Anna Bok

NB. Speculation and Comments of Jan Neelmeyer are in Italics.

1672 or 1676 - possibly born in Bangkalan, East Java, Indonesia? More likely she came from the area Myanmar/Laos'

Before 1698 6 5 - Anna came into the possession of Cornelis Keeleman in the Bay of Bengal.

1698 6 5 After arriving in Cape Town Anna was sold by Cornelis Keeleman (VOC ships captain) to Gerrit Hendrik Meyer (barkeep). Anna was put to work in the bar and became known by the nickname "Groothenning". Therefore; Anne Groothenning van Bengal.

If Anna was born in 1676, (age 22 in Cape Town), she may or may not have left children where she was captured and made a slave.

If Anna was born in 1672 (age 26 in Cape Town), then it seems likely that she was the victim of the Dutch policy of capturing owners of property and selling them off as slaves thereby acquiring their property. She may or may not have left children where she was captured and made a slave. Her life in South Africa seems to indicate that she was an intelligent person who made the best of her situation. Did she come from a wealthy family?

1700 circa - Jacob II Mariek born before Anna was given to Hans Kaspar Geringer..

1702 7 20 - Anna sold by Johann Lorenz (blacksmith) to Christian Weinoch.(free black farmer?) (born circa 1688 m Halberstadt, Scahsen-Anhalt, Germany)

1703 circa - Christian Wienoch sold all his property, including Anna, to Johann Lorenz and Anna was "given" to Hans Caspar Geringer because Johann (Jan) Lorenz "did not want Anna".

From circa 1703 until 1709 8 27 when Anna and her four children, Michiel, Maria, Catryn and Johanna, were manumitted, they were the property of Hans Kaspar Gerirnger. (Jacob II Mariek excluded)

1713 2 5 - NGK Cape Town records show that Anna Groothenning van Bengale, (Anna van Bengale, Anna Groothenning van Bengaalen), was married to Christiaan Bok.

1719 - Anna died later.