when the Dutch possessions in South America were ceded to Portugal,
left their adopted country, where they, for a brief span of years
enjoyed all the privileges of their fellowmen. Many were so much
attached to American soil that they dared remain, despite the edict of
banishment, in Brazil and elsewhere.
In Dutch Guiana, a thrifty colony was formed as early as 1644,[55]
two years after the influx and settlement of Amsterdam Jews in Brazil
under Aboab and Aguilar. These were undoubtedly the original colonists
of Brazil. This colony soon increased by a second settlement of
Jews hailing, likewise, from Brazil, who were undoubtedly persuaded
to migrate thither by their Dutch co-religionists in Cayenne. The
President of the West Indian Company, recognizing their influence as
a commercial and political body, granted a most liberal charter of
rights[56] in 1659 (September 12th), wherein freedom of thought, and
liberty of conscience and worship were duly accorded to them through
their able representative, David Nassy, a native Brazilian, who, by
force of his personality, culture and intelligence, was destined to
play a most important part in the political and social development of
this and other colonies subsequently formed in the Guianas. So enticing
was this generous programme, that already in the following year, 1660,
152 Jews of both sexes,[57] embarked at Livorno, Italy,[58] bound for
the land of freedom, where they arrived in the ship _Monte del Cisne_,
having set sail on the memorable 9th day of Ab (August) 1660, in order
to build up their temple under more favorable auspices in another
hemisphere.[59]
Among their number was the famous Spanish poet and historian De
Barrios (see above), to whom we owe many important items of early
American Jewish history. His visit to America was not a happy one,
for shortly after his arrival his wife, Deborah, died in Tabago (West
Indies).[60]
The continuous wars between Holland and Portugal caused the colonists
no little grief and annoyance. The frequent devastations of the French,
too, who were equally zealous and greedy for conquest, gave them so
much anxiety that they decided to transplant the colony to Surinam--a
plan which was carried out on May 15th, 1664.[61]
As the writer is engaged in compiling an extensive work on the Jews
of Surinam he refrains now from entering into details concerning their
early career. Suffice it to say that the spirit of their Dutch masters
followed them thenceforth for more than a century and a half. The
English government then ruling the colony, true to their traditional
standard of tolerance ever since the days of Cromwell and Menasseh
ben Israel, endowed them with equal civil rights and granted them not
only full exercise of their religion, but excused them from public and
military service on the Sabbath day. The document is a precious chapter
in the history of religious liberty in America. It was published
recently by the present writer.[62] Without further prolegomena, we
desire to introduce one of the members of the famous family of Nassy,
all of whom fully deserved the distinction of nobility implied in their
name,[63] for their bravery and statesmanship.
History records the estimable services of Samuel Nassy, who but for
some unlucky circumstance would have occupied the highest official
position in Surinam. De Barrios, who probably knew him personally,
remembers him in the following words: "_Del pueblo de Sariñam Samuel
Nasi (sic) Señorea El coraçon con los dones y et estudio con la
ciencia._"[64] Dr. Kayserling, in a recent article says: "Of great
influence upon the free development of the colony, as on the condition
of the Jewish inhabitants, was the activity of Samuel Nasi, a talented
and scientifically trained man, who is designated as 'Citizens'
Captain,' and was a candidate for the position of governor."[65] It is
said that Governor Aerssens, with whom the Jews of Surinam had some
little difficulty,[66] sealed a treaty of peace with the Indians, who
molested the early settlers quite often, and in order to make it of
a more durable character, he formed an alliance with the chieftain's
daughter.[67] While he lived there was no disturbance at all, but
almost immediately after his death, the savage tribes returned to their
former aggressive attitude and made a furious onslaught on the colony.
With the help of the Jewish inhabitants, who were headed by Captain
Samuel Nassy, the Indians were promptly repulsed.[68]
Nassy soon acquired influence and prominence among his co-religionists
in particular. He strove to introduce a few necessary reforms in
ritual and ceremony--the first traces of the reform movement in
America--especially in the abrogation of certain festivals which were
perhaps too burdensome to the community. It seems, however, that in
this he met with considerable opposition, although he had the sanction
and support of the Rabbis in Amsterdam, with whom he corresponded.[69]
The authority with which he was vested by reason of his executive
ability and earnest zeal soon diminished with the arrival of the
newly appointed governor, Heer Van Scherpenhuizen, the successor of
Aerssens,[70] a fact which tended much to embitter his days and aroused
sharp controversy between him and his rival. He had the satisfaction of
being instrumental in his recall soon after his accession.[71]
Nassy flattered himself that his personal influence was necessary
to the welfare and prosperity of the colony. And he was right. The
Jews relied so implicitly upon his counsels and were so certain that
he would be proclaimed governor, for he enjoyed the esteem of Jew
and Gentile alike, that it was an unpleasant shock to them all when
quite another person, comparatively unknown, was chosen in his stead.
