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The Golden Falcon |
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Chapter XII/2 - India |
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The East India Company's Marines were the best paid seamen so service under its red and white striped flag was eagerly sought after by sons of great families with more blue blood in their veins than pennies in their pockets. The supercargo and officers were also fed by the company and had special privileges - they were allowed to trade privately. One commander made £30,000 in a single voyage from London to China via India and back and in 1714 the officers imported 20,000 lbs. of tea so in 1720 private trade was limited. However the low pay and high privileges of its staff ashore caused rampant corruption, the greater part of their income derived from bribes, extortion (6 million pounds in Bengal alone from 1757-1766) and private trade. The East India Company set such a high standard for their ships and crew that the Admiralty eventually consulted the Company's surveyor for help in improving the Navy's ships. The Company did not own its ships which were chartered or "taken up" for a term from their owners called the "ship's" or "India husbands" who were shareholders in the Company. The East India Company, with bases at Calcutta and Madras, challenged the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade and ruled India for 2 centuries, dominating the route to the East. When its trading monopoly was abolished in 1813, the Lancashire machine-made cloth destroyed the Indian handloom industry. The Company exported woollens, metals, silver bullion and coin out of England and imported cotton, silks, nankeen (cotton cloth originally from Nangking, China), saltpetre, indigo, ginseng ("panax" or "aralia"), lead, chinaware, camlets (woven from camel hair, later a mixture of goat's hair and wool), furs, cassia, pepper and spice. Both Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn wrote in their Diaries about the East India Company, the latter had shares in it. 5.10.1641: "The "Oester House" [at Antwerp] belonging to the East India Company is a most beautifull palace adorn'd with more than 300 windows." (Evelyn). 5.2.1657: "Din'd at the Holland Ambassador's; he told me the East India Company of Holland had constantly a stock of £400,000 in India and 148 men of war there; he spoke of their exact and just keeping of their books and correspondence, so as no adventurer's stock could possibley be lost or defeated; and that it was a vulgar error that the Hollanders furnished their enemies with powder and ammunition for their money, tho' engaged in a cruell warr, but that they us'd to merchandize indifferently, and were permitted to sell to friends of their enemies. He laugh'd at our Committee of Trade, as compos'd of men wholy ignorant of it, and how they were the ruine of commerce, by gratifying some for private ends." (Evelyn). 26.11.1657: "I went to London to a Court of the East India Company upon its new union, in Merchant Taylors' Hall, where was much dissorder by reason of the Anabaptists, who would have the adventurers oblig'd onely by an engagement, without swearing, that they still might pursue their private trade; but it was carried against them. Wednesday affix'd on for a General Court for election of officers, after a sermon and prayers for good success. The stock resolv'd on was £800.000." (Evelyn). 27.11.1657: "I tooke the oath at the East India House, subscribing £500". (Evelyn). 9.2.1663-4: "Great talk of the Dutch proclaiming themselves in India Lords of the Southern Seas and denying traffick to all ships but their own, upon pain of confiscation: which makes our merchants mad. Great doubt of two ships of ours, the "Greyhound" and another, very rich, coming from the Streights, for fear of the Turkes." (Pepys). 15.2.1663-4: "Great news of the arrivall of two rich ships, the "Greyhound" and another, which they were mightily afraid of and great insurance given. This afternoon Sir Thomas Chamberlin [son of Sir William Chamberlyan, a judge and created baronet in 1612] come to the office to me and showed me several letters from the East Indys, showing the height, that the Dutch are come to there, showing scorn to all the English, even in our only Factory there at Surat, beating several men and hanging the English standard St. George under the Dutch flag in scorn; saying, that whatever their masters do or say at home, they will do what they list and be masters of all the world there; and have so proclaimed themselves Soveraigne of all the South Seas; which certainly our King cannot endure, if the Parliament will give him money. But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet, till we are more ready for it." (Pepys) 29.5.1664: "Mr Coventry and I do long discourse together of the business of the office and the war with the Dutch. For first as to the wrong we pretend they have done us; that of the East Indys, for their not delivering of Poleron, it is not yet known whether they have failed or no; that of their hindering the "Leopard" cannot amount to above £3,000, if true; that of the Guinny (Guinea) Company, all they had done us did not amount to above £200 or £300, he told me truly; and that now, from what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in taking an island and two forts, hath set us much in debt to them; and he believes that Holmes will have been so puffed up with this, that he by this time hath been enforced with more strength than he had then, hath, I say, done a deal more wrong to them. He do, as to the effect of the war, tell me clearly, that it is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade, if we will, we having so many advantages above them, of winds, good ports and men; but it is pride and the laziness of the merchants." (Pepys) 5.8.1667:
"I hear the ill news of our loss lately of four rich ships, two from
Guinea, one from Gallipoly, all with rich oyles and the other from
Barbadoes, worth, as is guessed £80.000.
