The D'andrado Slaves: 

    Judging by some of the evidence collected, it is quite possible that the de Fonseka clans may have owned Slaves in their properties, at one time or the other. The following account from the D'andrado Papers describes the transfer of slaves as part of a dowry.

• Other elements of interest are the character of Bras de Andrado, often vilified without justification in the heat of legal exchanges, and the social customs among his kinsmen of the Fonseka family and others.

• A clear insight into the Slave System and its incidence in the domestic and social life of the past ages, is among the sidelights we glean from these papers.

• The deed of November 12, 1695, by which Bras de Andrado bestowed certain property on his daughter, provided that she shall inherit all his goods and slaves, except two lads named Kadrian and Joan who have been set free by him.

• The deed of October 6, 1695, by which Bras de Andrado bestowed certain property on his daughter, provided that she shall inherit the garden named Taladewatte and Parangiatotam, togather with two female slaves named Maria and Sabina to serve my daughter so long as she remains in this world.

• Slaves formed part of the land, and were bought and sold with the transfer of ownership of land. A slave girl bought by Thomas Pieris from Bras de Andrado, was taken over by the later “for what she had cost”, on the adjudication of the protracted case between Bras de Andrado and his son-in-law, Thomas Pieris.

  Among the documents in the possession of Mudaliyar S. R. De Fonseka were papers relating to slave transfers of the D'andrado families. The full list of documents could be found in the reference section, under 'Dandrado Papers'. The two references to slave transfers have been reproduced below.

  (1) Slave transfer in favour of Philip Manuel d'Andrado dated 12 October 1779.

  (2) Slave transfer in favour of Renaldus d'Anderado dated 9th September 1789