MRP: 30th March 1663, Letter from Thomas Rastell to Sir GO, London

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30th March 1663, Letter from Thomas Rastell to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX, f. 68

Editorial history

02/06/09, CSG: Completed transcription
14/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki






Abstract & context


Thomas Rastell wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated March 30th, 1663, sent from London.

Rastell was a former President of the English East India Company at Surat (XXX-XXX), under whom George Oxenden had served.

In this letter from Rastell to Sir George Oxenden, Rastell refers to Charles Smeaton ("Mr. Smeaton"). Charles, the son of Charles Smeaton senior, had been employed as a factor together with Gerald Aungier, Charles Proby, Thomas Stiles, Streynsham Master, Charles Bendish, Richard Hardres, and Henry Oxenden and others, at the start of the 1660s.[1]



Suggested links


See Charles Smeaton will



To do


(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL



Transcription


This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX, f. 68]

I pray S:r pardon y:e trouble I give you of these lines &, y:e further trouble I begg from you of a few words in answer, it is to know if ?Girden [Firdon?] Brok:e[2] [OR Broke:s] hath satisffied either to yo:e selfe or to M:r Smeaton,[3] theare for mee y:d m:a 1329: w:ch was left w:th him by M:r Rob:t Duke[4] a:o 1659: to bee retourned to mee by y:e shipp you came home in y:t yeare w:ch I hope hee hath done w:th interest by y:d goods meanes w:ch you will have used; If not I pray S:r lett M:r Smeaton have all y:e Countenance & assistance you can give him for recovery of it, of w:ch I no way doubt & if any Capasity I can any way serve you heere I shall take it for a great favour to receave yo:r Commands, y:t I may have opportunity to show my readinesse to take any occasion to doo you service soo wishing you all prosperous success in all yo:r affaires, I kisse yo:r hand & rest

London 30:th March 1663

S:r
Yo:r most affectionate
Humble servant
Thomas Rastell



Notes


"[November 4th, 1661] The following men are entertained for the several factories in India: Richard Frances, Thomas Haslewood, Robert Fleetwood, Gabriel Tounsend, Robert Hopper, James Calthrope, Charles Bendish, Edward Harris, Joshua Bunberry, John March, Francis Minshull, Mathew Vincent, Henry Chune [Chown], George C;ay..."[5]

"The following men are entertained for Surat: John Spiller at 100/. a year to go as second to the President ; John Goodyear at 100 marks a year ; Gerard Aungeir, Charles Smeaton and Strensham Maisters, ' now at Suratt ', at 30/. each a year; Caesar Chamberlen, John Pettit, Charles Bendish, and Richard Francis at 25/. a year ; William Jones, William Blackman, Henry Chune, and Henry Oxinden at 20/. a year."[6]

"... Charles Smeaton, Senior, and John Pory in 1,000/. for Charles Smeaton, Junior…"[7]
- John Pory was the son-in-law of Charles Smeaton senior (see Charles Smeaton will)

"The following securities are accepted:….[I have ommitted text] …John Pory and Henry Hampson for Charles Smeaton"[8]

"…Aungier, Scrivener, Mathew Gray, Randolph Taylor, Thomas Rolt, Francis Cobb, Robert Barbor, Charles James, Charles Smeaton, Robert Sainthill, Streynsham Master, Ralph Lambton, Valentine Nurse, Thomas Hoskins, Richard Taylor, Richard Hardres, Richard Francis, Henry Oxenden, Charles Bendish, John Petit, Henry...."[9]

"…at Karwar (Robert Master, Philip Giffard, and Caesar Chamberlain), at Porakad (John Harrington and Alexander Grigby), and at Calicut (Charles Smeaton and Robert Barbor"[10]

"and towards the end of 1666 Smeaton and Barbor, the two merchants at Calicut, finding it impossible to satisfy the demands of the Zamorin for further loans of money, had fled secretly to Tanur, a place on the sea-coast twenty miles to the southwards, where the local chief..."[11]

"…Smeaton was to be sent to Surat as "altogether unfit"[12]

"Charles Smeaton, an "able accomptant," was sent down to keep the books and succeed Giffard (sic) as his "Second" in Council [The Bombay Council, second to Aungier], but died within two months of his appointment"[13]



Possible primary sources


PROB 11/309 Laud 108–162 Will of Charles Smeaton, Mercer of London 09 August 1662

PROB 11/324 Carr 59–116 Will of Thomas Smeaton of Merchant Tailor 06 May 1667
  1. EFI, 61-64, p. 213
  2. XXXX was XXX. See Missing faces
  3. Mr. Smeaton was probably Charles Smeaton [junior]
  4. Robert Duke was XXXX. See Missing faces
  5. 'A court of committees, November 4, 1661' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 418), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), p. 145
  6. 'A Court of Committees, December 18, 1661' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 439), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), pp. 167-168
  7. CCM 60-63, p. 146
  8. CCM 60-63, p. 161
  9. EFI, 61-64, p. 213
  10. EFI 65-67, p. 75
  11. EFI 68-69, p. 101
  12. EFI 68-69, p. 105
  13. EFI 70-77, p. 5