1735 Company Slaves
One night in 1735, several runaway Company slaves, who had been hiding for several months on Table Mountain, stole sheep from various farms and corrals in and around Cape Town. It is not clear whether they all belonged to the same group, but some were spotted by a slave shepherd and a knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ at one of the corrals and they were all captured by the ratelwacht, the night watch that guarded the town.
Table Mountain was a well-known refuge for runaway slaves throughout the eighteenth century.1 This case shows some of the ways in which they tried to obtain food in the town, and also the dangers they faced from the town militia, as well as slaves and knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ stationed on the properties they raided.
The court records for this case contain eight testimonies by all of those involved. Since they are all rather repetitive, we print four here: those of two of the accused, the Company-owned slaves Claas van de Caab and Kinsa van Madagascar, and those of the knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’, Jan Plat, and Januarij van Madagascar, a slave shepherd.2
Footnotes
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See Ross 1983: 57-8 and Worden 1998/9: 86-7. For other examples in this volume, see 1737 Aron van Madagascar; 1755 Januarij van Bougies; 1760 Achilles van de West Cust et al.; 1786 Job van Madagascar et al. ↩
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Kinsa van Madagascar was caught earlier and was sentenced on 4 November 1734 to be publicly whipped and branded and to work in chains on the Company works for twenty years, CJ 16, ff. 60-1 (his testimony was copied for the court in the later case, CJ 339, ff. 187-88). Claas was convicted together with his fellow slaves, Valentijn van de Caab, Marre de klijne van Madagasacar and David van de Caab, all of them Company-owned slaves. The first three were sentenced to be publicly whipped, branded and to work in chains for ten years, while David received a whipping and five years’ work in chains, CJ 17, ff. 44-5. The eijscheijschLiterally ‘claim’ or ‘demand.’ This is strictly speaking the eijsch ende conclusie without the final part about sentencing, but the term is often used as a shorthand for the whole document. and testimonies from all of them are given in CJ 339, ff. 166-80 and testimonies were also collected from the soldiers Jan Plat and Hendrik Mels and from Januarij van Madagascar, ff. 181-86. ↩
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 177-78.
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, Claas van de Caab, slave of the honourable Company, 24 years old at a guess, who, on the requisition of the honourable independent fiscal, Meester Daniel van den Henghel, confesses it to be true:
That the confessant, having been a runaway for about two months, came to the Cape during the night of last Saturday, the 7th of this current month May, together with a fellow slave of the honourable Company, named Cupido, who had run away long before him. And, after having bought bread and salted herring for a dubbeltje1, the aforesaid Cupido, with whom he had decided to go and steal a sheep from the corral of the former burgher councillor, Jan de With, went ahead to that place, while he followed him shortly thereafter and met up with this jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour., Cupido, behind the garden of the burgher Jan Heijns. They then went together to the garden and stood in front of the corral of the aforementioned Jan de With, which corral the said Cupido entered by jumping over the wall and, having grabbed and tied up a sheep there, Cupido threw that sheep over the wall to him, after which Cupido, at the opposite side of the corral, jumped over the wall to the outside. While the confessant was picking up that sheep in order to carry it away, he heard a noise and saw some jongensjongensLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. appearing, on account of which he yet again lay down that sheep onto the ground, after which he ran away; however, he was immediately thereafter taken prisoner by the slaves of the aforesaid Jan de With.
Thus confessed at the Cape of Good Hope on 16 May 1735.
This X is the mark of the slave Claas.
As delegates, [signed] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
In my presence, [signed] J. de Grandpreez, secretary.
Verification
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, the slave Claas van de Caab, who, after this, his given confession, was read out word by word, clearly and plainly, declares to fully persist by it, therefore not desiring that anything more should be added to or taken from it.
Thus verified at the Cape of Good Hope on 17 May 1735.
This X is the mark of Claas van de Caab.
