Extracts from
"Madras in the Olden Time", vol. I., 1639-1702
by James Talboys Wheeler, pub. 1861
Governors of the Madras Presidency
| 1661 | Sir Edward Winter appointed
Imprisoned Mr. Foxcroft 1665-1668, governed in his stead; subsequently recalled | |
| 1665 | Mr. Foxcroft apointed
Imprisoned 3 years, released, served 1 year; recalled | |
| 1670-1677 | Sir William Langhorn; recalled | |
| 1677-1681 | Mr. Streynsham Master; recalled | |
| 1681-1687 | Mr. William Gyfford; recalled | |
| 1687-1692 | Mr. Elihu Yale | |
| 1692-1698 | Mr. Nathaniel Higginson | |
| 1698-1702 | Mr. Thomas Pitt |
Update: 9 June 2015
People in Madras
Chapter IV - pages 252-258
The close of the governorship of President Yale, offers a favourable opportunity for reviewing the progress of the Black-town of Madraspatanam, and the White-town of Fort St. George. It appears from a letter dated 12th December, 1687, that the population of the whole of the English Presidency, including the city of Madras, the town of Fort St. George, and the villages within the Company's bounds, amounted to three hundred thousand; and a more exact enumeration was then required to be made, for the information of James II, distinguishing the English, Portuguese, Moors, and Gentoos, both male and female, and their several professions, or occupations. Whether this more exact enumeration was ever made, we have not as yet been able to discover; but the statement of the aggregate population will be sufficient for all general purposes.
As regards the population at Fort St. George, or White-town, we have the most minute information. In a previous chapter it was shown how White Town was only half the size of the modern Fort. In the seventeenth century the river Coom ran much nearer the sea than at present. In fact it ran parrallel [sic] with the Coast right through the centre of the site now occupied by the present Fort. In the last century, the channel of the river was diverted into its present course, and the Fort considerably enlarged.
The old Fort or White-town, only extended about 400 yards in length, from north to south parallel with the sea; and about 100 yards from east to west, that is from the sea to the old channel of the river. This little space was however divided into twelve streets and alleys, and included altogether one hundred and twenty-nine dwelling houses and godowns, producing altogether a yearly rental of only one one hundred and twenty-four Pagodas, and nine fanams. The streets were respectively named - Middle Street, Choultry Street, Choultry Alley, Gloucester Street, York Street, York Lane, Charles Street, James Street, James Alley, St. Thomas Street, St. Thomas Lane, and Church Street. As a matter of local curiosity we print the following Directory or Rent Roll, verbatim et literatim, of which the original may be found in the consultation book under the 2nd of August, 1688. Some of our readers may here find the names of their ancestors, probably spelt in a different manner to those of their descendants.
2nd August 1688
Rent Rowle of Dwelling Houses, Goedowns, etc.
