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Showing posts with label Agabeg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Agabeg. Show all posts

30 March 2016

The Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, Calcutta 1821 to Present Day.




This story is brought to you with the support of the
AGBU UK Trust.

In tribute and celebration of the 195th anniversary of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Kolkata. Remembering the first Headmaster, Arratoon Kaloos and a selection of others associated with the school.

The list of Founders of the school.




  
A great deal has already been written about Arratoon Kaloos and it is not my intention to repeat it all here.  Suffice to say he was born in 1777 in Tokat in Anatolia, he started the first Armenian school in Calcutta in 1798[1]. (Mesrovb Seth’s “Armenians in India” can be downloaded here https://archive.org/details/ArmeniansInIndia_201402)
Arratoon was passionate about education and he was one of several Armenians in Calcutta who came together to create the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy.  More on the history of the ACPA can be read on their website. http://www.armeniancollege.edu.in/about-us/.

What is perhaps much less known about him is that he was one of the earliest financial contributors to the Armenian Church in Singapore. The Will[2] along with the Estate Accounts of Arratoon Kaloos clearly show that he was a named subscriber to the building and subsequent completion of the church.





The first paragraph of Aratoon Kaloos's Will.



Extract from the estate accounts of Arratoon Kaloos dated 1834[3]

The extract shows evidence of his financial support
to the building of the Armenian Church in Singapore


"11 April 1834 to cash paid to Mr. P Jordon the deceased's subscription to the completion of the Armenian Church at Sineapore (sic)."

This is the first time I have seen written in any estate accounts evidence of the support Calcutta Armenians, and in particular a named individual, gave to the community in Singapore for the erection of their own church. Normally a generalisation is made in reference material that the Armenian communities in Calcutta, Java and Singapore raised the necessary funds.

Arratoon Kaloos had been the head master of the Armenian College during the first years of its inception and it can be seen from his will and supporting accounts that he was a generous man of heart and mind. As well as supporting the school and the church, he and his wife adopted a child and brought him up as if he was his own. Ever grateful to Arratoon Kaloos for his kindness in offering him a home, the child Arratoon John Agacy, went on to marry and have children one of whom he named Kaloos in his honour.


A simply family tree chart


In his Will dated 9th February 1832, Arratoon Kaloos left a legacy specifically to the Armenian College. “To the Managers, for the time being, of the Armenian Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta, in trust, to be applied for and towards the maintenance and education of the indigent Pupils of the said Academy the sum of two thousand Sicca Rupees. Rs2000.0.0.”





The estate accounts indicate a small amount of interest had been made on the original legacy.



Another founding member of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in 1821 was Aviet Agabeg. Rarely remembered these days as one of several who changed the life path of so many, his obituary reflected his loss as well as his achievements.  Unlike others such as Arratoon Kaloos, Aviet Agabeg[4] did not leave any legacies in his will to the Armenian College, preferring to ensure his wife and children inherited his estate. During his lifetime Aviet was a staunch backer and supporter.

Aviet Agabeg's Obituary, written by an un-named ex student
of the Armenian College and Philanthrophic Academy


It should be remembered that Sir Paul Chater (or simply Paul Chater as he was then) took the bold step to bring six Armenian College students over from Calcutta to Hong Kong in 1899. Knowing that he could make a difference to peoples’ lives, he gave them commercial opportunities that would otherwise not have been available to them. Although Sir Paul never attended the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta (his preferred school was La Martiniere in Calcutta), by investing personally and professionally in the future of six young students he demonstrated that he did indeed have very fond memories of the Armenian community in Calcutta where he once roamed as a bare foot orphan boy himself.

Chater suggested they give up their studies earlier than planned and take advantage of an offer he was making to them to emigrate with him to Hong Kong and fill jobs he had obtained and held for them at the Post Office in Hong Kong[5].

The students in question were:

Mr. G.M. Gregory (not to be confused with Rev. G. Gregory)
Mr. Tigran Matthews Gregory 
Mr. Stephen M. Joseph
Mr. Nazareth Malcolm Manuk
Mr. Mackertich Cyril Owen
and 1 other with a nickname "Goblin"

The Apcar ship 'Lightning'. Courtesy of John Schlesinger

They all arrived in Hong Kong in late 1899.  A coincidence in this small story is that they took the ship "Lightning", which was the same ship Chater sailed on in 1864 when he left Calcutta for Hong Kong.  Chater, an Indian Armenian pioneer in 1864 facilitated more Indian Armenian pioneers 35 years later.  The ship belonged to the Calcutta based Armenian company Apcar & Co, and thus the promise of a new life and prospective fortune was instigated and carried out by Chater and Apcar. Both, who were influential in their own right in the Far East, having paved the way for further Armenian settlers to seek their fortune in the Fragrant Harbour and also keeping it nicely within the Armenians of Calcutta community.


