother was present and gave her consent to the marriage.
• The marriage banns had been announced without objection in Amsterdam on 8 August and 15 August.
• Birth certificates of the engaged couple and the death certificate of the groom's father were submitted.
• Both parties answered "yes" when asked if they accepted each other as spouses and would fulfill all duties required by law.
• The registrar declared them married by law.
• Witnesses present were: Petrus Dorstegn, a 41-year-old worker; Johannes Meeuwx, a 24-year-old grain miller; Gerrit Brandhoff, a 45-year-old brush maker; and Jacob Blok, a 27-year-old cigar maker, all living in Amsterdam.

Reniersz's account books showed a difference of 7816 guilders and 4 stuivers, which equals 15,632 guilders and 10 stuivers, compared to what was actually found. This was clearly stated in the daily register dated last day of October. The writer could not understand how such a large difference could have occurred. The writer promised to continue investigating everything carefully, including collecting outstanding debts which were already slowly coming in, and asked to be trusted with this task.

Regarding trade, nothing had been accomplished up to that point, mainly because foreign ships had not arrived and because of constant business matters at the headquarters. The writer hoped that the Company's goods would fetch their proper prices and produce good profits. All efforts would be made so that larger and more important capital could be entrusted to them for the benefit of the honorable Company in the future.

The small cargo that had been sent on the yacht Zoutelande and the fluyt ship d'Postilioen had arrived well in quantity but not in quality. In the yacht there were 2 damaged packages and in the fluyt ship there were 4. They would try with all possible effort to repair these and sell them to various buyers for the greatest profit of their employers. They would inform their superiors about the results soon.

Regarding their efforts in carefully investigating the dealings of the Macassarese and Portuguese, as well as other rumors, and pressing for payment of the unusable 1776¾ maesen (a type of currency) as reported by assistant Krul, their superiors could read about this in their daily register and in the copy of the letter written to the Moluccan governor Sijmon Cos. The writer also referred to the resolution about stopping the construction of ships under number 14.

The writer sadly had to report that due to the unruly behavior of their sailors, their desertion and other problems, and especially due to the incitement by several treacherous Dutch deserters (7 in total, who constantly tried to corrupt others), they faced daily complaints. One of their subordinate boatswains on the sloop de Kreest, a modest man named Pieter Iansz van de Doel, had been led so far astray from the path of virtue that he had first committed theft, then abandoned the Company's service and deserted to their known enemies, the Portuguese.

Viero van Eda reported that two English ships from Bantam and their cargo had reached Macassar, which was already well supplied with cloth but still being fought over with weapons. The English made a good profit there and brought back a large quantity of gunpowder, muskets, and other war ammunition to help the foreigners and encourage them to make new voyages to Amboina to buy cloves. For this, they offered 300 masen per bhaer. However, nothing came of it, so not a single clove from Amboina arrived in Macassar that year. They hoped to prevent this in the future as well. But about 60 bhaars of very damp and impure cloves arrived with three ships from Gammelamma, which the English bought for 280 masen per bhaer to bring back to England.

The English sold most of their gunpowder to the Spaniard Pedro de La Matta, who was a resident there. He sent it along with a good amount of rice and other supplies to Ternate with several ships, which were hard to catch by Dutch ships because they were fast at rowing and sailing. Three other ships and a frigate would go there again in November with rice and other food supplies, along with a good amount of cloth. The King was also a major participant in this, and the trade with Gammalamma and Manila was pursued more than before. That year, together with the Portuguese from both Samboanga and Manila, they received about 60 realen in gold in return. Two junks left again in May and June, and the ship of Francisco Fiera with a large cargo.

