Salomon Sweers

Salomon Sweers (Nijmegen, 15 June 1611 - Amsterdam, 2 March 1674) was a bookkeeper and a counsel for the Dutch East India Company. His younger brother was Admiral Isaac Sweers employed by the Admiralty of Amsterdam.

Salomon Sweers was the son of Aernout Sweerts, a member of the vroedschap, and Alida van Bronckhorst. In 1628 the family moved to Amsterdam, when his father became a representative in the East India Company.

Seventeen-year-old Salomon joined the East India Company VOC as a clerk. In 1632 Sweers left for the East, under the command of Antonie van Diemen, who protected him.

In 1638 in Batavia he married Catharina Jans, a widow from Hoorn. Together they paid a visit to their homeland. In 1640 he undertook a second journey to Batavia, being appointed to the Council of India.

Together with Antonie van Diemen, Cornelis Witsen, Cornelis van der Lijn and Joan Maetsuycker, Sweers was involved in the two expeditions of Abel Tasman. Tasman named several islands after members of the Council, as here can be seen. In 1646 he left Batavia again, after being accused of "private trade". Frederick Coyett took charge of his goods.

In 1649 Sweers bought a house on next to Johannes van Rensselaer, Patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in the New Netherlands. In 1653 he became involved in the upbringing of Jacques Specx's children.

In 1661 his wife died. In 1662 he remarried Elisabeth Bicker, a daughter of Andries Bicker. Four years later he remarried a widow in Rotterdam.

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