Highlighting some of the lesser known, but just as important past Armenian characters in India. Those Armenians who have some sort of connection, or maybe simply buried in Calcutta and other locations in India, I re-create their lives and put them into short stories, at least as much as I am able to. The Armenians of India are unique and their stories need to be told. I hope this blog goes a little way to telling those stories. Armenian graves in India www.chater-genealogy.com.
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27 February 2014
Armenian Life, Love and Loss. Malcolm Peter Gasper And His 'Singular Aversion To His Wife'.
Labels:
Ada Watkins,
Alice Pringle,
Armenian,
Armenian Church Calcutta,
Belinda Russell,
Calcutta,
divorce,
Frederick Kehl,
Gasper,
Louisa Prosser,
Sarkies
Location:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
26 February 2014
Break Down Your Indian Armenian Family History Brick Wall
For those who don't think that the newly
release British Library records can help them with their awkward
India-Armenian family history brick walls, here is an example of a
typical page of Administrations of those who died Intestate in 1789.
The Wills and Inventories are there and will help to break your brick wall down, you just need a little patience.
The Wills and Inventories are there and will help to break your brick wall down, you just need a little patience.
More Genealogical Gems From The Recently Released Records of the British Library Now Online
These two images are a snapshot of the medical records of two separate Sarkies family members who went on to have very successful careers as a surgeons. Here you can see the letter of character recommendation as written by the Armenian Church Calcutta, and a rare view of an original Armenian baptism certificate issued from the same church.
The records are full of thousands of interesting and useful pieces of information, you just need to be patient and interrogate them with an open mind. The search engine isn't as good as Ancestry, so to some extent you must use creative thinking to find what you are after.
There are approximately 2.5 million records from the British Library now on line - Armenian ancestry and records have never looked so good.
Continuing With My Small Reviews of the Indian Armenian Wills and Inventories Dataset
Today I have Marcartoom Carrapiett of Pulicat. A well respected policeman of his time, he can be seen mentioned in local Indian newspaper publications of the era.
Not much is unusual about the contents of this particular document apart from the fact that Macartoom specifcally places into it his heart-felt disappointment regarding his eldest son. Little did he know that 160 years later his last words and wishes would be digitally available in the public domain for all to read and empathize with.
Carrapit Thomas from Ancoolis, died in Calcutta 1789
This story is
brought to you with the support of the
AGBU UK Trust.
AGBU UK Trust.
Carrapit
Thomas died in Calcutta 1789, a native of Ancoolis.
The Armenians
Wills at the British Library are a constant source of surprising detail and
information.
Today I am
presenting Carrapit Thomas. He made his Will in Calcutta on the 21st
March 1786[1],
he was a long way from his family some of whom were living in
Constantinople. His Will is one of the
more interesting; with a number of bequests and legacies it gives us a glimpse
into his life and who and what he considered important.
Carrapit
Thomas a native of Ancoolis (I believe this should read Agulis) died in
Calcutta on the 30th July 1789[2].
He made his will on the 21st March 1786, it is an unusual occurrence that the
date of the will and the date of his death are separated by nearly 3 years,
most wills were regularly written only days, sometimes hours before the demise
of the testator. This will is full of detail, I have highlighted bequests which
include to constantly burn candles in his memory. He was a long way from home.
“That I Carrapit the son of Thomas a native of Ancoolis, but at present an inhabitant and a merchant of the town of Calcutta, having no sort of disease whatever, but being in perfect health in body and in full possession of all limbs thereof of sound mind understanding and of perfect memory, considering and thinking the uncertain and temporary life of mankind, and that all men are once to die. I therefore have written this my will with my own hand and confirm the same, that after my departure from this world (that is after my death) this my will may be of effect and remain uncancelled immoveable and unalterable. It being my duty to explain and declare by this my will, the last pleasure of my heart and regulate in this manner.”
He
goes on to appoint his executor: “First
of all I appoint my successor and executor of this my will my well beloved and
faithful Godson Aga Moses Cachick I
did a spiritual service to him now it is his duty to serve me a little in a
temporal way. He is to be the master and executor of this will.
