Mirra Moor van Ceylon1

M, #16465, b. circa 1650, d. before 17 December 1710

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Last Edited30/04/2016
Birth*Mirra Moor van Ceylon was born circa 1650 in Ceylon.1
 
Death*He died before 17 December 1710.1
 
(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 
Crime and relatedMirra Moor van Ceylon was banished from Ceylon and sent to the Cape as a convict. He may have been among the 39 slaves and 3 convicts who were landed on 21 April 1673.1,3
Slave TransactionsOn 29 June 1697 Anthony van Bengale was sold by Johan Lispensier to Mirra Moor van Ceylon, for Rds. 70.4
Slave EmancipationsOn 2 January 1687, Adriaen van Bengale, Abraham van Guinea, Leidsare Origin Unknown, Mirra Moor van Ceylon, Gratia d' Costa and Koddo van Guinea were emancipated in terms of a Resolution of the Council of Policy, in recognition of the long and faithful service — na veler jaren goede en trouwe diensten. They were described as old and decrepit — oud en afgeleevd — and no longer able to serve — buijten staat langer te konnen dienen. This begs the question how they would then be able to support themselves.5

Citations

  1. [S681] Mansell Upham 'Pai Timor - the 'accomodatory' life and times of a 17th century exiled slave family from Timor', First Fifty Years, Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), (http://e-family.co.za/ffy/ui66.htm), July 2012. "p.36."
  2. [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.
  3. [S664] H.C.V. Leibbrandt Compiler, (Castle Street, Cape Town: W.A. Richards & Sons, 1902), p.130 [1673] April 21st. The 39 slaves bought at our request at Batavia and the 3 convicts were landed. One of the 39 had died during the voyage. The rest were strong, healthy fellows, who will not be amiss here.. Hereinafter cited as Journal 1671-1674, 1676.
  4. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), p. 180. 29.6.1697, p. 235: Anthony from Bengal (24), sold by Johan Lispensier, sailing on the Cattendijk, to the Free Black Mira Moor for Rds. 70.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
  5. [S788] Webpage Tanap (http://databases.tanap.net/) "Reference code: C. 18, pp. 98?99.
    Donderdag den 2. Januarij 1687
    [My thanks to Mansell Upham for pointing me to this reference.]."
 

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