But there is strong talk if Harman had taken some of the Dutch East
India ships (but I dare not yet believe it) and brought them into
Lisbon."
(Pepys) 1.5.1668: "I understand how the Houses of Commons and Lords are like to disagree very much about the business of the East India Company, and one Skinner, to the latter of which the Lords have awarded £5,000 from the former, for some wrong done him theretofore; and the former appealing to the Commons, the Lords vote their petition a libell, and so there is like to follow very hot work". (Pepys) 3.5.1668: "To church where I saw Sir A. Rickard, though he be under the Black Rod, by order of the Lords House, upon the quarrel between the East India Company and Skinner; which is like to come to a very great heat between the two Houses". (Pepys). 5.5.1668: "Thence with Creed to Westminster Hall and there met with cosen Roger, who tells me of the great conference this day between the Lords and Commons about the business of the East India Company, as being one of the weightiest conferences that hath been and maintained as weightily." (Pepys) 9.5.1668: "So I at noon by water to Westminster, and there find the King hath waited in the Prince's chamber those two hours, and the Houses are not ready for him. The Commons having sent this morning, after their long debate therein the last night, to the Lords, that they do think the only expedient left to preserve unity between the two Houses is, that they do put a stop to any proceedings upon their late judgement against the East India Company, till their next meeting, to which the Lords returned answer, that they would return answer to them by a messenger of their own; which they not presently doing, they were all inflamed, and thought it was only a trick to keep them in suspense till the King come to adjourne them; and so rather than lose the opportunity of doing themselves righte, they presently with great fury, come to this vote "That whoever should assist in the execution of the judgement of the Lords against the Company should be held betrayers of the liberties of the people of England and of the privileges of that House." (Pepys) 18.11.1682: "I sold my East India adventure of £250 principal for £750 to the Royal Society, after I had been in that Company 2 years, being extraordinary advantageous." (Evelyn). 16.6.1689: "The East India Company likely to be dissolv'd by Parliament for many arbitarry actions." (Evelyn). 28.4.1692: "The business of the East India Company, which they would have reform'd, let fall." (Evelyn). 11.6.1696: "Greate subscriptions in Scotland to their East India Company." (Evelyn). 5.3.1699: "The Old East India Company lost their business against the new Company by 10 votes in Parliament, so many of their friends being absent, going to see a tyger baited by dogs." (Evelyn). The
Company had the monopoly of tea (the most important commodity after
opium). It first came to
England in 1660 from China and then from Bantam, Surat, Ganjam (India),
Madras and Amoy (China). Pepys
wrote on 28.9.1660: "I
did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had drank
before" and again
on 28.6.1667: "Home and there find my wife making of tea; a drink which Mr
Pelling the Potticary tells her is good for her cold and defluxions." A tax on tea caused the riot known as the "The Boston Tea Party", leading to the American War of Independence The Company was involved in the opium trade, started by the Portuguese in 1700 with China who banned it in 1729 although Warren Hasting, Governor General of Bengal and head of the East India Company, continued trading in opium. On one occasion £719,108 worth was brought in one ship and £825,023 in another. This trade continued until the 19th century as can be seen by a letter from Hong Merchants to the Company dated 6.2.1822. The Company prospered, the average value of trade increased £44,230 in 1601-2 to £860,000 between 1674-5 and £536,672 in 1710-1759, being the combined sums of the Company's trade and the officer's private trade. The Company used several types of coin: pillar dollars, ryals of eight, pieces of eight from the Royal Mint of Seville, Mexico dollars from the Viceroyal Mint of Mexico, duccattoons from Venice, French crowns and rixdollars from either Scandinavia or Germany. The measures of weight used for currency and goods were the "picul" equalling 100 "catties", one "catty" equalling 16 Canton "taels", one "tael" being 578.85 grains worth 6s 8d. Slaving (in which Sir William Winter and Sir John Hawkins had