Claas van Bengale1

M, #15935, b. before 1663

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Last Edited20/12/2015
BirthOrigin*Claas was from Bengal and was perhaps born there before 1663. Van Bengale - or from Bengal - was a term loosely applied during the period of VOC dominance to enslaved or formerly enslaved people from any of the countries bordering the Bay of Bengal. He was said to be 30 years old in 1693.1 
Slave EmancipationsOn 20 October 1692 Claas van Bengale was emancipated by Albert Coopman, on condition he serve Coopman faithfully until 1 July 1694. However his emancipation was rescinded six months later on 29 Apr 1693 because he had interalia "disrespected" his master, as recorded by Coopman: Nadat Claas ‘n tyd gelede teen sy heer en meester ongehoorsaam was, hom oneerbiedig en ondankbaar gedra het, en hom deur dronkenskap, dobbel, slaan en smyt die beloofde Vryheid onwaardig gemaak het, verklaar hy dat Claas van Bengale voortaan weer ten volle in slawerny sal verkeer en daarom word hy aan vryburger Hendrick Bouman vir 400f verkoop. As stipulated, he is sold to Hendrick Bouman for f 400.2,3

Citations

  1. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), p.161.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
  2. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700, p.161. 20.10.1692, p. 169: Claas from Bengal. manumitted by Albert Coopman on condition that he gives faithful service up to 1.7.1694. This deed was cancelled on 29.4.1693 because Claas behaved badly.
  3. [S606] J.L. (Leon) Hattingh, "A.J. Böeseken se Addendum van Kaapse slawe-verkoopstransaksies: Foute en regstellings", Kronos (Foute en regstellings) 9 (1984): Dieselfde gebeur ook met ‘n inskrywing onder die datum 20.10.1692 (bladsy 161).

    “Claas from Bengal, manumitted by Albert Coopman on condition that he gives faithful service up to 1.7.1694”. Maar dan voeg sy by: “This deed was cancelled on 29.4.1693 because Claas behaved badly”.

    In die eerste plek kom die laaste sin nie in die betrokke document voor nie. Dog onder laasgenoemde datum rapporteur sy (bladsy 162):

    “Claas from Bengal (30), manumitted by Albert Coopman on condition that he would serve him until 1.7.1694. If the slave did not behave well in the interim, he would be sold to Hendrick Bouman for f 400”.

    Streng gesproke hoort slegs die laaste gedeelte van die laaste sin onder die datum maar is self ook ‘n swak weergawe van wat werklik in die document staan. Coopman voer in werklikheid in die tweede document aan: 'Nadat Claas ‘n tyd gelede teen sy heer en meester ongehoorsaam was, hom oneerbiedig en ondankbaar gedra het, en hom deur dronkenskap, dobbel, slaan en smyt die beloofde Vryheid onwaardig gemaak het, verklaar hy dat Claas van Bengale voortaan weer ten volle in slawerny sal verkeer en daarom word hy aan vryburger Hendrick Bouman vir 400f verkoop'.. Hereinafter cited as "Foute en regstellings."
 

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