As delegates, [signed] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
In my presence, [signed] J. de Grandpreez, secretary.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 181-82.
Today, 13 May 1735, there appears before me, Josephus de Grandpreez, secretary of the honourable Council of Justice of the Castle of Good Hope, in the presence of the witnesses named below, the soldier Jan Plat, of competent age, assigned as knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ to the former burgher councillor, Sieur Jan de Wit, and who lives in the same’s garden, who, on the requisition of the honourable independent fiscal, Meester Daniel van den Henghel, declares it to be the genuine truth:
That at 2 o’clock during the night of last Saturday, which was the 7th of this current month May, the deponent was roused by the shepherd of the aforesaid Jan de Wit [sic], named Januarij, who came to tell him that a black jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. had just jumped over the wall into the corral, took a sheep out of the flock there, and tied the same by its feet, and that he then threw that sheep out of the corral to another black jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. standing there. Upon receiving this report, the deponent at once went outside with some slaves, which is when these two black jongensjongensLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour., seeing the deponent coming towards them, put the stolen sheep down on the ground and took flight. However, one of them was immediately caught by the slaves of the aforementioned Jan de Wit, which captured slave, the deponent, when he took him to prison the following morning, heard being called “Claas” by the honourable Company’s slaves, and also that the same was one of the bondsmen of the honourable Company.
There being nothing further to declare, the deponent asserts to be convinced of the accuracy of his deposition as in the text, and offers, if so required, to subsequently confirm it with solemn oaths.
Thus recorded at the office of the Secretary of Justice of the Cape of Good Hope, in the presence of the clerks Joachim Nicolaus van Dessin and Frans Augustus Haaks, as witnesses.
This X is the mark of the soldier, Jan Plat.
As witnesses, [signed] J. N. van Dessin, Frs. As. Haaks.
With my cognisance, [signed] Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
Verification
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, the soldier Jan Plat, who, after this, his given deposition, was read out word by word, clearly and plainly, declares to fully persist by it, therefore not desiring that anything more should be added to or taken from it, and consequently – in the presence of the honourable Company’s slave, Claas, being the same one who was taken prisoner by the slaves of his baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans. Jan de Wit – said as confirmation of the truth of this, the solemn words: Verily so, help me God Almighty.
Thus verified and sworn at the Cape of Good Hope on 16 May 1735.
This X is the mark of Jan Plat.
As delegates, [signed] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
In my presence, [signed] Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 183-84.
Today, 13 May 1735, there appears before me, Josephus de Grandpreez, secretary of the honourable Council of Justice of the Castle of Good Hope, in the presence of the witnesses named below, Januarij van Madagascar, of competent age, slave of the former burgher councillor, Sieur Jan de Wit, and assigned as shepherd in the garden of his owner, who, on the requisition of the honourable independent fiscal, Meester Daniel van den Henghel, declares it to be the genuine truth:
That last Saturday, at 2 o’clock in the night, the deponent, lying awake in the corral, saw jumping into it over its wall a black jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. who immediately took a sheep from the flock, tied up its legs and then threw it over the wall to another black jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. standing by it, after which this black jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. also jumped over the wall. Which is when he, the deponent, who up to then had been keeping silent out of fear, went to warn the knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ of his sinjeursinjeurIt is uncertain whether sinjeur came into colonial Dutch from French seigneur or Creole Portuguese sinjoor (both from Latin, senior, ‘older’). The word was commonly used by slaves at the Cape to address European males but was also the official title for lower-ranking VOC officials. The word lived on in Afrikaans in the form of seur until the early twentieth century but is now obsolete., who thereupon instantly came outside, accompanied by some slaves. And when these two aforementioned black jongensjongensLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. saw him coming towards them, they put down the stolen sheep on the ground and took flight. However, one of these was immediately caught by the slaves of his sinjeursinjeurIt is uncertain whether sinjeur came into colonial Dutch from French seigneur or Creole Portuguese sinjoor (both from Latin, senior, ‘older’). The word was commonly used by slaves at the Cape to address European males but was also the official title for lower-ranking VOC officials. The word lived on in Afrikaans in the form of seur until the early twentieth century but is now obsolete., and taken to the prison the following morning.