It is, therefore, not surprising that Samuel Nassy, seeing the loss
of his public prestige, thought fit to betake himself to Amsterdam,
unwilling to remain in a country which owed all its present affluence
to his sterling honesty and wise management, and was yet so slow in
showing its gratitude to the able statesman. His disappointment and
dissatisfaction in not succeeding Heer Van Sommelsdyk as governor
infected the whole Jewish community. The rupture which eventually
followed between the Jews and Governor Scherpenhuizen resulted in the
latter's removal.[72] This was chiefly occasioned by the unfriendly
treatment of the Jews at the governor's hands, who, seeing in them only
the partisans of his former rival, took care to harass them with unjust
taxation. This exasperated them so much that they lodged a complaint
against him with Baron de Belmonte and their "Citizens' Captain" Samuel
Nassy, both in Amsterdam, and demanded the immediate recall of their
prejudiced governor from the State-Council. Strangely enough, Nassy's
influence was still powerful, for he was replaced, in 1696, by another
governor, Paulus van der Veen by name, shortly after the petition was
filed. Scherpenhuizen embarked for Holland. Having been taken prisoner
by the French on his way thither, he arrived there only after several
months. Hardly had he landed at Amsterdam, before he was arraigned by
Samuel Nassy before the civil court and he was compelled to vindicate
his conduct.[73] The record of that trial and defense, in which Nassy
took a leading part, is still extant, published in 1697.[74]
IV.
DEFENSE OF THE JEWS IN SURINAM AGAINST THE FRENCH IN 1689 AND 1712.
The loyalty of the Jews to their new settlement is unparalleled in
American history. Every emergency found them ready to show their
allegiance to Holland. Thus, when in 1689, a French fleet, under
Admiral Cassard, made a sudden attack on the colony, they were met with
brave resistance by the Jews. Van Chattillon, son of the previous
governor, displayed great heroism on this occasion.[75] Two Dutch
historians make mention of the valor of the Jews. Verburg and Fr. Holf.
Merkurius relate in their _Histories of the East and West Indies_,
that "after the death of Governor Aersen (_sic_) and the arrival of
the new representative Scherpenhuizen, word was received that a French
fleet was nearing Surinam. All soldiers and sailors were ordered out
and summoned to appear at the fort. The call was obeyed by the Jews,
of whom there were many in Surinam, and despite the fact that it was
a Sabbath day, they fought valiantly for their colony. Two letters
eulogizing their action in the matter were sent to the Society _Felix
Libertate_, by a worthy citizen, H. L. Bromet, who lived for many years
in Surinam."[76]
The colony, unmolested by strife and war, soon began to thrive and
prosper. Their respite was of short duration, however, for already in
in 1712, Admiral Cassard, at the head of another powerful squadron
advanced upon the settlement. A fierce attack made in June, 1712,
was manfully repulsed. In October of the same year, Cassard's fleet
again appeared on the coast, and endeavored to sail up the Commawine
River. The inhabitants, and particularly the Jews, under Captain Isaac
Pinto[77] offered a stubborn resistance, and although they fought
valiantly, they could not prevent the enemy from landing, bombarding
the city of Paramaribo, and devastating the country. The treaty of
Utrecht sealed soon after between the French and Dutch put an end to
these vagaries.[78]
A recent writer on American Jewish history says: "In the war against
the French in 1689, members of the families Pinto da Fonsera (read
_Fonseca_), Arias, Naar, De Brito and D'Avilar fought valiantly."[79]
V.
SUPPRESSION OF NEGRO-REVOLTS BY THE JEWS OF SURINAM (1690-1772.)
Hardly were the colonists freed from the depredations of the French
before danger menaced them from another direction. An anonymous writer,
cited by Hannah Adams,[80] says: "The great check to the prosperity of
Surinam has arisen from the inhabitants being exposed to the invasion
and lawlessness of the Maroons, or runaway negroes, who have formed
several communities in the inaccessible parts of the woods, and were
the most implacable and cruel enemies of the colonists. _The Jewish
militia have often signalized themselves against them, and have been
of great use to the colony_; one-third of whom were of this (Jewish)
nation."
