H. Feinberg
Director Generals of the Netherlands West India Company: an accurate list for the eighteenth
century
In: Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 130 (1974), no: 2/3, Leiden, 306-312
This PDF-file was downloaded from http://www.kitlv-journals.nl
H. M. FEINBERG
DIRECTOR GENERALS OF THE
NETHERLANDS WEST INDIA COMPANY:
AN ACCURATE LIST
FOR THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY*
In 1970, David P. Henige published Colonial Governors jrom the
Fifteenth Century to the Present (University of Wisconsin Press,
Madison: 1970). This year, the National Archives of the Netherlands,
Algemeen Rijksarchief, plans to publish a guide to their entire African
manuscript collection: W. Visser, Voorlopige Bronnengids voor de Geschiedenis van Afrika (presently in typed manuscript form). Each author
lists Director Generals of the Netherlands West India Companies, but,
in each case, incorrectly. Many similar lists exist, including the nineteenth century list compiled by D. P. H. J. Weijtingh in his Netherlandish translation of Brodie Cruickshank's Eighteen Years on the Gold
Coast, 2 vols. (Amsterdam, 1855), and manuscript lists at the Algemeen
Rijksarchief and the Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde,
Leiden.1 All include errors and none, to my knowledge, are based upon
the Dagregisters of the Castle St. George d'Elmina, kept by the officials
of the West India Companies 2 or, after 1792, of the Dutch Government.
The need for an accurate list is clear.
The list included below, that of West India Company Director
Generals and Presidents in the eighteenth century, is based upon a
careful reading of all the Dagregisters of that century. In addition, some
dates were confirmed in other parts of the "Archief van de Nederlandische Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea" and "Archief van de
* The material for this article was collected during three visits to the Algemeen
Rijksarchief, The Hague: 1966-1968, supported by the Foreign Area Fellowship Program, New York; and the summer of 1972, supported by a grant
from the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia.
1
Algemeen Rijksarchief: Ministerie van Koloniën 3323; the so-called "Lijst
van Dijk", the commonly cited list; Archief Fagel 1786, a partial list with
dates of appointment. Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde,
H 147.
2
First Company 1621-1674; Second Company, 1674-1791.
DIRECTOR GENERALS OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY
307
Tweede West Indische Compagnie". Every effort has been made to ei te
the precise day when the particular individual assumed the position of
Director General or President on the coast itself, and interim persons
are also included where appropriate. A complete list of the seventeenth
century is not included due to the fact that most of the records of the
First West India Company have been destroyed, including the Dagregisters, the latter being essential for a precise list of this type. This
writer has not surveyed the nineteenth century Dagregisters as yet, but
believes it unwise to wait several years until that effort is completed,
especially since Henige's book and Visser's manuscript include similar
errors.3
The Dutch forts on the Gold Coast during the eighteenth century
were under the authority of the Heeren Tien, the Directors of the Second
West India Company. They appointed the various officials to their
positions on the Coast, including the Director General. The Director
General was the chief executive officer on the Coast. His title was
"Director General over the North and South Coasts of Africa." During
the eighteenth century, the Company had forts or posts not only on the
Gold Coast, the primary area of concentration, but also on the Dahomey
Coast and at Benin. All were under his authority. Proper manning and
functioning of the forts, maintenance of peace among the Africans and
the promotion of trade, the main reason for the Dutch presence in
West Africa, were the Director General's responsibility. An average of
about two hundred and fifty persons were under his command. This
number included Europeans from various parts of the Continent, and,
increasingly during the last half of the eighteenth century, African or
mulatto soldiers. In addition, the Company often held five to seven
hundred slaves for work on the coast, slaves rarely exported from
Africa. The Director General also had responsibility, together with a
council, for attempting to solve problems or emergencies which might
arise, such as kidnappings of Africans for debts, Asafo quarter difficulties in Elmina, war or the threat of war between coastal states,
roads closed for any reason, and conflicts with other Europeans on the
coast, especially the English. Peace, after all, was an absolute necessity
for the proper functioning of trade on the Gold Coast, for without
peace on the coast and in the interior, roads would be closed and
3
A random check of Henige's and Weijtingh's 19th century lists suggests that
some errors do exist. In addition, a potentially accurate list has been published
in Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indïê,
Vol. 86 (1930), 40-41.
308
H. M. FEINBERG
caravans of slaves, ivory or gold would not be able to reach the forts.
The Director General had the power of life and death over West
India Company servants and even on occasion was able to enforce Dutch
law against murder and other major crimes by Africans. He, too, was
personally asked to settle disputes between Africans, especially in Elmina:
his assistance was sought sometimes to free a kidnapped African, free a
slave, witness an African's will or testify to his being a free man, or to
adjudicate a dispute between two persons, for example in cases where
the rightful heir to an inheritance was disputed.4
Finally, the Director General had to keep the Directors of the West
India Company informed of the situation on the coast, as well as to see
that various reports and economie information were compiled and
transmitted to Amsterdam. It was most important that he report on
changes in the tastes of the Company's customers and attempt to meet
such new demands. He, in addition, had to carefully report events on
the coast which might affect trade, such as an inland war, and also
to detail the needs of the forts. The mass of paper work seems incredible,
especially considering the limited number of persons on the Coast and
the necessity of writing with a feather pen. Types of documents regularly
sent to Holland include extracts of trade, lists of personnel, the deceased
and persons eligible to trade, reports on goods remaining on the coast,
reiquisitions of food, arms and ammunition, trade goods, medical supplies
and occasionally books, bibles, catechisms, and writing paper.