First of all, I give
a full power and free authority to him the said Aga Moses, that after my death he is first to cause my body to be
entered in the ground of Saint Nazareth Church, masses and funereal ceremonies
to be properly performed and then all such other matters as ought to be
discharged he may discharge………”
He
bequeathed several items of silver, instructing they should be made and
presented according to his wishes.
“To
be made a silver lamp for the use of Saint Nazareth’s Church of Calcutta which
is to burn continually and for the charge of the oil, I will under write – 500 …….
To
the Church at Chinsura – 100
To
the Church at Dacca – 100
To
the Church at Saydabad – 100”
“Secondly.
I leave my dwelling house as a memorial and heir of mine the value of which is
14,000 Sicca Rupees which I dedicate and make a present of to Saint Nazareth’s Church of Calcutta, but upon this condition,
that no person shall have any power to sell or mortgage the house. It shall
remain as a memorial for ever.”
“……………..I therefore beg of Mr. Cachick that he will use his power
to order and to excuse the same to be done and fully performed. This is my last
pleasure which I have written in this my will.
I request this my will be approved and confirmed by all the opposers of
the same are bound to answer me before the impartial tribunal of Christ and the
approvers of it as just and right blessed be God I wrote of my own hand. That is
Carrapit Thomas of Ancoolis.
Calcutta Shemes 1st the year 1786 or 171…….”
Although
Carrapit was from Ancoolis it is clear from his will and the bequests he left
that he held the Armenian Churches, particularly in India, in high regard.
Even though
he had appointed Aga
Moses Cachick as his executor and Moses’s father Catchick Arrakiel to oversee
him and the responsibilities of fulfilling Carrapit’s instructions, Admon
of the Will was granted on the 22nd October 1789 to Astwasattoor
Gregory and Jacob John. It is likely that Moses and his father ultimately
declined to act as executors.
The 19 page Inventory[3]
of sale gives an insight into a wealthy successful merchant. The first page of the inventory shows a
selection of the items Carrapit owned with the name of the purchaser on the
right along with the price paid.
Randomly
reviewing the extensive listing, I came across this. It is quite rare to find
on an inventory list 12 pairs of spectacles for one individual, yet here they
are, made of silver and gold.
The second
column is a list of the names of the respective purchasers of the items at the
auction sale.
Nine pairs of
silver jointed spectacles were sold to: Isaac Malchus, Aga Emneaz (3 pairs, one
with a silver case), Rajahram Baboo, Simon Georgean, Carrapiet Chattoor (1 pair
with a silver case), Aviet Astwasattoor. Three pairs of silver jointed
spectacles with a gold case were sold to: Mr. Narcess, Mavroody and Carrapiet
Chattoor.
The jewels
and precious stones from the inventory were sold at the same auction. There
were various ruby, agat, diamond and emerald items sold in 1790.
Item Purchaser
1 diamond
cross with a gold chain Given to the
Church by the order written in the last will
1 Agat cross set with diamond Aga Catchik
1 Agat set with emerald and ruby Arrapiet Dionysuis
1 Agat cross set with stones Peter Suckias
1 diamond ring Peter Suckias
1 diamond ring Abraham Pogose
1 diamond ring Mr. Moses Joseph
1 diamond ring Abraham Pogose
1 diamond ring Simon Phanuse
1 diamond ring Jacob Joseph
1 diamond button Zackariah Johannes
1 emerald ring Greek Georgey
1 emerald ring Abraham Pogose
2 emerald rings Mr. Simon Phanuse
2 emerald rings Arratoon Petruse
1 emerald ring with diamond sparks Aga Morraud Elias
1 ruby ring Aga Catchik
1 ruby ring with diamond sparks Jacob Joseph
1 ruby ring Moses Joseph
1 pair diamond breast buttons Alexander Mirzacan
1 pair diamond earring Hajee Abdul Rakman
1 Nilloom ring Abraham Pogose
2 rings 1 topaz and 1 loll Hajee Abdul Rakman
3 rings Isaac Malchus
3 rings Simon Georgean
2 atterdanies and 1 breast pin Gorgin Georgean
1 stone cross Simon Georgian
3 rings Hajee Abdul Rakman
2 Agat crosses set with stones Arrapiet Dionysius
1 pair emerald buttons Arrapiet Dionysius
2 rings Jacob Joseph
1 diamond champakully 32 pieces Mr. Simon Phanuse
5 emeralds in one box Alexander Mirzacan
