Dutch Captain: Jacob Tronquoy (Troncquoy or Turquoy)

Jacob Tronquoy apparently was a controversial figure. There is even some question as to his identity. He may have served many years as Dionijs Tronquoy, before using the name Jacob Tronquoy, starting in 1639. According to Tromp's Journal and the "Booty List", Jacob Tronquoy was a convoyer with the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Dr. De Boer had remarked that it was strange, in examining 30 years of resolutions, to have never seen the name "Jacob Tronquoy". He says that Witte de With always referred to him as "Berchem's lieutenant". Dr. De Boer says that he is definitely mentioned as Berchem's lieutenant in De Graefe's list of ships and captains in Kapiteinsjaren. Dr. De Boer was sceptical of the charge against Tronquoy in a courtmartial for mutiny. There had been a controversial mutiny on his ship in 1641 where harsh sentences had been issued. These were later reduced, but Jacob Tronquoy never did become a "Ordinaris-Kapitein".

I do know that a Dionijs Tronquoij commanded the Amsterdam flute Campen in 1628. This was a vessel of 140 or 150 lasts that carried 18 guns and had a crew of 80 men. In 1636, Dionijs Tronquoij commanded the Haerlem (built in 1623) which was a large ship of 250 lasts and carried 32 guns.

I'm not convinced that Dionijs and Jacob were the same man. I have an alternative spelling of Troucquois for Jacob's last name. He is also referred to as Jacob Troucquois "alias Schaeff". In October 1639, he was under the command of Joris van Cats at the Battle of the Downs. In 1652, he commanded the Omlandia (30 guns and a crew of 100 men) . I have a listing for him as commanding the Zeelandia in 1658, which is inconsistent with what else I have seen.

References:

• James C. Bender, "Dutch Captains", unpublished manuscript, 2004.
• James C. Bender, "Dutch Ships 1620-1700", unpublished manuscript, 2004.
• Dr. M.G. De Boer, Het Proefjaar van Maarten Harpertsz. Tromp 1637-1639, Amsterdam, 1946.
• Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, Amsterdam, 1941.
• C.R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, Cambridge, 1930.
• Dr. S.R. Gardiner, The First Dutch War, Vol.I, London, 1898.
• Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, Amsterdam, 1938.