within the Garrison or Christian Town,
with the names of their several Owners, Tenants, and Yearly Rents
[ According to the totals, 36 Fanams = 1 British Madras Pagoda ]
[ In later years 42, or 46 Fanams = 1 Pagoda ]
| Owner. | Tenant. | Rent. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pags. | Fans. | ||
Middle Street | |||
| The Honorable President Yale's House | 3 | - | |
| Captain James Betts house | 1 | 18 | |
| Martad Consason: | William Dixon | - | 27 |
| Paul Cardozo | - | 27 | |
| Padre Ephraim's | - | 28 | |
| Martin Lope's | 1 | - | |
| Mr. John Afflack | 2 | - | |
| Richard Monk | John Strangway | 1 | - |
| Widow Heathfield | 2 | - | |
| Mr. Peter Large | 1 | 18 | |
| Mrs. Ursula O'Neal | 1 | - | |
| Mr. Afflack: | Mrs. Ursula O'Neal | 1 | 18 |
| Mr. Afflack: | Mr. Troughton | 1 | - |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 17 | 28 | |
Chowltry Street | |||
| Richard Monk's house | 2 | - | |
| John Coventry | 1 | 18 | |
| Como Lorenso | 1 | 18 | |
| Emmanuel Morley | Widow Haddock | 1 | 18 |
| Emmanuel Morley | - | 27 | |
| Padre Theodosia | - | 27 | |
| Mr. John Nicks | Sir John Biggs | 2 | - |
| John Hill | 2 | - | |
| Thomas Greenhill | 1 | 18 | |
| John Parera | 1 | - | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 14 | 18 | |
Chowltry Alley | |||
| Joan Lopus | 1 | - | |
| Ditto | Ana: d'Andrada | 1 | - |
| Nath: Bonus | Gab: Roberts | 1 | 18 |
| Ditto | John Voter | - | 27 |
| Ditto | - | 18 | |
| Charles Metcalf | 2 | - | |
| John Callender | 1 | - | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 8 | 18 | |
Gloucester Street | |||
| Panchecu Viera | Mrs. Field | - | 27 |
| Mr. Henry Alford | 2 | - | |
| Arthur Tilbury | - | 27 | |
| Madame Pavia | Mr. Alford | 1 | - |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 4 | 18 | |
York Street | |||
| Mr. Miller | Panchecu Viera | - | 27 |
| Panchecu Viera | Padre Lopus | - | 27 |
| Ditto | Andre Garmast | 1 | - |
| Ditto | Frans Tessera | - | 18 |
| Ditto | Marmad Consasou | - | 18 |
| John Inch | 1 | - | |
| Renou Perera | - | 27 | |
| Tilman Holt | 1 | - | |
| John de Soza | - | 27 | |
| Domingoes Mendes | 1 | - | |
| Mr. Mead | John Meverell | - | 27 |
| Mr. Mead | 1 | 18 | |
| Monsieur Chardin | 2 | - | |
| Martha de Consason | - | 18 | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 12 | 27 | |
York Lane | |||
| William Dixon | Mr. Glover | 2 | - |
| Domingo Joan | - | 18 | |
| Emmanuel Rosaira | - | 27 | |
| Mary Ware | - | 18 | |
| Emmanuel Rosaira | - | 18 | |
| Mr. Miller | Amu Dunkly | - | 27 |
| Jane Taylor | - | 27 | |
| Widow Ryley | - | 27 | |
| Mr. Freeman's Godown | 1 | - | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 7 | 18 | |
Charles Street | |||
| Mr. William Jearsey | 2 | 18 | |
| Mr. Jearsey's several Godowns | 1 | - | |
| Mr. Bridger | 1 | 18 | |
| Mr. Bridger | Mr. Mose | 1 | 18 |
| Mr. Bridger | Mr. Constable | 1 | 18 |
| Mr. John Davis | Mr. Styleman | 1 | 18 |
| Mr. Bridger's Godown | - | 18 | |
| Mr. Bridger | - | 18 | |
| Mr. Bridger | Mr. Parkers Childn. | - | 18 |
| Robert Bulfield, a Godown | - | 18 | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 11 | 18 | |
James Street | |||
| Gimar Peniora | - | 18 | |
| Joseph Perera | - | 18 | |
| Mr. Gray Smith's Godown | - | 18 | |
| Robert Ray Mr. | Mr. Pitt | 1 | 18 |
| Robert Ray | - | 27 | |
| Pois | 1 | - | |
| Alexander Woodall | - | 18 | |
| Mr. Bridger's Godown | Prt. Gyfford | - | 18 |
| Phillipa | - | 18 | |
| Thatcher | - | 18 | |
| Black Franck | Padre Bastian | - | 18 |
| Robert Bulfield | - | 27 | |
| Maria de Sure | - | 18 | |