The students all took up their positions obtained for them by Chater in the Post Office in Hong Kong.  Five of them are listed in official papers of the colony[6].  They were all earning $40.00 per month with a $4 sorting allowance.  None of them stayed long in the Post Office, all of them ultimately making a good living, particularly Tigran Matthews Gregory.  Tigran started his own company T.M. Gregory & Co of which he was sole proprietor and he was also a well connected and established diamond merchant in Hong Kong during his lifetime.  Without that first leg up from Paul Chater, Tigran Matthews Gregory would not have been in a position to donate to the Armenian Church in Calcutta so generously upon his death, Tigran died in Hong Kong in 1962 and is buried in the same cemetery as Sir Paul Chater.  Thus, the Armenian Church in Calcutta acquired further generous donations which, ordinarily it would not have received but for Sir Paul.  




Nazareth Malcolm Manuk joined the Post Office briefly in 1899 but quickly obtained a position with the Chartered Bank of India.  After about 18 months he then joined The Dairy Farm, a company that Paul Chater had helped to start. Within a year of joining in 1905 Malcolm (who dropped his Christian name of Nazareth to fit more easily into the British establishment), was promoted to Secretary of the Company a position which showed that he was held in the highest esteem for his business abilities.  Malcolm dedicated 27 years of his life at the Dairy Farm Company and its rapid progress was in no small measure because of his responsibilities.  During WW1 he served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps in what was known as the Right Section Machine Gun Company.  He was well liked and thoroughly efficient.  He was also an extremely good marksman and won many shooting trophies.

Malcolm took a keen interest in theosophy and was the Presidential Agent of China of the Theosophical Society in Hong Kong where he often gave lectures.
 
The six men had a long and close friendship for the rest of their lives and in particular Malcolm Manuk and Tigran Matthews who later became his brother in law because Mrs. Gregory was Mr. Manuk’s sister Ripsey.  Malcolm Manuk died in Hong Kong in 1932[7].

After three years at the Post Office, Stephen M. Joseph felt confident enough in himself and his abilities to try his luck in Shanghai, but perhaps youthful exuberance, or slight immaturity held him back and he wasn't as successful there as he would have liked.  However, undaunted and unbowed, he left for Japan with one of the original six friends, and he secured a job with an American firm.  S.M. Joseph lived in Japan for 23 years and became extremely successful.  However, his brother, Abraham Joseph had a Shellac business in Jhalda and asked Stephen to join him.  He left Japan for India with approximately a lakh of Rupees in his pocket but tragically just prior to his leaving, he learnt of his brother's death by drowning which happened in 1927.  Shortly after this the big depression in trade set in and in 1930 all his savings where lost.  Stephen Joseph was now in serious financial difficulties and facing great hardship.  He received a letter from one of the original six friends that he had travelled to Hong Kong with from Calcutta, and who had heard of his hard times, the letter contained a job offer with a firm in Bangkok.  He immediately took the offer up and left for Bangkok to start his life all over again at the age of 60.  He became a successful businessman there.

Mackertich Cyril Owen, (known as Mack Owen) after his time at the Post Office, took a position as an assistant with the well known firm of A.H. Rennie & Co., Mack married in March 1909 at St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong to Phyllis Seth the daughter of the Court Registrar of Hong Kong, Arathoon Seth and his wife Catharine.  Arrathoon’s family was originally from Madras.

Other Armenians from India who settled and worked there during the lifetime of Paul Chater were Owen Elias Owen, Enos Seth, Harold Arathoon Seth, John Hennesey Seth, Seth Arathoon Seth and Aratoon Vertannes Apcar[8], to name but a few.

That friendship of six Armenian College students was solely due to Sir Paul Chater bringing them together, spotting their potential and giving them the chance of a lifetime to make something of themselves.  They in turn held each other in the highest regard all through their lives; that bond of friendship forged on the decks of the "Lightning" on that long journey between Calcutta and Hong Kong was etched in their minds for life.

Over the last 195 years the Armenian College has turned out numerous students who have made a difference in the world one way or another. With some patience and persistence one can find references to students and ex students in newspapers, journals, periodicals, institutions, repositories and libraries.

