Maarten Wesselingh
VOC Junior Merchant in the East
Age of Discovery
?–1641
Maarten Wesselingh was a junior merchant of the Dutch East India Company who came to Taiwan in 1636. His work was walking: village after village in the southern mountains, noting population, headmen, who was friend and who enemy, and sending reports back to Tayouan. It was on his report that Tjaccovokang agreed to make peace with the Company.
After the Company set up a warehouse and post at Pimaba in 1638 he was sent east, buying deerskins and goods and asking about the gold said to lie behind the eastern mountains.
In 1641 he was killed in the east by men of Tammalaccauw and Nicabon. The following year Governor Paulus Traudenius came east with troops and, together with Pimaba warriors, attacked both villages. Afterwards Tammalaccauw was ordered to be subject to Pimaba from then on.
The Company eventually confirmed that there was gold at Taraboan. The vein was never found.
1636 Arrived in Taiwan and surveyed the southern mountain villages
1641 Killed in the east, prompting the punitive campaign of the next year
Maarten Wesselingh
VOC Junior Merchant in the East
Era
Age of Discovery
Lifespan
?–1641
Maarten Wesselingh was a junior merchant of the Dutch East India Company who came to Taiwan in 1636. His work was walking: village after village in the southern mountains, noting population, headmen, who was friend and who enemy, and sending reports back to Tayouan. It was on his report that Tjaccovokang agreed to make peace with the Company.
After the Company set up a warehouse and post at Pimaba in 1638 he was sent east, buying deerskins and goods and asking about the gold said to lie behind the eastern mountains.
In 1641 he was killed in the east by men of Tammalaccauw and Nicabon. The following year Governor Paulus Traudenius came east with troops and, together with Pimaba warriors, attacked both villages. Afterwards Tammalaccauw was ordered to be subject to Pimaba from then on.
The Company eventually confirmed that there was gold at Taraboan. The vein was never found.
1636 Arrived in Taiwan and surveyed the southern mountain villages
1641 Killed in the east, prompting the punitive campaign of the next year