Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/300

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29


NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. in. MAY, 1917.


home,* A New Cheif for Metchlepatam, Mr Mohoon.f 3 young gentlewomen, 1 for Mr Clavell, the others for them that Can Catch them ;J 2 Parsons. Here is More newes, the Particulars I know not. Mr Wilks, More, Bagnold and Nurse being made Councellours, 11 Mr March Confirmed

  • Sir William Langhorne, Bart., who succeeded

George Foxcraft, was Governor of Fort St. George from 1670 to 1678. See the notice of him in the ' Diet. Nat. Biog.'

t Richard Mohun, who had already served the Company in India, was appointed to take the place of William Jearsey, then in disgrace with the Company. Mohun will be noticed later.

t There is some difficulty regarding the identi- fication of these ladies. In the 'Court Minutes ' of Nov. 10, 1669 (vol. xxvi. p. 289), permission was given for " Mrs. Woodroffe, who is intended to be a wife for Mr. Mathias Vincent," and a " mayd- servant to take passage in the Companies shipping for the Bay of Bengala," and " the like to " a kinswoman of Sir Mathew Holworthy, who is intended to be a wife to Mr. Walter Clavell, and for her Maidservant." In the General Letter to Hfigll, however, dated Dec. 7, 1669 (' Letter Book,' vol. iv. p. &Q7), the Court wrote : " At the request of some freinds of Mr Clavell and Mr Vincent, wee have permitted Mrs Lance, Mrs Woodroofe and Mrs Croone and two Maids to take their passage in the Happy Entrance. The two former, wee understand, are intended as Wives to Mr Clavell and Mr Vincent. Wee have a good Character of there virtues and wee wish them much happinesse." It is evident that there is some mistake in the passage last quoted. Prudence Holworthy was certainly one of the three ladies. She was Walter Clavell's first wife, and she died in Bengal in 1673, leaving one son. It also seems likely that Martha Woodruff sailed to India at the same time, and that she found Matthias Vincent married on her arrival, as his wife Mary bore him a son on Feb. 9, 1671. Martha Woodruff, therefore, probably took up her abode with the Cla veils. She became Walter Clavell's second wife, and only outlived him one day, dying, with her " little infant," at Balasor on Aug. 4, 1677. The maiden name of Vincent's wife and the identity of the third lady who went to India in the Happy Entrance have not been ascertained. Mrs. Vincent may have been a Por- tuguese, as reports were current, and were re- peated to the Company, that Vincent's house was a " great resort of Romish Priests." The third lady may either have been Miss Lance or Miss Croone, or, again, these names may belong to the maids who accompanied the Misses Hol- worthy and Woodruff.

The " parsons " were Edward Newcomb, intended for Masulipatam, and Samuel Tutchin, chaplain of the Returne. See ' The Church in Madras,' by the Rev. Frank Penny, vol. i. pp. 53-4.

|| Thomas Moore and Timothy Wilkes sailed to India as factors at the same time as Edwards. The Company's letter of Dec. 7, 1669, notifying the persons appointed " of Councell " at Fort St. George, gives Wilkes the seventh place, but has no mention of Moore. William Bagnold, as previously stated, was to be recalled from Bengal ; Valentine Nurse was to be " Ninth in the Bay."


in his place,* whome I wish Much happiness,, Mr Hallf his Second, Mr Vincent 2d of Hugly,. Mr MainwaringJ 3 of Metchlepatam, Mr Nurss 2d of Pattana, and Mr Bagnold to goe up to the Fort to be 7th or 8th there, whom I belei[ve] had rather [be]en without his Councellorship [3 words torn away] the- Company. As soon as the Cosset Arrived,. Mr Bridges Dispatcht another away imediately with the letters that were for your place, unknowne to me, soe Cannot tell whither you might have letters or noe.

Per the Next pray Send A note of the Price of English goodes with you, and allsoe Pepper. Silke longee is like to prove but A bad Comodity this year, the Company ordering None to be sent to them. Wee- are much troubled for slippers in this place,, therefore doe desire you to procure me 5 or 6 Pairs of your fasshion slippers of two or three Colours, sending them down as soon as you Can Conveniently. Mr Vincents slippers, for the bigness, will fitt exactly. I shall not excuse the trouble being to A freind and between [3 words torn away] Can [not be] accounted trouble to serve one anoth[er] and be assvir[ed n]othing you Can. Command me will be thought soe by him. that in Reallity is

Your Reall and

affectionately loving Freind

JNO. VICKERS

[Endorsed] To Mr Richard Edwards Merch[ant]

In Cassumbazar


LETTER XXXVIII.

Thomas Haslewood to Richard Edwards* (O.C. 3441.)

[Thomas Haslewood (or Haselwood) was enter- tained factor on Nov. 4, 1661. Six years pre- viously, in November, 1655, he had petitioned the Court for employment in India, urging,, as a recommendation, that he had " bene bread a Spanish Merchant." His request was,, however, refused at that time, as only one- factor was required " and hee must be one that hath bine in India." Haslewood arrived at Madras in 1662, and in February, 1663, was sent to Bengal. In 1665 he was at Kasimbazar,. where he earned the approval of the Court r


  • As Chief at Kasimbazar.

t Joseph Hall, a turbulent malcontent, elected factor on Oct. 1, 1667. He refused to take up- his allotted post.

t Matthew Mainwaring, elected factor om Oct. 18, 1667, was appointed Second (not Third) at Masulipatam.

In their letter of Dec. 7, 1669, to HQgll, the Court wrote : " Send us noe Longees, here beingr noe vent for them " (' Letter Book,' vol. iv- p. 305).