Users of Open Archives can have summaries generated from the recognized texts (transcriptions) produced through text recognition (OCR) and handwriting recognition (HTR). Neither of these artificial intelligence tasks is perfect, but they are often more than sufficient to make the historical document understandable. In the transcripts, names are underlined in green and clickable (to search the personal entries on Open Archives for the name in question), the recognized dates have a light gray background and recognized place names have a light purple background. The results of the application of (European) artificial intelligence have not been verified by a human.
On 20 November 1726, a shipment was sent from Siam (modern-day Thailand) carrying letters, documents, and a cargo of 500 bales of tin. Of these, 250 bales were distributed among ships anchored nearby, while the remaining 300 bales were brought along on the voyage.
The shipment also included records from a smaller trading post, sent earlier on 7 September via the ship Risdam. These records contained:
Following instructions from higher authorities, 250 bales were distributed among three ships and sent as ordered. The remaining 300 bales were transported using the vessels Ligor and Tingieter but were not stored at the Amsterdam sea warehouse due to fears of piracy, which was common in the region at the time.
The authorities in Siam expressed their commitment to following further orders as closely as possible, particularly regarding the expected arrival of Chinese junks by 16 December. This plan had also been recommended by merchant Colk to the officials in Ligor.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2051 / 0548 On 2 January 1726, a ship named Risdam arrived carrying official documents from Siam (modern-day Thailand). These included:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2030 / 0019
View transcript NL-HlmNHA / 4975285 / 45 On 10 November 1727, a report from Malacca included the following updates:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 8611 / 0080 On 29 December 1730, a ship from Siam was completely destroyed, leaving the crew with nothing but their lives. All goods and the ship itself were lost. An inspection revealed the ship was in such poor condition that it was shocking no one had noticed or taken better care of it. The writers criticized the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for accepting such preventable losses caused by the negligence of its employees.
The text also refers to a past proposal by former head Christiaan Cock from 20 September 1727. He suggested reducing wages for mint workers in exchange for giving local workers shares worth 7,000 or 10,000 units (likely guilders or similar). Two key points were raised for improving trade in Siam:
The writers noted that avoiding this annual obligation would actually be more profitable, as the losses from minting (around 7,200 guilders, based on a letter from the ministers of 20 September 1727) would otherwise continue.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2163 / 0914 The letter, written in Siam on 29 December 1730, discusses ongoing trade issues and complaints about poor practices in the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2163 / 0913 On 28 February 1727, a document was prepared in Malacca under the authority of Governor Hermanus van Suchtelen and his council. The document bore a black seal with the inscription "Sultan Alaiddin Shah, ibnu Oefsoe" (son of Oefsoe).
The papers listed were entrusted to a Chinese messenger, Tsim Tsonko, to be delivered to Governor-General Matthäus De Haan and the Council of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia. The documents included:
The document also noted that a king from Johor, referred to as King Hendrik 9, had been sent from Malacca.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2074 / 0097 On 28 January 1728, a letter was sent from Siam (modern-day Thailand) by Smel Christiaan Cock, a merchant and resident, along with his assistant and second-in-command, Alexander Walaart. They addressed the letter respectfully to the directors of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Ligor (modern-day Nakhon Si Thammarat).
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2030 / 0050 On 28 September 1728, a letter was sent from Siam (modern-day Thailand) by Smel Christiaan Cock and Alexander Walaart, who identified themselves as loyal and respectful servants. They referred to an earlier document from 8 September 1725, signed in Ligore (modern-day Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand) by G. Schriver, confirming their roles: Cock as onderkoopman (junior merchant) and resident, and Walaart as assistant and second-in-command.
The letter discussed the arrival of the ship Risdam on 16 September and mentioned a previous letter from 25 June that had not been fully addressed. The writers explained they had not sent follow-up orders because the local governor, referred to as Berquelang, had promised to fulfill the requests himself—but this had not yet happened.
The letter also expressed surprise at the urgency stressed in the recipient’s request for an official order confirming the trading privileges of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The writers noted that previous orders had been forgotten due to frequent changes in Ligore's leadership. They suggested the recipient should remind the newly arrived governor, referred to as Goede Vrunden (Good Friends), about these privileges.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2030 / 0048 In 1697, a letter revealed details about a shipwreck. The writer confirmed receiving 21 heads (likely referring to survivors) from a ship called the Risdam, which deserved attention. The rest of the details would follow the letter's content.
The letter mentioned that on 10 March, a Chinese captain named Tantijnko delivered a message in the Malay language. This message was originally sent by Dajeing Marewa, who held the title Kalana Draga, and was now acting as the governor for the king of Johor in Riouw (present-day Riau).
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2057 / 0187 On 17 June 1725, the Portuguese ship Nossa Senhora de Piedade, led by captain Thomas Fletcher and assistant Roeland Beijts, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 4 February of that year. During the journey, 1 soldier had died. At the cape, 4 sailors and 5 soldiers either left the ship or deserted, while 4 new sailors boarded. The ship left Table Bay on 28 February without losing any more crew and arrived with a total of 147 people: 100 sailors and 47 soldiers.
The document also lists other ships and their details:
The Hoorn, another ship, had lost a military assistant and a sailor, with 13 soldiers and sailors still on board.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2020 / 0053 On 22 November, the authorities and lower officers of the ship Wapen van Hoorn completed their oath. This was reported to the Governor-General, who then decided to prepare the strong and sturdy ship Saxenburg and 17 other ships for departure.