Already in the year 1690 the negro slaves on the plantation of a
wealthy Jewish landowner, _Machado_, rebelled against their master and
murdered him. Governor Scharphuizen, who entertained bitter feelings
against the Jews, refused to lend them the slightest assistance, so
that they were thrown entirely upon their own resources.[81] More than
once the Jews, exasperated by the governor's neglect, took matters
into their own hands, and defended themselves with great success. The
negroes, nothing daunted by this spirited show of resistance assumed
a still more threatening attitude, their numbers, and hence their
audacity, increasing more and more each day. The natives knowing
full well that their advantage lay in their endurance of climate and
similar local circumstances, understood how to utilize the fact to
their benefit, and during the following years harassed the colony very
much. This state of affairs, however, could not last long. In 1730 a
desperate effort was made by the Jewish militia, which was determined
to punish the slaves, under the lead of an under-officer followed by
fourteen volunteers and thirty-six negroes. They exhibited no little
courage and bravery in the taking possession and guard of an important
post situated in the vicinity of the devastated negro villages.[82]
This determined stand of the Jews did not, by any means, intimidate
the lawless hordes who were intent upon rebellion and plunder. On the
contrary it only roused their anger all the more. In 1731 it was again
deemed imperative to check their depredations. The Citizens' Captain
_Boeyé_ and the spirited David Nassy, (who more than any one else
before and after him worked for the prosperity of Surinam) were chosen
leaders of this campaign. David Nassy is described by historians as
a man of power and integrity. He is said to have drilled the negro
slaves on his plantation so thoroughly for such enterprises, that his
co-operation was of the utmost necessity. He was the nephew of David
Nassy who first settled in Surinam and received (in 1659), the famous
charter of privileges to settle in Cayenne.[83] (See above.) It seems
that he entertained friendly relations with his negro slaves who, in
1717 were offered perfect freedom by the Political Council (_Raad van
Politie_) if they volunteered to fight against the Maroons, who made
frequent assaults on the colonists. Already in the year 1718, Nassy
enlisted in the Jewish Corps, commanded by Captain _Jacob D'Avilar_,
and distinguished himself in a combat of a similar nature. So impetuous
and brave was he in battle that he was speedily promoted from a regular
to the office of Lieutenant, and later to that of Captain of the Jewish
Citizens' Company (_Kapitein der Joodsche burger compagnie_). He was,
therefore, well qualified by dint of personal bravery and diplomatic
skill to take so important a part in the expedition against the Maroons.
In the present campaign he was not less fortunate and heroic.
Undaunted by the treacherous trick of Boeyé, who abandoned him in the
middle of the fray, he attacked the foe in their own retreats, killed
several and took as many more prisoners. Boeyé, who was his envious
rival, fearful perhaps of the consequences of his own cowardice,
accused Nassy of indiscretion and disobedience, but so universal was
the esteem and sympathy felt for the latter, who had before earned
laurels on the field and was thought incapable of such folly, that he
had but little difficulty in proving his innocence. The result was
that Nassy was honorably acquitted, whilst his jealous rival, the real
culprit, was duly punished. He added to his fame most decisively by
this new stroke of bravery and military prowess and had the honor of
being praised and glorified by the Spanish-Jewish poetess _Benvenida
Belmonte_,[84] who composed a fitting eulogy in verse on his deeds of
valor.[85] Nassy was the second South American Jew, whose nobility
of character and state services were commemorated in Spanish-Jewish
literature. (Cp. _supra_, rubric II, on Abraham Coen of Brazil.) His
generalship and scientific tactics were called into requisition about
two decades after his above detailed victory, in another expedition
against the marauding band of negroes, who troubled the peace of the
colony for nearly a century at various intervals. As previously noted,
in the case of Machado, anno 1690, the slaves of another wealthy Jewish
planter, _Manuel Pereira_, rebelled against their master, in 1738,
and, thinking to shake off the yoke of slavery, cruelly murdered him.
Hereupon, _Isaac Arias_, a former officer of the Jewish militia, who
lived in the victim's neighborhood, sent out a detachment of Jewish
volunteers, headed by _David Nassy_ and _Abraham De Brito_, to wreak
vengeance upon the rebels. The troops remained away for six weeks in
the enemy's camp,[86] and it began to be feared that they were utterly
routed and destroyed, when the company returned, bringing with them
the trophies of a most successful onslaught made against the Maroons,
namely six hands severed from fallen negroes, and forty-seven prisoners
of war.
