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 Neither of these artificial intelligence tasks is perfect, but they are often more than sufficient to make the historical document understandable.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 August 24, 1792, a special meeting was held at Fort Orangje in St. Eustatius. The meeting was led by Governor ad interim Joannes Kunpels, with council members Jacobus de Windt (Captain of the Citizens), Hendrik Landt, and Pieter Cuvilje.
Three Jewish leaders of the Synagogue Honen Dalim - David Abendanond, Samuel W. Cohen, and Elias de Pina - presented a complaint. They reported that on Monday the 20th, a resident named Charles Gordon had:
The Jewish leaders emphasized their position as respected citizens and heads of the Jewish community in St. Eustatius. They requested that the council deal with Gordon in a fatherly manner, expressing their trust in the council's maintenance of good order and proper governance.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 1187 / 0489 On August 24, 1779, an official report was received from J. Willem Nagel, the Dutch consul in Cadix. He reported that the Spanish warship Santa Theresia had arrived from Puerto Cabello on the coast of Caracas, bringing 15 Dutch citizens who had been arrested for smuggling. Through the efforts of Count van Rechteren, the Dutch envoy in Madrid, these prisoners were released.
One prisoner, Adrian Meijere, had already left on the ship Cornelia Cicilia with Captain Jacob Jacobs on July 24, 1779. A Jewish prisoner, Aron Cardoso, who had served a 5-year sentence as a slave in Ceuta (Africa), was being held in jail until transport could be arranged.
The list of prisoners included:
The authorities decided to thank Consul Nagel for his efforts and promised to reimburse his expenses. They also decided that once the prisoners arrived in the Netherlands, they would be transported back to Curaçao, where they would have to repay the company's expenses.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 477 / 0017 On September 4, 1780, Alexander Te Peuni, Secretary of the Dutch West India Company in St. Eustatius, recorded that Abraham Alberge (married to Mariana Levy Cimines) and Mosseh Bravo (married to Sara Levy Cimines), both from the Portuguese Jewish community, appointed representatives. They chose David Alberge and Abraham Fernandes, Portuguese Jews living in Suriname, to handle matters concerning an inheritance.
The inheritance came from a trust that was dissolved upon the death of Moses Levy Cimines on August 25, 1780. The beneficiaries were Mariana and Sara Levy Cimines (both daughters of the late Jahacob Levy Cimines) and their niece Mariam (daughter of the deceased Moses Levy Cimines) who lived in Suriname.
This trust originated from a will made by Sarah Israel (widow of Salomon Rodrigua Ville Real) on October 11, 1740, witnessed by Ian Arepreu, a clerk in Suriname. The inheritance included:
The representatives were authorized to claim these properties and sell them at public auction on behalf of the heirs.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.11.14 / 734 / 0263 This is a list of residents and their families living on Sint Eustatius recorded on January 13, 1734. The list was created during the time when Johannes Heyliger was Commander of the island. It includes many prominent families such as the Heyligers, Markoes, Lespiers, and Donckers. Various widows are mentioned, including the widows of Gravall, Pieter Debunck, Jan Deweever, and Catharina Halaman. The list also includes plantation owners, such as the Lespier plantation called Irores. Next to each person's name is a number, likely indicating household size or number of dependents. Some of the larger households belonged to Simon de Graoff with 124 people, Edward Daniels with 62 people, and Johannes Heyliger Guiliaem with 26 people.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 1183 / 0313 On March 15, 1787, residents and merchants of St. Eustatius, including ship captains, gathered to discuss preventing the implementation of a new tax policy. According to rumors, the West Indies Company's directors had sent the interim governor and council a new tariff system for import and export duties.
The group unanimously authorized ten representatives to handle this matter:
These representatives were tasked with presenting their case to the local government through petitions, remarks, and protests. Their goal was to prevent the publication of the new tax law, which they feared would ruin the residents, commerce, and the West Indies Company's welfare. The gathered assembly, including over 80 prominent residents and merchants, signed the document agreeing to support the representatives' actions and share any costs involved.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 1195 / 0300 On July 27, 1730, at Sint Eustatius, a document was signed in the presence of witnesses Moses Bensamin and Salomon Delcen, with J.P. Schenck as provisional secretary. A subsequent letter dated August 2, 1730 from Everard Raecq to the directors of the West India Company in Amsterdam described the following:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 619 / 0669 On January 26, 1756, Simon Waagh, a merchant living in Amsterdam, appeared before Dominicus Geniets, a notary of the Court of Holland. Waagh appointed Philip Benjamins from St. Eustatius as his legal representative to:
The document was witnessed by Jan Hendrik Rudeloff and Christian Brunings in Amsterdam.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 1526348 / 137 On November 14, 1731,
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 59 / 0374 Officials received several diplomatic letters in late 1772:
A legal case was presented involving Jan Nicolaas Kock from Curaçao, who as heir to his mother Benjamina Hermina van Starkenburg (widow of Pieter Kock Jansz) was in a dispute with Roelof Meyboom, an orphanage administrator in Curaçao. The case involved the estate of widow Guillaume Seck. The court ordered the opposing party to respond within 3 weeks.
