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On May 2, 1740, several important matters were discussed at the court. Philip Van Langen, who served as church master of Cottica and Pirica, submitted an inventory of church grounds that he had taken over from the departing church master Gerard Lemmers. The document was placed on the table for later review.
Pierre Juran de Brauw and Adriaan de Swa informed the court that their term for examining prisoners and transfers had expired. The court thanked them for their service and appointed Hendrik Tolbot and Albertus Lippert as their replacements according to the rotation system.
The court also dealt with a criminal case involving the widow Lorenso. The court expressed strong disapproval of the Fiscal's (prosecutor's) claims. The Fiscal had stated that he did not need prior authorization to pursue criminal cases and claimed sole authority over criminal matters. The court noted that this went against his instructions, which required him to act like prosecutors and bailiffs in the Netherlands, who needed prior permission from the judge to pursue criminal cases. The court was particularly concerned that these statements, read in public as was customary, undermined their authority and jurisdiction.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.03 / 134 / 0704 On January 16, 1704, a letter was sent from Coromandel containing testimony from Steeland about issues with tax collector Becker. They were awaiting the arrival of Commissioner Bernard Phoonsen. Steeland, who had been chosen as governor, was tired of dealing with Selover's incorrect business practices and those of merchants in Daatcherom. He felt that simply writing letters would not solve anything, while good opportunities to obtain quality linens in the best regions, especially around Daatcherom, were being lost.
They requested serious consideration of these matters and absolute orders for improvement. While they understood the Company's orders regarding Palliacatta and other trading posts, they faced constant interference from tax collector Becker's protests and conduct. Due to Phoonsen's imminent arrival, they decided to wait. However, if his journey was delayed by unforeseen circumstances, they humbly requested additional support through respected orders.
They asked not to be accused of negligence in their duties due to these exhausting matters, including the fact that the linen contract with merchants had not been made or followed, despite the directive in the letter of May 3, 1700. The reasons for this would be explained in their resolution of the 9th of this month.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1692 / 0338 From Cormandel on October 11, 1698, several official documents were filed including:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1610 / 0345 On February 12, 1716, I. Selover recorded financial transactions at the Dutch East India Company's warehouse in Mazulipatnam. The document details various goods traded, listing their costs, quantities sold, and profits made. The accounting entries show multiple transactions with different profit margins. The total profit (advance) achieved on the listed goods amounted to 9,886 guilders, 9 stuivers, and 15 penningen. A second set of calculations shows additional transactions with profits of 11,355 guilders, 2 stuivers, and 13 penningen, followed by more entries totaling 12,923 guilders and 7 stuivers.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1884 / 0983 On February 15, 1702, a ship transported goods from Coromandel to Batavia. The cargo included 150,000 pounds of mangiecolle and various textiles. Isaek Selover, an under-merchant, and Cornelis Comans, a bookkeeper, were involved in the trade.
The document mentions textile specifications, including bleached bethilles (31 cubits long, 2 1/8 cubits wide) and handkerchiefs containing 80 pieces each. The trade also involved 50,000 pounds of calliatoe wood, which was highly desired and sold for 32 florins.
The letter was signed in Nagapatnam on November 26, 1701 by Dirck Comans and J. van Steelant, who expressed hope that the returns would be profitable and arrive safely.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1664 / 0501 On January 30, 1693, several purchases and payments were made in Ceylon for funeral arrangements, including:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1538 / 0296 In Amsterdam on October 5, 1897, several deaths were recorded:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 2341627 / 184
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1678 / 0384 On June 28, 1753, a woman named Hoosemont, aged around 70, widow of merchant and secretary Willem Wieland, gave testimony in Nagapatnam about events on the Chormandel coast. She explained that she had allowed a freed slave woman named Hermelina, who belonged to widow van Norden, to build a small room on her property. Hermelina lived there until her death. Before Hermelina's death, Hoosemont had sold the property to Jaustina, a freed slave of widow Selover. All three women lived on the same property but separately.
Hoosemont had lived with widow Dewind for 15-16 years and rarely visited her own dwelling. When Hermelina became ill, Hoosemont asked what was wrong, but Hermelina refused to tell her. Hoosemont once bought a woolen shawl from Hermelina for 10 fanums after another woman had rejected it as too old.
On the day of Hermelina's death, Hoosemont heard a scream and found Hermelina having seizures. Hermelina died without speaking. Since Hermelina was supported by the church welfare, Hoosemont and Jaustina sent a servant to notify the church treasurer. The body was later prepared for burial by the messenger's wife. Hoosemont denied taking any of Hermelina's possessions or knowing where they might be.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2822 / 0349 On October 11, 1698, officials in Coromandel wrote about the arrival of a new English governor at Madras, Thomas Pitt. The Dutch East India Company sent representatives to congratulate him. The representatives were merchant B. van Slingelant and junior merchant H.A. Seloven from Paliacatta, who were instructed to do this on August 28. Pitt received them respectfully and kindly, expressing his satisfaction with the honor shown to him. He promised to maintain good neighborly relations.
The letter also discussed trade matters, specifically cloth contracts for 1699. Three types of cloth (Caingoelangs tape grandos, tape kitsjil, and tape goelangs) were mentioned. The prices were about one cent higher than in previous years. To test if the Company could still make a proper profit, they decided to order one pack of each type.
On August 20, officials from Sadrangpatnam reported that the English had placed large orders for guineas, salempoeris, and percalls cloth. A. Witmont, a Dutch official, separately reported about English trade activities in the province of Zeijoen, north of the Marcane river.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1610 / 0354 On April 27, 1703, in Coromandel, officials discussed dealings with local rulers. Despite the fact that merchants from Palicol had already agreed to supply cloth to Houma, the writer had taken some gifts and the Company's Brahmin to meet with a prince. However, Selover informed him that this prince had become an open enemy of Terfdaar Madarouw and had fortified himself in Peddapoer with cannons from Coringa provided by Casimchan.
