Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 4.djvu/158

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. iv. JUNE,

eventually rose to be Second of that factory. He died there, unmarried, on Dec. 22, 1677. See ' Court Minutes,' vol. xxva. p. 44, vol. xxvi. pp. 62, 67, 68 ; O. C. 3171 ; ' Factory Records,' Fort St. George, vols. xvi. and xxviii. ; 'Diaries of Streynsham Master,' ed. Temple, vol. ii. p. 20 ; P.C.C. Admons.]

Singee* November 5th 1672 Mr Richard Edwards respected Freind

By the Cossids that goe with the bookes of this Factory to you, I have put a silver Coja.t made up in Wax-cloath, directed to Mr Clavell. These are to desire yo.u when they shall arive with [yo]u that you would take it of them, and [dis]peed it forward to Hugly by some trusty Cossid that you shall send thither. I have not more but to beg your pardon for this trouble, and to subscribe

Your reall freind to serve you

SAJMIX. BUIX[IVA]NT

P.S. I hope you have before this received the ps. of stuffe sent you in charge of Medena,J Mr Marshalls servant, as also the 2 bags of Saltpetre sent on Cockletts boate, the cheife Boateman

Idem S. B. [Endorsed] For Mr Richard Edwards,

Merchant in Cassimbuzar

LETTER LXXXIV.

George Peacock to Richard Edwards.

(O.C. 3699.)

[George Peacock was " entertained writer for Bantam," in Sumatra, on Oct. 1, 1667, his securities being John Peacock and William Okes. On Nov. 22 following, however, he was elected " for the Coast and Bay " and granted a passage in the Madras Merchant. On his arrival at Masulipatam he was sent on to Bengal, and was employed at Hugll and Balasor until early in the year 1675, when he was ordered to Patna and stationed there as Third. In March, 1677, he was back at Httgll, and, being left in charge of the factory, picked the lock of the Water Gate between 10 and 11 at night, " the Porter haveing after 9 a Clock brought him the Keyes as usually," and went off without leave. His offence was the greater, since two Englishmen who had embroiled themselves with the native authorities at Hugll were under arrest in the factory and might have escaped. On April 4 Peacock re- turned, " haveing been absent 15 dales with-

factory was situated.
 * Singhiya, near Patna, where the Company's

t Kuza, flagon. See Letter V.

% PMaduna.

I have found no other mention of this in- dividual.

out leave, upon his one business." He then appears to have gone back to Patna, for in July of 1677 he was summoned as a witness against Samuel Hervy, who was accused of holding atheistical doctrines. In November of the same year he accompanied the fleet of saltpetre boats from Patna to Hugll, halting at Kasimbazar on his way. By this time the Bengal Council were thoroughly incensed against him, and on Dec. 30, 1677, he wan summoned to Balasor and " soundly checked " for his " Irregularities," and was " ordered to give a pass Acknowledging his faults and that he would be more conformable to orders in the future."

In 1678 Peacock was Third and Warehouse- keeper at Balasor, and was indulging in hopes of private trade, as appears by a letter he wrote to Edwards on May 7, 1679. On Jan. l r 1680, he married Sarah Berresford at Hugll; and at the same time was appointed Chief at Patna. But bad reports of his conduct had reached the Court of Committees, and in March,

1682, they wrote to Bengal, ordering him to- be discharged and sent home as a " creature of Mr Vincents " who " did wickedly abuse us in the sorting of our Romalls [kerchiefs]." In their letter of November, 1682, the Court repeated the order for the discharge of Peacock and his " confederates " unless " by repent- ance " they merited favour. Whether Pea- cock would have regained his position is un- certain, but he had no opportunity of accepting the Court's alternative, as he died either before the letters from England reached India or shortly after their arrival. His death is reported in a letter from Hugll of December,.

1683, but the date of the event is not given. In the following year his widow married Fytch Nedham, one of her late husband's "' con- federates."

Administration of George Peacock's effects was granted on June 12, 1684, to John LJewellin for " Sara Peacock (since married to Fytche Nedham), relict and only legatee."

No details of George Peacock's parentage have been ascertained. The John Peacock who was his security may be identical with John Peacock of Chawley, Berks, adminis- tration of whose goods was granted to his brother Francis on June 24, 1669. See ' Court Minutes,' vol. xxva. p. 45, vol. xxvi. pp. 47, 67 ; O.C. 332fi, 3765, 4569, 4570, 4606 j ' Factory Records,' Hugli, vols. i. ii. and iv., Fort St. George, vols. xvi. and xxviii., Kasim- bazar, vol. i. ; Miscellaneous, vol. iiia. ; Letter Books, vol. v. p. 500, vol. vi. p. 478, vol. vii_ pp. 105, 238 ; P.C.C. Admons.]

Hugly the 13th November 1672

Mr Richard Edwards Esteemed friend

Long before this I received yours of the 16th ulto.* wherein you desired me to write to Mr Vincent concerning the Taffaties, but I find him other wise then I thoughft] he was, his words to be only taken as Compliments, and not other wise then I tell


 * This letter has not been traced.