Berbice slave uprising

The Berbice slave uprising was a slave revolt in Guyana[3] that began on 23 February 1763[2] and lasted to December, with leaders including Coffy. It is seen as a major event in Guyana's anti-colonial struggles, and when Guyana became a republic in 1970 the state declared 23 February as a day to commemorate the start of the Berbice slave revolt.[2]

Berbice Slave Uprising

The revolting plantations (highlighted)
Date23 February 1763 – 15 April 1764
(1 year, 1 month)[1]
Location
Berbice, Guyana
Result Rebellion suppressed
Belligerents
Society of Berbice
Society of Suriname
Barbados Navy
Dutch Navy		 Army of the Negroes of Berbice
Commanders and leaders
Governor van Hoogenheim
Major Fourgeoud
Field Marshal von Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel		 Governor Coffy
Captain Atta
Captain Accara
Captain Accabre[2]

Background

The colony of Berbice was originally a hereditary fief of the Van Peere family. After refusing to pay the ransom demanded by the French privateer Jacques Cassard, the colony changed hands to four Amsterdam merchants who founded the Society of Berbice as a public company listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.[4] The colony was not very successful compared to other colonies, because it only paid 4% dividend to the stockholders.[5]

In 1762, the population of the Dutch colony of Berbice included 3,833 enslaved Blacks, 244 enslaved Amerindians or indigenous people, and 346 whites.[6][2] The Seven Years' War caused a reduction in supplies to the colony, resulting in hunger amongst the slave population.[7] In late 1762, a disease had broken out in the fort, and many soldiers had died or fallen ill.[1] On 3 July 1762, Laurens Kunckler, the owner of plantation Goed Fortuin, left for Fort Nassau. The slaves used this opportunity to raid the plantation, and hide on an island high upriver. The soldiers aided by Amerindians were unable to capture them until they had left the island on 8 or 9 August probably due to lack of food.[8]

Revolt

On 23 February 1763, slaves on plantation Magdalenenberg on the Canje River in Berbice rebelled, protesting harsh and inhumane treatment. They torched the plantation house,[9] and made for the Courantyne River where Caribs and troops commanded by Governor Wigbold Crommelin of Suriname attacked, and killed them.[10] On 27 February 1763, a revolt took place on plantation Hollandia on the Berbice River next to Lilienburg where Coffy was an enslaved man working as a cooper.[10] Coffy is said to have organized them into a military unit. From then on, the revolt spread to neighbouring plantations.[2]

There were supposed to be 60 soldiers in Fort Nassau,[11] however at the time of uprising, there were only 18 men including civilian militia in the fort.[12] As plantation after plantation fell to the slaves, the Dutch settlers fled northward and the rebels began to take over control of the region. For almost a year, the rebels held on to southern Berbice, while the whites were able to hold on to the north. Eventually only about half of the white population that had lived in the colony remained.[2]

The rebels came to number about 3,000 and threatened European control over the Guianas.[2] Coffy was installed as the political leader, and Accara was the military leader.[13] Coffy tried to keep the captured plantations operating to prevent starvation.[14] Governor van Hoogenheim asked the States General for military assistance. On 28 March 1763, the ship Betsy arrived from Suriname with 100 soldiers. The former slaves were driven back, and a camp was set up at De Dageraad ("The Daybreak"). On 2 April, 300 to 400 rebels attacked, led by Accara which drove them back.[1]

Suppression

Coffy contacted van Hoogenheim that he regretted the attack, and started peace negotiations suggesting to split Berbice into a European and an African part.[15][16] The Governor replied that Amsterdam should make the decision, and that it could take three to four months.[17] In April,[18] 200 troops arrived from Barbados, because a message was sent to Gedney Clarke, who owned seven plantations in the Dutch colonies as well,[19] and in May,[20] Sint Eustatius provided military assistance.[14] In the meantime, word had reached Amsterdam. On 21 May 1763, the Amsterdamsche Courant reported the revolt of the slaves.[21] The merchants demanded action, and six ships with a total of 600 men set sail to Berbice.[1] Field Marshal von Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was assigned to devise a plan to reconquer the colony.[1]

