Name
Urka. Urka’s name is known from a single document, about a failed attempt to sell her.[1]
Origin
Described as a “negerin” [negress, Black woman],[2] Urka was of African origin, though her birthplace is unknown.
Settlement
Urka must have lived in New Amsterdam in 1661–1662, where the family who enslaved her owned an inn.[3]
Biographical Details
Urka was born between say 1631 and 1649. Her enslavers valued her at 1900 pounds of tobacco in 1661, which suggests she was a young woman, probably between the ages of twelve and thirty.[4] She died at an unknown date after 16 May 1662.[5]
Enslavement
Urka was enslaved by Anneken Claas Croesens, the widow of Daniel Litscho. On 21 November 1661, Anneken agreed to sell Urka to Willem Hollinghwoort for 1900 pounds of tobacco. When Urka heard she was being sold, she ran away. Anneken had her located and recaptured.[6]
On 12 May 1662, Anneken sued Willem Hollinghwoort, demanding that he take Urka, pay the tobacco, and compensate her for the expenses of retrieving the escape woman. According to Anneken, she had warned Hollinghwoort that Urka would run away and he had neglected to take preventative measures. Assisted by an interpreter, Hollinghwoort denied that he had been warned and refused to pay, since he had not received the enslaved woman. The court dismissed the suit on the grounds that Anneken had not delivered Urka at the agreed-upon time, and had waited too long to enforce the agreement.[7]
Willem Hollinghwoort was probably William Hollingsworth from Salem, Massachusetts.[8] He was English, which explains the need for an interpreter. Urka would not just be sold, she would be removed from the New Netherland colony, away from her friends and perhaps family members.
Daniel Litschoe, sick abed, and Anneken Claas Croesens made their will on 26 December 1661. They named each other as their heirs, with the children only inheriting upon the survivor’s death. Although the will does not mention any people held in bondage, it shows they considered their property as mutual assets and that Daniel was living five weeks after his wife agreed to sell Urka. They must have jointly enslaved Urka.[9] Daniel Litschoe died by 6 April 1662, when the orphan chamber ordered his widow to submit an inventory of his estate.[10] On 27 April 1662, she produced a copy of their will, which stipulated that the surviving spouse was not bound to create an inventory, and this satisfied the orphan chamber.[11]
Daniel Litschoe and Anneken Claas Croesens were in Brazil around 1642/1643.[12] It is possible one of them acquired Urka—or her mother—there.
Associations
Urka was enslaved by Daniel Litschoe and Anneken Claas Croesens.[13]
Source Editions
Fernow, Berthold, and Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan. Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens. Vol. 4. Jan. 3, 1662, to Dec. 18, 1663, Inclusive. The Records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini. New York, Knickerbocker press, 1897. Court case of Anneken Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort about the sale of Urka (pp. 81–82).
Fernow, Berthold, and Waleyn Van der Veen. The Minutes of the Orphanmasters of New Amsterdam, 1655 to 1663. New York City, New York: F.P. Harper, 1907. Order to Litschoe’s widow to submit the inventory (p. 214) and submission of Litschoe’s will (pp. 216–20).
Citations
[1] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662, in Court of Burgomasters and Schepens (New Amsterdam), minutes, vol. 3, 1660–1662, p. 503; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0040_1_2_03, image 507 of 572; citing Minutes of Burgomasters and Schepens of New Amsterdam, series 1: Original Dutch records of New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam records, New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.
[2] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
[3] Warnaer Wessels and fiscal vs. Daniel Litscho, innkeeper, 27 September 1656, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial council minutes, vol. 8, 1656–1658, p. 225; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/55896), identifier NYSA_A1809-78_V08_0225; citing series A1809, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
[4] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
[5] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
[6] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
[7] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
[8] He is discussed in his father’s sketch in the Great Migration project. Robert Charles Anderson, “Richard Hollingsworth,” The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634–1635, vol. 3, G–H (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 380–84.
[9] Submission of Daniel Litsco’s will by Anneken Claas Croesens, 13 April 1662, in Orphan Masters Court (New Amsterdam), minutes, vol. 4, 1655–1666, fol. 116r–118v; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0040_1_4_01, images 231–36 of 314.
[10] Order for Anneken Litsco to submit an inventory for the estate of her late husband Daniel Litsco 6 April 1662, in Orphan Masters Court (New Amsterdam), minutes, vol. 4, 1655–1666, fol. 115r; image 229 of 314.
[11] Submission of Daniel Litsco’s will by Anneken Claas Croesens, 13 April 1662.
[12] Daniel Litschoe was in Paraibo, Brazil, in 1643: Power of attorney from Daniel Litscho to Gertrude Abramsen, 14 August 1649, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 3, 1648–1660, p. 54; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/19114), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V3_054d; citing series A0270-78, New Netherland Provincial Secretary Register of the Provincial Secretary, New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Anneken Claassen Croesens was in Castel Rio Grande, Brazil, around 1642, since her son was born there and 19 years old on 26 December 1661: Submission of Daniel Litsco’s will by Anneken Claas Croesens, 13 April 1662.
[13] Anneke Claas Croesens vs. Willem Hollinghwoort, 16 May 1662.
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