been originally involved), tobacco (brought back to England by Sir Walter Raleigh) and sugar made the West India trade more lucrative. There was £70,000,000 worth of trade from the West Indies against £8,000,000 from the East in the 1790s; 652 ships going to the West Indies and only 63 to the East in1806. Slaving was started in 1441 by the Portuguese and in by 1652 England was involved in it. It was banned in England in1807 but not abolished until 1834 and slavers traded out of London, Lisbon, Liverpool, Amsterdam, Bristol, Nantes and Copenhagen amongst other ports. The Company's ships called East Indiamen were first built at Blackwell Yard later called Poplar Dock, then at others such as Well's Yard, Deptford, Cox and Curling Yard, Limehouse, Brunswick, London, East India and St. Katherine's Docks in the East End of London and Whitby in Yorkshire. The East India Company's trade led to the formation of the first insurance company and auction mart for ships and prize-goods established by Edward Lloyd at his Coffee House in Tower Street (first mentioned in the "London Gazette" dated 18th to 21st February, 1691), from where it was later moved to Lombard Street where a rival business was founded by Thomas Fielding, waiter of Lloyd's Coffee house in Pope's Head Alley. An unidentified John Winter junior was listed in the London Directory of 1809 as a ship and insurance broker of 30, Threadneedle Street, London. Sir Edward Winter of Battersea and his elder brother Thomas of Fulham (who claimed to be Sir William Winter's great grandsons) were superintendents of the East India Company's factory at Fort-St-George, Masulipatam, India. The exploits and peccadilloes of Sir Edward Winter, his brothers Thomas and Francis, Thomas junior (illegitimate son of Thomas) and an unidentified William are recorded in the Minutes of the East India Company. 1624-9: According to a letter from Rev. Thomas Friday [O.CD.1233] at Batavia [Djakarta], a Dutch colony in Western Java, the "Lion" was boarded thrice and Master Richard Swanley was slain but the ship valiantly freed herself. The "Lion" reached Gombroon in the Persian Gulf where she was assaulted by Ruy Freire's Portuguese frigates and after a brave defence was blown up by her crew. The Portuguese saved the men but presently hanged them except one whom they sent to Kerridge, President of the East India Company at Surat with letters. [Account of a Winterbourne, only survivor of the East India Company's "Lion" in 1626]. John
Taylor the "Water Poet"
gives his name as Thomas Winterbourne but prints from information supplied
by a Frenchman Hillion who was in the Portuguese fleet.
[Taylor's “Collected
Works 1630; Captain Weddall's own Narrative”
for account of the "Lion",
Court Minutes .27.11.1626]. The Armagon Factory Ledger entries for 30.5.1630 to 22.1.1631 mentions Ambrose Winter. At the end of January 1631 Willoughby seized Sill and his principal supporters at Armagon for private trading and carried them prisoner to Bantam in Java, installing John Hunter as agent for the Coast [Coromandel Coast in south east India]. As Ambrose is not mentioned again, he presumably returned to England for the enquiry by the Court of Committee and not re-employed. Thomas Winter was born in 1615 or 1616 at Portsmouth and went out to the East probably as an attendant about 1630. He was son of William Winter of Portsmouth and according to the inscription on his tomb at All Saints, Fulham, kinsman of Sir William Winter, Surveyor to the Navy to Elizabeth I who was MP for Portsmouth (1559, 1563), Clitheroe (1572) and Gloucester (1586). The actual relationship is difficult to discover as the Latin inscription uses the word "protonepos" (which could either mean great grandson or grandson of a nephew). The claim was never proved. Franciscus
Winter is mentioned in the "Visitation of the County of Cornwall" in 1620 as son of
William Winter of "Parchemouth,
Co. Southampton".
He is also mentioned in the Visitation of Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight (1686) as Winter of Portsmouth "at
the Hulk Inn, Portsmouth 6.8.1686”.
His arms were given as "sable, a fesse emine, on a canton of the same, a lion rampant of
the field". Crest: "Out
of a ducal coronet or, a cubit arm vested argent, the hand proper holding
3 ostrich feathers, middle sable, the other 2 azure".
There was a note to say it was
"from a tablet in oyl [is
presented]
by Captain Wynter but unless he can prove his descent from Winter of
Gloucesteshire the arms are not to be allowed.
