MRP: 23rd February 1662/63, Letter from Ann Townesend alias Nicholls to Sir GO, London
23rd February 1662/63, Letter from Ann Townesend alias Nicholls to Sir GO, London
BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX, f. 73
Editorial history
18/12/11, CSG: Page created
Contents
Abstract & context
Suggested links
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
(2) CSG, 13/01/09 – Check CCM 50-54 & CCM 55-59 for mentions of John Nicholls. How did GO know John Nicholls? Did GO use the Expedition for trade? Presumably Nicholls used to ply the London/Surat route?]
Transcription
This transcription has been completed, but requires checking
BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX, f. 73
Right Worthy S:r
I had once a husband whoos Name was Jn:e Nicholls[1] & was Master of y:e Expedition whome you very well did know, I made bould to acquaint yo:r Worp:e in London about my sufferings, & by whom, & yo:r Worp:e was pleased to proise mee yo:r helpe when God brought you to India: M:r Goodyer[2] can very well informe you who had [has?] my husbands will for hee was on board when he dyed; I desire y:t I may have y:e will heare, I have given a lre of Attorney to one M:r Jn:e Oates[3] Cheife M:te in y:e American who w:th yo:r Powerfull assistance is willing to Act for my releife in it; w:thout yo:r Worp:s helpe hee cann doo nothing I shall not need to Begg y:e helpe of y:e just & mercyfull whome your Worp:e is well knowne to bee, S:r I am in a suffering Condition, my wants are great, & my desires are noo more than Just , under God my hopes are in you soo ?craving pardon for my Bouldnesse I take leave & rest
[LH side]
London y:e 23:th ffeb 1662:
[RH side]
Yo:r troublesome friend
& servant
Ann: Townesend
Als - Nicholls
Notes
The Expedition
[September 12, 1655] The Expedition was one of four ships apparently belonging to the EEIC (or ?under charter to the EEIC) in 1655, with the four ships together given a valuation of £1,000[4]
"[October 10, 1656] No more pay to be allowed to sailors employed in the Expedition who remain in India after the disposal of that ship and the dispatch of the Three Brothers and the Mayflower from the Coast."[5]
Possible primary sources
TNA
PROB 11/314 Bruce 49-96 Will of Thomas Nicholls, being now bound forth on a Voyage to the East Indies in the Good Ship called the Royal James and Henry in the Service of the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading to the East Indies 25 June 1664
- ↑ John Nicholls was commander of the Expedition, a ship which was owned by the EEIC in the 1650s ('A General Court of all the adventurers in the United Joint Stock, September 12, 1655' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 462), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), fn. 1, p. 56). See Missing faces
- ↑ John Goodyear (alias Goodyer(e), Goodier) was entertained as a factor by the Court of the EEIC in February 1662, and travelled out to Surat in XXXX. His links with the East Indies go back to 1650, when he was already in Persia as a the number four, under George Tash, John Lewis, and Thomas Best, and had his service extended. Anne Townesend, the widow of John Nicholls, stated in her letter of February 23rd, 1662/63, that Goodyer had taken a copy of John Nicholls' will with him to Surat ('A Court of Committees for the Fourth Joint Stock, February 25, 1650 (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 494), in Ethel Bruce Sainbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1650-1654 (Oxford, 1913), pp. 23-24)
- ↑ John Oates, chief mate of the American, was XXXX. See Missing faces
- ↑ 'A General Court of all the adventurers in the United Joint Stock, September 12, 1655' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 462), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), fn. 1, p. 56
- ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, October 10, 1656' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 543), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 115
