Litigation as a source of information

The Concordia was a ship in the service of the Dutch West India Company. She was on her way back to the Netherlands from Curacao and Honduras. The usual route was past Havana trough the Bahama strait, due to the prevailing winds. The Concordia was wrecked somewhere of the coast of Cuba in 1744, probably due to bad weather.

Not much is known about this ship and her demise. But there are a few records. Jan van Stralsund was a sailor who served on the Concordia and who came back to Amsterdam. He testified before a notary to prove that he had sailed on the ship as a means to get his back wages for the work on the ship paid.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection

Detail of a print after Reinier Nooms, mid 17th century. The original depicts a VOC and a WIC ship. The name of the WIC ship shown here is the Dubbele Arend.