Congratulations Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy on your 195th anniversary, may you have many more years of education and celebration in front of you.

From little acorns, mighty oak trees do grow.




[1] Armenians in India by Mesrovb Seth. P.481
[2] British Library: L/AG/34/29/53
[3] British Library: L/AG/34/27/106/333.  See also L/AG/34/27/109/2, L/AG/34/27/169/81, L/AG/34/27/170/69.
[4] Oriental Observer (Calcutta, India), Sunday, November 18, 1832; pg. 520; Issue 47. Empire.

[5] Armenian College Old Boys’ Union Souvenir 1909-1959
[6] Hong Kong Government papers. Correspondence Respecting Increase of Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony. October 1900
[7] The China Mail 7 April 1932
[8] Hong Kong Government Gazettes

27 February 2014

Ireland and Indian Armenians - Alexander Francis Preston is said to have been the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's famous Sherlock Holmes, Preston's Armenian Wife Saw It All.



As I watered the garden this evening in the fading warmth and pink hues to the sky something reminded me of Ireland. Perhaps it was the damp smell of the watered Irish peat, whatever it was it led me to think of another of my Armenian biographical stories that I have been meaning to tell. Ireland and Indian Armenians? How did I get there? How does this connection work?

This is how.


Alexander Francis Preston was born in Cavan, Ireland 23 May 1842 one of at least 9 children of the Reverend Decimus William Preston and Emily nee Armstrong. Alexander’s mother was a daughter of General Armstrong and his grandfather was a judge of appeal whilst his grandmother was daughter and co-heiress of the fifth Baron Carbery. 
Alexander Francis Preston was the inspiration of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
See Daily Mail article in the main narrative.
 
He graduated B.A. and M.B. at Trinity College, Dublin, and he obtained his medical diploma at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. After that he was posted to the Netley Military Hospital near Southampton where he continued his medical education. He entered the Army medical Service in 1863 serving in India, Afghanistan and China.
 
Whilst in India he met and married Elizabeth Agabeg on the 14 September 1867 at St. Stephen’s Church Dum Dum. 
The marriage record of Alexander Preston
and Elizabeth Agabeg
 
They went on to have a least 7 children all but one was born in India. Elizabeth was one of nine children of Joseph and Salome Agabeg. Elizabeth’s wedding was attended by her sister Ripsima. Alexander was at the beginning of his medical military career starting in India as Staff Assistant Surgeon with the Royal Artillery.

The family tree showing the
children and grandchildren of
Alexander Francis Preston and
Elizabeth Agabeg.
 
Alexander and Elizabeth’s first child a son, was still-born on 18 November 1868 in Peshawar their second child a daughter named Frances Gertrude died 27 April 1870 aged only 5 months. One can only try to imagine the grief and agony Elizabeth must have endured during these first few years of marriage. Emily Daisy Preston was born 4 January 1871 at Sealkote, India, next came Eyre Evans Preston born 12 March 1872, then William John Phaelim Preston 11 July 1873, next was Frances Dorothea Stella born in 1875 in Ireland and the last known child Rosie born 1883 in Bombay.
 

By 1 March 1873 Alexander had been appointed Surgeon three years later on 28 April 1876 he became Surgeon-Major. By 1880 he was serving with the 66th Regiment in Afghanistan and was severely wounded at Maiwand when he was shot in the back. He saw the siege of Khandahar and was mentioned in dispatched. After Afghanistan he was promoted to Brigade-Surgeon on 28th April 1886, and on the 28th March 1892 he become Surgeon-Colonel, obtaining the highest ranking position of Surgeon-General on 6th July 1896. In 1901 he was appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Victoria and continued with this position after her death to King Edward. He retired from military service on the 23rd May 1902. He acted for a time as Deputy Director-General of the Army Medical Department, and his staff appointments included those of Principal Medical Officer in Belfast, China and Hong Kong, and Ireland (1896-1902). 

The Family



Having suffered such bitter loses with their first two babies, Alexander and Elizabeth went on to have the following children. 
 
Emily Daisy Preston 
 4 January 1871 – 26 December 1913 
Emily's marriage to the
dashing Commander
Charles Goodhart May
 
Although born in India, Emily Daisy Preston married the dashing Commander Charles Goodhart May of the Royal Navy in Portsea, near Portsmouth in Hampshire on the 17 March 1896. Reported in the local paper as a ‘fashionable wedding’, it was clearly an occasion tinged with sadness due to a family bereavement in the bridegroom’s family and, notable by his absence, the bride’s father. The bride’s mother Elizabeth wore ‘a handsome dress of grey silk trimmed with yellow shot brocade with bonnet to match’.
 
