MRP: 4th October 1667, Letter from Thomas Stanton to Sir GO, London
Contents
4th October 1667, Letter from Thomas Stanton to Sir GO, London
BL, MS. XX, XXXX, f. 27
Editorial history
13/12/11, CSG: Created page
Abstract & context
Captain Thomas Stanton wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London, reporting his voyage back from Surat. Reaching St. Helena safely in February 1666/67, he had been engaged by shipping from Flushing, suffering some damage. Nevertheless, in early May he had safely reached the Isle of Wight. Stanton hopes to return to Surat.
Captain Stanton was most probably on the Surat to London return voyage in the ship the Return, which had been dispatched by the English East India Company for Surat in March 1665/66.[1] This voyage, together with his engagement with the Dutch or Flemings, was recorded in a monument erected in his parish church of Bungay Suffolk.
Captain Thomas Stanton, formerly commander of the good ship Returne, to and from Surat in East India, who by his indefatigable industry made ye said voyage in twelve months: the like not done by any since. In his returne he fought and beat a Dutch man of war, and brought ye said ship (to his never dying fame) safe into the river Thames." He died at Bungay 30th of April, 1691, aged 67 years.
At the time of writing, the letter writer was about forty forty-three years of age at the time of writing, just a couple of years younger than Sir George Oxenden.
Suggested links
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
(2) Look at Thomas Stanton will
- PROB 11/405 Vere 93-139 Will of Thomas Stanton, Gentleman of Bungay, Suffolk 10 June 1691
Transcription
This transcription has been completed, but needs to be checked
[BL, MS. XX, XXXX, f. 27]
London October ye 4th 1667
Right Worshipfull
After my sevurel to yo:w yo:e Counsell & ye rest of my freinds yt are w:th yo:w & r yo:w may please to take notice I got safe to S:t Hellanah ye last of Feb:ry & ye 30:th of Aprill mett w:th a Flushenman of warr yt fought w:th me 2 men & did me som other damage but through mercy we got safe into the Isle of Weight ye 11:th of May but did not dare giff our goods out if ye shipp till this day soe yt I hoope we shall come for suratt againe, w:ch will be much pleasing to me, my sonn ??Moorecroft presents yo:w w:th his services & I hope yo:w will excuse my bouldness in in troubling yo:w w:th these lines, for I was louth to lett soe good an opportunity ?slip without letting yo:w know yt I am & shall ever remaine
Your servant to command
Tho: Stanton
Pray remember me to
Henrye Munge : my
Banyan
Notes
BL
British Library, Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections: [no title] E/3/87 ff 8v-10 10 Mar 1666
- Contents: Commission and instructions to Captain Thomas Stanton for his voyage to Surat in the Return
Monument, parish of Bungay, Suffolk
"Captain Thomas Stanton, formerly commander of the good ship Returne, to and from Surat in East India, who by his indefatigable industry made ye said voyage in twelve months: the like not done by any since. In his returne he fought and beat a Dutch man of war, and brought ye said ship (to his never dying fame) safe into the river Thames." He died at Bungay 30th of April, 1691, aged 67 years."[2]
Possible primary sources
PROB 11/405 Vere 93-139 Will of Thomas Stanton, Gentleman of Bungay, Suffolk 10 June 1691
- ↑ British Library, Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections: [no title] E/3/87 ff 8v-10 10 Mar 1666: 'Commission and instructions to Captain Thomas Stanton for his voyage to Surat in the Return
- ↑ Alfred Suckling, 'Bungay', The History and Antiquities of the County of Suffolk: volume 1 (1846), pp. 119-161. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=75122 Date accessed: 13 December 2011
