October 17, 1985

This conversation took place with Tante Nel Nikiulu, mother of Prof. Albert Nikiulu.  We were sitting in their old home, in Silale, near Wai Haum, Ambon.

this house was formerly the property of the Sosilisa family.  Mr. Sosilisa, head of the house, was "Guru Besar," but Nel isn't sure if this means a school teacher or a religious teacher.  His good friend was Rev. (Dominie) Kamp, who became known as the apostle to the Moluccas.  His (Sosilisa's) older sister married the king of Ulat.  This king of Ulat was Oom I's (Oom I is nel's father) ancestor.  Oom I's father lived at Tanah Tinggi, Ambon.  The king of Ulat may have been his (Oom I's father's) grandfather.

Back to Sosilisa, Sosilisa married a Miss Vigeleyn, where Albert gets his family name.  Miss Vigeleyn had no children.  So Sosilisa left all his possessions to the children of his older sister, who married the king of Ulat.  But he asked that the family take the name Vigeleyn, in honour of his wife.  This change of name was granted by the Queen of Holland.  That was given to Oom I's father, Karel Nikiulu.  Karel and his brother, the officer who died in New York, were given the family name "Vigeleyn - Nikiulu."

Sosilisa also had a child by another union who took this name (Vigeleyn - Nikiulu).

This house was built before 1800.

The rich people of Ambon before the war included Ong Ki Hong, Koh Ong Gim, Que Tem Siu.

Mr. Que's son, Henky, was butchered by the Japanese, leaving three sisters, who live in Makassar.  Their property is next door to here.  They had a very large house.  His wife's father was "Kaptein Cina."  Their home was in kampung Cina.  That area has now all been sold, and little shops set up.  Their house was beside the big pit, on the right hand side of the road as you went down to the bazaar.