First Fifty Years - a project collating Cape of Good Hope records

Thomas¹

M, #15640, b. circa 1653

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Last Edited

24/12/2015

Birth*

Thomas was born circa 1653.¹

Slave Emancipations

On 23 May 1680 Jacob Caste van Bengale was emancipated by Gratias Maialas van Angola, for payment of enige penning and in recognition of good and faithful service. Böeseken records that a second slave, Thomas, was emancipated at the same time, but Hattingh disputes this.^2,1

Citations

[S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), p.138. 23.5.1680: Jacob and Thomas, two slaves belonging to Gracias of Angola, manumitted by him. No details given.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
[S606] J.L. (Leon) Hattingh, "A.J. Böeseken se Addendum van Kaapse slawe-verkoopstransaksies: Foute en regstellings", Kronos (Foute en regstellings) 9 (1984): Op 23.5.1680 vind volgens Böeseken die volgende plaas: “Jacob and Thomas, two slaves belonging to Gracias of Angola, manumitted by him. No details given”. Inderdaad het Grasias (sic) van Angola sy slaaf Jacob, en ook net Jacob alleen, vrygestel. Jacob se naam word, soos dit gebruiklik was, in die document gevolg deur die woorde: “geboortig van” en dan is “Bengale” doodgetrek. Bokant hierdie doodgetrekte word is iets geskryf wat òf met ‘s C òf met ‘n T begin en wat lyk na Consie of Tomsie. Dit is wat Böeseken dan sommer “Thomas” maak, maar dit is dit beslis nie. Dan gaan die betrokke dokument verder en se dat die vrystelling geskied omdat “gemelte Jacob” aan sy eienaar enige penning gegee het om sy Vryheid te verkry. Hy het ook, staan in die dokument, goeie en getroue diens aan sy lyfheer gelewer, wat dus die addendum se stelling dat geen besonderhede verstrek is nie, heeltemal weerlê. Hierdie document is deur Grasias van Angola self onderteken en wel met vier hoofletters: GRVA. Hierdie handtekening bring mee dat Grasias van Angola, saam met Louis en Anthonij van Bengale, een van die weinige vryswartes uit die tyd was wat op ‘n manier kon skryf. Talle blanke vryburgers kon destyds kwalik ‘n kruisie trek.. Hereinafter cited as "Foute en regstellings."