Soutgen Caves

Jan Janszoon Van Haarlem was born c. 1588 in Haarlem, Holland to undocumented parents. Some claim Jan Dirckxz and Barbara Jostensed while other sources have listed Gysbert Van Haarlem and Kornelia as his parents. There are no birth records or other primary sources to support these conjectures. He first married Soutgen Caves, whom he left behind in Holland before becoming a pirate. Together, they had at least two children:

• Lysbeth Jansz b. c. 1600
• NN wife of Jacob Arrissen who accompanied Lysbeth on her visit to her father

She was left behind in Holland when Jan became a pirate.

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Deposition below is the source for Soutgen Caves as wife of Jan Janszoon van Haarlem

Deposition translated by Cor Snabel

Today October 9th, 1665 appeared before me, Laurens Baert, public notary, appointed by the Court of Holland, residing within the city of Haarlem, and, by witnesses recognized, Willem Hillbrantsz, carpenter living within this city, 72 years of age. He appeared here on request of Jan Hendricksz, administrator of the track-boats of Leiden, and has before witnesses declared and confirmed to be true and honest.

That he, the witness, [Willem Hillebrantsz, note CS] has known very well a certain Jan, who has lived during his life within this town, as he testifies here, as well that he, the depositor, [Willem Hillebrantsz] had been in the year 1620 in Turkey within the city of Algiers, before the armistice between the King of Spain and the State of Holland ended, where he, the witness stayed for about a half year and that in the same period that he, the depositor, was there, the above mentioned Jan Jansz, who was introduced at him as the executive foreman of Admiral Slimmewes of Algiers, arrived at above mentioned place Algiers, in possession of a prize taken from the Dutch, and when the above mentioned Jan Jansz came ashore, he, the depositor, had heard from others that the above mentioned Jan jansz originated from Haarlem, which made him, the depositor, associate and accompany him as a fellow citizen, who eventually asked him, the depositor, to get himself circumcised, with the addition in words, that the depositor could then sail with him to Sallee, also situated in Turkey, and that he would earn as much money as a Turk per month.

furthermore he, the depositor, declares to have come to the residence of the above mentioned Jan Jansz, who he found still laying in bed, where he, the depositor, found hanging in that same bedroom a wreath on which was attached, saying this with permission, parts of the male genitals, which were cut from the circumcised male, which was attached above the head of the bed of the above mentioned Jan Jansz, who said to the claimant (?): Look here, do you want to become a Turk now, it’s nothing more than cutting off this thingy, on which the claimant replied: no.

Also he, the depositor, declares that that when he, the depositor, was there, the above mentioned Jan Jansz was wearing a turban and furthermore he, the witness, while still being in the above mentioned place Algiers, has heard from other people who were born in Haarlem (who are now dead), that the above mentioned Jan Jansz was the “own” man/husband of Soutgen Caves, also residing in Haarlem. Also that when he, the depositor, had returned from Algiers to Haarlem, and told others about his experiences, that they answered him, that the above mentioned Jan Jansz was indeed the “own man” of the above mentioned Soutgen Caves, so knowing all this for a fact, for having heard this all and for having been present there, he, the depositor, can confirm this all here being requested.

Thus noted and done here within Haarlem in the presence of Adam Maertens and Barent Hendricksz, invited here as witnesses

Willem Hillebrantsen

Adam Maertens

the mark + is made by Barent Hendriksz