Inserwole van Madagascar
M, #15176, b. before 1671
| Last Edited | 15/12/2014 |
| Birth* | Inserwole van Madagascar was born before 1671 in Madagascar.1 |
| Occupation* | In 1699 Inserwole van Madagascar was tolk (interpreter.) |
| (Witness) LtrsDesp1695_1708 | On 29 April 1699 Inserwole van Madagascar was mentioned in Letters Despatched 1696-1708 to the authorities in: No. 25, p. 239. To Batavia.] [29th April, 1699] “Ships affairs. This vessel (“Tamboer”) having been thoroughly repaired, is, according to your orders, sent back, via Madagascar, to inquire after the “Ridderschap” and the pirates said to be there. As interpreter we have placed on board a Malagasy slave named Inserwole, baptized here with the name of Cornelis, after being already employed as such in the slave trade with that island. As we are badly off for slaves, we beg that he may be sent back as soon as possible.” List of annexures No. 4. Copy of a report of Jacques Colaan, made to the Indian Council, regarding the condition of Madagascar, as much as he knew of it, dated 18th June, 1699. No. 10. Journal of the hooker “Poelsiiip” during a voyage to Mauritius and Madagascar in 1657.2 |
| (Witness) LtrsRecd1695_1708 | On 23 November 1699 in Letters Despatched 1696-1708: No. 103, p. 519. From Batavia.] [1699] 23rd Nov. Ships affairs. “Received yours of 29th October last year, 6th and 24th February, 21st March, 18th and 22nd April, 23rd and 29th May, 4th, 17th, and 23rd June, 1st July, 6th and 26th August this year… It has been fortunate that the frigate “Tamboer” overtook the return fleet at the Cape, and so discharged into it its cargo of tea, &c. She returned on the 27th August via Madagascar, and we enclose copy of her report regarding the “Ridderschap,” and the pirates infesting the coast there. We send you back by the “Nigtevegt” the slave Ysserwolle or Cornelis, given by you to the “Tamboer” to serve as interpreter there. You will have to await the orders of the Directors regarding the condemned ship “Nieuwland.” It is well that you sent on 42 of her men. From yours of 17th June we gathered the abominable conspiracy on board the “Swaag” to murder the skipper and officers, and all who defended themselves, and take possession of the vessel; but that the same had fortunately been discovered in time… We expect a good supply of ebony in the “Peter and Paul.” We find that Commissioner Heyns, after having inspected False Bay, found it unserviceable for the safe custody of the fleet during the stormy season, full particulars being given in your resolution of 21st February. In his private letter to us of the 19th March, he suggests that strong and new cables should be served out to the costly return ships, to enable them to weather the storms. As you have suitable cables, it would not be unadvisable to carry out the Commissioner's suggestions until you hear from the Directors. . . We do not approve of your taking coal out of the ships, you should make your requisition to Holland according to your wants. We trust that your next year's harvest will enable you to supply the return ships, and also comply with our requisitions. The 25 sailors and 40 men sent over to reduce the garrison at the Cape, arrived here safely; the two stowaways likewise; they were condemned to chains and forfeiture of all their pay. We received the accounts of Willem Dirksz van Esens, sailor, and Andries Broeders of Krakebul, arquebusier… Received yours of 30th August, 1698, with statement of receipts and expenditure, showing that your expenditure was ƒ17,498?5?14 less than the year before; news that will please the Directors. This retrenchment should be your chief object, that the Company may be more and more relieved of the heavy burdens which it had to bear since the establishment of the Colony… We enclose the sentences of the five convicts sent over last year. The arrival of the French pirate at Saldanha Bay and his spoliation of 3 fishing boats, as mentioned in yours of 23rd May have made us very anxious about our ships which might call there unaware of any danger. The ships' rolls tell us that many foreign ships had called, among them 4 large English war ships; that both French and English were dissatisfied with their reception, and left without a salute. This is rather an impertinence, but it should not make you scrupulous in future, about refusing them any ship's necessaries. According to the Directors' orders of the 31st July, 1698 you did well by asking the Directors what you are to do in the case of foreign nations spending the nights on shore. How we made provision on this point in order to prevent all smuggling and intermixture of foreigners with our own people, our placcaat issued on the 14th of last month will show. Copy enclosed… The burgher Francois Ketele and his family have received a passage hence to settle at the Cape. The