1 box containing 6 large and
4 small pearles Arrapiet Dionysius
1 box Peter Suckeas
1 bundle of pearles Gorgin the Gerogean
1 Mahak stone Isaac Malchus
1 Agat cross set with diamond Aga Catchik
1 Agat set with emerald and ruby Arrapiet Dionysuis
1 Agat cross set with stones Peter Suckias
1 diamond ring Peter Suckias
1 diamond ring Abraham Pogose
1 diamond ring Mr. Moses Joseph
1 diamond ring Abraham Pogose
1 diamond ring Simon Phanuse
1 diamond ring Jacob Joseph
1 diamond button Zackariah Johannes
1 emerald ring Greek Georgey
1 emerald ring Abraham Pogose
2 emerald rings Mr. Simon Phanuse
2 emerald rings Arratoon Petruse
1 emerald ring with diamond sparks Aga Morraud Elias
1 ruby ring Aga Catchik
1 ruby ring with diamond sparks Jacob Joseph
1 ruby ring Moses Joseph
1 pair diamond breast buttons Alexander Mirzacan
1 pair diamond earring Hajee Abdul Rakman
1 Nilloom ring Abraham Pogose
2 rings 1 topaz and 1 loll Hajee Abdul Rakman
3 rings Isaac Malchus
3 rings Simon Georgean
2 atterdanies and 1 breast pin Gorgin Georgean
1 stone cross Simon Georgian
3 rings Hajee Abdul Rakman
2 Agat crosses set with stones Arrapiet Dionysius
1 pair emerald buttons Arrapiet Dionysius
2 rings Jacob Joseph
1 diamond champakully 32 pieces Mr. Simon Phanuse
5 emeralds in one box Alexander Mirzacan
1 box containing 6 large and
4 small pearles Arrapiet Dionysius
1 box Peter Suckeas
1 bundle of pearles Gorgin the Gerogean
1 Mahak stone Isaac Malchus
With no
mention of a wife or children in Carrapit’s Will, his family line died with
him. However, he did mention two nephews, children of his sister and a cousin
who was a child of his father’s brother.
Carrapit
Thomas died on the 30 July 1789 and is buried in the compound of the Armenian
Holy Nazareth Church, Calcutta. “…………..that after my death he [the executor] is
first to cause my body to be entered in the ground of Saint Nazareth Church,
masses and funereal ceremonies to be properly performed and then all such other
matters as ought to be discharged he may discharge……..
His final wishes were executed.
This is the tombstone of Karapet, the
son of Tome from Agulis, who passed away on 12 Ghamar (30 July), 1789[4]. [His will gives his name in English as
Carrapit Thomas]
[1]
British Library Ref: L/AG/34/29/6/40 – Bengal Wills 1780 - 1938
[2]
See his grave at the Armenian Church of Holy Nazareth, Calcutta
[3]
British Library Ref: L/AG/34/27/12/108 – Inventory and Accounts of Deceased
Estates Bengal 1780 - 1938
[4]
Photographed by Liz Chater, transcribed by Alina Salnazaryan
Armenians In India by Mesrovb Seth Now Online
Armenians In India From The Earliest Times To The Present Day by Mesrovb Seth is now online
https://archive.org/details/ArmeniansInIndiaFromTheEarliestTimesToThePresentDay
https://archive.org/details/ArmeniansInIndiaFromTheEarliestTimesToThePresentDay
Researching Forgotten Armenian Names of India
Have
spent several hours today researching a name not normally associated
with the known and familar names of the Armenians of Calcutta. Have
discovered several variations on the spelling - Ptum, Pitum, Pittoom,
Pattom, Petum. It is another of the many Indian Armenian family names
that have simply died out but were once well known both in Calcutta and
Madras.
Gregory Arrakiel petitions on behalf of his children for the return of some silver spoons - 1824.
The humble petition of Johannes Gregory, Carapiet Gregory, Catchick Gregory, and Hurprisimah Gregory, infants
Most humbly sheweth
In the petition which your petitioners presented unto your worship yesterday contain articles were omitted in the specification. We therefore humbly beg leave to present this petition and allege and please your worships take the same into your worships consideration that three table and four tea silver spoons each of your petitioners were purchased from the interest of the certain legacy bequeathed by your petitioners late paternal uncle Mr. Carrapiet Arrakiel the spoons also have been seized taken and removed by the person on your worship’s bailiff who made the seizure as aforesaid and have carried them.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your worships will be pleased to direct that the above mentioned spoons be released from the seizure upon due investigation.
