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On October 1, 1606, Samuel DaCosta Aberdana, a widower of Sara Gomes Cotinso, arranged to marry Simha Bilabj. The bride was accompanied by her mother Hester Bueno, who was widow of Aaron Bueno. Also present were Abraham Joseph DaCosta and Rachel Gomes Homen, the bride's aunts.

The marriage contract specified these conditions:

• The groom would contribute all his current possessions to support the marriage
• The bride's aunt Rachel Gomes Homen promised to give 2,000 guilders as dowry, which the groom acknowledged receiving
• The couple would keep their property separate
• The bride's property could not be seized for any of the groom's debts, whether existing or future
• If the groom died, the bride could reclaim her marriage property

On May 1, 1663, notary Adriaen Lock visited Samuel Gomes Coritinho, a merchant in Amsterdam, on behalf of merchant Jacob Ferro Lopes. He informed Coritinho about a business matter that occurred on November 28 of the previous year. Lopes had sold Coritinho shares worth 500 Flemish pounds in the East India Company's Amsterdam chamber at a price of 454 percent, to be delivered and paid for on May 1.

Since the delivery date had arrived, Lock informed Coritinho that the shares were ready for delivery and payment. The current market price of these shares was between 434 and 435 percent. Lock warned that if Coritinho refused or delayed payment, they would protest and seek compensation for all costs and damages.

Coritinho responded that he had until midnight to either receive the shares or name someone else to receive them, promising to give his answer the next day. This was witnessed by Cornelis and Jacobus Nel.

The following day, May 2, Lock visited Coritinho again, renewing the request for payment or permission to resell the shares at the current market price. Coritinho requested copies of the documents before giving his answer. This was witnessed by Jacobus Dirck van de Groe and Floris Wude.

On May 1, 1661, Len Ergas, widow of Manuel da Cunha (also known as David Ergas), appeared before notary Adriaen Lock in Amsterdam. She was accompanied by the notary who acted as her chosen guardian. She appointed Pieter vander Velde as her legal representative at the High Council of Holland in The Hague. Her purpose was to request official approval of a receipt issued by Samuel Gomes Cotuiiho and Sara Ergas, who were her cousin and niece. The document was witnessed by Manuel Cotu abendana and Dirck Le bruijn.

On February 20, 1688, David Fereira and his wife Hester Fereira, residents of Amsterdam, testified under oath about events concerning David Gomes Cotinso. They declared that in 1685, David Gomes Cotinso and his brother Isaac Gomes Cotinho lived with them for about a year. During this time, two heavy chests containing their mother's belongings were stored at the Fereiras' house. These chests contained:

• Linen goods
• Silk items
• Woolen items
• Other valuable items

The witnesses testified that Isaac Gomes Cotinho repeatedly came at night with a locksmith when his brother was away. He broke into the chests and took items away under his coat until both chests were empty. When confronted, Isaac admitted to stealing and selling the goods, including a Taleth (prayer shawl) which he sold to a Jewish trader for 6 ducatons, though it had originally cost 100 rijksdaalders. He also stole and sold his brother's coat to a secondhand dealer near the New Market. The witnesses saw this coat at the dealer's shop, and Isaac admitted to this theft as well.

The Fereiras witnessed Isaac going upstairs multiple times with a locksmith and coming down with items hidden under his coat. They also saw him take a woolen blanket from the chest and hide it on a bed.

On 27th 1680, Joseph Mines, a merchant in Amsterdam, appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe. Mines was the guardian of the children of Sara, who had been the wife of Samuel Gomes Cotinho. He made a statement about an inheritance from Sara Ergas, who was the widow and mother of Isaack Ergas, Sara Ergas, and Violante Ergas (wife of Abraham Belmonte).

The inheritance included a bond worth 1,600 guilders issued by the common land of Holland and West Friesland. The bond was registered at the office of Johannes Wtenbogaert, now David de Wilhem, dated June 19, 1653, and approved by the commissioned councils on September 9, 1653. The bond was registered in the name of Willem van der Does Symonsz.