There being nothing further to declare, the deponent asserts to be convinced of the accuracy of his statement as in the text, and offers, if so required, to subsequently confirm his deposition.
Thus recorded at the office of the Secretary of Justice of the Cape of Good Hope, in the presence of the clerks, Joachim Nicolaus van Dessin and Frans Augustus Haaks, as witnesses.
This X is the mark of the slave Januarij.
As witnesses, [signed] J. N. van Dessin, Frs. As. Haaks.
With my cognisance, [signed] Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
Verification
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, the slave Januarij, who, after this, his given deposition, was read out word by word, clearly and plainly, declares to fully persist by it, therefore not desiring that anything more should be added to or taken from it; and declares all of the above to be the full truth, in the presence of the honourable Company’s slave, named Claas, whom he, the deponent, declares to be the same person who was taken prisoner by the slaves of his sinjeursinjeurIt is uncertain whether sinjeur came into colonial Dutch from French seigneur or Creole Portuguese sinjoor (both from Latin, senior, ‘older’). The word was commonly used by slaves at the Cape to address European males but was also the official title for lower-ranking VOC officials. The word lived on in Afrikaans in the form of seur until the early twentieth century but is now obsolete..
Thus verified at the Cape of Good Hope on 16 May 1735.
This X is the mark of the slave Januarij.
As delegates, [signed] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
In my presence, [signed] Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 187-88.
Copy:
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, Kinsa van Madagascar, slave of the honourable Company, 33 years old at a guess, who, on the requisition of the honourable independent fiscal, Meester Daniel van den Henghel, confesses it to be true:
That the confessant, now about three months ago, had run away and then stayed on the mountain above the honourable Company’s schuur2 in the company of 11 other slaves of the honourable Company and a meijdmeijdLiterally ‘girl.’ This word developed among the same lines as jongen, the word coming to mean ‘female slave.’ However, its trajectory diverged from that of jongen in that it eventually was used more widely to refer to indigenous women, so that meid still survives in modern Afrikaans as a pejorative term for women of colour. As with jongen, the word was no longer available to refer to European girls, but instead of the difference between girl and daughter disappearing, the diminutive form, meijsje (Afrikaans, meisie), came to be used for ‘girl.’, named Lea van Madagascar, which is where they maintained themselves and obtained food by chopping wood and afterwards going to sell it.
That last Wednesday night at 11 o’clock the confessant, together with a fellow slave of the honourable Company, named Valentijn, who was previously assigned to the stables, came here to the Cape, when the aforesaid Valentijn jumped into the corral of the widow of Servaas de Kok, from which he took two sheep and gave them to him; with which they, each carrying one, went through the Cape3 in order to take these two sheep to their hiding place, being met between the house of the burgher Tielman and the houses of the honourable Company by the ratelwacht4 who took the confessant prisoner; while the slave Valentijn took flight, though leaving the sheep that he was carrying behind.
Thus confessed at the Cape of Good Hope on the first of November 1734.
(was signed) X (and written around it) This is the mark of Kinsa.
(lower down) In my presence, (is signed) Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
(in the margin) As delegates, (and signed) H. Swellengrebel and R. Tulbagh.
Verification
There appears before us, the undersigned delegates from the honourable Council of Justice of this government, the slave Kinsa, who, after this, his given confession, was read out word by word, clearly and plainly, declares to fully persist by it, therefore not desiring that anything more should be added to or taken from it.
(underneath it says) Thus verified at the Cape of Good Hope on 2 November 1734.
(was signed) X (and written around it) This is the mark of Kinsa.
(lower down) In my presence, (is signed) Js. de Grandpreez, secretary.
(in the margin) As delegates (and signed) H. Swellengrebel en R. Tulbagh.
