M, #15935, b. before 1663
BirthOrigin* Claas was from Bengal and was perhaps born there before 1663. Van Bengale - or from Bengal - was a term loosely applied during the period of VOC dominance to enslaved or formerly enslaved people from any of the countries bordering the Bay of Bengal. He was said to be 30 years old in 1693.1
Slave Emancipations On 20 October 1692 Claas van Bengale was emancipated by Albert Coopman, on condition he serve Coopman faithfully until 1 July 1694. However his emancipation was rescinded six months later on 29 Apr 1693 because he had interalia "disrespected" his master, as recorded by Coopman: Nadat Claas ‘n tyd gelede teen sy heer en meester ongehoorsaam was, hom oneerbiedig en ondankbaar gedra het, en hom deur dronkenskap, dobbel, slaan en smyt die beloofde Vryheid onwaardig gemaak het, verklaar hy dat Claas van Bengale voortaan weer ten volle in slawerny sal verkeer en daarom word hy aan vryburger Hendrick Bouman vir 400f verkoop. As stipulated, he is sold to Hendrick Bouman for f 400.2,3