• 15 May 1600: The Dutch reported they had almost no medicine left because they had only received supplies from Admiral van Caerden that were worth mentioning.
• They had received no wine, arak (a strong alcoholic drink), oil, bacon, or meat for over 7 months, and even before that they had been completely without such supplies on several trips, even though proper obedience and order were maintained there.
• The situation was very bad for them compared to Banda and Ambon, where everything could be obtained more easily. Those places had also been better supplied with food, ammunition, and war supplies from the ships and from Bantam than the Dutch location, even though such supplies were not as necessary there as they were where the Dutch were.
• The Dutch noticed from some people that the Moluccas were not held in as high regard as they should be. This was partly shown by the orders given on Banda to Bantam, which only recommended and ordered that Banda itself be supplied, without even thinking about the Dutch locations.
• This had been followed so carefully that none of the yachts sent from the Dutch location to Bantam had returned, so everyone looked out for themselves there and no one tried to return to the Moluccas.
• The messengers of this letter could give a good report to the Honourable Lords about all this, since they had witnessed everything there with the Dutch for 18 months, during which time they had also experienced worries.
• The Dutch explained how highly the Moluccas should be valued based on present findings: on the island of Makian alone, over 1,500 barrels of cloves had been picked during this season, of which they now had about 1,100 barrels in hand. Due to a lack of cloth, they would obtain the rest more slowly.
• According to the inhabitants, they could produce up to 2,000 barrels, but time would tell. The Dutch would do their best to obtain everything.
• If they had been well supplied with cloth, they could have known exactly by now what this island could produce in cloves and could have advised the Honourable Lords about it. They had several means to achieve this, but it would now take longer and still be uncertain, because the inhabitants were not very willing to sell their cloves for cash, which was also not as profitable for the Company.
• Those who had traded the cloth for money against such a season had done badly. The cloth had mostly been borrowed from the office of Makian, which was a great disappointment to those who would have preferred to see it otherwise and were sure that enough could be obtained in time if they were abundantly supplied with everything.
• If they only gave the inhabitants cloth on credit for the coming season and kept it in storage without selling anything for money (which they should still start doing in time), it would cause the clove picking to be started with more eagerness and care. On the contrary, when everything could be obtained for money, many put clove picking aside, it being enough for them to be able to get costly cloth. The people there seldom strove for great wealth.
• The Portuguese knew better than the Dutch how to handle these things. They used to supply these people with only as much cloth as they needed for maintenance, for which they received everything themselves. Several other reasons could be mentioned, which would be addressed at another opportunity.
• The Dutch also had to consider what was being done there by the King of Spain to drive them out. From the report of Captain Apollonius Schotte from the Honourable wise and prudent Lords of 9 January 1681 (written as 14), they learned about maintaining his places and allied Tidore, for which no labor, people, or costs were spared, without any other advantage or profit being enjoyed so far.
• In the writer's opinion (subject to better judgment), the Spanish clearly understood what was at stake in the outcome of the war there: namely, the entire state or well-being of the Indies for the

On 2 July 1619, Jan Pietersz Coen, the Governor General, issued orders regarding ships. He instructed that 4 ships should go to Parany. The warehouses should be built 36 feet deep inside the houses, 15 feet wide for a gallery, 14 feet wide, and the top of the house should be high enough so there could be suitable living space above the warehouse, just like the old house of Jaccatra, being about 35 feet high in total.

All ships returning should sail directly to Jaccatra without stopping at Bantham, including all other ships currently in Manila or Japan. Friends were to be informed of this at the fort in Jaccatra.

Jan Pietersz Coen acted as Governor General over all forts, trading posts, ships, yachts, and trade in the Indies on behalf of the High and Mighty States General of the United Netherlands, His Princely Excellency Mauritius, born Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, and the directors of the general chartered East India Company.

On 3 July 1619, Hendrick Jansz was appointed as Commander over the ships Den Engel, De Bergerboot, De Morgensterre, and De Jager, which were to sail to Jambij, Patana, and Japan. It was highly necessary to appoint a capable and qualified person to promote trade and to watch out for the English everywhere, to guard against them as the greatest enemies. If they encountered any English ships, they should use all force and effort to overpower them, either by force or by cunning, while treating any crew captured well. All money and goods should be properly registered and distributed to those entitled to them.

Hendrick Jansz was commissioned and authorized as Commander over the mentioned ships to command, maintain good order and discipline, administer justice in civil and criminal matters, and do everything a good and faithful Commander should do. All senior merchants, skippers, officers, and sailors were ordered to recognize, respect, and obey Hendrick Jansz as their Commander.

On 10 July 1619, instructions were given to Hendrick Bruijstersz, senior merchant, and the council of the ship Hoorn and the frigate Seijlon, sailing to Lucipara and Jambij. They were to sail as quickly as possible directly to Lucipara and anchor in the strait to intercept all junks sailing through the strait to Malacca or elsewhere. They should especially try to capture the junks from Macassar, Japara, Damma, and other areas under the Mataram ruler that might be sailing to Malacca with rice.

Instructions for dealing with different junks included:

• Any junk with rice should be stopped and the rice transferred to their ship until it was fully loaded. If more rice was captured than the ship and frigate could carry, the excess rice should be brought to Jaccatra with the junk.
• Junks from allies or those in friendship with them, specifically those from Patana, Siam, Thoor, Jambij, Suckedana, Cheribon, Grissij, Jortan, Surrabaija, and Palmban should be allowed to pass freely and unharmed. However, if

On Thursday, August 13, 1772, a meeting took place regarding a debt issue with Aoij Ragia. He had signed an express document twice, in both Dutch and Malabar languages. He requested that both he and the Company should each receive a written copy of this document. His concern was that in the future, through arbitrary decisions or bad advice (as he called it), exceptions might be made against the agreement, which would cause him trouble again. The meeting decided that his request was reasonable and agreed to give him the duplicate copies of the mentioned list.

Next, the Commander shared his thoughts about the behavior of Aoij Ragia, following up on what had been recorded in the resolution of September 28 of the previous year concerning Aoij Ragia. The Commander noted how this Moorish administrator, despite the emphatic measures taken, continued his problematic conduct.

Paulus Jacob Valckenaar, the outgoing Governor, handed over a memorandum to his successor, Mr. Jacob Roeland Thomaszen, who was the incoming Governor of Ternate. This document was numbered 13.

On August 31, 1777, the Council examined and compared the trade books of the Government from the years 1776/7 at the Trade Office inside the Castle. They found that all expenses and write-offs were legal because they matched with the issued orders. They also assumed that the successive costs were kept as low as possible and that the burdens were unavoidable.