As a reward for their bravery every officer received from the Council
(_Raad_) 75 f. (florins?); every citizen (Jewish regular) 36 f.; each
armed negro 20 f.; and each colored man who was in needy circumstances,
5 f.[87]
Five years later, in 1743, brave old Captain David Nassy, who had
conducted thirty like expeditions against the Maroons, sallied forth
for the last time to fight for his people and, according to some,
to die on the battlefield the death of a hero.[88] This time he
was arrayed against the Creoles, who by reason of their more acute
intelligence and culture (having been long associated with Europeans)
were yet the most dangerous of all their foes. Endowed with a noble
Macabbean spirit, he fell like his ancestor Matathias, in the moment
of victory. It was on the _Day of Atonement_ that the venerable sage
and warrior sallied forth to war. It must have been urgent indeed, for
David Nassy regardless of the solemnity of the festival put himself at
the head of his trusty men, crossed over the Surinam River; penetrated
further inland; pursued the enemy, set their huts ablaze; tore their
fruits out of the ground; killed many on the spot and dragged about
forty slaves along with them as captives. Nassy, who had already passed
his three score years and ten, fell a victim to the treachery of his
foes. It was told him that the negroes had poisoned all the wells in
the village, so that he was compelled to turn homeward, in order to
quench the burning thirst which afflicted him and his troops, without
awaiting the orders of the Council. This most natural step gave his
opponents a good excuse for lodging a complaint against him with the
authorities, who are usually ready to listen to malice and dispute. His
defense was scarcely heard and he was pronounced guilty. Such wanton
ingratitude the good old soldier hardly expected as a reward for his
services for the welfare of his fellowmen. Bitter disappointment and
grief undermined his health. He was seized with fever, and soon after
at the age of seventy, or thereabouts, death released him from his
sufferings. With him died the flower of the Jewish colony, an Israelite
indeed, in whom there was no guile. His co-religionist, _Isaac
Carvalho_, was chosen Captain of the Jewish Citizens' Company, in his
place.[89]
A few years later, a treaty of peace was made with the Western
Maroons, who were getting more and more perilous to the safety of
the colonists. But a new danger threatened them from another side.
In 1749 the Maroons in the east, known as _Tempati (?) Negroes_
(_Tempati-negers_), broke forth in mutiny, plundered a plantation
completely and carried off all the negro slaves who lived there. This
plantation (as in fact all others in Surinam) belonged to a Jewish
landowner, and was called _Auka_. Henceforth the insurrection which
originated there was named after the _Auka-negroes_. Against these
marauders, an expedition, partly under the Christian chief, Rijsdorp,
and partly in command of the Jewish captain, _Moses Naar_, was
organized and dispatched in 1757. It deserves to be mentioned, by the
way, that this was Naar's _seventeenth campaign_ against the Creoles.
The result of this undertaking was likewise favorable. Naar burned down
a whole negro-village, made a number of captives, among them being a
certain Corydon, the leader of the insurrection. For his bravery and
skilful capture he was presented with a worthy gift by the Council.[90]
We are informed by David J. C. Nasi (or Nassy), the third descendant of
the original settler of Surinam, who compiled with other intelligent
men of his age, an exhaustive and comprehensive chronicle of the
Jews in Surinam in French,[91] that already in 1750, _Moses Naar_
and _Gabriel de La Fatte_, in recognition of their active zeal in
suppressing a revolt of the negroes in their colony, were presented
with silver cups and a vote of thanks from the government.[92]
The fame achieved by his co-religionist, _Naar_, so enthused and
electrified the young and ambitious _Isaac Nassy_ that he was eagerly
anticipating another outbreak on the part of the Maroons, in order to
show his courage and reckless heroism. The impetuous youth met with a
noble, but pathetic end:
Thinking that against a well-regulated army, however small, no valor
or charge of the negroes could possibly prevail, he hastily collected
twelve of his followers upon the rumor of their approach; armed his and
their most trusty slaves; provided himself with the barest necessities
of war, sufficient for about ten or twelve days, and pursued the
retreating foe with an ardor which, if imprudent, is at least a virtue
in one so young and war-thirsty. He was, however, suddenly confronted
by a much more considerable number of negroes than he reckoned upon.
His little band stood ground but for a short while. Nassy himself
displayed great bravery, and although severely wounded by a rifle shot
in his right limb, he began to fight with a still more marvelous energy
in order to rally his terrified men and to re-arouse their fleeting
courage. But in vain. He was captured alive by the sanguinary horde and
brutally murdered. Two of their chief officers and twenty soldiers fell
with him on the battlefield.[93]