Transcriptions » Recently created summaries of historical documents

In 1008, a legal case was heard involving Joan van Twis, the former governor of Malacca. The case involved multiple parties:

• Joan van Twis (former governor of Malacca) as plaintiff
• Sebalt vonderen and associates as defendants
• Crijn Claesz Sterck (senior merchant) as curator of the estate of deceased Cornelis Jansz van Coppenhagen (gunner)
• Pieter Cornelisz (tree guard for the Company) as heir to his deceased brother Andries Cornelisz (gunner)
• Laurentius Enoetfius (overseer of Company slaves)

The case involved a claim of 27 reals. The Council absolved the defendant from the case and directed that the plaintiff should direct his claims to the Company.

On February 12, 1683, Jacob de Winter, a notary in Amsterdam, visited Claude Cavallier, a merchant, at the request of merchant Arnout Weijmans. The purpose was to ask about payment of an accepted bill of exchange.

The bill, written in Bayonne on December 9, 1682, was for 500 crowns. After several transfers through various merchants including Noel du Sanl, Francois Le Maie, Lauray Morian, Salvador de Palacios, and Athias, it came to Arnout Weijmans.

Cavallier was willing to pay but wanted protection against future claims regarding an endorsement by Francois Launaij Mordan instead of Lones Moreau. The notary then formally protested about payment, exchange fees, and interests.

On February 15, 1683, Samuel and Jan Alvares agreed to pay the 500 crowns to Weijmans on behalf of Francois Mordau.

On March 2, 1683, Weijmans confirmed receiving payment from Samuel and Jan Alvares. On the same day, Samuel and Jan Alvares confirmed receiving payment from Cavallier and promised to protect him against any claims regarding Francois Moreau's endorsement.

In The Hague during April 1707, several travel permits (passports) were issued for military and commercial purposes:

• Colonel Moor, adjutant general to the Duke of Marlborough, received permission to transport 12 horses to the army on April 28, 1707
• Colonel Preston was allowed to transport 30 horses on April 28, 1707
• Joannes Mousin from Antwerp could travel to Germany with his wife and three children on April 28, 1707
• General Major Coljar could transport his equipment on Aart Hendrikse's ship on April 29, 1707
• Several merchants received permits to transport food supplies to the army:
  • Johan van Emmerik from 's Hertogenbosch
  • Jan Ouendyk from Goes in Zeeland
  • Hendrik Crose from Dordrecht
  • Hillebrandt Groeneveldt from Rotterdam
  • Dirk Saal from Zaandam
• The Prince of Nassau, governor of Friesland, could transport 7 wagons, 1 cart, and 36 horses
• Secretary d'Ayrolles received permission to transport 750 cuirasses and 1,650 helmets from Germany
• Colonel Gdfrooy and Captain Stanhope could transport 40 and 8 horses respectively
• Colonel Landtsbergen could transport his equipment and 16 horses to Ostend
• Joseph de Palasios Torrantia from Bilbao could transport wool, iron, and fruits to Amsterdam
• Johan de Jongh was appointed as bailiff of Wake, Weert, and Halst, replacing Theodorus Immenhof

On an unspecified date in Amsterdam, various heirs of Francisco Vaes de Crasto (alias Jacob Attias) appeared before notary Adriaen Lock. The heirs included Isaack Attias (alias Rodriques Alvererbi) as father and guardian of his underage daughter Cachtel Attias, and as heir of his deceased daughter Branca Attias. Other heirs mentioned were Sara Attias (widow of Salomon Attias), Dr. Davidt Brandon, and Daniel Attias.

Although Jues de Crasto (the widow of Francisco Vaes de Crasto) had not initially made an inventory after her husband's death, she later created one showing all assets left by her husband. The heirs examined this inventory and found it accurate. The inventory was signed in 1655 by Davidt Les, Josua Derech, and Jacob Attias.

Each heir received 369 guilders and 8 stuivers as their portion of the inheritance. They declared themselves satisfied with the payment and promised not to make any further claims. Some questionable and bad debts remained undivided, totaling 11,732 Flemish pounds, including a share of 1,500 Flemish pounds in the West India Company's chamber in Amsterdam. Jues de Crasto would be responsible for collecting these debts and would have to provide accounts of any recovered money to the heirs.

