Plantations existing before 1800
Fredriksnopel Isert/administrasjonen (Akuapem) 1788-1793
Jægerlyst Lather (Volta) 1790-1793
Frydenlund Meyer (Volta) 1790-1793
Fredrikssted Flindt/administrasjonen (Akuapem) 1793-1799
Fredriksberg Administrasjonen (Christiansborg) 1797- 1811
Legon Hills Meyer (Legon Hills) 1797-1803/05
Plantations existing from 1803- 1811
Fredriksberg Administrasjonen (Christiansborg) 1797-1811
Bibiase Meyer (Akuapem) 1803-1811
Ejebo Flindt (Volta) 1803-1811
Daccubi Schiønning (Akuapem) 1807-1811
X Truelsen " 1809-1811
X Jacobsen " 1809-1811
X Aarestrup " ? -1811
X Ramas " ? -1811
Plantations existing in 1824 Date of new erection
Boi ? Aarestrup 1819?
Andre M. Thonning m.fl.? 1819
Fredriksberg Administrasjonen 1821
Daccubi/Pompo Steffens (1821)/H. Svanekiær 1821
Bibiase Richlieu 1824
Plantations existing in 1831
Established/reestablished
Forsynet (Bibiase) H. Richter (trader) 1831
Den nye prøve (Daccubi) H. Svanekiær (trader) 1828?
Frederiksgave (Bikuben) Administrasjonen 1828
De forenede Brødre G. Lutterodt (trader) 1830/31
Boi Aarestrup/S.?[1](trader) 1830/31
Adancee H. Holm (trader) 1830/31
Anakobi Balck (trader) 1830/31
Myreturen Brock (gov. Employee) 1830/31
Valdermars Hvile Magnusson (gov. Employee) 1830/31
Coffeplantations in the 1840`s[2]
Forsynet (Bibiase) H. Richter
Den nye prøve (Daccubi) H. Svanekiær
Frederiksgave Administrasjonen
De forenede brødre G. Lutterodt
The first period 1788-1811
Fredriksnopel 1788-1793
Location: Akuapem, by Amanopa, a hill south of the capital Akropong.
Resopnsible: Poul Erdman Isert .[3] Isert arrived the Gold Coast in Nov. 1788 and died 21st Jan. 1789. Jens Nielsen Flindt, assistent at Christiansborg, became temporary caretaker from Febr.1789, but went home due to disagreement with goverror A. R. Biørn in 1790. There was hardly any activity after Flindt left.[4]
Products: Cotton, tobacco and indigo, but not suger due to costly equipement.[5]
Finanancing; 1795 rdl.from the fund Ad usus publicos, and in addition a note of credit for 6000 rdl.[6]
Fredrikssted 1793-1802
Location: Akuapem, approx. 10-
Responsible: In 1791 J. B. Von Rohr was hired by the Danish Government to examine the possibility for further development. Von Rohr was by that time in America. He became ill and appointed J. N. Flindt as his deputy.[8] Flindt, came to the Gold Coast in 1793, and instead of developing Fredriksnopel he moved the colony a few km`s south of the old plantation, due to the long transport from Fredricksnopel to the coast. Flindt was ordered back to Denmark in 1795, when the Government learned of von Rohr`s death. The plantation was run by supervisers until 1802, when governor Wrisberg closed down the plantation.
Products: Cotton and maize.
Finanancing: 1370 rdl. from the fund Ad usus publico, and in addition a credit note.[9]
Jægerlyst 1790-1793
Location; Cultivated land outside the fort walls of Kongensteen.[10]
Responsible; Nils Lather, Commandant at Kongensteen. Lather left the service in 1793.
Products; Cotton.
Financing; No government support, but he obviously used the african worker (inventariefolk) from the fort as workers.
Frydenlund 1790-1793?
Location; Volta, by Tbleku (da. Tubreku) ca 2 km`s west of Kongensteen.[11]
Responsible; Trader Peter Meyer. Governor Biørn asserts that it was carried through by his (Biorns) initiative.[12] Meyer left due to disagreements between him and the governor in 1793.
Produckts; Cotton and possibly sugar and rice.[13]
Financing; As above.
Prindsensteen 1793-1795
Location: Prindsensteen.[14]
Responsible: Commandant J. P. D. Wrisberg. Wrisberg became governor in 1795 and left for Christiansborg.
Products: Cotton.
Financing: As above.
Fredriksberg 1797-1811 (?)
Location: 1 ½ km`s north of Christiansborg, on Kudu Hill.
The plantation was in July 1797 of 13 or 16 "tønder land" (17.719-21-
Responsible: Governor J. P. D. Wrisberg.
