Reva van Macassar1

M, #16870, b. circa 1662

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Last Edited29/05/2015
BirthOrigin*Reva was from Macassar and was perhaps born there circa 1662. His age is estimated.1 
Marriage De facto* In 1692 Reva van Macassar and Lijsbeth van Malabar were in a de facto relationship.1

Family

Lijsbeth van Malabar b. 1665/66
Children
Duplicate?*It is possible that Reva van Macassar and Revan van Madagascar are the same individual. I believe it is more than coincidence that Revan van Madagascar was purchased by Dain Majampa Singara in 1692, and that Reva van Macassar, a free fisherman, and Lijsbeth van Malabar began a long term de facto relationship about the same time. Their first child was born in 1693. Madagascar was most likely a scribal error for Macassar. 
(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 
Slave TransactionsOn 20 October 1700 Lijsbeth van Malabar was sold by Olof Bergh to Reva van Macassar, her de facto husband, with their four children Sobo van de Caep, Sophia van de Caep, Abigael van de Caep and Josing van de Caep, for Rds. 200.3,4

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. [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. [S606] J.L. (Leon) Hattingh, "A.J. Böeseken se Addendum van Kaapse slawe-verkoopstransaksies: Foute en regstellings", Kronos (Foute en regstellings) 9 (1984): Op die laaste twee bladsye van die addendum, pp. 193 en 194, vind ‘n mens die volgende twee opsommings:
    …
    “20.10.1700: Lijsbeth from Malabar (24/35) liberated, together with her four children, Soho (7), Sophia (4), Abigael (3) and Tosing (7 months)”.
    …
    Die weergawe van die tweede akte is eweneens misleidend. Dat Lijsbeth van Malabar en haar vier kinders inderdaad deur Olof Bergh verkoop word en wel aan die vryswart Reva van Macassar vir die bedrag van 200 Rds. sal ‘n mens nou nie uit die addendum se enkele reels aflei nie. Die voorwaarde was ook dat die koper in die toekoms geeneen van hulle weer sal verkoop, skenk of op welke wyse ookal van ontslae sal raak nie behalwe om hulle vry te stel. Dit is laasgenoemde gedagte wat toe deur die transkribeerder aangegrup is om as die vernaamste aspek voor te hou. Boonop is twee van die kinders se name verkeerd afgeskruf, nl. Soho wat Sobo moet wees en Tosing wat eintlik Josing moet wees.. Hereinafter cited as "Foute en regstellings."
  4. [S418] Anna J. Böeseken, Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977), p. 194.. Hereinafter cited as Slaves and Free Blacks at the Cape 1658-1700.
 

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