Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/213

 12 S. III. MARCH 17, 1917.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

207

LETTER XXIV.

George White to Richard Edwards. (O.C. 3422.)

^George White, a prominent character in the East in the seventeenth century, had a chequered and interesting career. He and John Jearsey went out to India at the same time as Edwards, the one in the Rainbow, commanded by Capt. Richard Goodlad, and the other in the Madrass Merchant, commanded by Capt. William Wttdey. In what capacity White sailed has not foeen ascertained, but it seems probable that he was one of the officers or crew of the Rainbow, since the Company looked upon him as under Capt. Goodlad's orders, and also in view of his capability of navigating a vessel to Persia shortly after his arrival in India. At .any rate, on reaching Masulipatam both men deserted their ships and started as independent traders. In 1669, after a visit to Bengal, White "went on a private voyage to Gombroon (Bandar Abbas) in the Consent, belonging to William ..Tearsey, uncle of John Jearsey and Chief of the "Company's factory at Masulipatam and in 1672 he made a second voyage to Persia in the Dispatch.

The Company was much incensed on learning that White and Jearsey had remained in India. In their letter of Dec. 7, 1669, the Court of Ocmmittees wrote to the Council at Fort St. George : " If there be any English in your parts, out of our Service, that act nothing prquditiall to our trade and comerce, nor offer -any disturbance to our people, wee are content thtt such be permitted to stay, of whome give TIS an accompt of their names, quallities and umloyments, But if any of them be found acting the contrary, wee require you to send all suh persons home for England, and perticu- leriy one White, that was inticed from Captain Oodlad, and Mr. Jearsies Nephew that went OT5r in the Madras, As also all others that shtll for the future come into India without our leave, according to the power graunted us toy his Majesties Charter."

White had, meanwhile, ingratiated himself the Council at Fort St. George, and they ttcommended him and John Jearsey to the <ompany's favour; but the Court of Com- nittees replied (Dec. 13, 1672) that " in cguard " they " went from hence contrary to our Orders, wee are so farr from enterteyning toem that unless they behave themselves well, vee shall order their retume for England, for vee must discontenance the Practize of getting jersons over in such clandestine waies." In lay, 1673, the Court again expressed dis- tisfaction with White, and ordered his return vas living at Fort St. George or Masulipatam vith his wife Mary, and trading at both places .is a " freeman." In 1674, and again in 1675, he went to Bengal, but could find no " pro- fitable voyage." He then pitched upon Siam as a new field for his enterprise, and early in 1676 he sailed for Ayuthia, whither his wife followed him a few months later.
 * by our next shipping." At this time he

In reply to a further order from the Court directing White's return, the Council at Fort St. George wrote (July 23, 1676) that he had paid the fine of 1001. to remain in India as a " freeman " upon his " good behaviour," that they had " nothing to object against " him, and that he had been " much slaundered " by the report of " his ministeriallness in any bodys trade here." They added that, as White and his family had now gone to Siam, they were out of their " command." Before the Madras letter reached England, the Court had again written (Dec. 15, 1676), insisting that he should either reside at Fort St. George with the other " freemen " or come home.

White, however, remained in Siam, and pro- cured the favour of the king of that country. In 1678, when Richard Burneby was sent on a visit of inspection to the recently settled English factory at Ayuthia, he recommended George White to the Company as a person whose experience and knowledge would be valuable to them. White was at that time employed in piloting the King of Siam's vessels between Mergui and the Corpmandel coast. In 1679 he fell into ill odour with the Siamese, with the rest of his countrymen, and con- sequently returned to Masulipatam, where he and his wife arrived in his own ship Phoenix on Dec. 20, 1681. In February, 1682, he embarked for England, but still continued to trade in the East on his own account.

In 1687 occurred the massacre of the English at Mergui, and the consequent declaration of war against Siam. George White, who had always opposed the Company's pretensions to a monopoly of trade in India, now showed himself directly antagonistic to their policy. He condemned the war with Siam, petitioned Parliament on behalf of his brother Samuel, who had been associated with him in that country, and drew up a pamphlet against the East India Company. A full account of the case of Samuel White and the part that his brother George played in it is given by Dr. Anderson (' English Intercourse with Siam,' passim and Appendix F), but Anderson's account of George White is not always in accord with the above statements, since he had not then had access to the India Office Records

On Feb. 10, 1690, the ' Court Minutes ' record that George White's " pretences " against the Company were referred to arbitra- tion, and in May, by a decree of Chancery, the sum of 3,7002. was awarded to him, and 1,3002. more "when the Company is established by Act of Parliament." White was at that time associated with Thomas Pitt (afterwards Governor of Fort St. George) in the interloping ships Edward and Henry. These were bought up by the Company in 1694.

George White next appears as a Director of the New (or English) Company trading to the East Indies, established in 1698. He took the oath on Sept. 7, and in October was chosen Chief for " the Coast " (i.e., Masuli- patam), but " desireing to be excused from goeing to India," his place was taken by John Pitt, cousin of Thomas Pitt. White remained a Director until April 11, 1701, after which date I have failed to trace him. No details of his parentage have yet been elicited, nor has