Products: Cotton, local products, citrus fruits and herbal plants and other local products in 1807.[16] In 1798 Wrisberg also grew a few coffee trees.There was little activity between 1811 to the 1820`s.
Financing: Partly private and partly government fundings.[17]
Bimbia 1800-1802
Location: The island Bimbia in the Bight of Benin.[18]
Resopnsible: Governor J. P. D. Wrisberg. The project was a failure, due to a riot in 1802.[19]
Finansiering: Bought by the Danish Government.
Peter Meyer`s various efforts 1790-1811
Tbleku. 1790 - 1793?
A small area located close to Christiansborg where he grew coffee and cotton. 1797 - 1800?
Legon Hill; 1,8 km`s from Christiansborg.[20] Existed in 1806.[21] 1797 - 1806?
Jadufa; South east of the Akuapem Hills, ca.
1804 - 1804
Bibiase see below.
Products: Various attempts of growing cotton, coffee, indigo, tamarind trees, coconut palms, oranges, bananas, ginger and cassava.[22]
Financing: Private, except for Bibiase.
Bibiase 1803-??
Location: Akuapem; close by the hill Bibi south of the Akuapem Range.
Owners: In 1803 Wrisberg built several houses and planted coffe trees and fruit trees.[23] According to Meyer, this plantation, probably erected at the same time, was only a quarter of a danish mile from his plantation in (?) Jadofa.[24] The Royal plantation was probably not running after 1805 due to Wrisberg`s illness and to political unrest in the area.[25] The Danish administration gave Meyer a loan of 2000 rd in 1804.[26] In 1805 he asked for more support due to unrest which had ruined his plantation.[27] Wrisberg says that Meyer, was allowed to use the Royal farm houses as a loan, because he wanted to build a plantation close by the Royal plantation.[28] Meyer says himself that his house was ruined after the war and was subsequently allowed to use the Royal plantation houses.[29] Monrad maintanes that Meyer lived there.[30] Wrisberg left the Gold Coast in 1807, and the new governor, Christian Schiønning, erected this year his own plantation, Dacubi. It is therefore most likely that Meyer was the only planter in the Bibiase area. Meyers plantation "are prosperous", Schiønning writes in 1809.[31] He must have been reffering to Bibiase. Meyer probably kept this plantation to his death in 1816.[32]
Products: Local products, cotton, but mainly coffee up to 1811. Local products and coffee in the 1820`s -and the 1830`s.
Financing: Partly private and partly government loans.
A road to Bibiase 1803-1811
In 1803 governor Wrisberg (The Council) made a road to
Bibiase.[33] The road went
through Meyer`s plantation on Legon Hill,[34]
but was not in use after 1811. Repaired by governor Richlieu in 1825.[35] In 1832-
Ejebo 1803-1820
Location: Volta, approx. 1,5 km`s south of Kongensteen.
Responsible: Jens Nielsen Flindt was in 1800 employed as Commandant at Kongensten, provided that he would grow colonial products.[37] Flindt died on the Gold Coast around 1820. There is some uncertainty concerning how well the plantation was run between 1811 og 1820. The destillery equipment was in a bad state in 1828.[38]
Products; In the beginning he grew cotton and sugar outside the fort walls without success (1800-1803).[39] At Ejebo Flindt tried gowing cotton, sugar and coffee, but again he was unsuccessfull, even though he claimed the opposite.[40] The only success was his destillery.[41] His sister was spinning and dying cotton.[42]
Financing; A governemnt loan of 6000 rd.[43] He applied for more support in 1804, but the Government refused his application.[44]
Daccubi 1807-1811
Location: Akuapem, east of Bibiase by the steam Daccubi. Several sources refer to the plantation as Pompo.[45] The location is quite uncertain. Jeppesen says that Pompo is not Daccubi, which he claims is 2 km`s to the south of Pompo. His opinion is that Grønberg did not mark Daccubi on his map. (See Grønberg`s map) Lawrence mentions a plantation called Kpompo.[46] Wulff describes a plantation named Pampa, on his walk from Fredriksgave in 1838, to a cliff called Adjimantee. They first had to pass Bibiase and then Pompo on their way to Adjimante. The walk was 4-5 km`s.[47] The Svanekjær family told Jeppesen in 1966, that they owned a place called Pompo, but that they had never been there.[48] Pompo and Daccubi is probably the same plantation. The explanation for the confusion could be that when Svanekiær bought Daccubi he built his house at another location than Schiønning` s old house, because the latter was completely derelict.
Owners: Governor Christian Schiønning bought the land in 1807.[49]
Products: Coffe, suger and several local products.
Financing: Private means.
