Indian Antiquary Vol 49

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

Page 39

FEBRUARY, 1920
MISCELLANEA
35
MISCELLANEA. TOWN-MAJOR
In this connection there is no doubt that, up to Extract of a letter from Elihu Yale and Council quite recently at any rate, this was the view taken at Fort St. George to Sir John Child and Council by Eurasians and Europeans who had not been at Bombay, dated 29th September 1688. Letters in England of the office of Town-Major, for in the from Fort St. George, (Madras Records), 1888, nineties of the last century there was a story going p. 60.
about in Northern India of a certain lady, the wife "This day according to the Right Honble. of an official of position, who was going to England Companys order and appoyntment in their Charter, with her family for the first time and was asked the Town) Major, oldermen and burgesses met how she intended to get about when she reached at the Fort in due sollemnitye, where the Charter London. She replied that she would have no difwas read and delivered to them by the President, 1 oulty because she would go straight to the Town. as alsoe the Maceese (maces of office), doa., after Major for information. which they were duely sworne to their soverall
The Town-Major as the administrative officer of charges and handsomely entertained with a good
a garrison town, is still in existence whenever tho dinner and all requisite to it; after which they
necessity for his services arises : vide the following maroht in their gownds with great gravety and
quotation from the Daily Graphic, London, for the decorum to the towne hall to Confirme their new
11th November 1919 > establishment and Consult the good of the Cittye, which God grant it may redound to, and that all
"How British Ladies Live in the Garrison Towns the Right Honble. Companys Settlement[@]
in Germany. and affaiers may be more auspitious and pros.
"Not only are there wives of officers and perous then forme[rjly."
other ranks' living with their husbands in Franco The above letter is of some interest in reference and Belgium, but the privilege has recently been to the duties at that date (1688) of the well-known extended to members of the Rhine Army 88 well. official called a Town-Major. The Oxford English "The concession is a highly popular one, and Dictionary defines the meaning of the term under every day there is a marked increase in the number three heads
of those taking advantage of it. Of course the (a) The major of a town-guard, as formerly majority are to be found in Cologne, Bonn, Duren at Edinburgh.
and Godesburg, where it is easier to secure (6) The chief executive officer in a gar. 800ommodation, but a fair proportion will also be rison-town or fortress.
met with in the other districts and villagee gar. (c) Applied vaguely to the chief magistrate or risoned by British troops.
administrative officer of a foreign town. “The matter of securing suitable house-room, For the first the Dictionary gives two quotations however, is not too easy, for Germany seems to be in the seventeenth century with regard to the city as overorowded as England. If the wife arrives of Edinburgh.
before lodgings have been settled, she and her hus. For the second it has a series of quotations from band will have to start by putting up at an hotel as 1702 to 1876, giving instances of the Town-Majors a temporary measure. The Town Major arrange of various fortresses in England and abroad, this. There is no charge for the husband, but he inoluding India. That for 1702 is worth quoting. will have to pay a fixed tariff of 10 marks a day in full here
for his wife. This is not so much as it sounds, Mt. Dict., Town-Major, the third Officer in since it really represente less than three order in a Garrison, and next to the Deputy shillings. . . . " Goveror. He ought to understand the In the following instance, too (extracted from Fortification, and has a particular Charge of the Times of the 14th November 1919), the Town.
the Guards, Rounds, Patrouilles, and Sentinels. Major during the European War comes out as a For the third meaning there is another series of civil as well as a military administrator of a quotations from 1748 to 1864, the last of which is l garrison town. also worth quoting in full
" Ypres and the Vandals : Town-Major's Appoa! The Town-Major finding them without cre.
for a Vast Cemetery. dentials or passports, ordered them to be carried to prison.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Bookles Wilson, late TownThe interest in the letter under reference, how.
Major of Ypres, whose efforts to safeguard the ever, is that it shows clearly that in the seventeenth
ruined city from desecration are well known, century a Town-Major in India was both the
returned to Ypres yesterday. To a Proes represenohiotxocutive officer of a garrison town and fortress
tative Colonel Wilson gave some particulars of and also the chief magistrate and administrative the present condition of the place." officer.
R. C. Totta.