MRP: 1st April 1663, Letter from John Bankes to Sir GO, London

From MarineLives
Revision as of 09:03, January 20, 2012 by Francescagreenstreet (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

1st April 1663, Letter from John Bankes to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX,XXX, f. 82

Editorial history

04/06/09, CSG; Completed transcription
14/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki




Abstract & context


The London merchant John Bankes (alias Banks) (b. 1627, d. 1699) wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London on April 1st 1663 on behalf of his kinsman, Alexander Grigsby.

John Bankes described Alexander Grigsby (b. 1638, d. 1673, at Surat) as a former servant of his, reporting that as his servant "hee was Injenyous & apt to busyeness & very honest."

Grigsby was was John Banks' first cousin; the son of his father's sister, Elizabeth, who had married Thomas Grigsby in 1622 in Maidstone. At the time of John Banks' letter, Alexander Grigsby's father was dead, having died ca. 1650, when Alexander was still a child.[1]

The first mention of Alexander Grigsby in English East India Company records is in 1658 in connection with a planned, but aborted, mission to establish a factory in China.[2] Grigsby was described then as "a youth," which matches a suggested birth date of 1638.[3]

Alexander Grigsby was later appointed a member of the eight man council at Surat, though stationed initially at the Keralan town of Cale Velha, a few miles south of Cochin.[4] Subsequently he was moved to the coastal town of Porcat with fellow factor John Harrington, where he and Harrington were located in December 1663[5]

At the time of writing John Banks was about thirty-six years old. Son of Caleb Bankes, a Maidstone merchant,[6] John Banks built his commercial career in the 1650s. Unusually for a London merchant, he had attended university, being admitted a pensioner to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in May 1644.[7] His intellectual interests continued, with election as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1668.

John Banks has been identified as one of a number of merchants by XXXX whose rise was assisted in the 1650s by close contacts with the Commonwealth government and naval procurement (CHECK).[8]

His career was assisted by marriage about 1657 to Elizabeth Dethwick, daughter of Sir John Dethicke (alias Dethwicke), London merchant and mercer.[9] John Banks successfully made the transition into the commercial world of the Restoration, as did his father-in-law, being made knight and baronet in 1661. However, Banks did not resume his political career started as M.P. for Maidstone, 1654-1659, until 1678, when he was elected M.P. for Winchelsea.

At his death in 1699, Sir John Banks gave his residence as Aylesford, Kent.[10]


Suggested links



To do


(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL


Transcription


This transcription has been completed, but needs to be checked

[BL, MS. XX,XXX, f. 82]


S:r

In y:e first place I wish yo:r health & happynesse & shall heartily rejoyce to understand y:e same by y:e next shipps not doubting but then the Comp:a expectations will bee fully answered & if you Can finde any opportunity wherein I may prove serviceable beleeve it S:r I shall bee willingly ready to serve you; as yo:r true ffreind and Countryman.

And next I wish my kindsman’s Alexander Grigsbyes[11] wellfare for whome (when I had y:e opportunity to kiss yo:r hand) I did acquaint you I had á kindness; The Comp:a haveing entertayned him upon my request, & I shall Rejoyce to understand hee prove á good servant, haveing beene soo to mee some yeares & was never sent thither upon any other acco:t than as aimeing at his prefrment I doo hope by y:e next shipp to understand y:e efforts of yo:r promised kindeness to him as knowing yo:r Countenance cann onely bee his happyness, & I may say while hee was heere, hee was Injenyous & apt to busyeness & very honest, & hope hee soo Continues By his last lres hee was at Cale Vela[12], whither to remove him, or Continue him ??replace him to any other imploym:t I wholy submitt to your good Judgem:t & long experience, it is onely my desire hee may doo well, & live to bless god, & ever show himselfe obedient too you for all yo:r kindnesse I begg yo:r favour y:t y:e inclosed may bee conveyed to him, whither at Cale Vela, or else wheare affarding [affording?] you I remaine.

S:r
Yo:r affectionate humble
Serv:t
John Banks

London y:e 1:st April 1663



Notes

Sir John Banks (b. 1627, d. 1699)


Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet (b. 1627, d. Oct. 18, 1699); English merchant and M.P. Son of Caleb Bankes and Martha Dann. He was admitted pensioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in May 1644.[13] Married Elizabeth Dethick, dau. of Sir John Dethwick, London merchant, ca. 1657. Children included Caleb, Mary and Elizabeth. Caleb was an M.P., but died before his father, in 1696. His daughter, Mary, married John Savile, and his daughter, Elizabeth, married Heneage Finch.

Appointed baronet in 1651. Elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1668.

Involved in trade with the East Indies and Africa. Governor of the EEIC, 1667-1674.

