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Extract of from :
The Dutch Courier
www.dutchcourier.com
The amazing tale of Jacob van Kal
By Dennis De Witt
Born at Delfshaven, Holland on July 11th, 1754, Jacob van Kal was the son of Jacobus van Kal and Neeltje Krijgsman. He was married to Jacoba de Wit in 1780 at Scheveningen and they had two children, named Adriana Catharina and Jacob (jr.).Jacob van Kal initially studied law at Harderwijk. However, he worked with his father in the family’s wine and trading business. During the Forth English War with Holland, the family’s business began to decline and it was probably sold before van Kal decided to gain employment with the VOC and traveled to the east. Jacob van Kal sailed for the East Indies in 1787 with his wife and two children on board the VOC ship “Sint Laurens” which was from the chamber of Zeeland.
Because he traveled with his family, we know that he already held a post of some importance in the Company. The wives and families of ordinary sailors were not allowed on board these long and perilous journeys. Like many who were employed by the VOC and sailed east, Van Kal must have also seen this as an opportunity to provide him and his family a better life and his ticket to the promised richness found in distant lands. However, little did he know of the many hardships, bitterness and misfortunes that he would encounter and how it would haunt him throughout his life.
On September 24th, 1787, the Van Kals safely reached their destination — Batavia. There, van Kal held the rank of vice-merchant and secretary of the castle of Batavia. Later he was employed in the town’s clerk office. Unfortunately, his wife, Jacoba died on April 6th, 1788 and even his two children perished while they were at Batavia.
Probably devastated by his loss and eager to escape the bitter memory of his wife’s and children’s deaths, Van Kal applied to be sent back to the Netherlands. Instead, in October 1788, he was sent to Malacca by his superiors. While in Malacca, Van Kal was married to Jacobina Maria Koek, the daughter of Joost Koek and Catharina de Roth. Jacobina Maria was born in Malacca around 1756 and she was from a prominent family that had been in Malacca since the 17th century. She was also the sister of an illustrious Dutch burgher in Malacca then, named Adriaan Koek. One of her sisters, Catharina Johanna Koek was married to Abraham Couperus, who was Governor of Malacca between 1788 and 1795.
Governor Couperus was an employee of the Company with twenty years of experience. He earned a reputation for his sound administrative ability and practical competence in the handling of Company affairs. Couperus first joined the Amsterdam office in 1772 and in 1776, was sent to Java where he rose through the administrative ranks from junior bookkeeper to chief secretary and finally to become governor of Malacca. He was described as a man “of mild and peaceful disposition, without the slightest trace of pride or arrogance”.
At Malacca, Van Kal held the post of secretary of the police and tax collector. He even established a business called “Kal and Cie” at Malacca with his Frisian born brother in-law Abraham Couperus, who was still Governor of Malacca then. Eventually, van Kal was sent by Governor Couperus to Riouw (Riau) to replace its resident, Gerrit Pungel who was said to be an alcoholic, and to restore order on the island. Unfortunately, Van Kal got into trouble at his new posting. He was charged with abusing his power and acting unjustly towards the Sultan of Johor. In September 1792, his brother in-law sent him back to Malacca and caused for his income and official functions to be forfeited.
As a result, van Kal came into conflict with his brother in-law, the Governor. It was alleged that he tried to leave Malacca for Batavia without the Governor’s approval, but there was also speculation of a quarrel with Couperus about a suspicion of corruption by the Governor. Whatever the reason was, it landed van Kal in prison. Jacob van Kal claimed that the Governor used his power and influence for him to be imprisoned in Malacca without trial for twenty-eight months and during that time he had become financially ruined. He also petitioned to be tried by the court of Batavia because he did not trust the court in Malacca.
In April, 1795 he was finally sent to Batavia where he remained a prisoner. So as to be with him, van Kal’s family left Malacca too. However, as if cursed for returning to Batavia, his wife died on October 6th, 1795, during his detention there. For a second time, he also lost both his children from his second marriage, at Batavia. Finally, on June 16th, 1796, the Dutch colonial government decided to deport van Kal to Patria. Before his imprisonment, Van Kal was a wealthy man and owned twenty-three slaves in Malacca. By the time of his deportation, all but only two of his slaves had also died. He had lost practically everything while he was in prison.
Unfortunately, Van Kal’s misfortunes did not end there. During the sea journey, his ship was captured by the British, who were probably prowling the waters as privateers. His ship and all hands onboard were confiscated and the prize was brought all the way to Jamaica. From his unplanned sojourn in the Caribbean, Van Kal obtained the opportunity to escape and he sailed back to the Netherlands. Again, he was struck with misfortunes. During his journey home he was shipwrecked and his ship was raided by the French, but he survived. On April 12th, 1797 he finally arrived back in Holland. However, he returned a pauper and he had to work his way up again from nothing.
Meanwhile, on August 17th, 1795, Governor Abraham Couperus was forced to surrender Malacca to the British. Couperus and his family were removed from Malacca as prisoners of war on January 4th, 1796 and were brought to Madras, India by the British. It was a day of anguish and humiliation for Couperus.
