Johan van Scharphuizen
Joan or Johan van Scharphuysen, Scharphuizen or Jan van Scherpenhuizen (died 15 January 1699) was a Dutch colonist, a judge in
Life
Van Scharphuizen most probably had his roots in Zeeland: he was a brother-in-law to both Johannes Basseliers,[1] the first Dutch vicar in Suriname (1668) and a rich planter, and to Jan Meunicx, both originating from Middelburg, where the Dutch West India Company had a strong base. The Meunicx family, regents and respected traders, settled as one of the first Dutch families in Suriname [2] arriving just before or after Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham had left the colony.
From 1677 Van Scharphuizen served as a member in the Raad van Politie (Council of Police). From 1678 to 1684 he lived in Zeeland and Holland to guard the interests of the plantation owners in Suriname.[3] In 1682 he was counselled to develop a patent to the Society of Surinam. He was involved in slave trade in 1685 and then moved again to the Dutch Republic.
On 20 December 1688 Van Scharphuizen was installed as governor of the colony. He set sail on 14 January 1689 and set foot ashore on 12 March, accompanied by François van Aerssen (1669–1740), the son of the former and assassinated governor. Van Scharphuizen was immediately involved in several complicated cases: an attack by
In 1691 Van Scharphuizen gave the
Van Scharphuizen is said to have been captured by French pirates in 1695.[8] In October 1696 he was back in Amsterdam and convicted for illegal slave trade and the issuing of promissory notes of the Sociëteit.[9] Being governor he was not allowed to have his interest in more than three ships nor was he allowed to trade. Samuel de Nassy and Baron de Belmonte had made sure Van Scharphuizen returned because Jewish planters could not accept allowing the slaves not working on Sunday.[10] His successor as a governor was the amicable Paulus van der Veen.
In 1698 Van Scharphuizen bought a
In his will Van Scharphuizen had also stated that his slaves only had to work five days a week, allowing them to grow and sell vegetables on Saturdays an Sundays for their own income.[12] In 1707 an uprising occurred in Palmeniribo when these liberties, but also the right to visit other plantations, were limited by the new owner, Jonas Witsen.
There has been a portrait of Van Scharphuizen; the artist is unknown.[13]
References
- ^ "Suriname - Paramaribo".
- ^ "Landsarchief Suriname: Carolina's Hoop en het dorp Carolina aan de Surinamerivier". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ a b "Landsarchief Suriname: Palmeniribo aan de Surinamerivier". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/hart038besc01_01/hart038besc01_01_0026.htm See p. 859.
- ^ "Landsarchief Suriname: Het dorp Jodensavanne aan de Surinamerivier". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ "Suriname - Paramaribo".
- ^ "LandsHospitaal". Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- ^ "David Nassy, Geschiedenis der kolonie van Suriname · DBNL".
- ^ Meiden, G.W. van der: Betwist bestuur. Een eeuw strijd om de macht in Suriname 1651-1753, Amsterdam 2008, p. 63-66, (Uitg. De Bataafsche Leeuw).
- ^ "Joden in Suriname". 28 August 2011.
- ^ It is unclear who became the owner of the house of Keizersgracht, called the Golden Rooster.
- ^ Stadsarchief Amsterdam, NA H. Outgers, 5075-3377-f. 69, 15 september 1699
- ^ Hendrik Hop, wine trader and regent of the Burgerweeshuis (City orphanage) owned it.[permanent dead link]