The document was witnessed by Vincent Swaenenb and Hendrick Jaspersz in 1656. Later, on January 8, 1659, Isaack Cosen d'Azevedo (alias Henricx d'Azevedo) and Samuel (alias Manuel Duarte Brandon) also appeared before the notary.

On February 27, 1663, Henrico d'Assevedo requested payment for his services in peace negotiations with Algiers over three years. He was asked to provide a detailed list of his expenses.

The abbot of Floreff requested permission for Jacobus Raete, a religious member of the abbey, to visit the city and region of 's-Hertogenbosch. He was granted a three-month pass.

On March 4, 1663, no actions were taken. On March 5, 1663, previous resolutions were read and reviewed.

Several claims were filed at the High Council regarding Brazilian matters from the West India Company and various merchants from Amsterdam and New Netherland, including:

• Reynout Reijnous
• Isaac Cornel
• Daniel Cardosa
• Simon Elias
• And several other merchants

Representatives from Middelburg requested funding to rebuild their burned church, which was denied.

Servaets Nicolaeris, a resident of Sluizen, complained about being summoned to the court of Mall against Brabant privileges.

Agent van der Veken submitted concerns about issues around Rheinberg affecting the Elector of Cologne.

Arnoul Tempelaer, a lawyer from the Court of Holland, requested permission to challenge Count Montfort's claim to half the lordship of Oorschot.

Daniel le Mesureur, former procurator of the Carthusians who resided in Bacht, made a request regarding his death.

These are death records from the Amsterdam civil registry, all recorded on October 19, 1951, concerning six Dutch Jews who died in Poland during World War II:

• Israel de Wilde, born in Amsterdam on March 1, 1920, married to Sientje Kooker, son of Jacobus de Wilde and Sara Premselaar, died in Poland on March 31, 1944.
• Anna van Witsen, born in Amsterdam on April 3, 1917, married to Levie Sacksioni, daughter of Joseph van Witsen and Betsij Gobes, died near Oswiecim on February 11, 1944.
• Adolph Abraham Wilkens, born in Zierikzee on November 28, 1914, son of Abraham Wilkens and Regina Gras, died in Poland on March 31, 1944.
• Keetje Witteboon, born in Amsterdam on January 23, 1918, married to Meier Polak, daughter of Gerrit Witteboon and Rachel Pampel, died near Oswiecim on October 22, 1943.
• Ina Winnik, born in Amsterdam on August 30, 1942, daughter of Isaäc Winnik and Sophia de Jong, died near Oswiecim on October 22, 1943.
• Naatje Witzenhausen, born in Amsterdam on October 4, 1914, married to Joseph Stad, daughter of Ruben Witzenhausen and Betje Schellevis, died near Oswiecim on February 11, 1944.

In 1766, several ships departed from different ports carrying goods and passengers. The recorded journeys include:

• Intje Aron sailed to Banca Belo with 8 crew and 2 female passengers
• Jurragan Jamaliea sailed to Surabaya with 23 crew, carrying 50 picols of Siac gamber, 10 picols of benzoin, and various goods
• A servant of Sultan Rathoe sailed to Semarang with 18 crew and 2 female passengers, carrying 60 picols of Siac gamber, 100 picols of benzoin, 15 picols of wax, 5 picols of Bliton iron, 5 picols of copper, various goods, and 3 Chinese passengers
• Leebe Malijer and Toeaboe Boeginees sailed with 20 crew, carrying 2 picols of sea cucumbers, 2 packages of rattan mats, 2 packages of Buginese cloths, various goods, and 1 female passenger
• Jurragan Barnadie sailed to Surabaya with 12 crew, carrying 5000 pieces of Palembang gamber, 20,000 wet betel nuts, 200 water vessels, 1 picol of Bliton iron, 200 Cadjang mats, various goods, 2 small cannons, 3 rifles, and 13 spears
• Jurragan Bondjoe sailed to Gresik with 18 crew and 2 Javanese passengers, carrying wet betel nuts, gamber, water vessels, cotton, mats, weapons, and gunpowder
• Jurragan Pariena sailed to Gresik with 12 crew, carrying 25 picols of Siac gamber, 30 picols of iron, 15 picols of resin, 200 water vessels, various goods, weapons, and 40 catties of gunpowder, with passenger Van den Heuvel

P. V. Burg made financial calculations in Holland. The total value of goods sold was 81,291 guilders, 12 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The cost of these goods was 45,680 guilders, 4 stuivers, and 8 penningen. After subtracting losses, the net profit margin was approximately 7 23/32 percent. The document appears to be a trading ledger showing various transactions with different quantities and prices of goods.

