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On April 25, 1778, in St. Eustatius, several people made sworn statements in front of witnesses. The witnesses included Abraham Heyliger Junior, Nicolas Gravale, Benjamin Zames Callahan, Lodewyk Lindesay, and John Sames. Alexander Leserna served as secretary, and Anthony Beauijon was the chief clerk who verified the document.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 1309 / 0155 On April 16, 1778, several residents of Sint Eustatius made a sworn statement to Alexander Lefenne, Secretary of the Dutch West India Company. The residents were Alexander Brownlie, James Callahan, John James Georgeson, Lodewyk Lindesay, and Indah Benjamin. They testified about events that occurred two evenings prior at sunset at the Scandal Hall, a small covered area near the mountain path.
They reported that Abraham Ravené, son of the Commandant Abraham Ravené, was present and spoke about a recent gathering of citizens at Fort Oranje. He said he had been afraid for his father's life during this meeting, because:
The statement was translated from Dutch to English for those witnesses who did not speak Dutch, and was witnessed by Abraham Heyliger Junior and Nicolas Gravall. The document was certified as a true copy on April 25, 1778 by First Clerk Anthony Beaujon.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 620 / 0378 On December 31, 1707, at around 6 PM, Rebora Wavarra, wife of Abraham Arocha, appeared before notary Dirck Van der Groe in Amsterdam. Though sick, she was mentally sound and able to speak clearly. She wanted to make her last will and testament.
She made the following bequests:
She named her sister Sara Navarra, wife of Joseph Torres, as her sole heir. If Sara died first, her descendants would inherit her share. The will was witnessed by Albeet Tenham and Willem Dafaij at the testatrix's house on the Heerengracht opposite the plantation.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606941 / 396 In a series of legal statements recorded in Amsterdam in 1660, several incidents were documented:
First, on July 22, 1660, Catarine acted as a broker in a transaction involving coarse fabric. Francois van Lijsoone stood as guarantor for his mother Saertje Francois in a matter involving 80 guilders.
Second, on August 6, 1660, three women testified about a violent incident:
Finally, Catarine Stalberch, a 28-year-old seamstress living in the Salmandersteech near the Nieuwe Marct, testified that Constantia, wife of Hendrick van Nes (a brandy seller), had publicly called Stijntje Lamberts (a fruit seller) a matchmaker, witch, old cow, and thief.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 888 / 0247 On June 5, 1776, P. L. de Saffon disputed charges made by Secretary Roeteringh. The Secretary had claimed that Saffon appeared in person and submitted a written request, charging him for these services. Saffon called this billing false, as he had never presented such a request. In earlier notes from December 29, 1774, the Secretary had admitted it was possible no written request was submitted, yet he had still charged for one. Councillor J. Bourda was actually the person who had appeared, not Saffon. The Secretary's habit of charging for services not rendered likely came from routine billing practices that benefited his purse. While the Secretary may have made this error due to poor record-keeping rather than intentionally, Saffon was justified in disputing the false charges without this being considered an insult to the Secretary's person or position.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 546 / 0448 In Demerara, there was a dispute between I. J. de Saffon and J. E. Vogde. On January 1, 1775, the Commander and Council of Demerara were asked to report on this matter. On May 22, 1775, this request was given to P. L. de Saffon for his input. P. L. de Saffon responded on July 11, 1776, and was asked to provide details about the land and Company path he mentioned in his report. P. L. de Saffon then requested:
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 911 / 0318 In Macassar on May 3, 1760, the small kingdom of Sandrebonij was located within Macassar on the western shore of Celebes, between the Company's lands of Galissong and Poelembankeeng. Though small, it was independent from Goach, having formed a brotherhood with the Macassarans during the reign of Macassaran king Toema Paai sikakalonna while maintaining their freedoms and privileges.
The town wasn't directly on the sea but sat on a river. It was walled and built at the same time as Samboupa and Tello. The kingdom shared a similar fate with Goach or Macassar, and most of its kings came from the royal house of Goach. Mappa Doelong, who later became king of Goach, ruled this small kingdom during the war led by commander Speelman, and signed treaties in 1667 and 1669, along with his administrator Caraleng Banjo anjer and other nobles.
The kingdom of Bom extended during the peace of Bonija along the western shore of the Bom bay from the Tsjinrana river to the Salemek river, approximately 20 miles inland. It bordered Soping, Lamoeroe, Macassar, and Boele Boele. This kingdom was traditionally free and independent. According to their history, their first king descended from heaven. He had no name but was commonly called Matta selompo, meaning "the all-seeing."
He married a princess from the town of Toro near Bomi, who had also descended from heaven. They had one son named Laoemassa and five daughters: Pattanawanoea, Bolonglela, Tanrisal ogan, Tanairoonrong, and Wearatiga. All subsequent kings descended from them. Of their descendants born to royal princesses, only Aroe Palacca, the grandmother of the current king of Goach, and her children remain alive. This first king established the laws of peace.
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View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 9012 / 0371 On November 4, 1696, at about 10am, Isaac Navarro, a merchant in Amsterdam, made his last will and testament while sick in bed but still of sound mind. He appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe and witnesses.
He left the following legacies:
The remainder of his estate was to be divided equally between his mother Rifica Navarro and his sisters Hester Navarro and Rachel Navarro.
The will was witnessed by David Davila and Abraham Semachferro at the testator's house on the Houtgraft near the Rotterdam Bridge.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606800 / 563 In Amsterdam, on August 1, 1691, Elisabeth Haringh, widow of Cristoffel, aged about 74, appointed Abraham Imans as her legal representative due to her old age and physical weakness.