The council also dealt with a petition from officials of Tilburg and Goirle in the Oosterwijk quarter of 's-Hertogenbosch. These towns requested exemption from contributing to criminal justice costs that didn't directly concern them. Their request was denied because they had already received 75 guilders for execution costs in 1772, and they had imprisoned someone without proper permission, contrary to the resolution of 17 April 1766.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 1183 / 0200 On December 15, 1746, at Fort Orange on Sint Eustatius, Commander Johannes Heijliger Pietersz and council members gathered with a large group of prominent citizens. They made sworn declarations about their trade activities since June 3, 1744, when war was declared between England and France.
Three specific cases were mentioned:
The citizens swore under oath that since the war declaration, they had not traded any contraband goods with French colonies in America. The contraband items included:
The document was signed by Commander Johannes Heijliger Pietersz and council members Jasper Elles, Johannis Markoe, Abraham Heijliger Junior, Matthias Borel Salomons, and Jacob Cuvelje. It was witnessed by interim secretary Jan Godlieb Frederic and certified by secretary Jan de Windt on December 16, 1746.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 620 / 0524 On an unspecified date in Amsterdam, Jan Dusen, Jan Prius, Johannes das, Jan Prnk, and Adr. Baars served as witnesses and notary to a legal document. This document granted the holder several legal powers:
The document states that all actions taken under this authority would be considered legally binding, even if they required special permission beyond what was explicitly stated in the text.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 1176145 / 16 The numeric data appears to be a colonial era census or inventory record from a Dutch settlement, likely in the Makassar region, listing numbers of people including Christians and slaves. Given the format and terminology used ("slaven" meaning slaves), this document dates from a period when the Dutch were active in maritime Southeast Asia.
The numbers show different categories of people, with numerical values arranged in columns. The text mentions Koomen, though the role of this person is unclear from the source material. The document includes tallies of various groups including some designated as Christians ("Christen") and Makassarese ("macassaren").
Note: Due to the fragmentary and numerical nature of this historical document, a more detailed summary cannot be provided without additional context about the time period and location.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2312 / 0927 In Wassoe, a group of people, including both local inhabitants and possibly Dutch settlers, were recorded. The list features bold names such as Philip Benjamin, Thomas Walsing, Manuel Seppelatoe, Jan Olkensa, Domingos Thomas, Paulus Waas, Willem Mahahena, Joris Latoe, Isaac Jacobus, Domingos Aftijn, Albertus Waas, Domingos de Costa, Simon Rissa, Mattheus Pattij, Jeremias Pero, Jooris Boeviens, Anthonij Sarassa, Louis Reruena, Anthonij Soepattij, Pedro Malakka, Andries Alamauso, Jan Marra Pattij, Domingos Zahovia, Jeremias Thij, Lourens Paulus Pattij, Mattheus Loutoore, Johannes Halepaij, Paulus Latoemoeli, Peeter Naesoemahoe, Matheus Polisiwa, Hendrik Toeal, and Bastiaan Taija. This appears to be a transport or transfer record listing various individuals.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2312 / 0928 On May 5, there was a meeting where several messages were received and discussed:
Cornelis Caen, mayor of Vlissingen, was welcomed as a representative of Zeeland province for one year starting May 5.
A statue of Prince Charles of Lorraine, Governor General of the Austrian Netherlands, needed transport permission from Manheim through Nijmegen, Dordrecht, Tholen, Bergen op Zoom, St. Marten and Lillo to Brussels. This was granted.
The Admiralty of Amsterdam requested payment of 53,669 guilders, 7 stuivers and 8 penningen for gifts purchased for the Emperor of Morocco, Crown Prince Muley Aly, and Secretary El Gadery.
Judah Benjamin and Hannah de Lion, Portuguese Jews from St. Eustatius, were granted permission to marry, being exempted from the Political Ordinance of 1580.
Captain van der Beets of the Friesland Admiralty was authorized payment of 1,038 guilders and 15 stuivers for his recent voyage to Algiers.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.01.02 / 3829 / 0397 In March 13, 1794, when Secretary Brouwer refused to process certain documents, a sealed paper had to be deposited at the secretariat. A copy was witnessed by Notary Isaac Vale ton and others in Rotterdam. The petitioner, who was temporarily in Holland, needed to return to St. Eustatius the following Friday. He feared new legal troubles and harassment there, especially from Governor Pieter Anthonij Godin, who might abuse his power in this private matter.