Approved, [signed] Js. de Grandpreez.
Footnotes
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That is, two stuijversstuijversAt the Cape and in the Dutch East Indies (where money was devalued due to a shortage of specie), one guilder (gulden) contained 16 stuijvers (as opposed to the usual 20). Two stuijvers made one dubbeltje.. ↩
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See 1739 Jurgen Scholts et al., n. 5 on this. ↩
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In this context, ‘de Caab’ refers to Cape Town. ↩
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For a discussion of this, see 1738 Pieter Coridon, n. 2. ↩
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelachtbare Raad van Justitie deeses gouvernements, Claas van de Caab, slaaf der edele Compagnie, oud naar gissing 24 jaaren, dewelke, ter requisitie van den heer Independent Fiscaal, meester Daniel van den Henghel, confesseerde hoe waar is:
Dat hij confessant omtrent twee maande gedrost hebbende, verleden Saterdag, sijnde geweest den sevende deeser loopende maand Maij, nevens den meede slaaf der edele Compagnie, Cupido genaamt, welke al lang voor hem confessant is weggeloopen, des nagts hier aan de Caab sijn gekomen en naar voor een dubbeltje brood en pekelharing te hebben gecogt, is voorseijde Cupido, met wien beslooten hadden een schaap uijt de craal van den oud burgerraad Jan de With te gaan steelen, vooruijt daar na toe gegaan, en hij confessant hem kort daarop volgende, heeft hij confessant dien jonge Cupido ontmoet agter de thuijn van den burger Jan Heijns, gaande vervolgens tesaemen naar de thuijn en voor de crael van voorseijde Jan de With staan, in welke craal eeven genoemde Cupido over de muur is gesprongen, en daar een schaep genomen en gebonden hebbende, heeft hij Cupido dat schaep aan hem confessant over de muur gegooijt, waar naar hij Cupido aan de andere kant van de craal over de muur is buijten gesprongen. So als hij confessant dat schaep opnam om ’t weg te dragen, hoorde hij confessant gerug en sag eenige jongens voor den dag komen, waar om hij confessant dat schaep weeder op de grond neer leijde en vervolgens weg liep, werdende egter immediaat daarop door de slaven van voorseijde Jan de With gevangen genomen.
Aldus geconfesseert aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 16e Maij 1735.
Dit X is ’t merk van den slaaf Claas.
Recollement
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelachtbare Raad van Justitie deeses gouvernements, den slaaf Claas van de Caab, dewelke deese, sijne gegevene confessie, van woord tot woord klaar en duijdelijk voorgeleesen sijnde, verclaarde daarbij volkomen te persisteeren, niet begeerende oversulx datter iets meer bijgevoegt ofte van gedaan werden sal.
Aldus gerecolleert aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 17e Maij 1735.
Dit X is ’t merk van Claas van de Caab.
Als gecommitteerdens, [get.] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
Mij present, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 181-82.
Huijden, den 13e Maij 1735, compareerde voor mij, Josephus de Grandpreez, secretaris van den edelagtbare Raad van Justitie des Casteels de Goede Hoop, ter presentie van de naar te noemene getuijgen, den soldaat Jan Plat, als knegt bij den oud burgerraad, sieur Jan de Wit, beschijden en in desselfs thuijn woonende, van competenten ouderdom, dewelke, ter requisitie van den heer Independent Fiscaal, meester Daniel van den Henghel, verclaarde de waaragtige waarhijd te sijn:
Dat hij comparant voorleeden Saturdag, sijnde geweest den 7e deeser loopende maand Maij, des nagts om twee uuren is wacker gemaakt door den schaapwagter van voornoemde Jan de Wit, Januarij genaamt, welke hem deposant quam seggen, dat soo aanstonds een swarte jongen over de muur in de kraal was gesprongen, daar uijt de troep een schaap had genoomen, en ’tselve bij de pooten vastgemaakt hebbende, dat schaap vervolgens buijten de kraal aan een ander daarbij staande swarte jongen overgegooijt had. Op welk bekoomen berigt hij comparant met eenige slaaven ten eersten naar buijten is gegaan, wanneer die twee swarte jongens, hem comparant siende aankoomen, ’t gestoolene schaap op de grond hebben neergelegt en de vlugt gekoosen, sijnde egter een van deselve ten eersten door de slaaven van boovengemelde Jan de Wit gekreegen, welke gekregene slaaf hij comparant des anderen daags ’s morgens, wanneer naar de tronk wierd gebragt, door ’s edele Compagnies slaaven heeft hooren noemen, Claas, en dat denselven meede een van ’s edele Compagnies lijfeijgenen was.