Location and owners: The following also had plantations or cultivated land by the foot of the Akuapem Hills[50]; The afro-european Jens Aarestrup (1755 - ?)[51] and and the Danish traders Tønne Block Ramus (?) (1776-1812), Hans Christian Truelsen (1771 - 1814) and Jacobsen (?).[52]
Products: Coffee, cotton and local products.[53] It is uncertain if some of these plantations later were cultivated. (See Boi below.) Jens Aarestrup applied for a loan in 1819 to rebuild his old plantation ruined during the war between Akuapem and Asante.[54]
Financing: Privatly funded.
The second period : 1820-1840`s [55]
Most of the farmers grew local products such as jams, maize, millies, pisang (bananas), bako (bananas) and palm trees for making palm wine. Those who obtained loans from the Government had to grew coffee in addition.
M. Thonning cultivated a piece of land north of Christiansborg in 1819.[56]
Fredriksberg 1820-1830
In 1821 Steffens started rapairing the plantation. In the
1820`s the plantation was 75 "tønder land" (
Den Nye Prøve (Daccubi) 1821-1850?
In 1821 Steffens bought Schiønnings old plantation, Daccubi.[61] Later on it
was purchased by the Svanekiær family.[62]
In 1835, Hans Svanekiær, one of Christian Svanekiærs many sons, was the owner
of the plantation. Its name became "Den nye prøve", and he cultivated 40
"tønder land" (
Products: Coffee and local products.
Financing: In 1830 the Council gave a loan of 200 rd. This loan was to be paid back with coffee.[64]
Forsynet (Bibiase) 1825-184?
Owners: Governor Richlieu bought the plantation in 1825.[65] In 1828 leutenant L. B. Meitzner bought it, and in 1829 doctor Trentepohl was its owner.[66] He had the plantation for ¾ years, when Richter purchased the plantation in January 1830.[67] He namned it "Forsynet" (Destiny). It seems as if it existed to the 1840`s, but according to governor Carstensen there were little activity there in 1843.[68]
Products: 130 "tønder land" (
Financing:
Bikuben, later Fredriksgave 1828-184?
Location: West of Bibiase. 100 "tønder land" (
Owners: Governor Henrik Gerhard Lindt bought the land in 1828.[69] In 1831 governor Ludvig Vincent Hein purchased the plantation where he build a house for government employees. Because of the warm climate along the coast, and the many diseases among the danes, it was meant as a health resort.[70] During 1832 they started to build a road to Fredriksgave (The gift from Fredrik, the King of Denmark), as Hein namned the plantation.
Financing: The Plantation was by most people called the Royal Plantation, and was run by the Danish administration.
Products: Coffee and local products.
Duration: 1828 - 1850.
Apokobi
100 tønner land (
De Forenede Brødre (The United Brothers)
150 "tønder land" (
Myretuen (The Ant Hill)
75 "tønder land" (
Valdemars hvile (Valdermar`s Rest)
It is not clear when it was erected and for how long it was run. In 1831 it was owned by assistant Magnussen.[72] Sold by public auction in 1833.
Boi
110 "tønder land" (
Adance
100 "tønder land" (
[1]
Christensen in Valkyrien, Juli-September, København 1831, p.
[2] Nørregaard (red.), 1964, p. 45-47.
The coffee harvest in 1842 was good, but their expences were high. Carstensen
maintains that Richter did not produce any coffee.
[3] About Isert see Winsnes, 1992,
Aarsand, 1975 and Hopkins, ni Iternario,
2000, p. 154 - 184.
[4] Berg, 1997, p. 50.
[5] Berg, 1997, p. 41.
[6] Berg, 1997, p. 40.
[7] Berg, 1997, p. 51-55.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Berg, 1997, p. 55-56.
[11] GTK; SGJ, no. 498/1804, letter from
Meyer, 17th May 1803..
[12]
[13] GTK; SGJ, not numbered letter from
Meyer, 17th May, 1803.
[14] GTK; SGJ no. 365/1798, letter from
Wrisberg, 6th Nov., 1797.
[15] GTK; SGJ, no. 415/1798, letter from the Council. Febr. 1798. Nørregaard, 1966, p. 281. Guinea kommisjonen, Box 1042.
[16] GTK; SGJ no. 365/1798, letter from
Wrisberg, 6th Nov. 1797. GTK; SGJ, no. 996/1809, letter from Wrisberg, 2nd
July 1809.
[17] GTK; SGJ, no. 415/1798, letter from
the Danish Council, 4th May 1798.
[18] GTK; GJ; no. 94/1800.
[19] GTK; GJ. no. 468/1804.
[20] GTK; SGJ, no. 415/1798, brev fra
Wrisberg, 4th Mai 1798.