In the division of Sara Ergas's estate between Mines (as guardian) and Violante Ergas, the bond was allocated to Violante. She received full rights to dispose of it as she wished. Mines declared that neither he as guardian nor Sara Ergas's children had any claim to this bond, nor would they ever make such claims.

The declaration was made in Amsterdam in the presence of witnesses Gerbrand Munnik and Gerrit van der Groe.

On May 20, 1686, Samuel Gomes Cotinho, about 40 years old and living in Amsterdam, testified before notary Dirck van der Groe. He declared that in late December 1682, he negotiated 6,000 guilders on behalf of Moses and Aron de Pinto, merchants. He had the requesters sign an obligation for Looten and Gerard, and no other names were included.

Senior Henriques, about 29 years old, also testified that he saw the obligation after it was signed and filled out, confirming that only the names of Looten and Gerard appeared on it.

On the same day, Mathias Trix, Commissioner of the city and executor of the testament of the late Mayor Louis Trep, appointed Pieter Rosmalen of Middelburgh in Zeeland to collect 12.5 percent dividend from the East India Company's Chamber of Zeeland. This was for 1,000 pounds Flemish capital shares registered in the late Louis Trep's name.

Witnesses present were Jacob van der Groe and Gerard Munnijck.

• Payment should only be made to Cotinso
• Any payment made to others would not be considered valid
• Legal action would be taken if payment terms were not followed

On November 1, 1686, Samuel Gomes Cotinho, a 40-year-old resident of Amsterdam, appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe. He made a declaration at the request of Antonio Gabriel Nunes, confirming his previous statement from May 13 of that year, which he had sworn before the city's burgomasters. He testified that several days before the bankruptcy of Carel and Hendrick Gerards, he had visited Carel Gerards multiple times to request money needed to pay for surplus shares in the East India Company. During these visits, after persistent requests for money, Carel Gerards told him about obligations (debt documents) owed by Antonio Gabriel Nunes. Gerards showed two papers which he claimed were these obligations. When Cotinho examined one of them, he found it was indeed a 5,000-guilder obligation previously mentioned in his earlier statement. Both obligations remained with Carel Gerards since Cotinho could not use them for negotiations. The statement was witnessed by Jacobus van der Groe and Gerbrand Munnick.

On March 24, 1686, Samuel Gomes Cotinho, around 40 years old and living in this city (Amsterdam), appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe. He testified at the request of merchant Antonio Alvares Machado that in early February 1684, he had negotiated a sum of 3,000 guilders on behalf of the requestor with Looten and Gerard. The requestor would have this money on deposit from Looten and Gerard. A promissory note dated February 7, 1684 was filled out for the benefit of Looten and Gerard. The witness had the requestor sign this note and then delivered it to them. The name of Isaack Gerards was not mentioned in this note. This was witnessed by Jacobus van der Groe and Gerbrand Munnick.

On February 9, 1674, Judica Ergas, widow of Abraham Ergas (also known as le bastan Jorge), appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe in Amsterdam. With the notary acting as her chosen guardian, she appointed Samuel Gomes Cotinho, also living in Amsterdam, as her legal representative. He was given power to:

• Handle all her current and future legal cases, both for and against her
• Appear before the commissioners of small claims court in the city and all other courts
• Act on her behalf in all legal matters
• Execute or have executed all judgments and sentences
• Take any legal actions she could have taken if present herself

The document was witnessed by Christiaen Land and signed in the presence of the notary Dirck van der Groe.

On October 20, 1682, Abraham La Maire (about 50 years old) and David de Mesn (about 30 years old), both residents of this city, appeared before notary Dirck van der Groe. They testified, at the request of Abraham Belmonte, about business dealings that had occurred in January of that year. They stated that Samuel Gomer Cotinho (alias Laconr) and Jacob de Chaves had traded several East India Company shares together, both fixed and optional trades, at the beginning of January.

The witnesses recalled that about three weeks after January 1, they had seen these traders at the Dam discussing a disputed share transaction. The price of East India Company shares had decreased after January 1.

