Darius van Bengale1

M, #13713, b. circa 1677

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Last Edited19/05/2015
BirthOrigin*Darius was from the Bengal and was perhaps born there circa 1677. 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 20 years old 1697.2,3 
Concubine* Between 1703 and 1705 Darius van Bengale was the concubine of Anna Groothenning van Bengale de Caep de Goede Hoop.4
 

Family

Anna Groothenning van Bengale b. c 1676, d. a 1719
Children
  • Catharina Bok+ b. b 27 Dec 1705, d. b 30 Dec 1779; putative relationship. There were two men known as Darius van Bengale. The first was Darius van Cochin who also appears in the record as Darius van Bengale, but who, by 1693 had been freed and was working for Guilliam Heems. The second was the slave purchased by Hans Casper Geringer from Maria Jansz Visser, the widow of Lambertus Simons Stam who, due to proximity, is the likely father of the girls Maria en Catryn.5
  • Maria Groothenning+ b. b 27 Dec 1705; putative relationship. There were two men known as Darius van Bengale. The first was Darius van Cochin who also appears in the record as Darius van Bengale, but who, by 1693 had been freed and was working for Guilliam Heems. The second was the slave purchased by Hans Casper Geringer from Maria Jansz Visser, the widow of Lambertus Simons Stam who, due to proximity, is the likely father of the girls Maria en Catryn.5
Names in the record, in publications, etc.27 December 1705, the name of Darius was written in the record as Dares van Bengale.5
Slave TransactionsDarius van Bengale was sold by Arnoldo Muijkens, to Hans Hendrik Smith on 6 July 1697 de Caep de Goede Hoop. It is likely Darius van Bengale and Catharina of the Coast accompanied Muijkens from Bengal to the Cape. Darius was sold, and Catharina manumitted on 21 June 1697.3,6
On 1 August 1701 Darius van Bengale was sold by Maria Jansz Visser to Hans Kaspar Geringer de Caep de Goede Hoop.7

Citations

  1. [S432] Robert C-H Shell compiler, Changing Hands, A calendar of bondage in southern Africa, 1550 to 1888, CD-ROM; ISBN 1-86918-063-1; (Cape Town: Ancestry24, September 2007). Hereinafter cited as Changing Hands.
  2. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), 6.7.1697, p.240 (verso): Darius from Bengal (20), sold by Arnoldus Muykens to Hendrik Smit for Rds. 80.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
  3. [S425] Index to Slave Transactions at the Cape, South Africa, 1658 - 1731, compiled by Robert C-H Shell, Cape Town, 2000 "1697.07.08, Darius, m, Bengal, 20, Arnoldus Muykens, Hans H Smit, 80.00, TN&S."
  4. [S629] Personal communications between Mansell Upham and Delia Robertson, 2010-present. My thanks to Mansell Upham for sharing this transcript from the register for slaves belonging to free-burghers:
    27 Dec: [1705]      Twe Kinderen van Dare/[s/] van Bengale en Anna van Bengale onder getuijgen van Willem Fenning en Katrina de Vos           Maria en Catryn.
  5. [S629] Mansell Upham.
  6. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700, 6.7.1697, p.233 (verso): Darius from Bengal (20), sold by Arnoldus Muykens to Hendrik Smit for Rds. 80.
  7. [S432] Robert C-H Shell compiler, Changing Hands, Sequence IDNO:       1823     
    Slaves First Name:       Darius     
    Presumed Place Of Origin:       van Bengal     
    Day Of Sale:       1     
    Month Of Sale:       8     
    Year Of Sale:       1701     
    Sellers Last Name:       Sijmond [Widow]     
    Sellers First Name:       Maria Jans     
    Buyers Last Name:       Geringer     
    Buyers First Name:       Hans Ca     
    Buyers Civil Status:       burgher     
    Buyers Gender:       Male     
    Buyers Domicile:       Table valley     
    Buyers Occupation:       baker
    Primary Reference:       Transporten en Scheepeniskennis.     
 

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