Anders niet verclaarende, geeft den comparant voor reedenen van weetenschap als in de text, met presentatie sijn gedeposeerde, des vereijscht werdende, met solemneele eede nader te sullen bekragten.
Dat aldus passeerde ter justitieele secretarije van Cabo de Goede Hoop, ten overstaan van de clerquen Joachim Nicolaus van Dessin en Frans Augustus Haaks, als getuijgen.
Dit X is ’t merk van den soldaat Jan Plat.
Als getuijgen, [get.] J. N. van Dessin, Frs. As. Haaks.
In kennisse van mij, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
Recollement
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelachtbare Raad van Justitie deeses gouvernements, den soldaat Jan Plat, dewelke deese sijne gegevene depositie, van woord tot woord klaar en duijdelijk voorgeleesen sijnde, verclaarde daar bij volkomen te persisteeren, niet begeerende oversulx datter iets meer bijgevoegt ofte van gedaan werden sal, en sprak derhalven tot bekragtiging der waarheijd van dien, in ’t bijweesen van ’s edele Compagnies slaaf Claas, sijnde deselve welke door de slaven van sijn baas Jan de Wit is gevangen genomen, de solemneele woorden: So waarlijk, help mij, God almagtig.
Aldus gerecolleert ende beëedigt aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 16e Maij 1735.
Dit X is ’t merk van Jan Plat.
Als gecommitteerdens, [get.] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
Mij present, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 183-84.
Huijden, den 13e Maij 1735, compareerde voor mij, Josephus de Grandpreez, secretaris van den edelagtbare Raad van Justitie des Casteels de Goede Hoop, ter presentie van de naar te noemene getuijgen, Januarij van Madagascar, slaaf van den oud burgerraad Jan de Wit, en in sijn lijfheers thuijn als schapewagter beschijden, van competenten ouderdom, dewelke, ter requisitie van den heer Independent Fiscaal, meester Daniel van den Henghel, verclaarde de waaragtige waarhijd te sijn:
Dat hij deposant voorleeden Saturdag, des nagts om twee uuren in de kraal wacker leggende, over dies muur daarin heeft sien springen een swarte jongen, welke ten eersten een schaap uijt de troep nam, dies pooten vast maakte en vervolgens over de muur aan een ander daarbij staande swarte jongen overgooijde, naar ’t welke dien swarte jongen meede over de muur sprong, wanneer hij comparant, die tot nu toe uijt vrees gesweegen hadde, de knegt van sijn sinjeur is gaan waarschouwen, die daarop ten eersten, met eenige slaaven verselt, buijten quam en, soo als die twee voormelde swarte jongens hem sagen aankoomen, lijdeden [sic] sij ’t gestoolene schaap op de grond neer en koosen de vlugt, sijnde egter een van deselve ten eersten door de slaaven van sijn sinjeur gekreegen en des anderen daags ’s morgens naar de tronk gebragt.
Anders niet verclaarende, geeft den comparant voor reedenen van weetenschap als in den text, met presentatie sijn gedeposeerde, des vereijscht werdende, nader te sullen gestand doen.
