Boston Band writes about people escaping plantation slavery

In a letter dated 11 September 1759, Governor Crommelin again argued that peace with the Ndyuka was necessary to save the colony. The campaign to force Maroon communities back under plantation...

At a negotiation recorded on 6 January 1760, an unnamed Ndyuka spokesperson defended Maroon attacks on plantations. The surviving colonial record gives the date but not the speaker’s name. The...

A record dated 20 February 1760 documents Boston Band’s role in negotiations with Dutch colonial representatives. Boston, a formerly enslaved man who had become a leader among the Ndyuka, advocated...

On 10 October 1760, Ndyuka leaders and Dutch colonial authorities signed a treaty recognizing Ndyuka freedom and autonomy. The agreement promised supplies, but also required Ndyuka to ally with the...

A colonial record dated 20 October 1760 describes celebrations in Paramaribo following the peace treaty with the Ndyuka. The celebration reflected the colonial government’s relief after years of...

In a letter dated 29 December 1761, Governor Crommelin complained about compliance with the 1760 peace treaty. The complaint shows that treaty relations remained contested and that the colonial...

A colonial archival record dated 5 February 1762 marks a successful phase in a peace mission to the Saamaka. The negotiations followed decades of conflict and an earlier failed attempt at peace....

On 19 September 1762, Saamaka leaders and Dutch colonial authorities signed a peace treaty. The agreement recognized the Saamaka as a distinct free community, establishing a negotiated boundary...

In a report dated 4 May 1772, Captain Oorsinga described how the marsh around Fort Buku made a colonial attack difficult. Buku was an Aluku settlement and defensive base led by Boni and his allies....

An eyewitness account dated 30 June 1772 describes an attack led by Baron’s forces on plantation Poelwijk. The raid formed part of the Aluku struggle against plantation power and the colonial...