A letter was sent with the ships of the second convoy to inform others of this decision. The goal was to reach the trading region earlier than in the past 5 to 6 years, hoping that traders from Macao and Chinese merchants would arrive on time. However, none had been reported so far.
A legal record from the previous day was presented at the meeting. It confirmed that the required oath had been completed by the authorities and lower officers of the Wapen van Hoorn. The issue involved a small amount (over 2 units) of Japanese copper, which the crew had improperly distributed from the ship’s cargo to a supplier named Levert. The meeting agreed that this matter had been addressed and resolved.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2023 / 0610 On November 22, officials confirmed that the crew equipment master and other involved parties were cleared of responsibility regarding the loss of the ship Gisdam. This decision followed an earlier investigation and declaration of innocence. The case involved two documents for Amsterdam and Zeeland, along with reports about Sumatra and the Cape of Good Hope. A note was also made for officials at the Cape to record the outcome.
Earlier, on November 3, the crew equipment master Michiel Weste, appointed skippers, and the advocate fiscal (a legal official) had examined the leaders of the ship Risdam about the loss of a boat in the Gulf of Siam. The investigation, led by the advocate fiscal Everhard Kraeijvanger, concluded that the crew was not at fault, as confirmed by a written statement. The officials accepted this decision as final.
Additionally, two letters were approved for the directors of the chambers in Amsterdam and Middelburg, addressing matters related to the West Coast of Sumatra and the Cape of Good Hope. A total of 9 related documents were also approved.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2023 / 0611 On 138 (likely a reference to a document or case number), officials discussed the return of a regular ship route instead of a new appointment. They excused two issues: one involving the payment of departure fees for 3 Portuguese ships, and another about a shipwreck near Hisdam.
Two letters were received by the government in Malacca, sent by a Chinese messenger named Tsim Tsong Ko. These letters, dated 28 February and 14 March, were from the ship Risdam and had already been shared with higher authorities.
The text also mentions:
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 7810 / 0840 On 28 November 1725, a document was sent from Siam (modern-day Thailand) to Governor-General Matthijs de Haan and the Council of the Dutch Indies in Batavia (modern-day Jakarta). The letter included records of a ship’s cargo and expenses.
The letter also reported that on 16 November 1725, the leaders of the ship Risdam—Captain Hendrik Schoon and Bookkeeper Barend Hölscher—arrived in Siam. They had left Batavia on 7 June 1725, stopped in Ligor (modern-day Nakhon Si Thammarat) on 14 July 1725, and departed again on 15 August 1725.
The ship carried two important letters:
The writers expressed surprise that the representative in Ligor had ignored earlier orders from De Haan and the Council, specifically those sent on 29 July 1724. These orders had criticized the weak trade purchases in the region.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2030 / 0023 On 29 November 1736, a letter from Siam (modern-day Thailand) was sent to address a conflict involving Prageman, a merchant, and the local orphan chamber (a body overseeing orphaned children's welfare). The writers hoped the respected officials would show kindness to the orphans involved and protect their interests.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2051 / 0568 The local military ships Purmer Lust, Margaretha, Risdam, Abbekerk, and Keetel arrived with their crews, who were owed wages for a total of 27 June (recently passed). According to a decision by the authorities on 26 June, they were to receive a payment of 57,519.125 rijksdaalders to cover 351 unpaid wages.
Before the payment was made, the authorities ordered on 17 July of that year that the officers of these ships had to swear an oath in Mahu. They declared under oath that none of the crew members included mercenaries, Javanese, or enslaved individuals. The following payments were noted, with some amounts withheld until further notice:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2020 / 1338
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2051 / 0649 Between 23 January and 5 March 1727, records were kept of the cargo carried by ships arriving in Batavia from the Dutch homeland. These included the ships Iacoba, Commerrust, Berbices, Meerlust, and Winthond, detailing the unloaded supplies.
On 21 March 1727, Cornelis van Berendregt, a water inspector, submitted a statement reserving his legal action in a dispute between the Dutch East India Company (Compagnie) and Ida Hochepied. Two additional documents listed the costs incurred by Hochepied during the same legal process.
Between 17 September and 19 December 1726, letters were exchanged between officials on the west coast of Sumatra and Nicolaas Mettenius, a mining supervisor at Sillida, regarding mining operations. Six miners and a blacksmith filed a complaint on 19 December 1726 about Mettenius' harsh treatment. Another document listed tools and materials Mettenius requested for the Sillida gold mine.
On 14 March 1727, captain H. Schoon and accountant Barent Holscher provided a written account of the loss of the ship Risdam. Officers from the ship Konink Carel also submitted a report on 1 January 1727 about their voyage alongside the Risdam.
On 15 December 1726, an agreement was recorded between the Dutch East India Company and the King of Siam, including his advisor, Berquelang. A debt acknowledgment from the Siamese court officials was also dated 10 December 1726.
A Malay-language letter from Daing Marewa to the Governor-General and Council in Batavia was received on 10 March 1727.
On 21 March 1727, Frederik Lokman, a customs officer in Sabang, reported on the treatment of European ships in China, based on information from Portuguese captain Iohan Baptista Montero.
On 21 July 1722, Abraham Patras, a commissioner, submitted a report on his mission to Palembang and Tambij. A separate document summarized the allowances and rations provided to Company employees during this mission. Another report, dated 8 May 1722, described the escape of the usurper Mancaboemij.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2042 / 0009
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2051 / 0545 Find your ancestors and publish your family tree on Genealogy Online via https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/