Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope

454 Pages·2011·24.33 MB·English

THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

PRECIS OF THE ARCHIVES
OF THE
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
T ^ F^/ \ T T I^O'I^l^AT i TIA1lf/vT^T \ T Iv\
REQUESTEN (MEMORIALS)
1715-1806.
15Y
H. C. V. LEIBBRANDT,
Keeper of the AirItires.
VOL.
I.
A
-E
CAPK To\v\ \\u LONDON-
:
CAPK TIMES LIMITED. CiOYEkXMEXT I'HIXTKKS.
KEEROM STREET.
1905'

Ul
TO THE READER.
These volumes form a section ofthe Annexures to the Minutes
of the Council of Policy, and will be found to contain much of
permanent historical interest. The series commences with the
year 1715, and ends with that of 1806. It is to be regretted
that some of the years are missing, but in a few cases I have
substituted a " Precis " of the Minutes of the Council of Policy
of that particular year.
When I commenced this work some years ago, my principal
object was to comply with the expressed wish of many, to frame
as complete a list as possible of the earlier Colonists, and their
birthplaces, but the reader will also find, besides, most important
portions of our Colonial History imbedded in many of these
memorials, which now see the light of day for the first time.
But in going through the list, one often recurring word will,
no doubt, cause some surprise. It is that of " soldier," the rank
which many memorialists held when they entered the Service
;
and the impression may thus easily be caused that most of the
earlier, as well as of the later Colonists, were of humble origin,
and not of the best class of Europeans. No greater fallacy is
possible, and an explanation is therefore necessary.
As the Dutch East India Company always required large
numbers of men and boys to fill the ranks in the different
branches of its Service, volunteers from all parts of the Con-
tinent naturally flocked to Amsterdam with the intention of
going to the East Indies to try their fortunes there. Men of
every profession and trade offered themselves, and, before their
acceptance, were carefully examined and classified. But whether
they were Doctors, Lawyers, Surveyors, etc., every one was
entered on the books of the Civil Service as a " soldier," with the
pay of nine guilders per month. This was the lowest rank with
which all had to commence their careers, and therefore it was
very natural, and no anomaly, when, e.g., a surgeon died, that he
was succeeded nominally by a " soldier," but really by another
qualified surgeon, still holding the rank of " soldier." Tulbagh,
IV
Helot, and so many others, whose names are familiar, almost as
household words, rose from the rank of " soldier" to the high
positions which they reached in later life ; and if we con the lists
further, we shall find the name of Jacobus Johannes Le Sueur,
"Juris Utriusque Doctor" (1764 No. 131), who, on his return
from his studies in Europe had also to enter the Service as a
"
soldier."
For reasons, however, there were now and then a few excep-
tions, when outsiders were appointed for their very exceptional
abilities, especially in the military section of the Service, such
as Governor Louis van Assenburg, and afterwards Governor
Comelis Jacob van de Graaff. Both were placed at the head of
affairs here, but the main object of their appointment was to
place the Cape in a proper state of defence against an enemy,
and thus save it for the Company and the Fatherland. Another
outsider mayalso be mentioned, who though in his youngerdays
he had served the Company here, in various ways, during the ad-
ministration of his father, until his return to his native land,
where he became a Magistrate of the City of Amsterdam,
finally decided, after his father had asked for his discharge, to
accept the offerof the Directors, and become his successor. But
Willem Adriaan van der Stel, in spite of the good he did, and
endeavoured to do for the Colony, found bitter enemies to con-
tend with here, until his recall, when, his term of contract with
the Company having expired, he once more retired into private
life.
In the Civil Service the ranks appear to have been as fol-
lows: (i) Soldier; (2) Assistant; (3) Bookkeeper; (4) Junior
Merchant ; and (5) Senior Merchant, with perhaps the additional
title of Extraordinary or Ordinary Councillor of India. And
hence it becomes perfectly clear that a person described as a
" Soldier" was, as a rule, no more a " Soldier " than a " Junior"
or " Senior Merchant " was a " Merchant." After a short pro-
bation the " Soldier " became " Assistant," or clerk, and received
the salary attached tothat grade after that he might obtain the
;
rank of bookkeeper, and later on be promoted to the coveted
position of junior or senior merchant and should he possess
;
the necessary ability, rise still higher.
In the Naval branch a similar system of promotion was fol-
lowed. Every one had to start from the bottom rung of the
ladder, with the rank of sailor, and thus gradually earn promo-
tion. In the Military service also every one had to rise from the
ranks. The lads or boys who were accepted were also exam-
ined, classified, and enrolled under the title of "young sailor,"
with a salary of eight guilders per month.
Ministers of Religion and Sick Comforters or Sick Visitors
\vere provided for the Company's Possessions in India by the
various " classes " or presbyteries under which the different
towns of the Company's Chambers, by which they were re-
quired, resorted. For their instructions see my " Precis," " Let-
ters Received," 1695-1708, pp. 52-55.
The above explanation I have deemed necessary in order to
remove awrongimpression, and now leave my work in the hands
of the indulgent reader.
H. C. V. LEIBBRANDT.
Archive Department,
Cape of Good Hope,
July, 1903.