| Company's Merchants Godowns | 3 | - | |
| Nicholas Westborough | - | 18 | |
| Pois | new Hospital | - | 27 |
| Pois | - | 18 | |
| Forrow | - | 18 | |
| Padre Lorenz Parera | - | 18 | |
| Sicillia Mendes | - | 18 | |
| Maria Madera | - | 18 | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 15 | 9 | |
James Alley | |||
| Antony Caldera | - | 18 | |
| Thomas de Clara | - | 18 | |
| Lisu de Cuni | - | 18 | |
| Antonio Rosada | - | 18 | |
| Alexander Woodall | John Moor | - | 18 |
| Bastian Severa | - | 18 | |
| Attesa Reposa | - | 18 | |
| Theodosius Gregory | - | 27 | |
| John Parera | - | 18 | |
| Matthias de Silva | - | 18 | |
St. Thomas Street | |||
| John Stevenson | Mr. Liddell | 1 | 18 |
| Nichola de Silva | 1 | - | |
| Tarnantony | - | 27 | |
| Mrs. Griffiths | Mr. Cheney | 1 | 18 |
| Senora Alvada | - | 27 | |
| Emmanuel de Silva | Jas. Meelenen | - | 27 |
| Ditto | - | 27 | |
| President Yale, a Godown | 1 | - | |
| Maria Zebo | - | 11 | |
| Pasquall Gallon | - | 18 | |
| President Yale | 1 | - | |
| Emtanuel [sic] Navis | 1 | - | |
| Romber Ray | - | 27 | |
| John Baptista | 1 | - | |
| Bernardo Medows | Mr. Barron | 1 | - |
| Antonio Qualis | 1 | - | |
| Clara Botalia | - | 18 | |
| Gaspar de Monte | Mr. Betsworth | 2 | - |
| Mr. Gray, a Godown | 1 | - | |
| Padre Salvadore | Mr. Ivory | 1 | - |
| Joan de Coasta | 1 | - | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 20 | 0 | |
St. Thomas Lane | |||
| Donna Issabella | - | 18 | |
| Pois | Elizabeth Poulter | - | 27 |
| Emmanuel Vass | - | 27 | |
| Duarty Figarado | - | 18 | |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 2 | 18 | |
Church Street | |||
| Antony Gonsalis | - | 27 | |
| Donna Phillippa | - | 27 | |
| Catherena Passania | - | 27 | |
| John Stevenson | 1 | - | |
| Mr. Rodrigoes | Mr. Burton | 1 | - |
| ---------- | |||
| Pags. | 4 | 9 | |
The sanitary condition of this crowded little settlement may be inferred from the following startling announcement:
For the year 1688
Christenings 11 — Marriages 13 — Burials 101
Population at the End of the Year 1699
List of persons in the service of the Right Hon'ble Company
in Fort St. George
and other places on the coast of Coromandel
Chapter XV - pages 356-357
Gentlemen | |
| Company's Servants at Fort St. George | 30 |
| Company's Servants at Fort St. David | 13 |
| Company's Servants at Vizagapatam | 3 |
| Freemen | 35 |
| Seafaring men not constant inhabitants | 38 |
| ----- | |
| Total ... | 119 |
Ladies | |
| English wives of Company's
servants at Fort St. George | 4 |
| Castee wives at ditto | 2 |
| English wives at Fort St. David | 3 |
| Castee wives at ditto | 1 |
| English at Vizagapatam | 1 |
| Castees at ditto | - |
| Wives of Freemen, English | 4 |
| Do. French | 1 |
| Do. Mustees | 2 |
| Do. Castees | 4 |
| Do. Georgian | 1 |
| Wives of seafaring men, English | 14 |
| Do. French | 1 |
| Do. Mustees | 2 |
| Do. Castees | 7 |
| Widows, English | 14 |
| Single English young women | 10 |
| ----- | |
| Total ... | 71 |
Thus out of one hundred and nineteen Englishmen, only twenty-six were married to English wives, fourteen were married to Castees, four to Mustees, two to French women, and one to a Georgian. It will be seen that only forty-seven were married at all, and that the remaining seventy-two were bachelors. The English ladies were fifty in number, viz. twenty-six wives, fourteen widows, and ten young unmarried ladies. It seems a great pity that ten young ladies should have been unable to find husbands amongst so large a community of unmarried gentlemen.
End of quotation