Permission to Post Private Message Query and to extend her offer of assistance
I am discovering stories of VOC officials who were of European, African, and Eurasian descent, some were perhaps coming from the colonial Africa and India, and they might have settled in the Spice Islands region and become "perkeniers" (gardeners who tended to the nutmeg trees).
Traces of their presence in South East Asia corresponds with the legend of the Batu Ferringhi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Ferringhi
in Penang. It also corresponds with the nutmeg story in this website: https://pala.westfriesmuseum.nl/exploitatie/exploitation-article/ which is about the nutmeg trade in the Banda Islands, which is in the area of Minahasa and Maluku, where part of my family history starts.
I'm not sure if this information reaches everyone in the community, or if it's only between you and me, since I'm still learning how to use this system. But if others can benefit from the information above, in their own familysearch, please feel free to forward it. Thank you, Ruth.
This was the original message and a brief response
Hello Ruth, thank you for your message. I am doing research into my Dutch East Indies family history, in particular in relation to Minahasa which used to be part of the Spice Islands where the cloves and nutmeg trade started in the 17th century. My research began in the Familysearch location in Amsterdam, at the suggestion of an Indisch (Indo) genealogical organization in the Netherlands that I belong to. There is a list of names of families who used to manage the nutmeg farms in that region, and the name Umboh, which is in my family tree, seems to be of West African origin. So I wanted to explore that more. I am curious about how the colonial regions of the world is connected and imagine that some people from the African diaspora might have moved to the Dutch East Indies and started new lives there. I am sorry that I don't have a more detailed information. I hope I can help others in their family research, and welcome answers and feedbacks from you and others regarding my inquiry. Thanks again.- Response:
When signed into familysearch.org, clicking on search and selecting Wiki I entered Minahasa.https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?search=Minahasa&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go&ns0=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns3100=1
Comments
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Thank you, @Ruth L Hanson for forwarding this to the group. I am discovering more about the African diaspora in the former Dutch East Indies. Some KNIL soldiers were of African descent, and here is an interesting link that may be useful for anyone:
https://afroeurope.blogspot.com/2010/10/indo-africans-forgotten-story-of-black.html
For me, this is awesome knowledge to add to my family search. My great grandmother could be a Menadonese Indo of African descent.
Others in this group might share my enthusiasm.
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