The officials decided against sending the planned delegation to the prince, as it would cause jealousy, particularly with Terfdaar Madarouw, in whose lands the Company's villages of Gollepalum and Goudewaron were located. Since maintaining good relationships was important for cloth trade, they instead sent polite letters to both rulers with gifts including:
The prince asked if Bandicaawi Narsoe, a Brahmin from Daatterom, had come along. When told this person had been dismissed for misconduct, the prince was satisfied. Later, Ramana sent a letter claiming that the Company's interests were being damaged by merchants from both Palicol and Daatterom. The writer suggests that if they maintain the old custom of annual gifts and avoid employing troublemakers, they will face fewer problems in the future.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1678 / 0396
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1678 / 0397
View transcript NL-HaNA / 2.10.50 / 129 / 0150 In Surat, on April 17, 1689, Ruijdas, a resident merchant, declared that he offered to sell various goods to director Gelmer Vosburgh. Three days later, on April 20, 1689, Vosburgh sold these same goods to Company brokers Resigdas and Bagwaandas for 18,000 rupees less than Ruijdas' original offer. In March 1690, Ruijdas offered 14 rupees per unit for lead, but in September the same year, Vosburgh sold it to Company brokers for only 9 rupees per unit, causing a loss of about 6,000 rupees to the Company. Ruijdas explains he would have made this declaration officially, but feared retaliation from future directors and their associates who might then prevent him from trading at the lodge and harm his family's interests. On April 26, 1692, Anthonis de Porto from Bordeaux and Isaacq Selover from Schoordijk testified before secretary Hugo Hendrick van Bergen in Surat. They reported that in February, Joan vanden Bergh had seen two letters on Vosburgh's desk written by fiscal Pieter van Helsdingen to the High Indian government, dated February 28 and May 12, 1690.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1507 / 1079 On January 30, 1693, in Ceylon, various expenses were recorded. Rojas spent money on several items and services:
The document was signed by M. de Haan, Cornelis van Oosterhoff, Gerrit van Tholl, Joan Roelofsz, and Joannes Albertus Slossper in Souratta on November 4, 1692.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1538 / 0299 These are death records from Amsterdam on October 2-3, 1891. The following people died:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 2341586 / 78
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2822 / 0346 In August 25, 1724, there was correspondence about shipping matters in Coromandel. It discussed compensation for shortages in goods through local officials and warehouse masters. The officials in Porto Novo were instructed to arrange for 2 new storage facilities at the warehouse there, if the old ones could no longer be used.
Based on good recommendations, the principal assistant Iandiodati was promoted with a salary of 24 guilders per month for five years. However, Abraham Telover's request for assistant living expenses was considered strange, since permission had not yet been requested from the high government in Batavia. His case would be presented favorably to the high officials in the next communication. The text also mentions principal assistant Thomas van Ontveld.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 8839 / 1225 On August 25, 1724, in Coromandel, instructions were sent regarding wage payments. Ian Arentsz van Wezel, a gunner, was to be sent back to his post. The document was signed by officials D. V. Cloon, C. D. Munt, A. Pla, E. Guillot, L. W. Prins, H. Haak, F. Elliot, M. Gallart, and I. Steenhuisen.
From Nagapatnam on July 27, 1724, to Sadraspatnam, the following goods were shipped on the sloop Eddemonij:
The widow of the deceased chief and her son, assistant Tomas van Outveld, were to be transported. Evert Cornelis Wigtman, also a principal assistant, was to take over the position.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 8839 / 1231 In 1725, Thomas van Outvelt, who worked as an assistant, requested permission to travel to Cormandel with his mother. He wanted to be employed at the main office there so he could assist his elderly mother. Around the same time, a soldier named Abraham Selover, who had been working as a clerk at the office for about 3 years, submitted a request for living allowance. He hoped to receive the allowance instead of van Outvelt, as he could not manage on his current salary. The text notes that Selover had been performing his duties with diligence and enthusiasm, giving complete satisfaction in his behavior.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 8839 / 1235 There were complaints about assistant Joannes Duijneveld's wages and food allowance being insufficient due to scarcity and high prices of provisions. He could not survive on his current salary. Following Duijneveld's transfer and assistant Abraham Selover's departure to the main settlement, there remained three clerks: bookkeepers Gerrit Schreuder and Wouter de Jongh, and assistant Abraham Nieuwenhuijsen. They found it impossible to perform their regular duties adequately with this staffing level. Therefore, they respectfully requested one or two additional clerks. This was in response to the authorities' latest letter dated 13th of the current month.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 9728 / 0163
View transcript NL-HaNA / 2.10.02 / 1150 / 0098
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1592 / 0299
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 624 / 0799 From September 17 to September 21, sailors navigated through various weather conditions. On September 6, they encountered strong storms from the southwest and west-southwest. The ship's position was measured at 11 degrees latitude on September 8, indicating strong southward currents. By September 10, they reached 9.3 degrees latitude with rough seas. They continued southeastward, reaching 7 degrees 35 minutes latitude by September 12.
The journey continued with generally southwestern winds until September 14, when the wind shifted south, forcing them to change course. By September 15, they reached 6 degrees latitude in calm weather. They maintained a southeastern course with light winds over the next few days.
On September 19, they experienced variable winds between south and east. During the night, they recorded a latitude of 16 degrees. On September 20, they sighted Sumatra, noting its high landmass. With light easterly winds, they sailed westward away from the coast. They reached Banten on September 21.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1117 / 0583 Find your ancestors and publish your family tree on Genealogy Online via https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/