Notes from Dutch sources dealing with Algerian privateers in the period 1655-1670

A list dated 6 February 1655 mentioned as privateers: Cartaen, ship, built by Satij, 16 guns; Dantscker Maechsel, ship, 34 guns; Barbarijen, ship, 24 guns; Algier, ship, 25 guns; Janerick, old frigate, 18 guns; Turck, ship, 26 guns; Halve Maen, ship, 18 guns; Parel, ship, 26 guns; Son, ship, 14 guns; Algier, ship, 24 guns; Parel, ship, 22 guns; Sevenstar, ship, 18 guns.

Gouden Dadelboom or Daadelboom (35 guns) was driven end September 1655 ashore near Arzila, Morocco. Landed Dutch soldiers didn’t succeed in capturing or burning the ship. Returning 1st October they found the ship lying on side and broken into parts. Was the former Dutch Rad van Avontuur in 1654 by the Algerians and named Gouden Dadelboom and described as large and stout as the Dutch warship Huis Tijdverdrijf. She had 215 men, among which were 50 Christian slaves, 38 guns and indicated as the admiral’s ship of Algiers. Her captain was Selleman Reys, a renegade born in Ireland.

Vergulde Arend, ship, Algeria, captured by Dutch November 1655 off Arzila but later lost, 26-27 guns, 250 men. 14 November 1655 the Dutch rear admiral Verveen chased without success a ‘Turk’ with 20 guns, but had to let her go when his large ‘steng’. 20 November drove three Dutch captains a large Turkish ship called Vergulde Arent on the beach near Arzila. They expected it was lost, but only with a damaged rudder it managed to float again. 29 November in the evening the Dutch ships arrived at Arzila where there were two ships anchored. 30 November in the morning they approached and the former captain of the Harderin identified the ships as the Vergulde Arent (26 guns, 250 men), the ship driven ashore near Arzila 20 November and now lying north of Arzil and the Sinte Katharine (20 guns, 200 men), pursued by Verveen with no luck, now lying south of Arzila, both close to the city. The Dutch ships approached within a very short distance and both parties included the city started shooting at each other. De Arent was very damaged and lost her mainmast and was finally captured. She was shot trough making 4,5 feet water and badly leaking. The leaking was stopped and she was towed to Malaga, lying behind the ‘moelje’. Due to the negligence she later drove away due to a heavy wind and was smashed in pieces hitting the land. A list dated 6 February 1665 identified her as the Arent (former St. Vincent, 27 guns.

Sinte Katharine, ship, Algeria, sunk by Dutch off Arzila November 1655, 20 guns, 200 men. 14 November 1655 the Dutch rear admiral Verveen chased without success a ‘Turk’ with 20 guns, but had to let her go when his large ‘steng’. 20 November drove three Dutch captains a large Turkish ship called Vergulde Arent on the beach near Arzila. They expected it was lost, but only with a damaged rudder it managed to float again. 29 November in the evening the Dutch ships arrived at Arzila where there were two ships anchored. 30 November in the morning they approached and the former captain of the Harderin identified the ships as the Vergulde Arent (26 guns, 250 men), the ship driven ashore near Arzila 20 November and now lying north of Arzila and the Sinte Katharine (20 guns, 200 men), pursued by Verveen with no luck, now lying south of Arzila, both close to the city. The Dutch ships approached within a very short distance and both parties included the city started shooting at each other. The Sinte Katharine sunk.

Heeringa published in his book a list of the Algerian privateers in 1661: De Sevenstar, 1661 captain Solyman Boffon, De Parel, 1661 captain Turck, St. Willem, 1661 captain Hamet, De Vergulde Vrijheyt, 1661 captain Monnet Gose, De Groene Draeck, 1661 captain Aroetsy, De Citeroeneboom, 1661 captain Mamet Segeer, De Fonteyn, 1661 captain Casas, De Maen, 1661 captain Haste ofte Bissehayen, De Rijsende Son, 1661 captain Morat, Dadelboom, 1661 captain Saffarika, Het Witte Paert, 1661 captain Toeback, De Neptunus, 1661 captain Solyman Bassa, De Halve Maen, 1661 captain Aly, De Sevenhoofde Draeck, 1661 captain Rammedam, De Blompot, 1661 captain Sjaban, De Vergulde Molen, 1661 captain Karrekas, De Morgenstar, 1661 captain Mestafa, De Thytis, 1661 captain Mamet, De Vergulde Son, 1661 captain Carasse d’Naimo, De Papegay, 1661 captain Aly, De Vergulde Vis, 1661 captain Aly Sidick, De Vergulde Parel, 1661 captain Hadsy Aly.

Eenhoorn, captured by Dutch 7 November 1661, 22 guns, 150 men, included 36 Christian slaves. She arrived January 1662 at Mahon and departed beginning May for the Netherlands.

