Johan van Scharphuizen

Besides Van Scharphuizen got into a conflict with Jeronimo Clifford, an English planter, who inherited through marriage the largest plantation in the colony.

Clifford wanted to leave and move his equipment and slaves to Jamaica, but was forced to stay in Suriname; he was fined considerably and while he refused to pay for seven years imprisoned in Fort Sommelsdijck.

When Clifford was released he requested the Society of Surinam and the States-General of the Netherlands for 241,894 Dutch Guilders as a compensation, but the money was never paid for unstandable reasons.

[4]) In 1691 Van Scharphuizen gave the Jodensavanne the legal status of settlement, but as a true Calvinist he forbade the Jewish planter to have their slaves work on Sundays.

Because of the high prices and the lack of fresh vegetables Van Scharphuizen allowed his slaves to sell products from their own and small allotments on the market.

[3] The rest of the legacy went to the staff, his friends Johann Frederick Baghman, a German planter and Nicolaes Witsen, executor of his will.

In his will Van Scharphuizen had also stated that his slaves only had to work five days a week, allowing them to grow and sell vegetables on Saturdays an Sundays for their own income.