Based on previous mistreatment, the petitioner sought protection from future abuse and injustice in St. Eustatius. He requested intervention to ensure that both the Police Council of St. Eustatius and Governor Godin would understand that:
The petitioner wanted to ensure he could properly defend himself through legal channels without facing further harassment.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.02 / 101 / 0171 After books and papers were transferred to Pieter Anthonij Godin's representatives following a resolution on October 21, 1791, the bail was finally accepted and the petitioner's arrest was ended on October 26, 1791.
The petitioner claims he was a victim of Pieter Anthonij Godin's influence and power, as well as those who persecuted him to please Godin. According to the petitioner's current account, he was already owed 185 pesos by Godin on September 20, 1791.
Instead of validating this debt, they tried to harass the petitioner who had complied with the biased sentence of July 18, 1791. They changed the sentence so that all the petitioner's evidence would end up in his opponent's hands before disputes were resolved.
Feeling overwhelmed and foreseeing future claims of errors in his books, the petitioner tried to protest against this injustice. On October 26, 1791, the same day he was released from arrest, he attempted to file his protest at the St. Eustatius secretary's office against the unlawful resolution of October 21.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.02 / 101 / 0169 Pieter Heijliger Runnels and Pieter Runnel Joannesz had acted as guarantors for the petitioner's departure from the colony. They were responsible for any errors that might be found in the examination of books and accounts related to Pieter Anthonij Godin. After the resolution of October 21, 1791, the petitioner lost this guarantee because the books were removed from neutral persons' hands where they should have stayed according to the sentence of July 18, 1791. The guarantors declared themselves released from their guarantee since the books and accounts came into Pieter Anthonij Godin's possession before the settlement of accounts, making it impossible to determine who was responsible for any errors discovered later. The petitioner later appointed Jacobus de Windt, Council member and Captain of St. Eustatius, as a new guarantor.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.02 / 101 / 0168 Pieter Anthonij Godin was involved in legal proceedings on October 17, 18, and 20, 1791. A resolution was passed by the Council of Policy of St. Eustatius on October 21, 1791, without his knowledge or chance to defend his interests. This resolution concerned Abraham Salomons and Judah Benjamins, who were authorized to handle certain books and papers. According to a previous ruling from July 18, 1791, these documents were supposed to be kept with Salomons and Benjamins until October 24, 1791. On that date, they were to hand over to Godin's representatives:
These items had been inventoried on July 22, 1791. Salomons and Benjamins were to continue their commission to oversee any corrections needed in the books. Godin, who was also serving as Governor of St. Eustatius, refused to give the person involved a passport to leave the island. He announced that this person would not be allowed to depart until they had complied with the earlier court ruling.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.02 / 101 / 0166 The document shows that on July 17, 1787, several merchants and residents of St. Eustatius signed a protest against a new tariff. They believed this tariff would harm trade on their island and benefit their neighbors instead. The group appointed three representatives - Hendrik Pandt, Jan Schimel, and D. Mindes - who split from other committee members including R.D. Jennings, van Crossen, M.D. Godet Junior, and W. Steensom. Two members, T. Sugnin and D. Hopker, were absent.
The protesters argued that the island was still suffering from the effects of the last war and that the new tariff would cause total ruin. They hoped their trade could rise again "like a Phoenix from its ashes" and benefit both the West India Company and the island's residents.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 635 / 1473 On December 12, 1758, Petronella Catharina Beijs, widow of Jan Luls (former Commissioner of slave trade in Curacao), requested help because she couldn't properly raise her three children. She asked for her son Henrik Luls to get a gunner's position and free housing in Fort Amsterdam on the island. If no position was available, she requested he get the next available position and free housing in the meantime. Her request was denied.
The newly appointed preacher Stephanus Brands for Curacao announced that his appointment was complete, and he intended to leave on the next available ship. He requested travel compensation similar to his predecessors. He was granted 200 guilders and two free cargo loads on his ship to Curacao.
Jan Nicolaas van Harkenborch, recently appointed as second ensign of the military in Curacao, took his oath. He was permitted to delay his journey until next spring to improve his engineering skills.
The following people were granted passports:
Director Isaac Faesch was informed that the assembly approved papers for the ship Prince of Orange, captained by Pieter Thijsser, bound for Curacao. Since the ship came from Hamburg into Texel, there were concerns about undeclared goods. The director was instructed to inspect the ship thoroughly for any merchandise not listed on the manifest and handle such items as if they came from foreign ships.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 413 / 0167 Find your ancestors and publish your family tree on Genealogy Online via https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/