Many Director Generals were sent from the Netherlands by the
Directors, though some advanced on the Coast. Normally, promotion
below the level of Director General was based strictly on seniority, and
where the European death rate was high, advancement could be rapid.
However, all final appointments (as opposed to provisional ones) came
from the Directors in Amsterdam. When a Director General died on the
Coast, a temporary successor was appointed by the Council, with the
title "President of the Council". This appointment was usually on the
basis of seniority, the number two man among the officials often being
the Commandant of Fort St. Anthony at Axim. However, in at least one
case, that of J. P. T. Huydecoper in 1763, the ranking person was passed
over.5 Some, but not all Presidents, were promoted to Director General.
4
8
For example, see H. M. Feinberg, "Elmina, Ghana: A History of its Development and Relationship with the Dutch in the Eighteenth Century", unpublished
Ph.D. dissertation, Boston University, 1969.
Tweede West Indische Compagnie (WIC) 115, Council to the Directors (X),
July 24, 1763, f. 485.
DIRECTOR GENERALS OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY
309
Others had to relinquish the post on the arrival of a new man from
the Netherlands.
The Director General could, and usually did, use his position to enrich
himself. On the other hand, the mortality rate was high: sixteen out of
thirty-four (47 %) of the Director Generals or Presidents died in office
during the eighteenth century (and three others died shortly af ter
retiring from office).8 Thus, even though officials came with the aim of
making their fortunes at the Company's expense, not all lived long
enough to enjoy the fruits of their efforts. Evidence of the success of
some can be seen in substantial lists of personal effects and trade goods
in their estates, and the auction value (presumably lower than the actual
value) of this property.7 On the other hand, a number of those who
retired from the coast were accused by their successors of mismanagement and other "crimes" against the Company, and were required to
vigorously defend themselves in the Netherlands.
On the average, a man was Director General for about three and one
half years, though one man, Pieter Woortman, was President and
Director General for a total of almost thirteen years, while another,
Lambert J. van Tets, served for less than three months. Others had
been on the coast for some time before becoming Director General or
President. Where data is available, the period of residence for some of
the following is from nine to forty years (Pieter Woortman only), with
an average of about fourteen years (excluding Woortman's most unusual stay).
Director Generals and Presidents of the Second West India Company,
1702 to 1804.8
Joan van Sevenhuijsen °
May 16, 1702
6
7
8
9
47 % of 34 men compares with a 38,5 % mortality rate for English Chief
Factors (37 of 96 men) between 1632 and 1753, cited by R. Porter, "English
Chief Factors on the Gold Coast, 1632-1753", African Historical Studies, I, 2
(1968) 199-209.
For example: J. P. T. Huydecoper's estate was valued at fl. 70, 642 (WIC
117, fol. 368); N. M. van der Nood de Gietere's estate at fl. 30, 516 (WIC
114, fol. 528 ff.); and Pieter Volkmar's at fl. 43, 550 (WIC 500, fol. 500 ff.).
Archief van de Nedèrlandische Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea (NBKG),
83, 84, 89, 90, 94, 96, 99, 101, 105, 108, 115, 116, 119, 124, 125, 128, 151, 152,
153, 158, 160, 162, 165, 178, 181, 183, 184, 186, 828; WIC 97, f. 452, f. 457;
WIC 98, f. 441, f. 469, f. 485, WIC 100, f. 295; WIC 101, f. 6; WIC 109;
WIC 110; WIC 115, f. 485; WIC 485, f. 253; WIC 123; WIC 1004.
Appointed in a letter dated November 14, 1685, Archief Fagel, 1786. May
have taken over as Director General in May, 1696. Left Elmina on July 27,
1702, WIC 98, f. 16.
310
H. M. FEINBERG
Willem de la Palma 10
Pieter Nuyts 11
May 16, 1702 - October 17, 1705 (died).
October 23, 1705 - September 26, 1708 (died).
Henrico van Wesel M
Adriaan Schoonheijd
September 26, 1708 - July 13,1709.
July 13, 1709 - March 15, 1711 (died).
13
Hieronimus Haring 14
Abraham EngelgraafRobbertszoon15
Willem Butler i e
Abraham Houtman
Mattheus de Crane "
Pieter Valkenier 18
Robert Norre
Jan Pranger 1B
Anthony van Overbeke20
Martinus Francpis
de Bordes 21
April 7, 1736-March 16, 1740 (died).
Francois Barovius ^
March 17, 1740 - c. March 8, 1741.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
10
20
21
22
March 16, 1711 - May 12, 1716.
May 12,1716 - March 11, 1718.