Emily’s marriage to Charles was short, only 15 years, he died on the 20 March 1911 at the Royal Naval Hospital in Great Yarmouth at the relatively young age of 56. Emily cuts a forlorn entry in the 1911 census at the family home at ‘Rosedene’ Claremont Avenue Surrey, ‘a widow, aged 40, no children and two servants’.
 
 

Eyre Evans Preston O.B.E. 
12 March 1872 – 1 December 1937
 
Eyre Preston, married Amy Catherine Bennett on the 7 April 1896 in Bangalore, India making it almost impossible for the Preston family to be in attendance as his sister Emily had married in Portsmouth just a few weeks earlier. 
 
Eyre served with The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was quickly promoted to Lieutenant on 24 July 1891. On the 16 May 1893 he was made a Second Lieutenant. Rising through the ranks as the years went on, he was promoted on the 25 July 1917 from Major to Lieutenant-Colonel of the 19th Punjabis Supply and Transport corp. On the 11 June 1920 he was awarded the Most Excellent order of the British Empire O.B.E. returning to India in October of that year. He died on 1 December 1937 at the Grange Lodge Hotel in St. Peter Port Guernsey. His estate was probated on 10 June 1938 “Admin with will limited London 10 June to Patrick Guy Carbery Preston Capt HM Army attorney of John Carbery Preston Maj.HM Army. Effects £1273-4s-9d.”
 
Their first child, John Carbery Preston was born 1 February 1898 in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, a place where many of the Prestons went to live later in their lives. Continuing with the high achieving military theme John was honoured with the Most Excellent Order M.E.O. on 17th June 1921 at just aged 23. His military career dominated his life and it wasn’t until he was in his late 30’s that he contemplated settling down. However, it appears all did not go smoothly. His engagement to Elisabeth Brind was announced in The Times on 15 March 1935 but it appears that marriage did not take place as no records can be found confirming it happened. A marriage did take place on the 15 July 1944 to Mrs. Mary Watson Lovegrove nee Smyth (correction supplied by grandson Nick Preston 13 May 2016, I had previously written Mary Watson Smith nee Lovegrove) . Whether there were any children is unclear.

The second son of Eyre and Amy was Patrick Guy Carbery Preston born 4 November 1902 in Peshawar India. He also took up the family military baton and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order D.S.O. on the 26th April 1945 aged 42. In August of that year, he saw combat in Greece and was awarded the Commander of the order of King George I. 

 

William John Phaelim Preston D.S.O., O.B.E. 
11 July 1873 – 18 January 1943
 
Yet another high achieving son of Alexander and Elizabeth nee Agabeg, William John Phaelim Preston’s entry in Who’s Who cannot fail to impress. “PRESTON, Lt-Col William John Phaelim DSO 1916; OBE 1919 Born 11 June 1873; s of late Surg.-Gen. A. F. Preston, KHP, AMS of Co. Meath; m 1912, Ina, e surv. d of late Rt Hon. Sir Christopher Nixon, 1st Bt, PC, MD, Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland; one s ; died 18 Jan. 1943 late 97th Deccan Infantry, Indian Army Education St Helen’s College, Southsea; RMC, Sandhurst Career Gazetted to 2nd Batt. Middlesex Regt 1892; Kalat Expedition, 1893; joined Indian Army, 1896; served European War in Mesopotamia in temporary and full command of the 97th Deccan Infantry (severely wounded, despatches, DSO); Afghanistan and Indian Frontier, 1919; with Baluchistan Field Force; retired from the Service, 1922 Recreations Music, tennis, golf Club Roehampton Address C/o Lloyds Bank, King’s Branch, 6 Pall Mall, SW1.”
 
He married Mary Christina Nixon on the 17th August 1912 at St. James’s Church London. Within a couple of years of their marriage they were based in Calcutta where he served with the 97th Infantry Indian Army being decorated in 1916 with the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) and in 1919 with the Most Excellent Order OB.E. it is impossible to say if he ever met up with his large Armenian family there. Upon his return from India he retired to Ireland where he died in 1943.
 