Since Malacca was held by the British, some of the townpeople began to show open hostility towards the Dutch. Whether this unpopularity was instigated by the British as a scheme to gain a foothold there, the history records remain silent. A few days before his removal, Couperus had been jostled and threatened by a crowd as he was passing through Tranquerah — the town’s northern gate. On the eventful day of his removal, he was attacked by a mob in Heeren Street, outside the home of his senior merchant, Francois Thierens. Barely escaping the attack, he managed to seek refuge in his senior merchant’s home.
Later, Couperus was smuggled out from the rear of the house, which backed the waterfront, and was taken across the harbour in a small boat. Witnesses described him as “a pathetic figure, holding an umbrella close over himself and half crouching under the canvas canopy”. As he arrived on board his ship “The Amida”, he was joint by his wife and seven children who looked frighten and forlorn. On greeting his family, the Governor wept loudly as he continued to wipe away the tears from his face.
Between 1796 and 1807, Couperus and his family lived in exile at the Danish settlement of Tranquibar, on the Indian Coromandel Coast. In 1808, Couperus and his family were finally relocated to Batavia where he held official posts, including council member of the East Indies. Abraham Couperus finally died on July 12th, 1813 at Surabaya, a bankrupt, at 61 years of age. In Holland, the bitter events encountered while Van Kal was in Malacca and Batavia were not forgotten by him. He began initiating legal actions and tried to claim for financial compensation for his loses in Malacca and for rehabilitation of his rank.
In 1802, the courts finally decided to award Van Kal the financial compensation of half a million guilders and he was to be returned to the rank of koopman (merchant). In lieu of the enormous payout, it was promised that Van Kal would be allowed to return to Malacca to be appointed as the Governor there. However, just when things were looking up for Van Kal, again he was struck by bad luck. Because of the Napoleonic wars, the promise he received never materialised and so the legal tussle continued. Finally, in 1805, all his claims were rejected by the courts. In 1806, he was listed for a government pension but it was paid to him beginning only from 1814.
The collection of documents from this lengthy legal tangle resulted in what is today known as the ‘Van Kal collection’. It is a collection of private papers that are now kept in the ‘Nationaal Archief’ at The Hague and it is currently being studied for a M.A. thesis. On October 10th, 1813, at age 59, Van Kal remarried a third time to Johanna Segelke van Sell, who was from Amsterdam. Jacob van Kal finally died on April 25th, 1829 in Haarlem, at 74 years of age and it was said that he died a bitter and broken man. His third wife survived him until she died on March 29th, 1834 at Haarlem. She was 66 years of age.
The Dutch Courier
www.dutchcourier.com
The amazing tale of Jacob van Kal
By Dennis De Witt
Born at Delfshaven, Holland on July 11th, 1754, Jacob van Kal was the son of Jacobus van Kal and Neeltje Krijgsman. He was married to Jacoba de Wit in 1780 at Scheveningen and they had two children, named Adriana Catharina and Jacob (jr.).Jacob van Kal initially studied law at Harderwijk. However, he worked with his father in the family’s wine and trading business. During the Forth English War with Holland, the family’s business began to decline and it was probably sold before van Kal decided to gain employment with the VOC and traveled to the east. Jacob van Kal sailed for the East Indies in 1787 with his wife and two children on board the VOC ship “Sint Laurens” which was from the chamber of Zeeland.
Because he traveled with his family, we know that he already held a post of some importance in the Company. The wives and families of ordinary sailors were not allowed on board these long and perilous journeys. Like many who were employed by the VOC and sailed east, Van Kal must have also seen this as an opportunity to provide him and his family a better life and his ticket to the promised richness found in distant lands. However, little did he know of the many hardships, bitterness and misfortunes that he would encounter and how it would haunt him throughout his life.
On September 24th, 1787, the Van Kals safely reached their destination — Batavia. There, van Kal held the rank of vice-merchant and secretary of the castle of Batavia. Later he was employed in the town’s clerk office. Unfortunately, his wife, Jacoba died on April 6th, 1788 and even his two children perished while they were at Batavia.
Probably devastated by his loss and eager to escape the bitter memory of his wife’s and children’s deaths, Van Kal applied to be sent back to the Netherlands. Instead, in October 1788, he was sent to Malacca by his superiors. While in Malacca, Van Kal was married to Jacobina Maria Koek, the daughter of Joost Koek and Catharina de Roth. Jacobina Maria was born in Malacca around 1756 and she was from a prominent family that had been in Malacca since the 17th century. She was also the sister of an illustrious Dutch burgher in Malacca then, named Adriaan Koek. One of her sisters, Catharina Johanna Koek was married to Abraham Couperus, who was Governor of Malacca between 1788 and 1795.
Governor Couperus was an employee of the Company with twenty years of experience. He earned a reputation for his sound administrative ability and practical competence in the handling of Company affairs. Couperus first joined the Amsterdam office in 1772 and in 1776, was sent to Java where he rose through the administrative ranks from junior bookkeeper to chief secretary and finally to become governor of Malacca. He was described as a man “of mild and peaceful disposition, without the slightest trace of pride or arrogance”.
