James Dormer, Keizerlijke en Koninklijke Verzekeringskamer te Antwerpen
Item
Country
BE
Name of institution (English)
FelixArchief (Antwerp City Archives)
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Oudeleeuwenrui 29, 2000 Antwerpen
Contact information: phone number
0032 33389411
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadsarchief@antwerpen.be
Reference number
BE SA 83638
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
James Dormer, Imperial and Royal Insurance Chamber in Antwerp
Title (official language of the state)
James Dormer, Keizerlijke en Koninklijke Verzekeringskamer te Antwerpen
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
James Dormer
Date(s)
1729/1777
Language(s)
dut
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The James Former fonds comprises documentation related to his activity as a merchant and owner of an insurance company.
It includes correspondence from Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam and London with whom Former kept businesses in the second half of the 18th century. Most of this correspondence reports affairs related to the diamond trade. Some examples are the following:
IB 1719: letters from Abraham van Moses Lopes Suasso Fr. & Companhia (Amsterdam) to James Dormer.
IB 1723: letters from Aaron and David Fernandes Nunes (Amsterdam) to James Dormer.
IB 1741, IB 1742, IB 1743 and IB 1744: letters from Francis and Joseph Salvador (London) to James Dormer.
IB 1762: letters from David and Joseph Ximenes (London) to James Dormer.
It includes correspondence from Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam and London with whom Former kept businesses in the second half of the 18th century. Most of this correspondence reports affairs related to the diamond trade. Some examples are the following:
IB 1719: letters from Abraham van Moses Lopes Suasso Fr. & Companhia (Amsterdam) to James Dormer.
IB 1723: letters from Aaron and David Fernandes Nunes (Amsterdam) to James Dormer.
IB 1741, IB 1742, IB 1743 and IB 1744: letters from Francis and Joseph Salvador (London) to James Dormer.
IB 1762: letters from David and Joseph Ximenes (London) to James Dormer.
Archival history
This fonds is part of the Insolvente Boedelskamer Antwerpen (Chamber of Insolvent Estates in Antwerp) archives. This is a crucial collection of documentary heritage, which allows us to understand and analyse international relations and interactions in the Early Modern Period (1500-1800).
In the 16th century, Antwerp was one of the most important centres of the world economy, a very rapidly growing and vibrant metropolis that based its wealth on international trade, as well as on banking and communication, especially during the reign of the Habsburg emperor Charles V. In this context of rapid expansion and international trade, a very special institution was developed in Antwerp. In order to protect the interests of creditors and clients, the Antwerp municipal council ordered that, from 1518 onwards, all papers, correspondence, archives and possessions of the insolvent or bankrupt individuals or firms had to be confiscated immediately and curated by an officer of justice: the so-called “amman”.
This resulted in more than 150 archives of companies, firms, and traders, which were confiscated or guarded in the Town Hall of Antwerp. By virtue of the nature of this procedure, a whole series of snapshots of the economic, social, and cultural life and networks in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries is available in the Insolvente Boedelskamer collections. The people involved were operating on an international scale. This implies that the whole collection offers information on international relations worldwide from the 16th to the 18th century.
In the 16th century, Antwerp was one of the most important centres of the world economy, a very rapidly growing and vibrant metropolis that based its wealth on international trade, as well as on banking and communication, especially during the reign of the Habsburg emperor Charles V. In this context of rapid expansion and international trade, a very special institution was developed in Antwerp. In order to protect the interests of creditors and clients, the Antwerp municipal council ordered that, from 1518 onwards, all papers, correspondence, archives and possessions of the insolvent or bankrupt individuals or firms had to be confiscated immediately and curated by an officer of justice: the so-called “amman”.
This resulted in more than 150 archives of companies, firms, and traders, which were confiscated or guarded in the Town Hall of Antwerp. By virtue of the nature of this procedure, a whole series of snapshots of the economic, social, and cultural life and networks in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries is available in the Insolvente Boedelskamer collections. The people involved were operating on an international scale. This implies that the whole collection offers information on international relations worldwide from the 16th to the 18th century.
Administrative / Biographical history
James Dormer (1708-1758) was a merchant who studied in Saint-Omer. He was apprenticed to the trading house Porter (Bruges) and later moved to China. In 1734, he went to Antwerp, where he traded in a diverse range of products. Diamonds were his main commodity. He also set up an insurance company that carried out banking activities. His business was continued by his widow and stepson.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is organised according to the types of documents: inventory, invoices, letters (arranged chronologically) and commercial correspondence received.
Access, restrictions
The access to the collection is protected as a Flemish masterpiece. Some pieces are available for consultation only under supervision. Appointments should be made via stadarchief@antwerpen.be.
Finding aids
Finding aids available in the reading room:
James Dormer, Keizerlijke en Koninklijke Verzekeringskamer te Antwerpen. Inventory (100#2754)
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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