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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY, 1905
No. I.
WILLIAM JEABSEY.1 William Jenrsey, the younger son of John Jearsey, a brewer of Cheshunt, Herts, was a wellknown character of the time, and there is a very brief account of him among the biographies in Yule's
Diary of William Hedges, Vol. II. p. 199. The MS. records at the India Office contain ample material for a whole volume on his doings during the thirty odd years in which he either served or defied the Company. The outlines of the career of this fiery and interesting individual are as follows:
In 1650 Master Badgate was the Merchant and William Jearsey the Accountant of the Ruby, a "new ship" which sailed from Masulipatam to Pega, and returned in the following year. In Jan. 1652, “The Bay Portion (of the Pegu goods] had emission in a Moores Junck, in charge of William Jearsey one of the factors returned from Pegu." From 1653 till 1655 Jearsey appears to have been Chief at Siriam, the Company's settlement at Pegu. In the latter year he received news of his father's death. John Jearsey died in 1658, and his will was proved on the 19th May. There is reason to think that William Jearsey ran away from home and worked his way out to India, for his name is not mentioned in his father's will. John Jearsey bequeathed a house to his elder son John, and everything else to his widow, “trusting in her care for the children." The will is dated 15th Oct. 1652, at least three years after the younger son had left home. There is no record to show how or when William Jearsey became one of the East India Company's servants.
In accordance with orders from the Court directing the withdrawal of all the small factories subordinate to Fort St. George, & consultation was held in Verasheroon on the 16th Oct. 1655, when it was decided that the factory at Pegu should be given up, and the factors with the exception of Francis Yardley, who was left to get in the debts) should take their passage to Fort St. George on the Dutch ship or the Nabob's Junck." Jearsey delayed his departure, and roused the ire of the Council, who complained of him to England. On the 31st Dec. 1657 the Court replied as follows, "Little better dealing then what we have received in the Bay, wee are like to find by our Pegu Factors William Jearsy who as you advise us having gott together 700 or 800 Pagothes of our Pega Remaines, refused to take his passage (according to your order) on a Dutch ship, but came on the Expedition for Metchlepatam, from whence receiving his Accompt, it appeares Unto you, that a great parte of the said some is expended by him and also 100 lbs, taken thereout on accompt of his Sallarie, These his unwarrantable Actions, as you noe way approve, Soe wee hope you will not only exact a reason, but also enforce him to make sattisfaction for these his irregular Courses."
After this episode, Jearsey's connection with the Company was severed for a time, but he remained in Madras as a Freeman, and was a constant worry to the Council at Fort St. George. In May 1661 they complained bitterly of Messrs. Turner and Jearsey, who had attempted to send a frigate to Pegu on their own account, and of their insolent behaviour in holding out the great house at Madapollam with great gunns and armed men, These and others that call themselved Freemon, are harboured in these Parts contrary to Our Consente." The fiery temper with which Jerrsey is always credited had already become notorious, “We see by Mr Joarsey's Protest how much Chollor prevailed with him, which does not agree with the title Mr Androwes hath formerly given him of a Civill person for more indiscreeter language woe have not read." However, the Court had by this time modified their opinion of Jearsey. In Aug. 1661 they wrote to Fort St. George, "We having received a good report of Mr William Jearsoy, his honesty and
1 Sources of Information : - India Office Records, viz., Factory Records (Fort St. George, Masulipatam, and Minoellaneous), Letter Books, 0. C. Collection; Notes and Extraota from the Government Rooords at Fort St. George; Madrass Press Lint; List of Burials at Madrse, by C. H. Maldon; Willa at Somerset Houso. • Magulipatam.
Letter Book, No. 1.
