Transcriptions » Recently generated summaries of recognized texts

In Macassar on May 22, 1726, important ceremonies took place. First, the governor and the Political Council swore oaths of loyalty and obedience to the new governor-general Mattheus De Haan. After this, several groups were called in to take their oaths as well, including:

• The preacher Abraham Snoek van Cleeff
• The orphan masters
• The senior officers
• Lower-ranking officials
• The leading citizens

A message from Macassar dated May 22, 1726 announced that Mattheus De Haan, who was First Councilor and Director General, would replace Henric Zwaardecroon as Governor General of the Dutch East Indies. Officials were released from their oath of loyalty to Zwaardecroon and required to take a new oath pledging loyalty and obedience to De Haan as their new Governor General and supreme commander of the Indies. Everyone had to formally swear this solemn oath.

On May 15, 1752, in Macassar, a meeting took place to discuss several matters. After reading a letter from the high Indian government dated December 31, 1751, two officials - chief merchant and head administrator Lambertus Pepellak and merchant and fiscal Willem Camerling - took their required annual oath of purity.

The council then approved hiring Joseph Burger from Macassar, aged 17, as a sailor for the East India Company at 9 guilders per month with a standard five-year contract.

The head administrator presented two sales reports of textiles:

• First sale on January 17: profit of 5,090.6 guilders
• Second sale on May 3: profit of 979.12.8 guilders

Finally, the council approved writing off a company horse that had died of old age and granted a request regarding previously retained payments.

On May 25, 1739, soldiers at the fortress in Macassar fired their guns and 3 cannon shots. After taking an oath of loyalty, 13 cannon shots were fired around the fortress to celebrate the new governor, his highness Adriaan Valckenier. Around 10 o'clock, the appointed officials - merchant and fiscal officer Cornelis Rosenboom and under-merchant and shopkeeper Hendrik Stemer - went near the Jaccatra point where all head regents from both mountains and plains had gathered under a well-made shelter. One by one, according to rank, they solemnly took their oath. The next day, they were well treated and upon their departure were honored with 9 cannon shots. The appointed officials returned to Macassar on Sunday the 2nd. The specification of the past month of October was received, along with 5 unusable muskets and one powder keg.

• The noble princes Pongawa, his younger brothers Aroebacka and Latongan
• The newly appointed king with some of his state officials
• The chief administrators of the Company's subjects from both southern and northern provinces

On April 11, 1726, at 8 in the morning, a meeting took place at Castle Rotterdam in Macassar. The governor and council members assembled to formally announce the appointment of the new governor-general, Mattheus De Haan. After the council members were seated, they discussed whether to proceed with the oath-taking ceremony, since all Company officials, citizens, and subjects had gathered in the castle. The governor first took the oath of loyalty and obedience to Governor-General Mattheus De Haan, followed by the council members who swore their oath to the governor.

On March 31, 1751, in Macassar at Castle Rotterdam, a loyalty oath was taken. This was certified by secretary C. Jacobs. Earlier, on Friday October 3, 1750 at 9 in the morning, Governor Loten called a meeting to discuss various domestic matters.

• The purchase of 300 slaves for the craftsmen's quarter in Batavia
• Shipping routes to Amboina, Banda, and Ternate

In Macassar on June 7, 1748, both the Secretary of Justice and First Sworn Clerk took their oaths of office during the meeting. The Company's third interpreter Christoffel Rosnawiskij also took his oath of service. Following the death of Chief Surgeon George Odelem, Leendert de Jong was elected by majority vote to replace him, pending high-level approval. De Jong had served as surgeon of the Vlaardingen settlement since 1739 and was the most senior medical officer available. The document was signed by Joan Gideon Loten.

• Lieutenant and Equipment Master Thomas Voheijts
• Supply Officer Dirk Jacob Tenpezel
• Weapons Master Hendrik Steijns
• Master Blacksmith Christoffel Castelijn
• Master Carpenter Matthiem Lala
• Master Mason Christiaan van der Wallen
• Head Messenger Eldert Beekerman

At around 9 o'clock, a complaint was made to the Nachoda (ship captain) about the imprisonment of a company servant. The complainant said if the young man owed anything to the company, he should have been reported to the commander or fiscal officer. The young man responded that the Nachoda claimed to be as powerful as the commander and fiscal officer.

During his detention at the Nachoda's house, the witness observed several acts of torture. A slave named Irrema was tied up with ropes, had stones placed between his arms and legs, and had water poured on the bindings. He was tortured for several hours and beaten severely by both the Nachoda and his guards.

A woman named Marica was also tied up and beaten over an alleged debt. She was threatened that if she didn't pay money, the Nachoda's men would humiliate her by removing her clothes and forcing her to wear men's trousers. The men held the trousers in her bound hands, threatening to put a cat in them that would scratch her until she paid. However, Marica consistently denied owing any debt. A person named St. Croes advised her not to put on the trousers.

In 789, officials were sent to summon someone to appear before a ship captain (nachoda) in Basaar. The summoned person was busy selling rice at the market and found this request very inconvenient. Despite trying to excuse himself, the officials (Lascorijns) insisted forcefully that he must come immediately to see the nachoda.

The person covered his rice with a mat and left it under someone's supervision at the market. The two officials then escorted him to the nachoda's residence. There, the nachoda asked if he owed 60 riksdaalders to the slave of Saecke Lebbe, a Moorish merchant. He replied that he didn't owe anything, explaining that although he had bought rice from the slave occasionally, he had always paid immediately after selling the grains at the market.

When asked to provide witnesses, the nachoda gave him two officials (pioens or Lascorijns) to fetch them from the market. He went to get two Chittys (traders) named Anthonij and Matthijs, who had knowledge of the payments made and could testify to the truth of his statements.