The Council noted that several debts were still outstanding in the books as of late August 1777:

• The King of Ternate owed ƒ41,027:13:8 for provided cash, linens, and dispensed goods
• The King of Tidore owed ƒ10,153:4:0
• The King of Batchian owed ƒ908:11:0
• The authority of Macquian owed ƒ3,960:0:0
• Senghadje Mortier owed ƒ297:0:0
• The nobles of Ternate owed ƒ1,188:0:0
• The authority of Maba owed ƒ198:0:0
• The authority of Weda owed ƒ200:0:0

The Council explained that the kings were sometimes in need of cash and could not always be turned away, even though it was desirable but impossible to determine when these debts would be settled. The kings had received recognition payments and were supposed to repay gradually with their favor money from Batavia, but it remained uncertain when these rulers would pay off their debts.

The debts of the Sangir kings, arising from received cash, gunpowder, and lead, had decreased somewhat this year. These kings had promised to deliver coconut oil in return, which they had already begun to do:

• The King of Taroena owed ƒ40:6:0
• The King of Chandar owed ƒ171:15:0
• The King of Manganitoe owed ƒ98:9:0
• The King of Chiauw owed ƒ226:4:8

The King of Chiauw, who was the largest debtor, was able to pay. There was no need to worry about collecting these debts.

Resident Wentholt had collected more money since late August 1777 on behalf of the Company, so that the outstanding debts would likely soon be settled.

Additional outstanding debts included:

• The junior merchant and former Gorontalo Resident Reinier Hoeques owed ƒ2,488:5:8 for shortages during his residency
• The junior merchant and former Gorontalo Resident Nicolaas Dionijsius Mol owed ƒ25,517:0:6
• Interest on the seized guarantee money of Governor Valckenaer and the former Gorontalo Resident Uterwall needed to be paid

Several accounts had been settled and were recorded in the new books:

• The new account of the General Office: ƒ40:7:0
• The new account of Gorontalo: ƒ39:5:8View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3523 / 0628  

  
  

  1 August 1778, at 9 o'clock in the morning, a report about the comparison of trade books was examined at a meeting of the council in Moluccas. Present were Governor and Director Paulus Jacob Valckenaer, incoming commanders Jacob Roeland Thomaszen and senior merchant Godfried Carel Meurs, captains Hop de Meike Joseph Stephanus, Gerardus Willem van Renesse, and Koene Koenes, Secretary Johan George van Raesveld, and Hendrik Ambrosius Johnzon. The report concerned the comparison of trade books from 1777/78. The meeting followed a written order from 10 April of that year. The appointed members, including a merchant and a tax collector, had gathered on Saturday 1 August 1778 at 9 o'clock in the morning for the council meeting.

  View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3523 / 0627  

  
  

  David Haum Menatar was given the power to act as a substitute representative. He was authorized to publicly announce and sell certain houses and land located in the village of Naarden. The property was situated on the side of the Rwaar de Vagt, with Pelleman as a neighbor on one side and Dirk Westerhoff on the other side, or whoever else might be the neighbors. Menatar could sell the property under conditions and for an amount that he and his advisors thought appropriate. His responsibilities included:

  • Receiving the payment
  • Handling all arrangements
  • Transferring ownership of the property
  • Handing over all documents and papers related to the property
  • Promising to follow all rules and procedures
  • Paying the lord's taxes and fees on the property

  Menatar was authorized to do everything necessary for this sale, just as if the principal was present himself. The document was signed in Amsterdam with Arnoldus Commelin and Arent de Ruijter as witnesses.
  View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 604589 / 196  

  
  

  On 21 April 1766, Heer Joseph Tesurum Lobo appeared before notary Hermanus van Heel in Amsterdam. He was authorized to represent Mejuffrouw Gratia Peixotto, wife of Joseph Musaphia, and Juffrouw Lea Peixotto, wife of Josua Peixotto den Silva. Both women had received permission from the aldermen of Amsterdam on 28 October 1765 to handle their own rights in the estate of their late mother Lea Abensur, widow of Jacob Peixotto, and their late brother Josua Peixotto (also known as Mendes Peixotto Junior) while their husbands were abroad. Their rights included:

  • Managing legal and financial matters
  • Selling real estate found in the estates together with other heirs
  • Collecting money

  The representative also acted for Jacob de Pinedo and his wife Juffrouw Abigail Peixotto, as well as Juffrouw Ribca Peixotto, an unmarried adult daughter. This authority was given through a power of attorney dated 7 November 1765, passed before notary Hermanus van Heel. He further represented Sara Peixotto, also an unmarried adult, and Rachel Peixotto, widow of Emanuel Pareira, according to a power of attorney from 14 April 1766 passed before notary Johannes Lijkoff in 's-Gravenhage. Additionally, he was authorized by the aldermen of Amsterdam on 6 September 1765 to represent the portions belonging to the minor Daniel Peixotto and Isaac Peixotto, who was described as unfortunate.
  View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 604589 / 195  

  
  

  
  

  Previous pageNext page