On August 6, 1691, Jan Turner the younger, who worked as a sailor on the ship Oudijck under Captain Pieter van Haer, appointed his father Jan Burnerd to collect 250 guilders from Pieter Daly, the bookkeeper in Vlissinge. This was part of a 350-guilder compensation for losing his fingers while on duty.
On August 19, 1691, Elisabeth de Bruijn, aged about 56, widow of Fredrick de Bruijn and mother of Captain Joan de Bruijn, appointed Jeronimo Nunes Dacosta to collect various sugar shipments on the island of St. Tome from Manuel da Silva da Costa and others. These collections included several written obligations from 1682 and 1683.
On August 19, 1691, Hendrick Jansz vander Sluijs, a house carpenter, and his sick wife Jannetje Bartels made their last will, naming each other as universal heirs to their possessions.
On August 20, 1691, Sander Cornelis, his wife Jannetje Pieters, and their nephew Albert Pietersz, who lived together at the sawmill outside the Uitterse gate, made their mutual testament while in good health.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 1937153 / 17 On September 1, 1785, at the office of notary Adrian Baars in Amsterdam, Mrs. Abraham Joseph Lever (a widow) appeared to authorize Salomon Eliop de Leon, who was traveling to Saint Eustatius, to act on her behalf. He was given power to collect money owed to her by Philip Benjamin and Raphael Benjamin, who lived in Saint Eustatius, according to their written records and documents. He received permission to:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 1176145 / 15 On December 15, 1746 in Fort Orange on Saint Eustatius, several merchants made sworn declarations about their trade activities. Jan Aartsen, Jan Woodhouse, Olivier de Precotien, Joseph Robles, Phillip Benjamin, and Louis Puech were present. During this meeting, Louis Puech admitted to taking a saddle to Grand-Terre for personal use. Jan Phillip Joons confessed that in October 1745, he transported 2,000 pounds of gunpowder to Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe for a Frenchman named Jean Bignon. Joseph Lindesay admitted to taking a sword belonging to a Frenchman to Guadeloupe after war was declared between England and France on June 3, 1744.
The merchants swore under oath that since the declaration of war, they had not traded any of the following contraband goods with the French colonies in America:
The document was signed by Commander Johannes Heyliger Pieterz, Jasper Ellis, Johannis Markoe, Abraham Heyliger Junior, Matthias B.l. Salomons, and Jacob Cuvilje. It was certified by interim secretary Jan Godlieb Frederic and later verified by secretary Jan de Wind on December 16, 1746.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.05.01.02 / 622 / 0884 In the period before January 25, 1747, several Dutch merchant ships were captured by English privateers in the Caribbean: The ship "Young Benjamin" owned by Philip Benjamin and Hendrik Leevij, captained by Willem Clercq, was headed to Rio de Berbichel when it was captured near Dominica by the English privateer "Aurora" under Captain Jacob Heegens. The ship and its cargo of cod, mackerel, butter, and oil were condemned by Judge Benjaminking in Antigua. The total loss amounted to 3,964 pieces of eight. Andries Ravene's ship "Carolus" under Captain Thomas Hassell, bound for Suriname, was captured just outside the harbor by the privateer "Brimstoonkill" under Captain Israel Sammersall. The ship was taken to St. Christoffel where Judge William Pin Burt condemned its cargo of 68,500 pounds of salted fish. The total loss was 6,915 pieces of eight. The schooner "Prosperity," owned by Heijliger, Doncker and Jeems, captained by Jan Jeems, was captured near Basseterre by the privateer "Dart." The ship was traveling from St. Eustatius to Barbice via Guadeloupe. Its cargo of salted meat, cod, mackerel, wine, and dry goods was condemned by Judge William Pijm Burt, resulting in a loss of 3,930 pieces of eight. Appeals were filed under bond for all three cases.
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View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606950 / 238 A series of legal declarations and testimonies took place in Amsterdam on August 9, 1691 and August 23, 1694. The documents describe various business transactions and disputes:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 2320420 / 34 On April 14, 1693, several transactions and protests were recorded by notary Dirck van der Groe in Amsterdam:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606950 / 349 On May 19, 1691, Huijbert Hoffmeester, a master cabinet maker in Amsterdam, testified that Jan Salkenburgh had worked in his shop for 3 years and completed his apprenticeship satisfactorily. On May 21, 1691, Isaack Navarro, a merchant in Amsterdam, declared he had three bills of exchange:
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606947 / 65 On July 5, 1692, notary Dick van der Groe went to merchant Cnuijdus Boermans in Amsterdam at the request of merchant Isaack Navarro to demand payment for a bill of exchange. The bill was originally issued in Hamburg on May 31, 1692 by Johan Balthasar Treijer for 450 guilders at 34¼ stuivers each. The bill was payable to Philip de Dobbeler or his order. Boermans responded that he had just seen the bill and would pay it through the cash office the next day. The notary then formally protested about the non-immediate payment and any damages or interest that might result.
The bill was endorsed on June 28, 1692 in Namburg by Philip de Dobbeler to Isaack Navarro for the value of Jacob Abbas's heirs. The document was witnessed by Gerrit van der Groe and David de Pommare.
View transcript NL-AsdSAA / 606874 / 45 On June 8, 1723, Jacob Nunes Almeijda appeared before Dirk van Veld, a legal clerk in Suriname. Though sick in bed, he was mentally sound and wanted to make his last will.
He made the following arrangements:
He made special conditions about his slaves: they could only be sold to masters they themselves chose. If the heirs did not come to Suriname, the slaves could only be sold to masters they approved of. The executor was instructed not to sell any property but to rent it out for the benefit of the heirs.
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