At Masulipatnam the following goods were traded:

• 787 pounds of cloves, of which:
  • 782 pounds to merchants
  • 5 pounds to Company servants
• 40 pounds of mace, of which:
  • 38 pounds to merchants
• 389 pounds of nutmeg, of which:
  • 386 pounds to merchants
  • 3 pounds to others
• 413 pounds of cinnamon
• 90 pounds of round pepper to various buyers
• 1 cellar of Dutch distilled waters
• 97.5 cans of French wine
• 2 cans to Company servants
• 28,800 pounds of Japanese copper bars
• 1.5 pounds of vermilion
• 23 pounds of sandalwood
• 24 pounds of lead ore
• 4 barrels of various beers for the servants

At the Mazulij trading post, several goods were traded in 1398:

• 60.5 pounds of cloves, of which 60 pounds were weighed out to merchants using the large scale, and 0.5 pounds went to Company servants
• 90.5 pounds of nutmeg, of which 90 pounds went to merchants and 0.5 pounds to Company servants
• 0.5 pounds of cinnamon for Company servants
• 0.5 pounds of mace also for Company servants
• 24 pounds of sandalwood for merchants
• 14,400 pounds of Japanese copper bars
• 0.5 yards of scarlet fabric for the aforementioned servants
• 22.5 cans of arak api (a type of spirit) for the servants

These goods were sold for cash at the Mazulipatnam trading post.

The testimony discusses Oesterharen, who became the chief of Bimilipatnam. Trade was suspended there and moved to other locations, where better-minded merchants were chosen for the work. Governor Johannes van Steelant vouches that choosing Oesterharen as the chief of Bimilipatnam was the best decision for the East India Company. In his early years, Oesterharen served well as an assistant cashier and second-in-command. Due to his language skills, he maintained good relationships with local princes in the surrounding areas, which he continues to cultivate through his experience.

Around this time, there was unrest. After Rustumdilchan left, trade representatives from Amwaragopaal were rejected in Bimilipatnam and areas to the north. At the trading post, after the arrival of the new chief merchant Willem Oosterharen, and the hiring of several wealthy merchants, the sale of goods and receipt of quality cloth at reasonable prices improved somewhat. After receiving complaints about the employees and representatives of the Masulipatnam merchant Amwaragopaal, and because it was clear they were more focused on promoting their private trade than taking care of East India Company business, they were dismissed after settling their accounts.

Governor Ioannes van Steelant explained why it was necessary to remove Isaac Selover and transfer Cornelis Comans from the trading post at Palicol. He believed these removals, especially that of Selover, were absolutely necessary due to the harmful consequences their continued presence would have had on the trading post's business. He had good reasons for these decisions.

• Mix this gold with lower-quality local gold to achieve 21-carat or Pagoda gold
• Use medicines and copper during cooking and melting to temporarily improve the color and quality
• After melting once or twice, the gold would revert to low-quality gold worth 6 pesos per tical

• 25 catties of low-quality Siamese gold
• 15-20 catties of high-quality gold from China, Cochin China, and Tonkin
• This gold was shared among English, Moorish, and other traders

On February 3, 1644, two women testified about events involving Lucia Taets and Gijsbert Hackat. The women stated that Hackat, who worked at a counting house in St. Jansstraat, had invited Lucia to his house for lunch. They also declared that they had once walked with Lucia to St. Janskerckhof, where they met Hackat who again invited her to his home. Both witnesses confirmed that Lucia had told them about visiting Hackat's house, where she drank brandy with sugar. Beatrix Roeters, one of the witnesses, added that Lucia later had lunch at Hackat's house and was well treated there. The testimony was given in Utrecht at the house near St. Jeronimussteeg, in the presence of witnesses Dirck Breman and Johan Vinck. The document concludes with Johan van Westreven appointing Anthonij van Blocklant as his legal representative before the court of Utrecht.