Frances Dorothea Stella Preston 
1875 – 27 November 1891
 
The next child of Alexander and Elizabeth nee Agabeg was Frances Preston. Born in Ireland it is safe to say that Elizabeth experienced many differences in life as the wife of an army officer. One can only try to imagine what she thought as she travelled between India and Ireland. During Alexander’s colourful career he was briefly stationed in Hong Kong and it would have been almost impossible for him NOT to have run into Sir Catchick Paul Chater who was an unofficial key member of the government in many areas. Alexander’s wife Elizabeth would have welcomed the opportunity to mix with and reacquaint herself with the Armenians from Calcutta, some of whom she would have been related to. However, their stay in Hong Kong has to have been yet another bitter-sweet moment for them as their beloved daughter Frances died at the tender age of 19 from inflammation of the lungs. Elizabeth no doubt would have been comforted by the other Calcutta Armenians in Hong Kong and their natural hospitality would have extended to her during this tragic and difficult period. Frances’s grave can still be seen in the Hong Kong cemetery today.
 
Alexander died in 1907 in Kensington his full obituary could of course, be nothing but glowing.

“Many readers will have seen with great regret the announcement of the death of Surgeon General Alexander Francis Preston, who was well known both at. Montreux and on the Riviera. He was only in this 65th year but he had seen much service.
He was a son of the late Rev. D.W. Preston, Rector of Killinkere and Rural Dean, his mother being a daughter of General Armstrong, RA. His grandfather was a judge of appeal, and his grandmother was daughter and co-heiress of the fifth Baron Carbery. Having graduated B.A. and M.B. at Trinity College, Dublin, he entered the Army Medical Service in 1863. He served in India, Afghanistan and China; was in medical charge of the 66th Regiment in Afghanistan in 1880, and was severely wounded in two places at Maiwant. He was all through the siege of Khandahar, being mentioned in dispatches and promoted to Lieutenant-colonel. His commissions were thus date: Assistant-Surgeon, September 30th 1863; Surgeon March 1st 1873; Surgeon-Major April 28th 1876, Brigade-Surgeon November 30th 1886; Surgeon-Colonel March 28th 1892; surgeon General July 6th 1896. He retired from the service, may 23rd 1902. In 1901 he was appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Victoria, the appointment being continued by King Edward. He acted for a time Deputy Director-General of the Army Medical Department, and his staff appointments included those of P.M.O. Belfast, China and Hong Kong, and Ireland (1896-1902). He held a distinguished Service Pension of £100 a year. His great abilities were hidden by his geniality. He was a zealous whist and bridge player and found of golf, travel and sport, being well known at Ranelagh and the Royal Irish Yacht Club.”


Alexander’s estate was surprisingly modest at £6274-0s-3d with probate being granted to Elizabeth and their son William John Phaelim Preston who was a Captain in the Indian Army.
Hotel Bristol in Mentone
Where Elizabeth died
 
Meanwhile, Elizabeth is still in London she can be found on the 1911 census at the Bailey’s Hotel Kensington. She is listed as widowed having had 6 children in total but with only 3 still living. By 1912 she was living at 38 Park Mansions Kensington when the engagement of her son William to Christina Nixon was announced. However, she did not stay in the UK for long but migrated to France where she died on the 30 October 1919 at the Hotel Bristol, in Mentone. She left a modest estate of £1333-5s-4d probate being granted to her son William Preston Lieutenant-Colonel of H.M. Indian Army. 
 
She was born in Calcutta and buried in France and inbetween had THE MOST extraordinary life as the wife of a high achieving army officer.
 
Both her sons Eyre Preston and William Preston were awarded O.B.E.s with William also gaining a D.S.O.
 
Eyre’s two sons (Elizabeth’s grandchildren) John Preston and Patrick Preston followed in the family military achievements, John gaining the M.E.O. whilst Patrick was also awarded the prestigious D.S.O.
 
It is very unlikely that Elizabeth’s Armenian Agabeg family of Calcutta had any idea of the mettle and accomplishments of her children and it is very unlikely that they were in touch regularly with their Indian Armenian cousins.
 
Alexander Francis Preston is said to have been the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's famous side-kick Dr. Watson. Read the article by the Daily Mail on this link. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095088/The-REAL-Dr-Watson-The-Victorian-army-medic-inspiration-Sherlocks-trusty-sidekick.html
 
Crucially, Patrick Mercer the author of "Red Runs The Helmand" failed significantly in establishing whether Alexander Preston married and had a family, in the article he says: 

"Unlike Watson, who became a civilian, Preston rejoined the army and served in Hong Kong, China and Ireland, rising to Surgeon General. He retired in 1902 and became Edward VII’s honorary physician. It seems he never married and he died in 1909, aged 64."

Patrick Mercer should have checked with me :)