M.P. for Maidstone, 1654-1659, 1695-1698, for Winchelsea, 1678, for Rochester, 1679-90, for Queenborough, 1690-1695.[14]


Sir John Dethicke (alias Dethwicke) (b. ?, d. 1670)


"DETHICKE, John

Ald Queenhithe, 20 Jan 1648/9-5 Feb 1656/7 removed to Cornhill-4 Sep 1660 (1) St Nicholas Acon, 1634, Lime Street ward, 1640, Tottenham High Cross, Middx, 1671 (2) MER, fr, 1638, by R ("a gilt salt") (3) b West Newton, near Kings Lynn, Norf, d 31 Mar 1671, bur St Andrew Undershaft (4) Will PCC 4 Duke pr, 6 Apr, 1671 f John Dethicke of West Newton, Norf, m Alice, da of Edmund Chartres of West Newton, mar (A) Anne, da of Francis Smallpiece (Mayor of Norwich), and wid of Thomas Anguish of Norwich, (B) 1633, at Tottenham, Middx, Martha, da of Edmund Travers of London, merchant, and of Tottenham, gent, (C) Anne, da of Thomas Jolliffe of Leek, Staff, wid of Joseph Barker of St Andrew Undershaft, merchant (5) Merchant, trader to Norwich (6) Sheriff, 1650, LM, 1655-6 Kt (by Protector), 15 Sep 1656, (by King), 13 Apr 1661 (7) Treas at War, 1648 ("had 3d per £1") (8) Dissenter (9) Bro-in-law of John JOLIFFE Da Elizabeth mar Sir John Banks, the financier (MP Maidstone, 1654-9, Winchelsea, 1677/8, Rochester, 1679-90, etc) Da Susan mar Edward Rudge, merchant, MP Eversham, 1681, 1690-5, f of John Rudge, MP Eversham, 1698-1734 (10)

(1) Beaven, I, pp 194, 125 (2) Boyd 1126, MG et H, 2nd Ser, II, p 110, will (3) Beaven, I, p 125, MER, Fr List, p 145 (4) Will, Boyd 1126 (5) Boyd 1126, 14805, GHL, I'Anson MS (6) Boyd 1126, MG et H, 2nd Ser, II, p 110 (7) Beaven, I, p 125 (8) TLMAS, IV, p 149, A Second Centurie, 1648 [GHL, B's 1 2] (9) Will (10) GHL, I'Anson MS, Pink MS 304, f 91, Boyd 32311, GEC, III, p 228, Walcott, MPs Tempus Anne"[15]


Grigsby family


A genealogical web page suggests that Alexander Grigsby was born in Maidstone, Kent and christened on March 4th 1628 at Ashford, Kent. The same site suggests he died on June 25th 1673 at Surat, aged 35. This parents are given as Thomas Grigsby (b. 1599, d, ca, 1650) and Elizabeth Bankes (b. 1607, d. 1675).[16]

Elizabeth Bankes, alleged mother of Alexander Grigsby, is shown on the genealogical website as the sister of Caleb Bankes (and thus the aunt of John Bankes, who wrote to Sir George Oxenden on April 1st 1663 regarding his relative (that is his first cousin). Elizabeth Bankes marriage to Thomas Grigsby is given as June 9th 1622 at All Saints Church Maidstone.[17]


Cale Vela, East Indies


"...Walter Travers, John Harrington , and Alexander Grigsby. At Mokha: Anthony Smith. In Persia: Nicholas Buckeridge (Agent), Stephen Flower, and Edward Swinglehurst..."[18]

"...the arrivall of our shipping there, have drawne off from the factory at Cale-Velea two persons, vizt. John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, well experienced in the trade of Porcat,[19] with intention to settle them there and provide such quantities of cleane pepper, to be shipt off in October, as wee shall furnish them with stockes from hence to effect; and have left only two persons at Cale_Velea, for..."[20]


English East India Company

EEIC, 1655-1659


"[January 12-13, 1658] For China : William Garway (to go there and settle a factory and then return as Agent for Persia if he so desires) to be Chief, Charles Goldsmith second, John Edwards third, Rowland Garway fourth, and Alexander Grigby, a youth."[21]

"[March 5, 1658] The names of Rowland Garway, Edmund Percivall, and Alexander Grigby to be put in the commission now ordered to be drawn up for the Welcome, as they are upon occasion to advise with Captain Hargrave"[22]


