Authorization concerning sailors’ wages

1 October 1782 · Amsterdam, Nederland

Power of attorney regarding the payment of sailors’ wages on the privateering ship De Spion

This notarial act of 1 October 1782 records a power of attorney granted by two sailors of the privateering ship De Spion to a trusted representative in Amsterdam. By this authorization, Harm Sybelts Bakker and Johannes Baptista Valcke empowered Matthijs Caff to collect on their behalf all monies owed to them by the ship’s owners, including regular wages, privateering premiums, and their contractual share in captured prizes.

Such authorizations were common in privateering, as crew members were often at sea, ill, discharged, or otherwise unable to pursue payment themselves. The document gave the representative full legal authority not only to receive payments and issue valid receipts, but also to provide guarantees, act in court, enforce favorable judgments, and appeal unfavorable ones if disputes arose. In effect, the contract ensured that the sailors’ financial rights arising from their service and participation in prize-taking could be actively enforced within the legal system, even in their absence.

Notarial contract regulating the distribution of prize money for the privateering ships De Dolphijn, De Triton, and De Spion, executed before notary Anthony Mijlius in Amsterdam on 2 August 1781 (Amsterdam City Archives, SAA 5075/15610).

Transcription

Original

Op den eersten October des jaars zeventienhonderd twee en tachtig compareerden.

Den 1 October 1782 compareerden voor mij, Leendert van Rijn, openbaar notaris bij den Edelen Hove van Holland, geadmitteerd, te Amsterdam resideerende, Harm Sybelts Bakker en Johannes Baptista Valcke, beide als matrozen, gevaren hebbende op het kaperschip De Spion, kapitein Jan Olhoff.

Dewelke verklaarden te constitueren en machtig te maken Matthijs Caff, wonende binnen deze stad, om voor en in naam van hun comparanten van de rederij van het voorzeide schip te eisen, vorderen en ontvangen zodanige penningen als hun comparanten, zo voor premien als voor hun aandeel in de gemaakte en door het meergenoemde kaperschap opgebrachte prijzen, competerende is.

En voor de ontvangst van al hetzelve in naam van hun comparanten te kwiteren, en des gerequireerd wordende behoorlijke acten van cautie te passeren, en de borgen indemniteit te beloven, alsmede in geval van weigering of geschil (desnoods) in rechten te ageren voor alle hoge en subalterne rechtbanken, te compareren, vonnissen te verzoeken, de voordelige te executeren en van de nadelige te appelleren of reformeren.

En hij, comparant zelve present zijnde, zoude moeten en mogen doen, alles met macht van substitutie, zonder derogatie van deze obligatie, in ratificatie in verband als na te rechten.

Gepasseerd binnen Amsterdam, in presentie van Dirk Blok en Jan Willem Vroome Hendriksz als getuigen.

Dit is het merk van Carel Schermer. Dirk Blok. Jan Willem Vroome Hendriksz.

E. St. van Rijn, notaris.

English Translation

On the first of October of the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two they appeared.

On 1 October 1782 there appeared before me, Leendert van Rijn, public notary admitted by the Noble Court of Holland, residing in Amsterdam, Harm Sybelts Bakker and Johannes Baptista Valcke, both sailors, who had sailed on the privateering ship De Spion, Captain Jan Olhoff.

They declared that they did constitute and empower Matthijs Caff, residing within this city, to demand, claim, and receive, for and in the name of the appearing parties, from the owners of the aforesaid ship, such sums of money as are due to the said appearing parties, both as premiums and as their share in the prizes obtained through the aforementioned privateering.

And to issue valid receipts for the receipt of all such monies in the name of the appearing parties, and, if so required, to execute proper acts of security, and to promise indemnification by sureties; as well as, in the event of refusal or dispute (if necessary), to initiate legal proceedings before all superior and subordinate courts, to appear therein, to request judgments, to execute those that are favorable, and to appeal or seek reformation of those that are unfavorable.

And all this he, if personally present, should and might lawfully do, with full power of substitution, without derogation from this authorization, in ratification and binding effect as after law.

Passed in Amsterdam, in the presence of Dirk Blok and Jan Willem Vroome Hendriksz as witnesses.

This is the mark of Carel Schermer. Dirk Blok. Jan Willem Vroome Hendriksz.

E. St. van Rijn, notary.

Persons involved

  • Harm Sybelts Bakker
    Role: sailor on privateering ship De Spion; principal granting power of attorney
  • Johannes Baptista Valcke
    Role: sailor on privateering ship De Spion; principal granting power of attorney
  • Matthijs Caff
    Role: authorized agent; empowered to claim and receive wages and prize shares
  • Jan Olhoff
    Role: captain of the privateering ship De Spion
  • Leendert van Rijn
    Role: public notary in Amsterdam
  • Dirk Blok
    Role: witness
  • Jan Willem Vroome Hendriksz
    Role: witness
  • Carel Schermer
    Role: signatory (mark holder)

Sources

Literature & Sources
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Literature & Sources
First published 14 September 2022; last updated 24 August 2022