Additionally, Isaac van Jacob Belmonte (about 32 years old) testified that in January, he had bought 500 pounds of East India Company shares from Jacob de Chaves at a price of 411¼ percent in cash. He had assigned these shares to Jeremias and Marco Aurelio Delborgo in the presence of Nefemias. When Delborgo later came to claim the shares, de Chaves refused to deliver them and denied ever selling them to Belmonte.

The document was witnessed by Jacobus van der Groe and Henricus de Bruijn.

On January 29, 1682, Samuel Gomes Cotinho, a resident of this city, appeared before notary Dirck vander Groe. He explained that Authonij Gabriel Jannes, a merchant, had signed a contract on August 7, 1684 agreeing to deliver 2,000 shares of the East India Company at the Amsterdam chamber to Isaack de Lespaua on October 1 of that year.

When the delivery time expired and the shares weren't delivered, Jannes had to settle with Jacob de Chaves the Younger on December 7, 1685. The price difference was 29.75%, resulting in a bank money debt of 3,570 guilders.

To settle this debt:

• 2,000 guilders were paid on December 13 through Isaack de Lespaul to de Chaves
• 1,200 guilders were paid on January 2 to de Chaves
• The remainder was still to be paid

Gomes Cotinho acknowledged the debt of 3,570 bank guilders to Gabriel Jannes and promised to pay it with 4% annual interest. He pledged all his current and future possessions as security. The document was witnessed by Jacob Van der Groe and Jacob de Clercq.

On October 7, 1684, notary Dirck van der Groe went to the house of Joseph Kerbij in Amsterdam on behalf of merchant David Pmreiro de Mesquita. Since Kerbij wasn't home, he spoke to the maid. The message concerned Samuel Gomes Cotinho, who had bought 500 pounds worth of East India Company shares through Abraham Pessoa on August 2 at 455¼ percent to be paid in cash that month.

Despite multiple requests for delivery of these shares, payment had been delayed repeatedly. The notary demanded immediate delivery of the 500 pounds worth of East India Company shares, with Mesquita ready to pay the agreed price. If delivery was further delayed, they would protest against the share price and claim all costs and damages.

The maid said she would pass on the message when her master returned home. This was witnessed by Jacob de Clercq and Svert de Marre. On November 27, the notary returned with the witnesses to speak with Joseph Kerbij directly, repeating the same demands. Kerbij responded that he heard and saw the message and requested a copy.

On February 13, 1676, Jeronimo Velters, Secretary of the city of Amsterdam, made a legal complaint about a business deal. The day before, he had bought 500 Flemish pounds worth of shares in the East India Company's chamber in Amsterdam from Josep de Medina through Aron Gabbaij Faro. The price was set at 442½ percent, to be delivered on May 1.

Several witnesses, including Aaron Gabbay Faro and Samuel Gomes Cotinho, testified that they were present at the Dam square when Velters asked Medina if he still agreed to the sale of the shares. According to the witnesses, Medina initially confirmed the deal.

However, when officially confronted by a notary (A. Lock) about the transaction and asked to transfer the shares according to the law, Medina denied having sold the shares at all. This denial was witnessed by Dirck Touw and Pieter van Lodesteijn.

On 30 unknown year, several people appeared before Jan Barels, a public notary in Amsterdam. They were:

• Gerrit Paats, Barent Paats, Daniel Paats, and Nicolaas Paats, who were each entitled to one-sixth inheritance share of their late father Hendrik Paats, who had been a printer
• Deliana Rimans, widow of Pieter Paats
• Casparus Paats, an adult unmarried man, son of Pieter Paats and Deliana Rimans from their marriage, also entitled to a one-sixth share

Some of these people lived in Edam and Deudecom in Gelderland, while others lived in the city (Amsterdam). Pieter Paats had previously been married to Hendrik Kruijs before marrying Deliana Rimans.

On February 12, 1688, a legal document was created in Amsterdam describing a land sale. Sr. Ronquerdo sold land to Jacob de Matos and David Baruch d'Avilar through broker Josep. The property, called 'de Herderin', was located near Nichtevecht and Vreeland in the region of Utrecht.

The land was previously owned by Jan Michiel Cool and then possessed by four priests from St. Jan's in Utrecht. Willem Jansz Sardam had bought it from them. The sale included equipment for rope-making and a special permit from the States of Utrecht for whale processing.

