12/06/2026
Today, the National Archives of Aruba recognizes and commemorates the Statia Revolt of 12 June 1848 as an important part of our shared Caribbean and Dutch colonial history. The historical records that document this past are often dispersed across the islands of the Dutch Caribbean and the wider Caribbean region.
Documents preserved in one island's archives frequently contain valuable information about people, events, and experiences connected to another island, demonstrating how deeply intertwined our histories are.
The Statian leaders who stood firm on 12 June 1848 raised their voices not only for the people of St. Eustatius, but for the broader ideals of freedom, dignity, and justice throughout the Dutch colonies. Their actions resonated far beyond the shores of Statia and became part of a wider struggle against oppression. Today, their legacy continues to live on through the archival records preserved across the region, allowing us to study, remember, and commemorate this shared past.
After the revolt, five enslaved leaders, Abraham, Joseph, Prince, Oscar, and Valentine, were removed from St. Eustatius and sent to Curaçao. In January 1849, they were banished to Aruba, where they were forced to work at the government establishment of Canash*to.
Their years on Aruba tell five different stories. Abraham was considered "a dangerous man" by the authorities and was returned to Curaçao only weeks after arriving on Aruba. Joseph remained longer but was sent back to Curaçao in 1851 because of what officials described as repeated misconduct. Prince was also removed from Aruba in 1852 after an incident at Canash*to involving fellow detainee Oscar.
Oscar's fate remains uncertain. Historical records show traces of an enslaved man named Oscar on Curaçao, but what ultimately became of him is still unknown.
Valentine's story is different. Described in 1857 as a "capable young man from St. Eustatius," he remained on Aruba while the others disappeared from the island's records.
On 1 July 1863, he obtained his freedom under the name Balentien Simon. https://coleccion.aw/database/pap/show/?id=10027
He continued to live and work in Aruba, and records show him still active in the community years later. He passed away on 9 July 1877.
As being part of the Colony of Curaçao and its dependencies in the past, we remember Thomas Dupersoy, Abraham, Joseph, Prince, Oscar, and Valentine. Their courage, resilience, and determination in the struggle for freedom remain an important part of our shared history.