The coat in a book of Mr Vincent's marked No. 183 fo, 20 and
quartered in C. 24 pg. 584." Fig.
116
-Winter of Portsmouth, Battersea & Fulham. William
Winter of Portsmouth descended Gloucester > William of Portsmouth d.c.
33 years since, aged 74 = Margaret/Margery Wells >: (a)
Edward Winter (bur. St. Mary’s, Battersea) = (1) Mary, d. of William
Potter? =
(2) Emma Wyeth. (b)
Thomas Winter (bur. All Saints, Fulham) = Anne, d. of Richard Swinglehurst. (c)
Joan Winter = Peniston of Westminster > issue. (d)
Francis Winter of Portsmouth, living 1686, aged 53 = (1) Cornelia Everard
of
Canterbury = (2) Sarah, d. of Timothy Lydiatt, minister of Portsea
Island. By (1) >:
(A) Anne Winter aged 18 in 1686.
(B) Mary Winter aged 15 in 1686. William married secondly Alice, daughter of Richard Langdon of Keverell who had 3 sisters Margaret, wife of John Cock, Mary, wife of William Whiddon of Chafford and Elizabeth who married Drake of Tavistock. [Langdon Pedigree in Harleian MS 1979 fo. 673]. Francis Drake came from the family of Tavistock who were connected by marriage to the Winters of Dyrham and Trebarwith through the Sydenhams. There are several William Winters mentioned in the records of the City of Portsmouth: Burgesses
of the Town & Borough of Portsmouth: ------
-1575 - William Winter (possibly Sir William or his son) 20.04.1658
- Thomas Winter of Fulham 03.11.1661
- Edward Winter "miles"
(knight) of
Battersea ------
-1665 - Thomas Winter of Fulham 30.09.1681
- Francis Winter 02/09.1682
- Francis Winter 02.09.1682
- Edward Winter, "miles"
(knight) ------
-1689 – Thomas Winter. 1605
- William Winter mentioned in regard to a grant of 3 pieces of ground in
the town. 1606
- William Winter, mayor. 1629
- William Winter, mayor's Assistant. (+) 1635
- William Winter, mayor. (+) - 29.9.1635- & 29.9.1646 1646
- William Winter, mayor. (+) 1682
- Francis Winter, mayor's Assistant. Town
Land & Co., Granted and Demised - William Winter 28.9.1605 in fee,
three pieces of ground in town, yearly rent 5s. 28.9.1607
- Indenture 1073 by William Winter, mayor and burgess of Portsmouth to
Isaac Hatch, shipwright of Gosport. ["Palaelography,
Genealogy & Topography
- Moulton,
Hampshire",
p. 220]. Moulton, Devonshire: Henry Winter of Clapton-(in-Gordano), Somerset in Land Register 13.9.1670. ["Palaelography, Genealogy & Topography"]. Land was held at Ottery St. Mary, Devon 4 Edward VI (1551) by Thomas Winter, John and Margaret Winter of Dogmersfield, Hampshire ["Palaelography, Genealogy & Topography" - Moulton, Hampshire", p.211]. Winters were recorded in Devon as early as 1249 when William Wynter held 1 claw of land in the villenage of Roger de Puderham at Powderham and Whitstone. Election
and Sessions Books, September.1635:
The same day and year the Right Honourable Jerrome, earl of Portland, one
of the Lords Lieutenant of Hampshire and Governor and Commander of the
Isle of Wight was admitted a burgess of Portsmouth.
Memoir: and that upon this election day being the xxlst day of
September 1635 William Winter gent,
now mayor elect did absolutely and freely renounce from being of the
Garrison and did promise hereafter to be none of their company:
In the presence of the mayor, aldermen and burgesses.
W. Wynter." Primo
die Marij 1635 (1.3.1635) Mo: "That the same day and year it was
agreed by William Winter Esq.,
Mayor, Owen Jenens, William Towerson and other aldermen and burgesses then
assembled that Elizabeth Ridge, widow, should from thenceforth enjoy the
freedom of a burgess of the said town except the benefit of the common in
respect she had given a silver bowl to the use of ye said town."
