Coridon van Negapatnam1
M, #16026, b. circa 1678/79
BirthOrigin* | Coridon was from Negapatnam and was perhaps born there circa 1678/79. He was said to be 15 or 16 years old in 1694.1 |
(Witness) Defence | On 16 March 1706 a petition on behalf of Willem Adriaan van der Stel was signed by the following free fishers, some of whom were also free blacks: Willem Basson, Reinier van der Sande, Jan Willemse Vermeulen, Willem Duijsert, Pieter Pieterse de Groot, Lambert Simonsz Stam, Claes van Coningshoven, Domingo van Bengale, Abraham Veij, Moses van Macassar, Joost Ventura, Coridon van Negapatnam, Emanùel van Macasser, Mirra Moor van Ceylon, Reva van Macassar and Katzilimuda van Macassar. The signatories testified that they, along with their families and slaves, had been allowed to earn an honest living fishing in Table Bay and further afield, without let or hindrance from the governor or any official acting on his behalf.2 |
Citations
- [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), p.165.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
- [S569] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, The Defence of Willem Adriaan van der Stel, H.C.V. Leibrandt; CD-ROM (Cape Town, South Africa: W.A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, 1987), p.180. "Appeared before the Commissioners of the Council of Justice, Willem Basson, Reynier van de Zande, Jan Willemsz: Vermeulen, Willem Duysert, Corn.[elis]Claasz: [Kuip], Pieter Pietersz: de Groot, Lammert Simonsz: [Stam], Roelof Carstensz: Osenbergh, Lourens Pluvier, Claas Koningshoven, Domingo of Bengal, Abraham de Vyf, Moses & [sic] Aaron, Joost Ventura, Sampoerny of Macassar, Coridon of Nagapatam, Claas Claasz: of Bengal, Gerrit Claasz:, Emanuel of Macassar, Mira Moor, Reba of Macassar, Abraham of Macassar, & Sriyay Moeda, all free- burghers & domiciled here, who at the requisition of the Hon.[orable] Governor W.A. van der Stel declare that they all, since the Governor's presence here, & when the weather was favourable, by day & by night whenever they had no other work, had gone out fishing, in order to earn their food properly and honestly, not only along the shores of this bay, but also elsewhere in the neighbourhood, & wherever they thought that they could do so freely & without let or hindrance, but also their children, partners & slaves. Not one of them has ever been hindered by the Hon.[orable] Governor or anyone sent by his orders, much less reproached in any way for so doing. To confirm the above the 12 first named, being Europeans, each uttered the solemn words, "So truly," &c., whilst the remaining 11 do so by means of their signatures, - In the Castle, 16 March, 1706, before the Commissioners A.[driaen] van Reede, K.J. Slotsboo, & H.[endrik] Bouman, members of the Court of Justice, who have with deponents subscribed to the above.". Hereinafter cited as Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope.
- [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700, p.165. 14.5.1694: Coridon from Negapatam (15/16), sold by Jacobus Orselingh, merchant sailing on the Ijsterheim, to the sick-comforter Albertus Coopman for Rds.90.