On July 21, 1701, Ali, a slave owned by the Moorish priest Lebbe Neijnde, appeared before Swen Anderson, secretary of the Council of Justice in Colombo. He gave testimony to fiscal officer Laurens Tollingh. Ali stated that for a long time he had been selling rice by small measure at the bazaar in town, bringing daily earnings to his master. On July 19 at 8 in the morning, while at his usual spot in the bazaar, two guards sent by Moorish captain Mira Ibrahim came for him.

• Wijbrand Laurentius and Jan Leonard Crause served as council members
• Swen Anderson acted as secretary
• Johannes Boucant served as clerk

On July 22, 1701, an enslaved person named Ali, who belonged to the Moorish priest Lebbe Naina, appeared for the second time before members of the Council of Justice in Galle. In the presence of fiscal officer Laurens Tolling and with Manuel Bringiaal serving as interpreter, Ali confirmed his previous testimony as being completely truthful. The proceedings were witnessed by Daniel Laporte and Willem Rex, assistants at the pay office, who along with Swen Anderson signed the document with their own signatures.

On July 27, 174, at the Council Chamber in Gale, Ali appeared for the third time before council members J. Leona Crause and Joannes van der Leen. The fiscal officer Laurens Tollingh was present, along with interpreter Manuel Bringiaal. Ali had his previous testimony read back to him. When asked if his testimony was the complete truth and if he was ready to take the Muslim oath, he confirmed his earlier statements. He then took a solemn oath by:

• Placing his right hand on the Quran
• Opening the Quran
• Repeating certain words three times

The document was signed with various Moorish characters and marked by the person appearing. It was witnessed by the council members and signed by secretary Swen Anderson.

On November 3, 1666, Grietge Nunningh, living in this city, appeared before notary Pieter van Buijtene. She appointed her brother Hanmen Ninningh, who lived in Nahuijs, to represent her interests in the estate of their late cousin Gerrit Quaetacker. She gave him power to:

• Collect her share of the inheritance
• Issue receipts for received goods
• Take legal action if payment is refused or delayed
• Appear before the necessary courts and authorities
• Make agreements with other heirs of Gerrit Quaetacker

In Amsterdam on 166 [note: year appears incomplete in source], Eduard Daris and Jan van der Hagen witnessed the signing of agreements and accords. Griten Hermensz Arius was present at this meeting.

On September 8, 1736, in Batavia, a court case was heard with several council members absent. Hartman, representing Johannes Meijer (a bookkeeper for the Dutch East India Company), presented a legal document dated July 18 of that year. This document showed that Johannes Colombus, an assistant in the same service, was ordered to pay Meijer 160 rijksdaalders (at 40 stuivers each) according to a note written and signed by Colombus on November 8, 1735. The bailiff Nicolaas Smit had properly notified Colombus of this order. Colombus had already paid 100 rijksdaalders but failed to pay the remaining 60 rijksdaalders plus interest and costs. Hartman requested to garnish half of Colombus's wages, promising to properly file a formal complaint about this garnishment at the next court date. The council granted this request for garnishment.

On September 5, 1736, after carefully considering all claims and actions of creditors, the Council made a legal judgment on behalf of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. They gave first preference to the legal costs of the sequestrator. Second preference went to Johannes Schreuder, a junior merchant of the East India Company, and Pieter Donker, a citizen, both acting as representatives of David van der Sanden. They were awarded 950 guilders (or 406.25 rijksdaalders) for a loan made on May 17, 1734, plus 4% annual interest until full payment, along with associated costs.

The Council rejected all claims from unknown and non-appearing creditors, imposing permanent silence regarding any claims they might have had on the estate. This decision was made on Wednesday, August 29, 1736 by Council members:

• Jacob van den Bosch (Master)
• Jacob Lakeman (Master)
• Theodorus van Reverhorst (Master)
• Hendrik Haak
• Adriaan Maten Alberts
• Adrianus Bergsma (Master, Advocate Fiscal)

The document was signed by N. Jongsma, sworn clerk.

• Johannes Schreuder, a junior merchant serving the Company
• Pieter Donker, a citizen
• David van den Sanden
• Other unknown creditors who had not appeared

On September 5, 1736, several people made financial claims. Anna Hendriks, widow of Bastiaen Bastiaans, claimed 28 rijksdaalders for four months of unpaid rent from February 1 to May 31, 1736. Attorney Gerrit Hartman claimed 28 rijksdaalders and 46 stuivers for expenses and salary according to a declaration dated July 12, 1736.

The court ruled against Willem van Zeijl, Ian Schreuder, Ian van Ceulen, Iacobus Gerrit Pranger, Andries Mooren, and Cornelia Lodewijks, as well as other creditors who did not appear. They were denied all claims they might have had on the estate and were ordered to remain silent about it forever.

This judgment was made in den Bosch on August 29, 1736 by council members Jacob Lakeman, Theodorus van Reverhorst, Hendrik Haak, Adriaan Maten, and Albertsz, along with attorney fiscal Adrianus Bergsma.

On September 5, 1736, Jan Schreuder, a junior merchant, Jan van Ceulen, a corporal, Jacobus Gerrit Pranger, Andries Moorenburger, Cornelia Lodewijk (widow of Pieter van Assendelt), Gerrit Hartman (a local lawyer), and Anna Hendriks (widow of Bastiaan Bastiaans), along with other unknown creditors, appeared before the Council in the United Netherlands. They came to hear the ruling about their claims on an insolvent estate. The Council, acting on behalf of the High Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands, carefully considered all claims. They decided that court costs would be paid first from the estate.