Nicolaus de Graaff was surgeon on board of the Dutch warship Vergulde Star commanded by Joost Verscheur, part of the Dutch squadron with De Ruyter active in the Mediterranean against the Barbary States in 1661-1662. He described the warships found in the harbour of Alger in 1662 when the Dutch squadron visited the harbour. In contrary to the book, which described the life of admiral, De Ruyter De Graaff gives more details. De Graaff saw there the Rose-pot (30 guns), admiral commanded by the Turkish captain Barbesaan, the Neptunis (30 guns), rear admiral Turkish captain Soliman Bassa, the Citroenboom (32 guns), d’Olijfboom (36 guns) and the Dortse Maagt (28 guns). Five new ships were still on stocks en one was launched, each of 40 guns. There were 3 galleys, two brigantines and other vessels. There were six ships coming out from the Levant called Stralende Son (32 guns), commanded by a Dutch renegade from Enkhuizen, the Sevenster (30 guns), commanded by a Dutch renegade from Enkhuizen, the Grote Parel (32 guns), the Groene Draak (34 guns), the Sint Pieter (24 guns) and the Witte Paard (30 guns). In the Levant to pick up the new bassa were the Draak with seven hoofden, the Halve Maan, the Dadel-boom and the Fontein of 28 and 30 guns. Due to a heavy storm on 17 December 1661 in the Bay of Alger they lost 3 prizes and 11 warships, of which some wrecks still could be seen, including the Kerk van Konstantinopelen (30 guns), the Pijnappel (34 guns), Kleine Sevenster (18 gun), the Kleine Parel (12 guns), the Dubbele Arend (30 guns), Hannibal (30 guns), frigate Algiers (22 guns), Arend (12 guns), the Granaat-Appel and two others respectively armed with 12, 10 and 8 guns.

Brandt wrote that the Algerian fleet existed of 15 frigates and when De Ruyter was in 1662 there and another 3 were launched and 4 more still on stocks and which were within a month to be launched, there were 3 galleys and the Algerians expected to built another 6 frigates within short time. During his visit 7 ships entered the harbour including the Draak, the Son, the Maan and the Gulde Vryheit.

Drie Halve Manen, 26 February 1662 the Dutch fought 2 miles of the Cape of Carthago with the Drie Halve Manen (2 metal swivels, 20 guns, 213 men and 40 Christian slaves) which was destined for the bay of Farina, 4 miles east of Tunis. She hit the beach and so she couldn’t sink deep despite the heavy shooting from the Dutch. She was boarded and captured and everything of value was taken from board. Due to the lost mainmast the guns couldn’t be taken away. Later the foremast and the bowsprit were cut away and the ship set on fire on 3 places. Partly of the crew fled, slaves and 60 crewmembers became prisoners.

List dated 1663: Sevenstar, Parel, St. Willem, Vergulde Vryheyt, Groene Draeck, Citroenboom, Fontijn, Maen, Rosende Son, Dadelboom, Witte Peert, Halve Maen, Sevenhoofde Draeck, Bloempot, Vergulde Molen, Morgenstar, Thijtis, Vergulde Son, Papegaij, Vergulde Vis, Vergulde Parel.

C. Tromp captured January 1664 the Fortuin and the Parel with 272 Algerians.

Harderin, captured by Dutch captains De Wildt and Van Zaalingen mid November 1665 in the Mediterranean. 30-36 guns, 296 men, among which were 52 slaves and 30 renegades. Of the crew more as 120 were killed. Captain was the renegade Suylayman Ra’s, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands as Jan Leendertsz.

In 1670 De Ruyter wrote to the Dutch ambassador Van Beuningen in England that he believed the Algerians could fit in those days out a fleet from 32-34 ships and frigates, 18 of these ships armed with 40-38 guns, 36, 34, 32 and 30 guns and the other ships 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 12 and 10 guns. In 1664 he saw also 6 galleys, armed with some heavy guns and swivels.

Sources

-G. Brandt. Het leven en bedrijf van den heere Michiel de Ruyter. Amsterdam, 1687.

-Dr. K. Heeringa. Bronnen tot de geschiedenis van den Levantschen Handel. Deel II 1661-1726, p. 505. RGP 34. The Hague, 1917.

-G. van Krieken. Kapers en kooplieden. De betrekkingen tussen Algiers and Nederland 1604-1830. Amsterdam, 1999.

-J.C.M. Warnsinck. Reisen van Nicolaus de Graaff gedaan naar alle gewesten des Werelds beginnende 1639 tot 1687 incluis. The Hague, 1930.

-Archief Staten Generaal no. 5563 January-May 1655 (National Archive at The Hague).

-Archieven Admiraliteitscolleges no. 325 (National Archive at The Hague).

-Collectie Aanwinsten Ie afdeling nr. 1477 (National Archive at The Hague).