The selling price was 750 guilders in cash. The buyers had to pay all costs related to the transfer of ownership. A special condition was included because Jacob de Matos had not seen the property - he could inspect it first and cancel the deal if he was not satisfied.

The agreement refers to an earlier contract from January 26, 1682 made before notary Arnout Eeshuijl. The document was witnessed by Jacobus van der Groe and Henricus de Bruijm, and recorded by notary Dirk van der Groe.

On August 21, 1668, Aron Dagiular (aged around 42) and Jacob Gomes Salzedo (aged around 40), both living in Amsterdam, gave testimony about a wool trade dispute. According to Dagiular, on Friday, August 6, Jan Simonsz, master servant of the orphanage in Enkhuizen, came looking for loose Spanish wool. They went to see Isaack Pinhero, who showed them some wool that Simonsz liked.

They then went to broker Aron Quirido to negotiate the price. After agreeing on a price, Quirido gave Pinhero a token payment. However, Quirido then said Simonsz needed 3-4 months to pay. Pinhero refused, saying he needed immediate payment to pay his own debts. After several discussions, Quirido returned the token payment and asked for time until Monday to decide. Pinhero agreed to give him until Monday noon.

Jacob Gomes Salzedo testified that on August 9 around 2 PM, he was with Pinhero when they passed Quirido near his house. Pinhero told Quirido that Simonsz hadn't come to confirm the wool purchase, and that he now had the opportunity to sell it to others. Quirido responded by saying "In God's name, sell the wool to someone else" or words to that effect.

Since Salzedo didn't speak Dutch well, Jacob Gamies Dorta, who spoke both Portuguese and Dutch, translated his testimony.

In 1723, Abraham Moses Raphael de Aguilar was appointed guardian over his underage children. His daughter Sara Aguilar was married to Eljasiph Netanel Sargatin, and Ester Aguilar was married to Ishaak Rodriques Pereira. Another son, Moses Raphael de Aguilar, lived in Jamaica.

Financial records show various income sources, including:

• Rent received from Aron Querido
• Payment for copper goods and wood
• Rent for tobacco storage
• Cellar rent
• Rent payments from David de Palma

Expenses included payments to:

• Samuel Correa for cloth
• Doctor Mera
• Samuel Pretto Henriquer the grocer
• Various craftsmen including masons, metalworkers, and notaries
• One year of boarding costs for Ester de Aguilar

The administration continued into 1724, with additional rent collections and payments recorded in January and May of that year.

On June 9, 1660, several men appeared before notary Adriaen Lot in Amsterdam. Jacob Marcusz, aged about 45, and Davis Aguilar, aged about 30, both residents of this city, testified under oath at the request of Preavid Del Soto.

They declared that the bond of 1000 guilders that was issued some years ago in favor of Abraham Marcques, for which Joseph de Lesrios and Isaac Delmonte stood as guarantors, was never of any value. Abraham Marcques never received any money from it. Instead, the bond was issued as a gift in exchange for Abraham Marcques arranging for the requester to serve as a broker in place of Manuel de Campos (the brother of Abraham Marcques) who had left for Brazil.

However, this arrangement never took effect because Abraham Marcques later transferred the broker's position to Aron Guurido, who gave him some money in return. The witnesses confirmed they were present when these events occurred and heard this directly from Abraham Marcques.

The document was witnessed by Baltes Ghisbertsz and Cornelis Croock.

On an unspecified date in Amsterdam, several transactions and financial arrangements were recorded regarding the inheritance from Jacob Delmonte. The document lists various bonds, shares in the East India Company, and cash that were to be distributed to family members.