[Account of the Corporation plate]. William Winter of Portsmouth's Will dated 1654 showed he had 3 sons, Thomas the eldest, Edward 2nd son and Francis 3rd son. Their father William was probably the mayor's assistant in 1629 and mayor in 1635 and 1646 and the previous William (mayor in 1605 and 1606) was perhaps his father. Portsmouth records show that a subsequent William Winter (perhaps a descendant) took part in the defence of the Island of Portsea and the town of Portsmouth during the Roundhead siege in August 1642 and was taken prisoner. After the Roundhead victory at Worcester on 3.9.1651, Cromwell took severe measures against former Royalists. Many estates were forfeited and huge fines imposed for several years afterwards, leading to financial hardships for many peers and gentlemen who were already heavily in debt because of their support of Charles I from 1639-41. Catholics were barred by punitive legislation from holding any important office in local government or elsewhere. In his Will of 1654 William Winter of Portsmouth mentioned his eldest son Thomas, his second son Edward, his third son Francis and his daughters, Elizabeth, Margery and Joan. He bequeathed a "a plot of land lying and being between Southsea Castle and Eastney Farm known by the name of Lumps Land." Robert Mudie's "Hampshire" [1838 p.186] shows both Lumps and Eastney Farms which appear in greater detail in J. Maynard's map of the "Island of Portsea" (1860) in "Notes on the Topography of Portsmouth together with Historical and Statistical Information" [Alexander N.Y. Howell, 1913]. He
left to his son Francis "an
outhouse, formerly used as a Malting House with the freedom of the Gurret
and Cistern and the places where are seated for the purpose". He also disposed of property including a house in "Oayster Street" in the oldest part of Portsmouth, adjacent to the Cathedral and near the lower end of High Street. Oyster Street is very close to Lombard Street, subject of a Deed: His eldest son Thomas is first mentioned as an East India Company assistant factor in 1624. 1624-55:
Company's Black Book (Home Miscellaneous) - a record of the errors and
misdemeanours of Thomas Winter. 20.12.1626:
List of Factors on the Coast at Masulipatam in the Kingdom of
Golconda: Gerald Pinson (agent), Thomas Clark (accountant) Richard Hudson,
Humphrey Weston (stewards), Robe Phipps, Thomas
Winter and Gerald Metcalfe (assistants). 1637-1641:
Factory Record, Masulipatam has a certificate regarding Mr Winter's
business: Masulipatam 3.9.1637. "Whereas
in Mr Wyche's account, Thomas
Winter is found to have double credit for two months expenses viz
November and December 1635 amounting to 395 pagodas1
which sum Winter denies having
received, the undersigned certify that the Banyan2
who is alleged to have paid the money has been examined and has declared
that he never paid the said Winter
more than 56 pagodas the whole time that Wyche was here. It is evident therefore that a mistake has been made."
[copy half page
- the original was signed by Messrs Hudson, Milward, Baker and Peniston]. 1pagoda
- a former Indian coin bearing the figure of a pagoda or Eastern temple in
the form of a many-storied, tapering tower, each storey with a projecting
roof. 2banyan
- an Indian or Hindu broker, financier or trader especially from the
province of Gujarat. Thomas Winter was amongst those questioned in an enquiry [Deposition in Admiralty Court, Factor Records, Java] relating to the surrender of Pulo Run to the English (which Pepys mentioned in his Diary), the value of spices in 1621-22, the affair of the "Endymion" and the non-payment by Dutch of customs at Gombroon: 29.5.1664: "Mr Coventry and I do long discourse together of the business of the office and the war with the Dutch. For first as to the wrong we pretend they have done us; that of the East Indys, for their not delivering of Poleron, it is not yet known whether they have failed or no; that of their hindering the "Leopard" cannot amount to above £3,000, if true; that of the Guinny (Guinea) Company, all they had done us did not amount to above £200 or £300, he told me truly; and that now, from what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in taking an island and two forts, hath set us much in debt to them; and he believes that Holmes will have been so puffed up with this, that he by this time hath been enforced with more strength than he had then, hath, I say, done a deal more wrong to them. He do, as to the effect of the war, tell me clearly, that it is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade, if we will, we having so many advantages above them, of winds, good ports and men; but it is pride and the laziness of the merchants." (Pepys) The Company records state on 20.2.1638: "Thomas Winter and the peevish Dutchman arrived here last night with the goods" from Golconda (famous for its diamond and gold mines) near Hyderabad where Winter and the Dutchman were "badly used" by the Court. Thomas Winter was at Masulipatam in September, visited Narsapur and Viravasaram with Peniston in August. Thomas was engaged for another years service, spoke to the anti-Golconda rebels at Elore [Eluru, India] in October and went to Bantam on 25th October. In 1642 Thomas intended returning to Europe from Bantam, was recorded at Madras between 4th -14th July, Balasore on 14th August and Masulipatam in December. He was thought to be worth 20,000 thin rials1 with another 120,000 in goods aboard the "Hopewell". 1A
