New Netherland Settler Sketches

Name

Mr. Klaaks.[1] The name is possibly a Dutch version of an English name like Clark or Clarkson.

Origin

Described as an “Engelsman” [Englishman], Mr. Klaaks was from England.[2]

Migration

Mr. Klaaks was in New Netherland in 1633. He was transporting merchandise on the Walvis on its return journey to the Netherlands.[3] The ship had arrived in New Netherland on 3 December 1632 and departed on 15 June 1633.[4] Mr. Klaaks departed the Walvis with his merchandise after the ship pulled into the port of “Vaelmuijen” [present-day Falmouth, England] on 11 July 1633.[5]

Biographical Details

A traveling merchant in 1633, Mr. Klaaks was born between say 1563 and 1613, probably in England. He died at an unknown date after 11 July 1633.[6]

Education

As an Englishman, Mr. Klaaks would have spoken English.[7]

Occupation

Mr. Klaaks was apparently a merchant, since he transported approximately 1000 pounds of tobacco.[8]

Associations

Mr. Klaaks had permission from captain David Pieters de Vries to board and transport merchandise on the Walvis in 1633. The investors in the voyage were investigating the captain for smuggling and asked several crew members to give depositions.[9] One member of the ship’s crew, gunner Jeronimus Sperandeus, shared the information that Mr. Klaaks had transported about 1000 pounds of tobacco from New Netherland to Falmouth.[10] This would have allowed Mr. Klaaks to avoid Dutch tariffs in violation of West India Company regulations, probably in return for some compensation to the captain.

Citations

[1] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633, in Pieter Carelsz, notary (Amsterdam), minutes, 4 January 1633–31 December 1633, fol. 315; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/684872b5-7126-69d9-9fa7-7f6152e20354), image 378 of 629; citing call no. 727, RG 5075: Archief van de Notarissen ter Standplaats Amsterdam [Records of the Notaries Residing in Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[2] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633.

[3] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633.

[4] David Pietersz de Vries, Korte historiael: ende journaels aenteyckeninge van verscheyden voyagiens in de vier deelen des wereldts-ronde, als Europa, Africa, Asia, ende Amerika gedaen (Alkmaar, Netherlands: S.C. Brekegeest, 1655), 94–120.

[5] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633. David Pietersz de Vries, Korte historiael, 94–120.

[6] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633. David Pietersz de Vries, Korte historiael, 94–120.

[7] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633.

[8] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633.

[9] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633. Declaration by Dirck Fredrixsen Koornhart about return voyage of the Walvis, 13 August 1633, in Pieter Carelsz, notary (Amsterdam), minutes, 4 January 1633–31 December 1633, fol. 337; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/684872b5-7126-69d9-9fa7-7f6152e20354), images 402–03 of 629. Declaration by Pieter Janssen Konink and Henrick Jeuriaens van Veuren about return voyage of the Walvis, 30 August 1633, in Pieter Carelsz, notary (Amsterdam), minutes, 4 January 1633–31 December 1633, fol. 356; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/684872b5-7126-69d9-9fa7-7f6152e20354), image 425 of 629.

[10] Deposition by Jeronimus Sperandeus about return voyage of the Walvis, 29 July 1633.