move there till Jan., 1680/81, when he was appointed Surgeon at Fort St. George, Mallory being sent to take his place m the northern factories. In Feb., 1681/82, he got sanction for the appointment of an Assistant, whose name has not been preserved In Jan 1682/83, the post of Surgeon's Mate being vacant, Samuel Wilmot Surgeon's Mate of the Resolution, was appointed, on five pagodas (about Rs. 17, or a little over £2) per month. Wilmot died on 7th Sept., 1687. On 25th May, 1685, Heathfield was appointed a Factor, on £15 a year, less than half his salary as Surgeon, but, of course, with better future prospects. For over two years he served as "Assistant to the Customer," i.e. in the Customs Office of the Fort. The Court of Directors disapproved his appointment as Factor, and he had to resume his former post as Surgeon from 25th July, 1687. During Heathfield's employment as Factor, Wilmot and Plummer were the two Surgeons of the Fort. Heath- field's petition for the post of Factor is contained in the Cons. of 25th May, 1685.[1]
"25th May, 1685. Doctor Heathfield delivers in his Petition, (which is entered next after this Consultation) the contents whereof is, that he desires to be entertained as a Factor in the Honble Compas service, which was considered of, and by reason we have occation for sober persons, & he understanding the Portuguese language, & well experienced in business, Itt is thought convenient and agreed to entertain him as lowest Factor att fifteen pounds p. annum, provided the Rt. Honble Compas are pleased to confirm the same, and that he attend the Customers business att the Sea side, there being none of the Rt Honble Compas Covenant servants in that place att present, & for his security he proposeth Sr Edwd Winter, Mr Edward Read & Mr Nathaniell Cholmley."
(Petition) "To the Honble President & ca Council.
"May itt please yr Honf 'twas in the year 73 that I was taken prisoner by the Dutch, with the Ship President, att which time I underwent many hardships, besides the totall losse of what itt had pleesed God to bestow upon me, by my endeavours in five years before in the Honble Compos service, & after my confinement I was then rec^ into the Honble Compas service again as Surgeon, att Mechlepatam & Madapollam, and after seven years service there, was called up to this place, where I have served as Surgeon upwards of fower years, my experience in this time and observations I have made upon the Honble Compas affaires I humbly conceive has render'd me capable of serving them in another station, which I am desirous of, in hopes of future preferment, and knowing that itt has been the Custome of your Honr &ca and other Nations to alter the
- ↑ The Cons, for 1685 are missing from the Factory Records, Fort St. George, in the India Office, but may be seen in the Colin Mackenzie MSS., Vol. LIII. They have also been published in the late Mr. A. T. Pringle's The Diary and Consultation Book of the Agent Governor and Council of Fort St. George, 1682-85; four volumes, Madras, 1894.