rial, ryal or royal was a coin of various kinds, an old English gold coin
worth about 10 shillings or a Spanish real and others coins. Thomas was in bad health with convulsive fits and his covenanted period of service had expired. He sailed by the "Advice" to Bantam on 4th January and boarded the "Blessing" in March but was persuaded to await the next year's sailing for want of able men there. He was persuaded to sign for another 3 years ending 12.6.1642 as a factor at £80 per annum to rank fourth on the Coast. Thomas arrived per "Hopewell" on 4th August, 1643, was appointed factor at Virasaram in 1644 and was at Masulipatam in October 1645. Thomas was recorded as a factor at Masulipatam in 1646-7. Thomas, father of William Winter, a factor at the Coast was allowed 100 sannowes sent him in the "Blessing" by his son. A correction to this reads "William, father of Thomas Winter" but there seems to be some confusion about this. On 28.8.1646 the Court of Committee ruled that calicoes sent by Thomas Winter, a factor at the Coast, to his father were to be detained until the son arrived home. A Meeting of a Committee was appointed to hear Mr Day's business on 13.11.1646. Day when charged with private trading said 46 bales belonged to Thomas Winter. The company ruled on 12.9.1649 that a bale of morees1 was sent to William Winter in the "Dolphin" by his son Thomas was to be delivered on payment of freight. 1morees
or moreen, a stout corded stuff woollen cotton or both, often watered
possibly connected with moire. The Court of Committee received a request from on 2.12.1646 from William, father of Thomas Winter, a factor at Madraspatam, to have calicoes sent to him by his son. The request was denied, the latter being accused of private trade. The court offered to sell the goods and on Winter's return (if he could clear himself) to give up the money so obtained but the father did not wish this course adopted. Thomas intended to sail in May as time expires on 12.6.1647. President Peniston and Thomas were at Bantam on 6.12.1649 and Thomas was there again on 16.8.1650. On 22.2.1650 the Committee ruled that Thomas Winter was to be recalled. After serving 20 years as a factor in the Company service in India, during which time he rose to be chief at Masulipatam, Thomas returned to England in the "William" on 30.7.1651 and was given £100 pounds on account of salary. Ten years later he became a "Committee" (member). He died in January 1681and was buried in All Saints, Fulham where a sumptuous monument to his memory may still be seen. Sir Edward Winter of York House, Battersea buried at St. Mary's Battersea was his younger brother. He was signatory of official letters from the East India Company. One was from Thomas Clark, Richard Hudson and Thomas Winter at Masulipatam to Thomas Rogers at Golconda. On 3.10.1651 the Court Committee ordered that private trade brought home by Thomas Winter in the "William" was to be delivered, with exception of any calicoes, exceeding the number allowed which were to be sent to Leadenhall. Thomas Winter was asked to despatch the "Blackmore" from Gravesend in 1656. On petition of Thomas Winter and others, the Court ordered on 8.11.1656 that Letters of Marque be issued under the seal of the Admiralty to ships against the enemies of the Commonwealth. [Proceedings of the Council of State, PRO SP. Dom. Interregnum I 77 p.505]. On 2.1.1658 letters and stock for the Coast were freighted to Thomas Winter and others by the New General Stock Committee. Thomas undertook that goods returned will remain in the Company's custody when a Bill of Exchange was issued on 15.8.1660 for £48,561.15s.6d. payable in 2 months sight to Edward Winter from Fort St. George and on 10.4.1661 Thomas appealed on behalf of his brother Edward. On his return to England, Thomas Winter lived at Fulham House which he probably built on the site of Stourton House (now Cambridge House) near the Swan Inn, now covered by the approach road to Putney Bridge. This property was acquired on the erection of the present Bridge, when the rent charge was extinguished by the investment of a sum sufficient to produce £10 per annum in consols. In
1684 his wife Anne Winter presented a large silver paten to the church of
All Saints, Fulham inscribed "The
guifte of Mistress Anne Winter to ye Church of Fulham.
