Simons Town Slave List 1816 - 1838

! Sensitivity : It is crucial to handle this database with care and a strong sense of responsibility. Many of the terms used were originally assigned by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) and often do not reflect how individuals and groups identified themselves. The terms themselves can be misleading, as they oversimplify the complex social realities experienced by people at the time.

This database may also contains terms that are considered derogatory, offensive, or harmful. The concepts within it are deeply connected to a history of colonial violence, enslavement, and racism that persisted both during and after the VOC's existence.

The database primarily contains records of slave registrations that were made mandatory by the British from 1816 onwards. Slave names were allocated by the slave owner. Names were often re-used by an owner and children of the same slave parents were often named for a slave child who had passed away. 

Simon's Town is a South African naval port with a rich history. In 1687, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) identified the bay as a safe winter anchorage, and by 1743, a small settlement was established. This community, initially called Simonsvlek, was a seasonal home for a diverse mix of traders, soldiers, sailors, and slaves.

British and South African Control

After the British took control of the Cape, the Royal Naval Base was moved to Simon's Bay in 1814, and the town was renamed Simon's Town. The town grew quickly, serving as a key naval base for the Royal Navy for 143 years. The base was handed over to the South African Navy in 1957.

A Melting Pot of Cultures

The town's history under both the VOC and the British created an incredibly diverse population. People from all over the world settled there, including:

• Indigenous Khoisan peoples

• Slaves brought from across Africa and Asia

• European settlers, soldiers, and tradesmen

• West African Kroomen (primarily sailors from the Kru people of Liberia) and East African Seedies (primarily African Muslim sailors, often former slaves), who worked for the Royal Navy

• Islanders from Tristan da Cunha and St. Helena

• Xhosas from the Eastern Cape, who arrived in the 1890s to work on the railway and dockyards

• Indian, Chinese, Italian, and British artisans and businessmen

• Jewish families who lived in the town from the 1880s to the 1950s

For many years, this community was known for its harmony. However, in 1967, the government's Group Areas Act declared Simon's Town a white-only area, leading to the forced removal of all people of color. This act devastated the town's unique cultural heritage.

Slavery was abolished by the British at the Cape on 01 December 1834 but slaves had to serve a four year "apprenticeship".  On 01 December 1838 all forms of forced labour was ended and slavery officially came to an end. Where no exact birthdate is given, the stated year of birth is an approximation by the slave owner.

Slave records - South African National Archives

Archive copying by Lara Seaward

Info: https://simonstown.org

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