Mariana Franko
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Mariana Franko (28 July 1718 - 9 September, 1795) was a Dutch free person of color who was involved in a decades long court case in Curaçao and the Dutch Republic. Frank was born a slave, but was freed in 1725. She received an education and worked at a plantation. In 1758, she and her partner were accused of stealing goods and both were banished from the island. She continued the case in the mainland until her conviction was overturned in 1772, and received compensation in 1777.
Mariana Franko was born in Sint Eustatius, on 28 July 1718, to N.N. and Christina. She was born into slavery, but was freed on 1 August 1725. She was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, an oddity the Protestant community in Curaçao was almost entirely white. Franko learned how to read and write.[1][2]
Franko started working at the plantation Zorgvliet in 1752, and lived with her partner Pedro Anthonij, a slave who was also a foreman. She supervised child slaves and administered livestock transfers and earnings from products sold by slaves.[1][2]