24 June 1684". The
Register Book has an entry "Edward
Chubb, Church Warden. A peece
of plate given by Mrs Ann Wynter to the Parish Church of Fulham for the
Collecting of Mony at the Saccrament the 24th day of June in the year of
our Lord 1685: as exprest upon the peece of plate.
Edward Chubb, Church Warden 1685."
Feret described it as "a
common silver plate with a piece in the centre beaten out and
engraved". Thomas died in 1681 at Fulham and was buried at the parish church of All Saints, Fulham. In his Will dated 28.7.1679, proved on 3.2.1681-2 he mentioned "My naturall son" Thomas and his daughter Mary (married to Edward Read) and arranged for gifts to be given to the poor of Fulham. "Whosoever
shall live in the aforesaid house [in Fulham] after my decease to pay or
distribute yearly the sume of tenn pounds of good and lawful money of
England or to its worth in what they shall thinke best for the benefitt of
the poore belonging to this side of the said parish of Ffulham which is
commonly called or termed Ffulham side of Ffulham division to commence or
being on St. Thomas his day that shall next happen after my decease and so
to continue on that day yearly for ever in such a mannor and forme as is
hereafter menconed." It
was long the custom to distribute the Winter gift in half-crowns to 80
poor woman, the distribution taking place after service, in the vestry on
December 21st. Thomas Winter's charity is administered by the
United Charities.["Fulham
Old and New" - Charles James Feret]. His
house "where in I now dwell in
Fulham with gardens, orchards, stables, coach houses and other
buildings" was left to
his wife Anne for life to revert to his nephew Edward as well as "all
my furniture and my stocks in the East India and African Companies and one
bond for £3,500 from the said East India Company."
Thomas had a substantial holding in the East India
Company, property to dispose of in Norfolk and a "certaine
Inne or Taverne called the Swan near the side of the river of Thames at
Chelsie in Middlesex." His
illegitimate son Thomas received an annuity of £50 per annum.
He left £200 to the "Mayor
and Aldermen of the towne of Portsmouth where I was borne". Charitable
Gifts in the distribution of the Corporation - "Thomas Wynter a native of Portsmouth, who by his Will in 1679
(at which time he was residing at Fulham, Middlesex) left the sum of £200
to the mayor and aldermen of the Borough, to be improved by them for the
benefit of the poor, the interest arising therefrom to be distributed
yearly on Saint Thomas's Day for ever. The
said sum of £200 pounds is, by indenture bearing date the 21st
September, 3 James II, secured on the Borough, wharves and quays for the
distributions of £10 yearly, and interest to the poor. Mr
Wynter's family had been long residents of the Island of Portsea and
for a considerable period, were the owners and occupiers of Lump's Farm.
One of them, William Wynter,
was elected mayor in the year 1606-7 and another William Wynter was mayor in 1635 and again in 1646.
The last mentioned was taken prisoner by the Parliamentary forces
when they laid siege to the Island and the town in August 1642." [Portsmouth Records]. Thomas
Winter left various properties to his wife Anne and brother Francis.
He mentioned Lump's Farm with reference to Anne, former wife of his
nephew Thomas (Thomas, son of Francis Winter).
She was left £200 "provided
she deliver up a parcell of writings belonging to some land called by the
name of Lumps lying neare Portsmouth in Hampshire and deliver up a full
discharge for all things concerning her former husband”. There is a monument to Thomas Winter (1681) and Anne (Swinglehurst) his wife (1689) in the north west corner of the parish church of All Saints, Fulham. It is a white marble wall monument with projecting base supporting a vase on a pedestal and panel at the back with a shaped head surmounted by cartouche-of-arms. The church is on the west side of the approach to Putney Bridge. "A
very beautiful tho' Plain Monument of black and white Marble, rais'd near
12 foot from the ground. The
Ornaments are fine foldage festoons etc. very well done with a Neat Urn at
the Top and over it the Arms. Upon
a loose separate Drapery finely Polish'd hanging upon the Base this
Inscription following, the whole secur'd with Iron spikes wash'd with
Gold, is a curious piece of Workmanship and cost £150. "H.S.J.