[21] GTK; SGJ, not numbered letter from
Meyer 2nd Sept. 1806.
[22] GTK; SGJ, not numbered letter from
Monrad, 23rd Sept. 1806.
[23] GTK; SGJ, no. 996/1809, letter from
Wrisberg, 22nd July 1809.
[24] GTK; GJ, no. 502/1804.
[25] GTK; GJ, no. 595/1805, letter from
Wirsberg, 3rd Aug. 1804. There was a war between Ga and Akuapem.
[26] GTK; GJ, no. 503/1804.
[27] GTK; GJ, no. 669/1805.
[28] GTK; GJ, no. 996/1808.
[29] GTK; GJ, no. 996/1808.
[30] Monrad, 1822, p. 323."Uagtet det kongelige Anlæg paa Bibiase er forsømt, gives dog der et temmelig betydelig privat Anlæg, som har flere tusinde Kaffetræer. Det eies af den eldste Europæer ved de danske Besiddelser, en Kiøbmand Meier, som der beboer det Huus, som blev opført for kongelig Regning."
[31] GTK; GJ, no. 1124/1810.
[32] GTK; GJ, no. 1460/1816.
[33] GTK; SGJ, no. 996/1809, letter from
Wrisberg, 2nd July 1809.
[34] GTK; Gj, no. 502/1804 and Monrad,
1822, p. 320.
[35] GTK; Uddrag af det Guineiske Raads forhandlingsprotokoll, Jan. 1824.
[36] Nørregaard, 1968, p. 316.
[37] Flindt arrived in Des. 1800
together with a planter Jansen (who had 22 years of experience from the Dutch
colonies), a doctor, a master carpenter and Flindt`s sister. (Berg, 1997,ps.
72.)
[38] GTK; GJ, no. 248/1828.
[39] GTK; SGJ, not numbered, 1804. (No.
3 Littra A???), letter from Flindt 6th Aug. 1803.
[40] Ibid. See also GTK; GJ, no.
650/1805, and SGJ, no. 656/1805, letter from Thonning, 2nd Aug.
1805.
[41] Berg, 1997, p. 75. Monrad confirms
this. Monrad, 1822, p. 319.
[42] Berg, 1997, p. 72.
[43] GTK; GJ, no. 43/1800.
[44] GTK; GJ, no. 1751/1819.
[45] Letters from Meyer, Krogh, Truelsen
and Thonning, 3rd Jan. 1811.
[46]
[47] Behrens (red.), 1917, p. 155.
[48] Jeppesen in Geografisk Tidsskrift, 1966, p. 68.
[49] GTK; SGJ, Deed of conveyance of
Dacubi, 2th Oct. 1807. Not numberet letter from Schiønning, 15th
Oct. 1807.
[50] Only a few sources are describing
these plantations.
[51] GTK; Not numbered letter from
Aarestrup, (?), 1819.
[52] GTK; SGJ, no. 1124/1810, letter
from Schiønning 26th Dec.
1809, and GJ, no. 1309/1812.
[53] GTK; SGJ, no. 1346/1813, letter
from Schiønning 20th Mars 1812.
[54] GTK; GJ. No 1741/1819.
[55] The information below is partly from Christensen`s Udkast, and partly from Christensen`s Bemærkninger om de Danske Besiddelser i Guinea 1831, p. 61. (Guineakommisjonen, Box 1032.)
[56] GTK; GJ, no. 1732/1819.
[57] Nørregaard, 1968, p. 281.
[58] GTK; SGJ, no. 96/1821, letter from Steffens, 17th Mars, 1821.
[59] GTK; Uddrag af det Guineiske Råds forhandlingsprotokoll, Jan. 1824.
[60] Nørregaard (red.), 1964, p. 217, p.
259.
[61] GTK; SGJ, no. 24/1821, letter from
Steffens, 6th Feb. 1821.
[62] GTK; GJ, no. 245/1829.
[63] GTK; GJ, no. 1026/1834.
[64] GTK; GJ, no.
37/1831.
[65] GTK; GJ, no. 512/1825.
[66] DafG Skifteprotokoller 1807 - 1814. 1823., Nørregaard, 1968, p. 311.
[67] Christensen in Valkyrien, København 1831, p. 273.
[68] Nørregaard (red.), 1964, p. 46.
[69] GTK; GJ, no. 117- 118/1831. It was
then called Bikuben (Beehive).
[70] GTK; GJ, no. 629/1833, letter from
Lehmann, Thonning, mm., 3rd Sept. 1831.
[71] GTK; GJ, no. 37/1831.
[72] Magnusson`s plantation is not
mentioned in Christensen`s Draft from 1835, only in Valkyrien in
1831.
