Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 536

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JUNE, 1923
On the 3rd January 1678/9 there is a note of John Field's return to Masulipatam128 with, most probably, John Scattergood in his company. The next day the King came back to the town and went on a Dutch ship. He was visited by the English and expressed himself satisfied with his treatment during his stay. He then set out for Golconda and was accompanied for some distance by John Field.
On the 27th February 1678/9, at a Consultation held at Masulipatam,128 the "settlement of employment of writers who have become factors " was debated, and Scattergood was appointed to be an assistant to Maurice Wynn, warehousekeeper.
In the following month, Streynsham Master, now Agent and Governor of Fort St. George, paid a second visit of inspection to the factory of Masulipatam and extended his journey to the surrounding district. On the 20th March he reached Nizâmpatnam (called by the English Petti polee, from the neighbouring village of Peddapalle) in Guntur District, where he was met by Messrs. Hatton, Wynn, Colborne and Scattergood.126 He found the English factory house, wbich had been unoccupied since the death of Ambrose Salisbury in January 1675/6. in a ruinous condition, and in consequence any thought of reopening a factory there was abandoned. Master's tour lasted from the 11th March until the 2nd May 1679 and during this time he occupied himself principally with commercial measures rather than with reforms in the conduct of the factories, as had been the case in his previous visit.
In May 1679 John Scattergood was at Madapollam. On the 31st the accounts of that factory and Masulipatam were examined and passed, "and in order that the aforesaid books may be in more convenient time in a readyness to be sent to the Agent and Councell. It is ordered that the Books of Accounts belonging to Factory Madapollam be fairely tran. scribed by Mr. John Scattergood,"136 who had now had an insight into every branch of the working of the factory.
Whether the prospect of prolonged stool work was distasteful to him, or whether he was disappointea in an advance of position consequent on the Agent's visit of inspection, Scattergood now desired a change of scene and occupation, and petitioned to be sent to Bengal. On the 26th June Streynsham Master wrote to Christopher Hatton : 137
“Wee have received a letter from Mr. John Scattergood wherein he desires to have leave to goe downe to the Bay to serve the Honble. Company there, to which we shall give answear when it plonges God to active the ships from England, by which we may receive some directions from the Honble. Company which may relate thereunto.”
One of the reasons influencing Scattergood in his desire for a change was probably the knowledge that there was little chance of his succeeding to the chiefship of Masulipatam, for he learnt about this time, through a private source, that the establishment at that factory was to be reduced to three persons "and they to receive but meane allowances."128
At this time, too, he must have been contemplating marriage, but whether the bride was one of the three "woemen unmarryed ” who came to Masulipatam in the ships sailing from England in January 1678/9, or whether she had been long in the country is at present an un. Bolved point. No entry of the marriage has been found, but the probability is that it occurred some time in 1679 or early in 1680. At any rate, it could not have happened later than November of the latter year.
136 Factory Records, Manulipatam, vol. II. 136 Diaries of Streynsham Master, ed. Temple, II, 136. 197 Factory Records, Port St. George, vol. XVIII.
138 0.. 4627,