Thomas Winter, Armiger, inclyti illius Winteri Pronepos Que Hispanorum
Classem (quae vinci non potuit) fudi Bello dein pacu obstretricante, Hic
Paci filius, in Indos Mercator navigat, ub Messalapatamiae Praefecturam
fessit et adornauit, Vigessimo plus minus anno elapso Patri cognatisque
(ob fidelitatem optimo Reg~u a pijs foederatoribus) ad inopiam redactis
Velis et Rebus secundis, Plane Alter Joseph Deo mittente, redijt.
Omnibus tandem Boni Viri functus officijs Post quan trigenta
quatuor annos. Mira patienta acri laboraverat morbo, In Domino moriens, a
laboribus requievit Moestissima Coniux hoc qualecunc Armoris ego Poisut
Obijt Jan 15 salutatis MDCLXXXI Aetatis
LXVI.. Here
lyes Thomas Winter, Esq., the great grandchild of that famous Winter who
shatter'd the Spanish Fleet, Stil'd Invincible.
The War at last ushering in Peace, this son of Peace goes Mechant
to the Indies, where with great Honour he discharged the Trust of
Governour of Messalapatam. About
Twenty Years after he very fortunately Return'd another Joseph to his
Father and Relations, who for their fidelity to the best of Kings were by
the Pious Covenanters Reduc'd to poverty:
Finally having approv'd himself a worthy Man in all Offices, and
after he had for the space of 38 years Labour'd with Amirable Patience
under a grievous Distemper, Died in the Lord and Rested from his Labours.
His sorrowful wife as a small Proof of her Love erected this to his
memory. He died the 15 of
January in the Year of our salvation 1681 and in the 66th year of his
Age." Here
also lyeth Anne, daughter of Richard Swinglehurst of London, gent, relict
of Tho. Winter abovesaid. Shee
died wife to Charles, eldeste sonne of Sir Thos. Orby of Lincolnshire,
Baronet. 15 Martii Ann. Dom.
1689, Aetis suae 54. This gentleman was descended from a Family very remarkable for their great Bravery and Valour; his great grandfather was very famous for the great services done to his Country in destroying the Spanish Armado as before mentioned, his Grandfather and Father were much esteem'd for their Strength and Courage, and his brother, Sir Edward Winter who liv'd at York Place near Battersey, the later part of his life, in his younger days (when a consul in India) kill'd a tyger with his own Hands without any weapon. The Story is so well known that we need not add to the Particulars" ["The Antiquities of Middlesex: being a Collection of the Several Church Monuments in that County; also an historical account of each church and parish" - John Bowack, London 1705]. "Here
lies buried Thomas Winter, Esquire, the great grand-child of that famous
Winter who defeated the Spanish Fleet, styled the Invincible.
This son of peace, goes as a merchant to the Indies where, with
great honour, he discharged the duties of Governor of Masulipatam.
After lapse of about twenty years, he returned after a successful
voyage, like another Joseph, sent by God, to his father and relations,
who, on account of their fidelity to the best of kings, were reduced by
the Pious Covenanters to poverty. At
length, having fulfilled all the offices of a good man and after having,
for thirty-four years, suffered from a painful disease, borne with
admirable patience, dying in the Lord, he rested from his labours.
His sorrowing wife, as a mark of her affection, erected this
monument to his memory. He
died 15 January in the year of our salvation, 1681, aged 66."
["Fulham Old and New"
- Charles James Feret]. The arms are "sable, a fesse ermine" (Winter). Crest "Issuant out of a ducal crown, a beast's head." Thomas Winter had two illegitimate sons by his gentlewoman (who later married a soldier) and sent the eldest to England in the "Mary" probably Thomas who is named in his Will, the other may have been William mentioned in the East India Company's records. Thomas's sister Joan married Peniston. Fig.
115
- Penistone Sir
Thomas Peneystone of Leigh, Sussex (d. 1644) 1st baronet >
Sir Thomas, 2nd baronet (1674) of Cornwell, Oxon = Elizabeth,
heiress of Sir Cornelius Fairmeadow > Sir Thomas, 3rd
baronet, bachelor (d. 1679) > Fairmeadow Peneystone possibly 4th
baronet his brother or an illegitimate son. On 26.4.1644 William Winter was entertained to go in the "William" to India at a salary of 6s.8d. per month. He became mate of the "Dolphin" on 8.10.1647. He may have been one of Thomas Winter senior's two illegitimate sons, the other being Thomas junior named in his father's Will. |