Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 538

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 1923
This day Mrs. Helloes setts forwards to come to Madam Mainwaring.
Pray when you see Mr. Chamberlaine 136 aske him whether hee received a lb of Tobacco I sent him which by reason of his silence I know not whether hee has or not. [Eritdorsed] To. Mr. William Ayloffe,
137 .
(Seal.) Merchant In Madapollam. Permission to try his fortune in Bengal must have reached Scattergood a few days after writing the above letter. On the 7th August 1679 Captain Nehemiah Earning, commander of the George, was ordered to receive on board, on account of Mr. John Scattergood, "Two Ellephants Teeth poiz [weight] 100 li." and "Eleven parcells of Gance138 poiz 1000 li.,"139 and to deliver the same to the owner on his arrival irr Balasor Road.
The next mention of Scattergood occurs in the Bengal records140 among a list of the Company's servants, where his name appears 13th in order and his position that of Second or "Accomptant" to the factory at Balasor which was subordinate to Hägli, then the headquarters of the Company in “the Bay." According to the regulations made by Streynsham Master during his second inspection in Bengal, the allowance of the Seoond at a subordinate factory was Rs. 4 per month, with candles and "a lamp to every chamber" in the factory.141
It is uncertain when Scattergood arrived at Balasor. He did not begin his official work until the 14th January 1679/80 149 and one would like to think that the interval from August 1679 was spent in a leisurely journey with his bride and a round of visits to his friends. With his entrance into his new sphere of work began a round of daily duties, monotonous for the most part, but always pressing, with plenty of pin-prioks to counterbalance the dignity of a higher position. Balasor seemed to be the buffer on which the authorities at Haglî poured out their vexation when things went awry, and there was very little peace for either John Byam, the Chief, or his Second. Indeed, the latter must often have wished himself back at Masulipatam, where at least there was a sanatorium within reach.
Very little of interest remains to be chronicled regarding the last two years of John Scattergood's life in India. His name appears at all Consultations held at Balasor from the 14th January 1679/80 until August 1681.143 Thomas Bromley, his junior in standing 144 also arrived on the 14th January 1679/80, having been appointed Third and Warehousekeeper, and both the new officials took up “there Charge according to there places."
Balasor Factory was at this time in an unsatisfactory condition. The business was "behindhand," occasioned by the "backwardness of their late Cheife,” Richard Edwards, who had died on the 6th November 1679, and a "pare of Books and 2 Copies of Diary" for the last year remained to be "copied out." There was a shortage of horses and an application was made to Hogli that, "in regard " three were allowed to the factory, two might
136 George Chamberlain, though no longer in the Company's service, was allowed to remain in India, ostensibly to enable him to discharge his debts to the Company. -
197 This is the Scattergood armorial seal : Quarterly, Ist and 4th, gules 2 bars gemels between 3 doxter hands erect coupé at the wrist appaumé argent, for Scattergood ; 2nd and 3rd, argent on a chevron AEuro 3 cinquefoils piorood of the 1st, for Westby of Mowbrook. A grant of arms by Sir William Dagdale was made to the writor's grandfather, John Scattergood of Ellaston (800 ante, pp. 2, 6) in 1662. The Westby arms were those of his mother's family (ante, p. 6, n. 31).
138 Gance, ganza, Skt. karsa, bell-metal: any mixed metal. 139 Factory Records, Masukipalam, vol II. 150 Factory Records, Hugli, vol. II; 0.0.4697. 141 0.0. 4692.
143 Factory Records, Port St. George, vol. XXVIII. 143 Factory Records, Hugl, vol. I.
144 Thomas Bromley, a Christ'. Hospital lad, was apprenticed to the Company in 1671 and became a Laator in 1679.