On 19 October 1763, it was reported to the governor that Captain Atta had revolted against Coffy, and that Coffy had committed suicide.[1] This cancelled the peace negotiations, however the colonists had already been strengthened by the arrival of soldiers. On 1 January 1764, the six ships arrived, providing the starting signal for expeditions against the rebel slaves.[1] The insurgents were being defeated.[1] Captain Atta and Accara were captured at which time Accara changed sides, and helped the Dutch to capture Captain Accabre,[15] the last of the insurgents, on 15 April 1764.[1] The Dutch executed many rebels for participating in the rebellion. The estimates vary from 75[4] to 128 (125 men and 3 women).[13] leading to the colony’s recapture by the summer of 1764 and savage repercussions. Around 1,800 rebels died, with 24 burned alive[22] Captain Accara was pardoned, and later served as a freedman with the marines under his former adversary Fourgeoud.[23] The population of the colony had decreased to 1,308 male slaves, 1,317 females, 745 children, and 115 whites in November 1764 which includes recently purchased slaves.[24]

Aftermath

Very little changed after the Berbice slave uprising. The Society of Berbice did complain about the number of executions after the uprising, however they were worried about their reputation and the loss of valuable slaves.[1] The Dutch newspapers devoted a lot of coverage to the uprising, however they quickly lost interest after the revolt was put down. The last publication was on the subject was on 19 September 1764 by the Leeuwarder Courant which published a sensationalist eyewitness account of the executions.[21]

During the fighting, Fort Nassau had been abandoned and set on fire to prevent it falling into enemy hands.[15] In 1785, it was decided to move the government to Fort Sint Andries which was renamed as New Amsterdam in 1791.[25] The Society of Berbice was in serious financial problems after the revolt, and asked the States of Holland (provincial government) for a loan. In 1773, the Society of Berbice had repaid ƒ134,815 of the ƒ786,354, and asked for a deferral of payment which was granted. There are no records that the remaining amount or interest have ever been paid.[26] In February 1765, Gedney Clarke's son[27] send an invoice of ƒ41,060 for his assistance[28] which was never paid.[29]

A couple of years later in Suriname, escaped slaves lead by Boni attacked plantations. Boni tried to get a peace treaty[30] similar to what the Ndyuka and Saramaka received in 1760[31] and 1762[32] respectively, but a war was declared instead.[30] The reason why the Society of Suriname changed their position is unknown, however people like Lichtveld pointed to the Berbice slave uprising.[33] In the mid 1770s military officers who had handled the Berbice uprising were dispatched to Suriname.[34]

1763 Monument on Square of the Revolution in Georgetown, Guyana, designed by Guyanese artist Philip Moore

Legacy

Coffy is commemorated on 23 February as the national hero of Guyana. In 1976, a bronze monument was erected in the Square of the Revolutions, in the capital Georgetown.[2] The monument has been designated as a National Monument.[35]