The total value of the assets was 79,212 florins and 10 stuivers, consisting of various financial instruments including:

• Several promissory notes (including 10,112 florins owed to Abraham Jesurum)
• East India Company obligations at the Middelburg chamber worth 10,000 florins
• Bank money secured against East India Company shares
• An obligation of 2,500 florins owed by Willem vanden Kerckhove
• A city bond from Embden worth 3,000 florins
• 10,000 florins in cash

The money was to be distributed to various female relatives upon their marriages:

• Graham Aguilar's three daughters (Rachel, Gratia, and Sunha) were to receive 1,100 florins each
• Samuel Rosa's three daughters (Judith, Benvenida, and Lea) were to receive 600 florins each
• David Delsots' three daughters (Rachel, Gratia, and Clara) were to receive 8,000 florins each
• Sara Delies was to receive 12,000 florins if she married Isaak delos Rios, or 10,000 if she married someone else
• Isaak da Hilva's daughters Robecca and Hester were to receive 6,000 florins each, while his daughter Rachael was to receive 8,000 florins

On November 18, 1613, Godigo Alvares, a Portuguese resident of Amsterdam, appeared as representative for Simon d'Olivera d'Agiar through a power of attorney dated August 14 of that year. He acknowledged receiving from Pieter Backelarot all goods that belonged to Simon d'Olivera, which consisted of 4 small barrels and a package of household items. From these goods, Backelarot had paid Jan Bosschaert, a merchant from Haarlem, the sum of 1,180 guilders that was owed to him by Simon d'Olivera. Godigo Alvares declared to be satisfied with this payment as if he had received all the goods himself and made the payment personally. He promised not to make any further claims against Pieter Backelarot regarding these goods, either directly or indirectly, in court or otherwise. This was witnessed by Steven Rasede and others in Amsterdam.

On July 6, Diego Fernandes (age 33) and Simon Alvares de Castro (age 20), Portuguese merchants living in Amsterdam, sailed from La Bahia in Brazil on a ship called Notre Dame de la Conception, captained by Gaspar Luis. Near the 43rd degree latitude, on a Friday in late July, they spotted what appeared to be a French pirate ship. They tried to escape but couldn't due to the bright moonlight.

The pirate ship caught up with them by Saturday evening. When asked where they were from, they replied "Terra Nova". The pirate captain, who called himself Srin, demanded they lower their sails. When they refused, he fired cannons and threw fire weapons at them. After fighting for about 2 hours, they surrendered because:

• The pirates had over 50 men and more artillery
• Their own ship was heavily loaded while the pirate ship carried only ballast
• They only had 15 people including boys
• Two of their crew were dead and others badly wounded
• Their helmsman had lost his thumb in the fight

The pirates took them to St. Martin near La Rochelle, where Srin lived. The crew was held below deck for 4 days without being allowed to speak to anyone or go ashore. Then Srin hired a small boat to take them to Laredo in Biscay, except for two boys. Captain Luis and three wounded crew members stayed in the hospital at Laredo. The rest walked to Viana in Portugal, begging for food since everything had been taken from them. This testimony was given in Amsterdam on March 22, 1617.

• Abraham Aboaf sold 5 boxes of sugar to Commissioner van Houte
• Ioan Fernando Viera traded 49 boxes of sugar with Commissioner van Houte
• Bartholomeus Hijs Salmed sold 6 boxes of sugar
• Janid Jories and company sold 4 boxes of sugar
• Joseph Abemaca traded linen and later provided meat and flour for the Company
• Abraham Querido sold 1841 boxes of oil to Commissioner Sweerts
• Benjamin de Pium traded 10 boxes of sugar with Commissioner Goterts
• Marten Meijndertsen vander Hart sold copper plates to Commissioner Knibbe
• Goedefrid van Wessem sold Osnaburg linen to Commissioner Knibbe
• Doenraet Jansen Macquenij traded sugar through Jan Blaer and provided flour to the Company
• Cardin Estienne sold linen to Commissioner Knibbe
• Michiel Rodrigus Mendes and Benjamin de Bina both supplied meat and flour to the Company
• Jacob Jacobse Blijenbergh received payment for costs and loans related to the safeguard of the sugar mill
• Marc de Rasure sold 7 boxes of sugar in Paraiba to Commissioner P. van Hecke
• Jacob Soeth traded French linen with Commissioner Knibbe

• Two silver spoons had disappeared while Sara worked there
• She suspected Sara of stealing them
• The other servant, Engeltgen Simons, was trustworthy