death of the Moorish priest Sheik Joseph, has relieved the Company of a great burden, both as regards the requests of our Mohamedan allies (to which we were continually exposed) that he might be ordered back, and the costs necessary for his maintenance, which including what has been spent for some years on the Macassar grandees have reached the big sum of ƒ26,221?12?12. How you are henceforth to act with this item, and others required for the said Macassars and other convicts, you will gather from the annexed memorandum of the general bookkeeper, dated 18th September last… The return fleet this year will be under the command of the ordinary Councillor of India, Wouter Valckenier, who will likewise be Commissioner for the Cape. The Vice- Admiral will be the Councillor Extraordinary Wybrand Lycochton, and the Rear Admiral, Thomas van Son. At the request of his friends we have allowed the wives and daughters of the late Sheik Joseph to return hither, but the sons and so-called friends of the said priest are to remain there and be moderately entertained according to their numbers. Their slaves are to be appraised and taken over for the Company. The amount to be employed in reduction of the expenses incurred in their maintenance. Everything else must remain in accordance with our Resolution of 30th October, 1698… We have allowed a passage to Greertruida Willemsz. and her son. She is the wife of the Cape burgher Willem Helmit. Twenty-two convicts are sent over, distributed among the fleet. The last mentioned embarked on the “Voorschoten” is Ronso of Tambora, one who assisted in carrying out the crimes committed by the ex-king of Tambora now at the Cape. According to our resolution of 18th September, 1696, he is to serve in chains during the whole period of his life. We have requested the Directors to provide you with teak wood, this would be a much cheaper arrangement.” Inserwole van Madagascar (an unknown value.)3 |
| Names in the record, in publications, etc. | 29 April 1699, the name of Inserwole was written in the record as Cornelis van Madagascar.4 23 November 1699, the name of Inserwole was written in the record as Cornelis van Madagascar.5 23 November 1699, the name of Inserwole was written in the record as Ysserwolle van Madagascar.5 |
| Notes | Between 20 April 1692 and 23 July 1713 after the disappearance of the Ridderschap, apparently due to pirate activity around Madagascar the Council of Policy despatched officials on board the recently repaired Tamboer to the island to investigate the matter. To assist the officials they also sent the company owned Malagasy slave interpreter Inserwole van Madagascar otherwise known as Ysserwolle and Cornelis - the latter being his baptismal name. From Madagascar the Tamboer proceeded to Batavia from where Inserwole was returned to the Cape. The first Cornelis van Madagascar appears in the record on 8 March 1677 (1676?) when he is sold by Arijaen van Asperen the captain of the Voorhout to Joannes Valckenryck for Rds 87 in a joint transaction. As far as can be thus far asertained, there were two adult, company owned, Malagasy slaves baptised Cornelis at the Cape on 20 April 1692 and 20 November 1695 - the Malagasy names were not recorded in either instance. They were Cornelis van Madagascar and Cornelis van Madagascar The census (monsterrol) of 1695 does not include any company owned slaves named Cornelis. The last record thus far located mentioning a Cornelis van Madagascar is on 23 July 1713 of two slaves Dianira van der Caap and Cornelis van Madegascar owned by Simon van der Stel who baptise their son Johannes Cornelis van der Caep.4,5 |
Citations
- [S21] Date estimated by compiler, Delia Robertson and, unless there is corroborating information, should not be considered as anything more than a guide.
- [S576] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, Letters Despatched 1696-1708, H.C.V. Leibrandt; CD-ROM (Cape Town, South Africa: W.A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, 1896), p.111. Hereinafter cited as Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope.
- [S721] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, Letters Received 1695-1708, H.C.V. Leibrandt; CD-ROM (Cape Town, South Africa: W.A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, 1896), pp.220-222. Hereinafter cited as Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope.
- [S576] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, p.111. As interpreter we have placed on board a Malagasy slave named Inserwole, baptized here with the name of Cornelis, after being already employed as such in the slave trade with that island.
- [S721] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, pp.220-222. We send you back by the “Nigtevegt” the slave Ysserwolle or Cornelis, given by you to the “Tamboer” to serve as interpreter there.