• Hackert met Lucia in the St. Gansstraat and urged her to visit, saying his wife had also invited her
• On another occasion, they met Hackert near St. Janskerckhoff where he again invited Lucia to his house
• Lucia later told the witnesses she had visited Hackert's house and drunk brandy with sugar there
• Lucia was later invited for lunch at Hackert's house and was well treated

• Dirck Breman
• Johan Vinck
• Gerard Vastert (notary)

On May 25, 1706, in Coromandel, a debt of 29,617.60 rupees was recorded for Soera Chittij Serrapa and his associates. This debt appears to be a result of questionable management under former chiefs Isaak Selover and Cornelis Comans. The debt includes 2,000 pagodas given to Serrapa's associates in Datcherom without proper authorization, which added another 7,000 rupees to the total.

Assistant Christiaen Witvogel has already arrived by boat, while Selover is expected to arrive soon on the ship Keulen. Meanwhile, documents concerning the Datcherom case and particularly the missing 3,000 pagodas have been handed over to Independent Fiscal Officer Robbert Weir for investigation.

An additional debt of 7,035.90 rupees is owed by this group through Gollewierappa's company. Against these debts, they have the following assets:

• Good linens (raw and bleached): 3,339.43 rupees
• Trade goods: 1,475.07 rupees
• Cash: 4,254.25 rupees
• Total: 9,068.60 rupees

They also have previously issued and unacceptable cloths worth 13,725.11 rupees. While they occasionally deliver small batches of cloth to reduce their debt, there are doubts about their ability to fully repay. Pannapang Linga, an indigo supplier, owes 26.10 rupees, which is considered a minor debt. The Gollepalem washers collectively owe 6,341.03 rupees due to various advances made by different chiefs.

On October 8, 1710, a deserter was pardoned in Coromandel. Hendrik Grousius, Isaak Selover, Petrus Denijssen, and Gerrit Westrenen requested to succeed in his position. Ellemeet had deserted, and due to the shortage of Company sailors, he was pardoned on September 12 following the intervention of Danish commander Ioan Sigmund Hassius and the council of Tranquebar. However, he had meanwhile boarded a Danish free merchant's ship and departed from Tranquebar. The Danish commander and council promised to send him back when the ship returns.

The northern Coromandel chief Hendrik Grousius sent a request to be relieved of his position next year and replaced by someone else, so that he could return with his family, maintaining his rank and salary, on the ship that usually departs for the High Government via Masulipatnam at the end of the year.

Additionally, three request letters were sent from:

• Isaak Selover, second in command at Masulipatnam
• Petrus Denijssen, first warehouse master and trade bookkeeper in this city
• Gerrit Westrenen, chief at Sadraspatnam

• Hosted them for a formal Moorish-style meal
• Gave them honorary robes
• Presented Grousius with a fine horse worth 600 ro/as

• Presented the customary gifts for a new Grand Governor
• Gave an extra gift to compensate for the horse
• Provided presents to his entourage

The ship named Concordia departed from Nagapatnam on August 12, 1707, headed for Batavia. The voyage was arranged by the Nagapatnam council and governor to transport cargo from the southern trading posts of Coromandel. The letter about this journey was addressed to Joan van Hoorn, who was the Governor-General, and the Council of the Dutch East Indies on October 7, 1707.

On February 18, 1752, Benjamin Abrahams from Bordeaux appeared before notary Daniel van den Brink in Amsterdam. He explained that his father Abraham Jacobs, a merchant, had made a will on July 1, 1744 before notary C.A. Jan Barels. The will named his three daughters as legitimate heirs and his four sons (Jacob, Andries, Benjamin, and Joseph Abrahams) as equal heirs.

After their father's death, a dispute arose between Benjamin and his brothers about his portion of the inheritance. The conflict was resolved through mediators Philip Heymans and Simon Waagh. The brothers agreed to pay Benjamin 6,200 Dutch guilders in total, structured as follows:

• 2,200 guilders in cash immediately
• 2,000 guilders after three months
• 2,000 guilders after six months

The last two payments were to be made through bills of exchange payable at Mr. Imbert's house in Bordeaux. Benjamin, who was named as co-executor in the will, resigned from this role since he lived abroad. He left the execution solely to his brothers. After receiving the cash payment and the two bills of exchange from his brothers Jacob and Andries Abrahams, who acted as executors, Benjamin declared he was fully satisfied with the settlement and renounced any further claims on his father's estate.