At Malacca, Van Kal held the post of secretary of the police and tax collector. He even established a business called “Kal and Cie” at Malacca with his Frisian born brother in-law Abraham Couperus, who was still Governor of Malacca then. Eventually, van Kal was sent by Governor Couperus to Riouw (Riau) to replace its resident, Gerrit Pungel who was said to be an alcoholic, and to restore order on the island. Unfortunately, Van Kal got into trouble at his new posting. He was charged with abusing his power and acting unjustly towards the Sultan of Johor. In September 1792, his brother in-law sent him back to Malacca and caused for his income and official functions to be forfeited.
As a result, van Kal came into conflict with his brother in-law, the Governor. It was alleged that he tried to leave Malacca for Batavia without the Governor’s approval, but there was also speculation of a quarrel with Couperus about a suspicion of corruption by the Governor. Whatever the reason was, it landed van Kal in prison. Jacob van Kal claimed that the Governor used his power and influence for him to be imprisoned in Malacca without trial for twenty-eight months and during that time he had become financially ruined. He also petitioned to be tried by the court of Batavia because he did not trust the court in Malacca.
In April, 1795 he was finally sent to Batavia where he remained a prisoner. So as to be with him, van Kal’s family left Malacca too. However, as if cursed for returning to Batavia, his wife died on October 6th, 1795, during his detention there. For a second time, he also lost both his children from his second marriage, at Batavia. Finally, on June 16th, 1796, the Dutch colonial government decided to deport van Kal to Patria. Before his imprisonment, Van Kal was a wealthy man and owned twenty-three slaves in Malacca. By the time of his deportation, all but only two of his slaves had also died. He had lost practically everything while he was in prison.
Unfortunately, Van Kal’s misfortunes did not end there. During the sea journey, his ship was captured by the British, who were probably prowling the waters as privateers. His ship and all hands onboard were confiscated and the prize was brought all the way to Jamaica. From his unplanned sojourn in the Caribbean, Van Kal obtained the opportunity to escape and he sailed back to the Netherlands. Again, he was struck with misfortunes. During his journey home he was shipwrecked and his ship was raided by the French, but he survived. On April 12th, 1797 he finally arrived back in Holland. However, he returned a pauper and he had to work his way up again from nothing.
Meanwhile, on August 17th, 1795, Governor Abraham Couperus was forced to surrender Malacca to the British. Couperus and his family were removed from Malacca as prisoners of war on January 4th, 1796 and were brought to Madras, India by the British. It was a day of anguish and humiliation for Couperus.
Since Malacca was held by the British, some of the townpeople began to show open hostility towards the Dutch. Whether this unpopularity was instigated by the British as a scheme to gain a foothold there, the history records remain silent. A few days before his removal, Couperus had been jostled and threatened by a crowd as he was passing through Tranquerah — the town’s northern gate. On the eventful day of his removal, he was attacked by a mob in Heeren Street, outside the home of his senior merchant, Francois Thierens. Barely escaping the attack, he managed to seek refuge in his senior merchant’s home.
Later, Couperus was smuggled out from the rear of the house, which backed the waterfront, and was taken across the harbour in a small boat. Witnesses described him as “a pathetic figure, holding an umbrella close over himself and half crouching under the canvas canopy”. As he arrived on board his ship “The Amida”, he was joint by his wife and seven children who looked frighten and forlorn. On greeting his family, the Governor wept loudly as he continued to wipe away the tears from his face.
Between 1796 and 1807, Couperus and his family lived in exile at the Danish settlement of Tranquibar, on the Indian Coromandel Coast. In 1808, Couperus and his family were finally relocated to Batavia where he held official posts, including council member of the East Indies. Abraham Couperus finally died on July 12th, 1813 at Surabaya, a bankrupt, at 61 years of age. In Holland, the bitter events encountered while Van Kal was in Malacca and Batavia were not forgotten by him. He began initiating legal actions and tried to claim for financial compensation for his loses in Malacca and for rehabilitation of his rank.
In 1802, the courts finally decided to award Van Kal the financial compensation of half a million guilders and he was to be returned to the rank of koopman (merchant). In lieu of the enormous payout, it was promised that Van Kal would be allowed to return to Malacca to be appointed as the Governor there. However, just when things were looking up for Van Kal, again he was struck by bad luck. Because of the Napoleonic wars, the promise he received never materialised and so the legal tussle continued. Finally, in 1805, all his claims were rejected by the courts. In 1806, he was listed for a government pension but it was paid to him beginning only from 1814.
The collection of documents from this lengthy legal tangle resulted in what is today known as the ‘Van Kal collection’. It is a collection of private papers that are now kept in the ‘Nationaal Archief’ at The Hague and it is currently being studied for a M.A. thesis. On October 10th, 1813, at age 59, Van Kal remarried a third time to Johanna Segelke van Sell, who was from Amsterdam. Jacob van Kal finally died on April 25th, 1829 in Haarlem, at 74 years of age and it was said that he died a bitter and broken man. His third wife survived him until she died on March 29th, 1834 at Haarlem. She was 66 years of age.