March 12, 1718 - September 25, 1722.
September 25, 1722-May 17, 1723 (died).
c. May 17, 1723 - December 14, 1723.
December 14, 1723 - March 6-7, 1727.
March 7, 1727 - March 6, 1730.
March 6, 1730 - March 13, 1734.
March 13, 1734-April 2, 1736 (died).
Arrived by ship on May 16 and took command that same day, W I C 97.
He was actually on his way home when de la Palma died. On October 21,
a Council message reached him at Axim, inviting him to be become President.
He arrived at Elmina on October 23, W I C 98, Nuyts to X, November 13,
1705, f. 441, 469. O n October 16, 1706, he received a letter from the X,
dated July 22, or 23, 1706, appointing him as Director General, W I C 99,
Nuyts to X, December 3 1 , 1706, f. 229v. I n March, 1708, he stated that he
had been on the Coast for twelve years, suggesting that he arrived about 1696
and had been on the Coast for about nine years, when he became President,
W I C 100, Nuyts to X, March, 10, 1708, f. 150v.
President only.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1702, as "onder-commis".
President and Director General. Sometimes spelled Haringh. Present on the
Gold Coast at least in 1702. In 1707, a "Commis".
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1707, as Book-keeper General. Died,
June 26, 1718.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1707, as "onder-commis". In 1711,
a "commis". President and Director General. Retired to the Netherlands.
President only.
Retired and left the Gold Coast on March 10, 1727.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1720. Retired.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1727.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1724. President until February 2, 1737,
when he became Director General.
President only. Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1728. An Assistant
in 1729.
DIRECTOR GENERALS OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY
Jacob Baron
de Petersen 23
Jan van Voorst
311
c. March 8, 1741 - April 10-12, 1747.
24
April 10-12, 1747 - July 14, 1754.
Nicolas Mattheus van der
Nood de Gietere 25
July 14, 1754 - October 24, 1755 (died).
Roelof Ulzen 26
October 24, 1755 - January 15, 1758.
Lambert Jacob
van Tets 2T
January 15, 1758-March 12, 1758 (died).
Jan Pieter Theodoor
Huydecoper 28
March 22, 1758 - October 5, 1760.
David Pieter Erasmie
October 5, 1760-July 19, 1763 (died).
Hendrik Walmbeek
29
July 24, 1763-September 10, 1764.
Jan Pieter Theodoor
Huydecoper
28
September 10, 1764-July 11, 1767 (died).
Willem Sulyard van
Leefdael and
Cornelis Klok
July 11, 1767-August 27, 1767.
30
Pieter Woortman
31
August 27, 1767-April 14, 1780 (died).
Jacobus van der Puije
Pieter Volkmar
33
Gilles Servaas Galle
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
May 10, 1780 - December 30, 1780.
December 30, 1780 - March 12, 1784.
34
March 15, 1784 - February 14, 1785.
Arrived from the Netherlands to become Director General. Retired.
Present on the Gold Coast from at least 1737.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1733. An assistant in 1736, but he did
not remain on the Gold Coast continuously until his death in 1755. H e had
returned to become Director General.
President only. Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1731.
Sent out from the Netherlands to be Director General.
Arrived with van Tets. Took over as President at his death. Relinquished the
position to Erasmie, who received the appointment as Director General. After
the death of Erasmie, although not elected President again, he was appointed
as Director General.
President only.
Acting in the interim until Woortman arrived at Elmina.
Present on the Gold Coast at least in about 1740. Elected as President at a
meeting of the Council on August 27. Later, promoted to Director General.
H e was 81 when he died.
President only. Died, J u n e 24, 1781.
Arrived on December 2 5 ; installed on December 30.
President. Present on the Gold Coast at least in 1767.
312
H. M. FEINBERG
Adolphus Thierens 35
Gilles Servaas Galle
30
February 14, 1785-May 26, 1786 (died).
June 2, 1786-August 24, 1787 (died).
Lieve van Bergen
van der Grijp 3T
August 27, 1787 - March 11-14, 1790.
Jacobus Adriaan
de Veer 38
March 11-14, 1790 - May 5, 1794.
Lieve van Bergen
van der Grijp 39
May 5, 1794 - January 10, 1795.
Otto Arnoldus Duim
Gerhardus Hubertus
van Hamel
c. August 21, 1796-May 1, 1798 (died).
Cornelius Ludwich
Bartels 40
May 8, 1798-April 28, 1804 (died).
35
36
3T
38
39
40
January 10, 1795-June 2, 1796 (died).
Arrived to be Director General on February 7; installed one week later. He
had been on the Gold Coast before (at least from 1767) but returned to the
Netherlands on February 23, 1779, W I C 123.
Took over as President on May 29, but not officially elected by the Council
until June 2.
President.
T h e Dagregister does not state exactly when he took over as Director General.
There was apparently no ceremony or none was recorded.
President. When O. A. Duim died, he functioned until van Hamel became
President, though the dates are not precisely clear. Died, October 28, 1796.
Elected President on May 7, and officially installed on May 8. Promoted to
Governor-General, August 12, 1801.