Indian Antiquary Vol 44

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 33

FEBRUARY, 1916.) SOME ANGLO-INDIAN WORTHIES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 27
With this letter was enclosed - Derick Onderhill's Declaration concerning the murther of Mr. John Smith," which showed that the unhappy factor had been a prisoner and was practically starved before he was murdered. The attestation runs as follows:84 “To all people to whom this present writing shall come or may concerne, that I the subscribed have hereby upon the reasonable request of Clement Jordan doe acknowledge and declare the truth of what I heard and that was spoaken by John Lopis one of the Good Hope's Laskars which came in her from Bengall, that George Johnson and Peter (by his order) struck Mr. John Smith over the head with a swabstick, and John Lopis seeing that run behind the Cookroom and hid himselfe, and when came out found noe Mr. Smith living or dead, but afterwards was told that he was throwne over board before he was quite dead, and that the said Mr. Smith was barr'd up a great many daies before with a Gun against the Cabin door and the windows nailed fast without side, and all that time gave him neither victualls nor water, which is all I know or heard of, and to the truth of the above mentioned I doe hereunto set my hand this 21st day of August 1679: Derick Onderhill oft Onderbergh.
Acknowledged the above mentioned before us, Allexander Ogilvy; Francis Barnes.
Clement Jordan reached Fort St. George in December 1679, and on his arrival declaped his willingness to be examined regarding his seizure of the Good Hops and the murder of John Smith. At a Consultation on the 22nd December there is the entry :85 Mr. Clement Jordan, Freeman, who sayled the last yeare in a small Vessell of Mr. Edward Bugdens from Ballasoro in [into] Quedah, where he disposed of the Cargo, and sold the Vessell, and arriving here the last Night, in the Good Hope, a small Vessell of Mr. John Smiths, who instead of repairing to this place in December last, in conformity to the Honble. Company's order, sayled with this said Vessell to the Southward, and there was murdered by his Men, of which Mr. Jordan promiseth to give the Relation under his hand. .
Jordan's “Relation" was handed to the Council two days later, on the 24th December 1679.
Copie of Mr. Jordan, Mr. Bugden and Hart, their Relation of the seizing of a Keteh, belonging unto Mr. John
Smith murdered. 86 * TO MR. JOSEPH HYNMERS ETC. COUNCELL.
This sheweth that we do hereby upon his Worship's command and order now appeare, and give in our Declaration concerning the barbarous amurdering of Mr. John Smith, late Resident in Bengale and Chief of Dacca, and also upon, and on what account, we the Subscribers siezed on the Ketch Good Hope, in the road of Acheen, Vizt.
In June Anno 1679 the 11 day was taken Prisoners in Acheen 6 Dutchmen, which was in a small sloope, come from Padom [Padang], and was bound to Paris (Barus), which is a place upon the Sumatra shore, that the Dutch hath a Factory, which two daies after Mr. Bugden and Clement Jordan went to see, and enquired what news abroad. They told us that there was two Englishmen came ashore in a small Pro from a sloope that came from Bengale, named John Coates and Gregory, who were [?went) to the Dutch Chief [and] complained of an Hamburgo which was Pilott, how that this Hamburgo, named George Johnson, had told Mr. John Smith, the Merchant and Owner of the Ketch, that they two were minded to kill the said Mr. Smith, upon which the said Coates hearing Mr. Smith threatning him very much, desired of Mr. Smith to spare him the small Pro, which was granted him, and a Compass, but had no Victuals nor Water, although Mr. Smith spoke to this George Johnson to give them what necessary, but he replyed there was but little Water and ProviM Puctory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 28, p. 44. 85 Mackenzie MSS., Vol. LII. p. 23.
#6 Mackenzie MSS., Vol. LII, pp. 24-5.