EEIC, 1660-1663


"[December 4, 1663] By the commission given to James Snow, commander of the Hopewell, that vessel was only ordered to sail to Porcat or Quiloane, there take in her lading of pepper, cassia lignum, and such calicoes as should come from Cale Velha, and not go to Cochin or any other port or place. The Hopewell had on board eleven parcels of opium, and ' baggs of chicqueenes of gold ', consigned to John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, the Company's factors at Porcat ; she carried no arms, ammunition, or contraband goods. Porcat is about fourteen leagues south of Cochin and is a place of no defence, having no garrison or fortifications ; only about five guns lying on a sandbank by the sea, and these are used more to salute friends than to offend an enemy. About 1649 the Company's ship, the Discovery, laded a large quantity of pepper at Porcat, and since then the English have traded there, being several times invited by the King or Rajah of that place and the country thereabouts, who is neither a Portuguese or Moor, but a Gentue, and tributary to the Samareene or Emperor, who lives up in the country and whose dominions extend from about Carwar to Cape Comorin and who is neither tributary nor vassal to the King of Cochin. The Dutch had not obtained any victory or conquest over the King of Cochin, who was not dependent upon, neither had he any protection from, the Portuguese, being a free Prince and only tributary to the above-mentioned Samareene. His residence is in the upper town of Cochin, up in the country, so that the pretence of the Dutch to the conquest of the King of Cochin appears to be but a fallacy, as they only obtained the conquest of Cochin, which was in the possession of the Portuguese. In 1660 the President and Council of Surat sent factors to settle a factory and to reside at Porcat. They were very courteously entertained by the Rajah, who undertook to build them a house (which he did), and give it freely to the English, who should only pay the ordinary customs and be free from all molestation and encumbrances.."[23]

"The Court therefore, appointed Sir George Oxinden to be President at SURAT, with a Council of Eight, viz. Mr. Gerard Aungier, Mr. Mathew Gray, Mr. Thomas Rolt, Mr. Henry Young, Mr. Streynsham Master, Mr. Charles James, Mr. Philip Gofford, and Mr. Alexander Grigsby, five of whom were constantly to reside at Surat, particularly Mr. Aungier, Mr. Gray, and Mr. James."[24]


EEIC, 16XX-16XX


"The account of Alexander Grigsby [Grigby] to be re-examined and reported."[25]


Possible primary sources

TNA


PROB 11/230 Brent 269-318 Will of John Grigsby, Clothier of Tenterden, Kent 12 May 1653
PROB 11/331 Coke 103-166 Will of Caleb Bankes, Gentleman of Maidstone, Kent 09 November 1669

PROB 11/452 Pott 129-167 Will of Sir John Banks of Aylesford, Kent 11 December 1699
  1. ↑ http://thestoms.com/StomTree/9393.htm, viewed 15/01/12
  2. ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, January 12-13, 1658 (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 51), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 213
  3. ↑ http://thestoms.com/StomTree/9514.htm, viewed 15/01/12
  4. ↑ John Bruce, Annals of the Honorable East-India Company: from their establishment by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the union of the London and English East-India Companies, 1707-8, vol. 2 (London, 1810),p. 252
  5. ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 72; 'The Company to Sir George Downing [at The Hague], December 4, 1663' (Letter Book, vol. iii, p. 324, in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), pp. 363-364
  6. ↑ PROB 11/331 Coke 103-166 Will of Caleb Bankes, Gentleman of Maidstone, Kent 09 November 1669
  7. ↑ John Venn, J.A. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, pt. 1, to 1751, vol. 1, Abbas-Cutts (Cambridge, 1922), p. 80
  8. ↑ XXXX
  9. ↑ 'Dethicke, John', J.R. Woodhead, 'Dakins - Dyer', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966), pp. 56-63
  10. ↑ PROB 11/452 Pott 129-167 Will of Sir John Banks of Aylesford, Kent 11 December 1699
  11. ↑ Alexander Grigsbye was XXXX. See Missing faces
  12. ↑ Cale Vela was XXXX
  13. ↑ John Venn, J.A. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, pt. 1, to 1751, vol. 1, Abbas-Cutts (Cambridge, 1922), p. 80
  14. ↑ Summary of Sir John Banks biography based on 'Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet,' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Banks,_1st_Baronet , viewed 20/01/12
  15. ↑ 'John Dethiwcke', J.R. Woodhead, 'Dakins - Dyer', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966), pp. 56-63
  16. ↑ http://thestoms.com/StomTree/9514.htm, viewed 15/01/12
  17. ↑ http://thestoms.com/StomTree/9392.htm, viewed 15/01/12
  18. ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 27
  19. ↑ Porcat (alias Purakkad
  20. ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 72
  21. ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, January 12-13, 1658 (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 51), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 213
  22. ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, March 5, 1658' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 83), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 236
  23. ↑ 'The Company to Sir George Downing [at The Hague], December 4, 1663' (Letter Book, vol. iii, p. 324, in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), pp. 363-364
  24. ↑ John Bruce, Annals of the Honorable East-India Company: from their establishment by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the union of the London and English East-India Companies, 1707-8, vol. 2 (London, 1810),p. 252
  25. ↑ Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes, etc., of the East India Company, XXXX-XXXX (Oxford, 1938), p. 8

Retrieved from ‘http://www.marinelives.org/index.php?title=MRP:_1st_April_1663,_Letter_from_John_Bankes_to_Sir_GO,_London&oldid=7592’