Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/10

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NOTES AND QUERIES. no s. x. JULY 4,

keeper, and gunsmith accompanied the expedition ; also a chaplain.

The fleet arrived at Bombay on 18 Sept., 1662,* but the Portuguese Governor " refused to surrender the island to a government and nation of heretics." Shipman was unable to take or hold Bombay. The troops were landed on the small island of Anjadiva, near Goa, and the fleet returned to England. Anjadiva proved particularly unhealthy, and within the space of two years nearly all the officers and one-third of the soldiers died. The chaplain paid the debt of nature on 23 Jan., 1663. Lieut. Twyning died on 14 April, 1663, and was succeeded by Ensign Fowlkes. Lieut. John Cole suc- cumbed 9 April, 1663 ; and Lieut. Price followed suit 3 June the same year. A few months later appears this entry in Sir A. Shipman' s accounts :

"Paid my extraordinary charges at Goa anc? Busseene in soliciting his Maj ties affaires there for y e possession of Bombay amounts to 50Z."

It would seem that Sir A. Shipman took a guard with him on this mission, as a sum of 6Z. is debited to the British Government on account of " a house burnt down by a soldier."

Soon after his return from Goa, Shipman died on 6 April, 1664, and Humphrey Cookef succeeded him as Governor and commander of the troops. Under Cooke the negotiations for the surrender of Bombay were continued. In 1663 news had reached England of the hardships and privations to which the British troops under Shipman were exposed on the island of Anjadiva. An agreement was made, 23 March, 1665,

" between the Navy Commissioners and the East India Company for the hire of the African and St. George for the transport to Surat, or Fort St. George, of such of the King's forces as remain at Anjadiva [lately] under command of Sir A. Shipman, at 15 per head."J

During the winter of 1664-5 the rem- nant of the four British companies, under Governor Cooke, took possession of Bombay.

date of the Earl of Marlborough's voyage to the East Indies is wrongly given as 1663.
 * In Dr. Harris's * Collection of Voyages ' the

f Erroneously called "Ensign Cooke" in the He was named in Sir A. Shipman's commission, and built the first British fort at Bombay. Probably identical with Col. Humphrey Cooke appointed
 * Records of the Royal Bombay Fusiliers' (p. 4).

co - Glollcester ' hl

'Gal. S. P. Dora.'

The following entries appear in Cooke' & official correspondence :

" By his most Excellent Majestye's espetiall Command.

"A Generall muster taken this 25th day of February, 1664/5 on Bombaim [sic], by the appoint- ment of Sir Geo. Oxenden, Knt., by Henry Gary, of all the soldiers, etc a other persons as this 'day appeared to bee actually in his Majestye's Service."

Here follow the Muster Rolls of the four companies, in which the name of " Ensign John Thorne " appears as the sole effective officer of those who left England in April, 1662. After the Muster Rolls is this- certificate :

Mustered uppon Bombaim the day and yeare above written in the prementioned fower Com- panies, viz* the Worpp 11 Humphrey Cooke, Governor, one ensigne, fower serjants, six corporalls,. fower drums and ninety seven private sentries.

[Signed] Henry Gary. Humphrey Cooke.

John Thorne.

In March, 1667, Charles II. ceded Bombay to the East India Company. Sir George Oxenden was appointed Governor and Com- mander-in- Chief in August following. The English officers and privates at Bombay, including the few gunners, were formally invited to enter the Company's service with the same rank and pay. The proposition was accepted by most of those concerned- It is interesting to know that the Bombay Regiment at its first raising, and for nearly a hundred years, had " sea-green facings " said to be the Braganza colours.

Sir A. Shipman is noticed in an early number of ' N. & Q.' (1 S. vi. 419). The following additional facts may be of interest. He was a captain in Sir Nicholas Byron's regiment of foot in 1640, and his brother John was an ensign in the same corps. Capt. A. Shipman appears to have been knighted by Charles I. At the Restoration he petitioned Charles II. for the post of Armourer at the Tower of London, and referred to his services to the King and his father. On 26 Jan., 1661, Sir A. Ship- man was granted the reversionary interest in one lighthouse and beacon at Dungeness, Kent, with the contribution thereunto be- longing. He made his will 24 March, 1661/2, " being minded suddainely to undertake a voyage to East India." He left his share in the Dungeness lighthouse and beacon,. " with contribution thereunto belonging," to his son William Shipman, who is directed to pay 500?. to testator's daughter Elizabeth Shipman. The son and daughter were appointed executors. This will was not proved until 18 July, 1665 (P.C.C. 75 Hyde). CHABLES DALTON.