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Introduction
Acknowledgements
Armenian Census Calcutta 1846
Armenian/Indian research publications
Armenians, Colonies & Churches in India
Armenian Graves In India
Armenian Graves in Hong Kong
Armenian Graves in the UK
Armenian Graves in Singapore and Malaysia
Armenian Graves in Australia
Graves at Lower Circular Road - Other Graves
Graves at the Roman Catholic Church, Calcutta
Historical Snippets
Surnames Directly Linked to my Family
My Direct Chater Ancestors
Chater's unrelated to my family
My Chater Family Bible
Part Index of the names at the IOR
The Andaman Island Photographs
Wills
Lady Chater
My Visit to Damascus
How armtown.com reported it
Article on Sir Paul Chater Hong Kong Standard May 2007.
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[ Up ] [ Agra ] [ Bombay ] [ Calcutta Nazareth ] [ Calcutta St. Gregory's ] [ Calcutta Tangra ] [ Chinsurah ] [ Dacca ] [ Delhi ] [ Gwalior ] [ Lahore ] [ Madras ] [ Rangoon ] [ Saidabad ] [ Surat ] [ Lost Treasures ]
Left: the church tower of Chinsurah as it looks today and Right: how it
looked in 1958
Armenians settle here and flourished as
businessmen during the 17th and 18th centuries. When Chinsurah
lost its commercial importance, the Armenians transferred their
businesses to Calcutta towards the end of the 18th century.
The Armenian Church here is the second oldest in Bengal. It was
erected in 1695 , the foundation stone being laid by Khojah Johannes Margar.
The Church was completed in 1697 by his brother Joseph, and
dedicated to St. John the Baptist in memory of his deceased brother
Johannes. Khojah Johannes died suddenly on the 27th November 1697
and he was interred inside the church. This church is today the only
remaining landmark of the once large and flourishing Armenian colony.
Joseph was the elder brother of the two and they went into partnership
together in Hyderabad (Deccan) in 1666. They started a business
together in Mylapore, with a joint capital of Rs 27,550 only, the major
portion of which (Rs,18,550) was deposited by Khojah Joseph Margar,
whilst his younger brother Johannes added only Rs. 9000 as his
contribution to the business.
After the suddenly and untimely death of Khojah Johannes Margar in
November 1697 the partnership automatically ceased and the final
accounts made up. It was found that a net profit of two million
rupees had been made in 30 years on the original capital of Rs. 27,500.
The brothers were the sons of the illustrious merchant-diplomat, Margar
Avag Sheenentz, known as Marcara Avanchinz, who played an important part
in the French East India Company in India in the second half of the 17th
century.
Although Armenians lived and died in fairly large numbers at Chinsurah
between the years 1695 and 1868, there are no more than 100 graves
within the church, 28 of them being inside the church itself.
Records indicate that:
between the years 1826 and 1868 sixteen marriages were solemnized in the
Church.
between the years 1817 and 1867 seventy two baptisms took place, and
between the years 1817 and 1881 fifty seven burials
No records appear to exist between the years 1695 when it was built and
1817, but of course there would have been many more births, marriages
and burials in that 'lost' 122 years.
The church was originally built without a steeple, and this was added
and erected in 1822 through the generosity of Mrs. Sophia Bagram a
wealthy Armenian lady from Calcutta, in memory of her husband, Simon
Phanoos Bagram.
The town of Chinsurah is about 35 miles from Calcutta. Sadly, no
Armenians reside there but once a year, on the Sunday nearest to the
Feast Day of St. John The Baptist, the Armenians from Calcutta go on a
pilgrimage accompanied by their Priest who performs Holy Mass and offers
prayers for the repose of the departed buried there. After the
service, a large community lunch is served to the congregation which is
hosted by the Armenian Church, Calcutta.
To view the Chinsurah
service in 2008 please click on this link.
Click on the dancing skeleton to go
to the Armenian Graves page
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