(Vol. v., p. 126.)
In the hope of satisfying the curiosity of J. M., I will communicate the
information concerning Daniel Braams which I find in my family papers.
According to a genealogical tree in my possession, confirmed and delivered
13th September, 1661, by the kings-at-arms and heralds of Brabant[2],
Daniel Braems descended from an illustrious family of Brabant, a younger
branch of the Vilains, of the house of the burgraves, or viscounts of
Ghent.
During the Spanish religious persecutions, about 1550, his ancestors
emigrated from Flanders, and settled at Dover.
His father was Daniel Braams[3], keeper of the regalia of Charles I., and
in high favour at court. On Cromwell's coming to power he fled, and soon
after died, leaving an only son in childhood, by his widow, Mary, daughter
of the well-known navigator Jacob le Maire.
Mary, with her youthful son Daniel, settled in Holland, where she had many
relatives, and contracted a second marriage with Andreas Schnellingwouw.
She soon after went to the East Indies with her husband, who had been
appointed secretary to the _Schepenen_ at Batavia. Thus, Daniel Braams went
very early to the Indies, where he passed a great part of his life. He
became General Accomptant of the East India Company at Batavia, and for his
services received a gold chain and a medal.
In the family papers in his own hand now before me, he writes:
"The 29th November, A^o 1686, I set sail with my family from Batavia,
in the ship Kastricum, to return to Europe, after I had been
thirty-four years and a half in India. The 21st March, 1687, we arrived
at the Cape of Good Hope; and on the 19th April proceeded thence, with
thirteen ships. When we had reached the ... degree of north latitude,
having Ireland to the east, it pleased the Most High to call my dear
and virtuous wife to His eternal rest, on the 9th of July, A^o 1687.
The dead body was, by my orders, enclosed in a coffin and placed behind
the ship. At Amsterdam she was buried in the vault of my grandfather in
the N. Capel."
Daniel Braams was twice married in Batavia; first, with Clara Reijers, and
secondly, with a daughter of Anthonio Paviloen, Councillor Extraordinary of
India. Besides several children who died young, he left the following, all
born in the East Indies:--By his first marriage: 1. Maria, b. 1667; d.
1743; m. Philip David Uchelen, governor of Banda and Ternate. 2. Abigail,
b. 1672; d. 1753; m. Cornelis Heinsius, _Landschrijver_ of the land of
Cuyk. 3. Clara Sara, b. 1681; d. 1750; m. at Amsterdam Jan van der Burgh.
By his second marriage: 4. Johannes Jacobus, b. 1683; d. 1743. His
godfather was Cornelis Speelman, governor of India; he m. Maria
Uijlenbroek, and died S. P.