The ''Essequibo Society'', in Dutch: ''Sociëteit van Essequibo,'' (SVE), full name in 18th century Dutch ''Societeyt ter Navigatie op Essequebo en annexe Rivieren,'' was a Dutch trading company headquartered in

Middelburg Middelburg may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Europe * Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...

, founded in 1771 and disestablished in 1788. The society was founded to preserve

Zeeland Zeeland (; ), historically known in English by the Endonym and exonym, exonym Zealand, is the westernmost and least populous province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the southwest of the country, borders North Brabant to the east ...

´s preferential trading rights to Essequibo. It went bankrupt as a consequence of the

Fourth Anglo-Dutch War The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (; 1780–1784) was a conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. The war, contemporary with the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), broke out over British and Dutch disagreements on t ...

History

Foundation

The right to trade on

Essequibo River The Essequibo River (; originally called by Alonso de Ojeda; ) is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon River, Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana border, the Essequibo flows ...

and

Demerara River The Demerara River is a river in eastern Guyana that rises in the central rainforests of the country and flows to the north for 346 kilometres until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Georgetown, Guyana's largest seaport and capital, is situated on ...

had been reserved for residents of Zeeland since 1670, a privilege that was exploited mainly by the Zeeland Chamber of the

Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company () was a Dutch chartered company that was founded in 1621 and went defunct in 1792. Among its founders were Reynier Pauw, Willem Usselincx (1567–1647), and Jessé de Forest (1576–1624). On 3 June 1621, it was gra ...

. As the trade grew in significance, the Zeeland monopoly was questioned. In reaction, in 1754 merchants from Zeeland developed a project for the establishment of an Essequibo Society. The project did not materialize at the time. In 1771,

Willem V William V (Willem Batavus; 8 March 1748 – 9 April 1806) was Prince of Orange and the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. He went into exile to London in 1795. He was furthermore ruler of the Principality of Orange-Nassau until his death in ...

finally promoted a regulation that opened up the market for merchants of Amsterdam. Zeeland retained the right to equip the first 16 ships per year. All ships had to sail from Zeeland and unload their return cargo there. In response to the changed regulations, merchants from Middelburg led by Kornelis van der Helm Boddaert founded the ''Essequibo Society'' in 1771. 185 merchants subscribed for an amount of 320,000 guilders. Other participants were

Johan Adriaan van de Perre de Nieuwerve Johan may refer to: * Johan (given name) * ''Johan'' (1921 film), a Swedish film directed by Mauritz Stiller * Johan (2005 film), a Dutch romantic comedy film * Johan (band), a Dutch pop-group ** ''Johan'' (album), a 1996 album by the group * Joh ...

, representing Willem V; the MCC, the roperies ''Fortuyn'' and ''Swarte Kabel'' and the Middelburg city government. In the first two years, six ships were purchased: ''Phoenix'', ''Planterslust'', ''Vreede'', ''Eensgezindheid'', ''Middelburgs Hoop'' and ''Westhove''. In addition, the frigate ''Essquebo Societeit'' was built and launched from the Middelburg

slipway A slipway, also known as boat ramp or launch or boat deployer, is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water. They are used for building and repairing ships and boats, and for launching and retrieving smal ...

in 1772.

Operation and bankruptcy

Merchants from Zeeland accounted for 152 voyages between 1771 and 1789. The first two financial years, ''Essequebo Society'' paid 3% dividend and retained 4,500 guilders in cash. After that year, losses were reported until 1778. After 1779 profits were again made. After the

broke out, four ships were captured by the British: ''Eensgezindheid,'' ''Jonge Juffrouw Margaretha,'' ''Middelburgsche Hoop'' and ''Vryheid''. The financial situation of the society deteriorated. In 1788 it was decided to liquidate. The debt was paid off by selling ships, so that the organization continued to exist for some time.

Captains

Captains who sailed for the ''Essequebo Society'' were: Wrister Pieterse Nap, Stoffel Different, Maarten van Lou, Barend Land, Frans Hansen, Cornelis Medendorp, Jan Clisser, Hans Theudels, Hendrik Medendorp, Rocus van Swijndregt, Andries Christiaan Doutz, Pieter Willem Prins, Pieter Harmszoon, Rocus Boom and Barend Goverts.Ruud Paesie, ‘De ‘Societeyt ter Navigatie op Essequebo en annexe Rivieren,’ 311-312.
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Sources

Literature

*A. Wisse, 'De overgave van Demerary en Essequibo in 1781', in: Historia. Maandschrift voor geschiedenis en kunstgeschiedenis 8 (1942) 191–192.
Ruud Paesie, ‘De 'Societeyt ter Navigatie op Essequebo en annexe Rivieren' : op- en ondergang van een Zeeuwse rederij ‘, in: Maurits Ebben, Henk den Heijer en Joost Schokkenbroek (red), ‘’Alle streken van het kompas. Maritieme geschiedenis in Nederland‘’ (Zutphen, 2010) 295-316.Ruud Paesie, Sociëteit van Essequebo; op- en ondergang van een coöperatieve scheepvaartonderneming, 1771-1788 (Vlissingen, 2017).P.M. Netscher, Geschiedenis van de koloniën Essequebo, Demerary en Berbice, van de vestiging der Nederlanders aldaar tot op onzen tijd ('s-Gravenhage, 1888).

Archival sources

Zeeuws Archief, Middelburg
*87 – Verheye van Citters, inv.nrs. 51d *255 – Familie Mathias-Pous-Tak van Poortvliet, inv.nrs. 314–318. *2802 - A.A. Brown, inv.nrs. 18, 25, 34, 35, 44, 55.

Footnotes

Shipping companies of the Netherlands Companies established in 1771 Maritime history of the Dutch Republic Trading companies established in the 18th century Trading companies of the Dutch Republic History of Zeeland History of British Guiana