PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN, (NORTH SULAWESI)— The British colonial presence in North Sulawesi stands as one relatively brief historical episode compared to the long era of Dutch rule. Even so, this period left behind important archival records and documents that serve as valuable sources for understanding the political dynamics and administration of the region in the early 19th century.
In early March 1797, two British warships — Resistance under Captain Edward Pakenham and HMS Orpheus under Captain Henry Newcombe — arrived in Manado. On March 4, 1797, Dutch Resident in Manado, George Frederik Durr, formally surrendered the territory to Captain Edward Pakenham, marking the beginning of British influence in the area.
One key historical artifact from this period is the contract executed by King Salomon Ponto of Bolangitang — also referenced in some records as King Salmon Muda Ponto — alongside the kingdom’s Bobato and high officials. The document was signed in April 1811 before Charles Forbes, British Resident in Manado, at Fort Nieuw Amsterdam.
A clause within the contract states:
“All previous contracts held and sealed with the Company shall be lifted and no longer hold sway… instead, we place ourselves under the British flag.”
The statement reflects the political stance of the Kingdom of Bolangitang, formally ending prior treaty ties with the Dutch East India Company and placing itself under the protection of the British administration.
According to historical accounts cited by Prof. H.T. Usup, King Salomon Ponto had also signed a contract with the VOC (Dutch East India Company) in 1793. This indicates the Kingdom of Bolangitang maintained intense diplomatic and administrative relations with successive colonial powers operating in North Sulawesi.
The April 1811 contract holds high historical value as a surviving record of relations between local North Sulawesi kingdoms and the British colonial administration. The document was directly sourced from the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) collection and documented by Iftiqar S.A. Ponto — a descendant of King Salomon Ponto — together with G.R. Babay on November 20, 2024.
Unlike the Dutch, who ruled for an extended period, British governance in North Sulawesi was relatively short-lived, leaving fewer archival traces. Consequently, the existence of King Salomon Ponto’s 1811 contract represents a vital resource for researchers, historians, and the public to understand governance conditions and political ties during the British colonial era in the region.
Under the 1814 Treaty of London, Britain was obligated to return several colonial territories to the Netherlands. The transfer was not immediate, however, taking several years due to administrative and political factors. Effective restoration of authority in North Sulawesi was only completed in 1817.
As part of preserving the archipelago’s history, documents such as this contract are viewed as a vital heritage asset — to be studied, documented, and introduced to present generations as part of the nation’s collective memory.
References:
– National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI)
– Adrianus Kojongian, Jelajah Sejarah Manado
– Prof. H.T. Usup
– Malesung.com