Dat aldus passeerde ter justitieele secretarije van Cabo de Goede Hoop, ten overstaan van de clerquen Joachim Nicolaus van Dessin en Frans Augustus Haaks, als getuijgen.
Dit X is ’t merk van den slaaf Januarij.
Als getuijgen, [get.] J. N. van Dessin, Frs. As. Haaks.
In kennisse van mij, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
Recollement
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelachtbare Raad van Justitie deeses gouvernements, den slaaf Januarij, dewelke deese, sijne gegevene depositie, van woord tot woord klaar en duijdelijk voor geleesen sijnde, verclaarde daarbij volkomen te persisteeren, niet begeerende oversulx datter iets meer bijgevoegt ofte van gedaan werden sal, en betuijgde in ’t bijweesen van ’s edele Compagnies slaaf, Claas genaamt, die hij comparant betuijgt deselve persoon te sijn, welke door de slaven van sijn sinjeur is gevangen genomen, alle ’t bovenstaande de suijvere waarheijd te sijn.
Aldus gerecolleert aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 16e Maij 1735.
Dit X is ’t merk van den slaaf Januarij.
Als gecommitteerdens, [get.] H. Swellengrebel, R. Tulbagh.
Mij present, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
CJ 339 Criminele Process Stukken, 1735, ff. 187-88.
Copia:
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelagtbare Raad van Jusititie deeses gouvernements, Kinsa van Madagascar, slaaf der edele Compagnie, oud naar gissing 33 jaaren, dewelke, ter requisitie van d’ heer Independent Fiscaal, meester Daniel van den Henghel, confesseerde hoe waar is:
Dat hij confessant nu omtrent 3 maanden geleeden is weggeloopen, en zig vervolgens heeft opgehouden, op ’t gebergte booven ’s edele Compagnies schuur in geselschap van nog elf slaaven der edele Compagnie en een meijd, genaamt Lea van Madagascar, alwaar zijlieden zig erneeren en aan de cost koomen met hout te kappen, en vervolgens te gaan vercoopen.
Dat voorleeden Woensdag nagt om elf uuren, hij confessant neevens den meede slaaf der edele Compagnie, Vallentijn [sic] genaamt, voor deesen in de stal bescheijden, hier aan de Caab zijnde gekoomen, voorseijde Valentijn is gesprongen in de craal van de weduwe Servaas de Kok, waaruijt hij twee schaapen weg nam en hem confessant overgaf, waar meede zijlieden, ider een draagende, langs de Caab zijn gegaen om die twee schaapen naar haar schuijlhoek te draagen, werdende tusschen ’t huijs van den burger Thilman en ’s edele Compagnies wooninge door de ratelswagt ontmoet, welke hem confessant gevangen hebben genoomen, hebbende den slaaf Valentijn, met agterlating van ’t schaap dat hij droeg, de vlugt genoomen.
Aldus geconfesseert aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den eersten November 1734.
(was geteekend) X (en daeromme geschreven) Dit is ’t merk van Kinsa.
(lager) Mij present, (is geteekent) Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
(in margine) Als gecommitteerdens, (en geteekent) H. Swellengrebel en R. Tulbagh.
Recollement
Compareerde voor ons, ondergetekende gecommitteerdens uijt den edelagtbare Raad van Justitie deeses gouvernement, den slaaf Kinsa, welke deese, sijne gegeevene confessie, van woord tot woord klaar en duijdelijk voorgeleesen zijnde, verclaarde daar bij volkoomen te persisteeren, niet begeerende oversulx datter iets meer bijgevoegt ofte van gedaan werden sal.
(onder stond) Aldus gerecolleert aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 2e November 1734.
(was geteekent) X (en daaromme geschreven) Dit is ’t merk van Kinsa.
(lager) Mij present, (is geteekent) Js. de Grandpreez, secretaris.
(in margine) Als gecommitteerdens, (en geteekent) H. Swellengrebel en R. Tulbagh.
Accodeert, [get.] Js. de Grandpreez.