See also

References
  1. "Berbice Uprising in 1763". Slavenhandel MCC (Provincial Archives of Zeeland). Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. Cleve McD. Scott, "Berbice Slave Revolt (1763)", in Junius P. Rodriguez, Encyclopedia of Slave Resistance and Rebellion, Vol. 1, Westport, Ct: Greenwood Press, 2007, pp. 55-56.
  3. Smith, Simon David (2006). Slavery, Family, and Gentry Capitalism in the British Atlantic: The World of the Lascelles, 1648-1834. Cambridge University Press. p. 116. ISBN 0-521-86338-4.
  4. Beyerman, J. J. (1934). "De Nederlandsche Kolonie Berbice in 1771". Nieuwe West-Indische Gids (in Dutch). 15 (1): 313–314. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  5. "Inventaris van het archief van de Sociëteit van Berbice, (1681) 1720-1795 (1800)". Dutch National Archive via archive.org. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  6. Netscher 1888, p. 191:"Population figure is based on head money, an amount each plantation had to pay per person. New plantation were exempt for 10 years, therefore the real population figure was several hundred higher.
  7. Husani Dixon. "The causes of the 1763 rebellion". Academia.edu. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. "The 1762 revolt in Berbice". Stabroek News. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  9. Thompson, Alvin O., "The Berbice Revolt 1763-64", in Winston F. McGowan, James G. Rose and David A. Granger (eds), Themes in African-Guyanese History, London: Hansib, 2009. p. 80.
  10. "2013 anniversaries". Stabroek News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  11. Netscher 1888, p. 174.
  12. Ineke Velzing. "Video: The beginning of the Uprising". Stabroek News. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  13. Kars, Marjoleine (2016). "Dodging Rebellion: Politics and Gender in the Berbice Slave Uprising of 1763". The American Historical Review. 121 (1): 39–69. doi:10.1093/ahr/121.1.39. ISSN 0002-8762.
  14. "History: The Berbice uprising, 1763 (Sixth Instalment)". Stabroek News. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  15. "The Collapse of the Rebellion". Guyane.org. Retrieved 7 August 2020. Coffy, Governor of the Negroes of Berbice, and Captain Akara send greetings and inform Your Excellency that they seek no war; but if Your Excellency wants war, the Negroes are likewise ready (...) The Governor will give Your Excellency one half of Berbice, and all the Negroes will go high up the river, but don't think they will remain slaves. Those Negroes that Your Excellency has on the ships - they can remain slaves.
  16. Hartsinck 1770, p. 404:Original in Dutch: "Coffy Gouverneur van de Negers van de Berbice en Capitein Accara laat U Ed. Groet, laat U Ed. weet dat geen Oorlog zoek, maar als UEd. zoek Oorlog de Negers zyn ook klaar.(...) de Gouverneur sal U Ed. geefe de half Berbice en zy luye zal almaal na boven gaan, maar moet niet denke dat de Negers weer Slaven wil zyn, maar de Neger die U Ed. heb op de Scheepe die kan zyn U Ed. Slaven."
  17. Hartsinck 1770, p. 405.
  18. Hartsinck 1770, p. 408.
  19. Storm van 's Gravesande & Villiers 1920, p. 20.
  20. Hartsinck 1770, p. 410.
  21. Esther Baakman. "'Their power has been broken, the danger has passed.' Dutch newspaper coverage of the Berbice slave revolt, 1763". Early Modern Low Countries Journal.
  22. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/22/dutch-exhibition-offers-new-insight-into-berbice-slave-uprising
  23. John Gabriel Stedman. "Narrative of a five years' expedition against the revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the wild coast of South America". University of Florida. pp. 122–123. His name is spelt Okera in the book
  24. Hartsinck 1770, p. 538.
  25. "'From a Glorious past to a Promising Future'". Cofona. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  26. Netscher 1888, p. 256.
  27. Storm van 's Gravesande & Villiers 1920, p. 259:Gedney Clark had recently died, and his son arrived in Demerara to settle the inheritance
  28. Storm van 's Gravesande & Villiers 1920, p. 261.
  29. Storm van 's Gravesande & Villiers 1920, p. 22.
  30. "Boni (ca. 1730 – 1793), leider van de slavenrevoltes in Suriname". Is Geschiedenis (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  31. "The Ndyuka Treaty Of 1760: A Conversation with Granman Gazon". culturalsurvival.org. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  32. "The Saramaka Peace Treaty in Sranan: An edition of the 1762 text". Creolica.net. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  33. Scholtens, Ben (1994). Bosneger and overheid in Suriname (Thesis) (in Dutch). Paramaribo: Radboud University Nijmegen. p. 167. ISBN 9991410155.
  34. Groot, Silvia, de (1970). "Rebellie der Zwarte Jagers. De nasleep van de Bonni-oorlogen 1788-1809". Digital Library of Dutch Literature. De Gids (in Dutch). p. 293.
  35. "Guyana's National Monuments". Guyana Times International. Retrieved 27 August 2020.

Further reading
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