And your petitioners shall ever pray.
Calcutta
11 February 1824
Labels:
1824,
Armenian,
Arrakiel,
Calcutta,
Carapiet,
Catchick,
Gregory,
Hurprisimah,
Johannes,
Spoons
Location:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Johannes, Carrapiet + Beckton Sarkies - 1816
Ramdial Roy – Plaintiff
V
Johannes Sarkies, Carrapiet Sarkies and Beckton Sarkies – defendants
To JW Fuller Esqr
Sheriff
Sir Be pleased under the writ of fieri facias issued in the above cause to seize in the hands of Captain Roberts of the ship Harriet now lying at Diamond Harbour all and singular the debts and sum and sums of money owing and payable to him to the abovenamed defendants or to any or either of them and also all goods property and effects belonging to them or any or either of them respectively in his the said Captain Roberts hands possession or power.
I am sir your obedient servt
Smoutt
Atty for the Plaintiff
18 November 1816
Labels:
1816,
Armenian,
Beckton,
Calcutta,
Carrapiet,
Diamond harbour,
Fuller,
Johannes,
Roberts,
Sarkies,
ship Harriet
Location:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Insolvency of Henry George Kinsey Captain of the Barque 'Johannes Sarkies' 1848
ta seeking the benefit of the act of the ninth year of the reign of His late majesty George the fourth entitled an act to provide for the relief of Insolvent Debtors in the East Indies.
Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the faith and so forth.
Upon the application of Mr. Pearl attorney for an on behalf of the above named Insolvent and upon reading a petition and schedule an assignment the certificate of the Gaoler of the Calcutta jail and a certificate of Patrick Hanton Esquire the Examiner of this Court written at the foot of the said petition and a certificate of the attorney of the said Insolvent written at the foot of the said schedule filed this day. It is ordered that Saturday the fifth day of August next be appointed for hearing the matters of the said Petition. It is further ordered that notice of the day so appointed as aforesaid be personally served upon the detaining creditor and also upon all the other creditors of the said Insolvent stated in the said schedule to be resident in Calcutta or the suburbs thereof one month before the day so appointed for hearing as aforesaid.
It is further ordered that notice of the day so appointed as aforesaid be inserted once in the Englishman the Bengal Hurkaru and the Calcutta Exchange Gazette newspapers of Calcutta and also once in the Bengallee and English in the Bengallee Government Gazette printed at Serampore and once in the Bengallee Newspaper styled the Somachar Chundrica or in the Bengallee newspaper styled the Prohakurin the Bengallee and English language one month before the day so appointed as aforesaid and it is further ordered that the gaoler of the Calcutta gaol do upon being served with this order bring up the body of the said Insolvent before this Court on Saturday the fifth day of August next at the hour of eleven o’clock in the forenoon and in like manner from day to day until the further order of this Court to be examined before the said court pursuant to the stated in this behalf provided and it is further ordered that no creditor of the said Insolvent shall be allowed at the hearing to oppose his discharge unless he shall have given notice of his intention to the Chief Clerk three clear days before the day of hearing.
Witness Sir Lawrence Peel Knight Chief Justice at Fort William in Bengal the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
Chief Clerk.
Two Statues Unveiled On One Day - Hong Kong Statue Square
1853 Sir Lawrence Peel Knight delay acquiring property of Aviet Minas East India Co
1853 Sir Lawrence Peel Knight, Chief Justice, upon reading certificate
of Prothonotary and a certificate of the Sheriff of the Town of Calcutta
(Frederick Bellaires?), adjourns hearing in the case of Fieri facias
usually abbreviated fifa, a writ of execution after judgment obtained in
a legal action for debt and damages, as more time is required by
Sheriff to acquire property of Aviet Minas in the cause of John Gomes.
There were several MINAS family members in India during this period, and unfortunately I am unable to identify exactly which Aviet Minas this document refers to.
There were several MINAS family members in India during this period, and unfortunately I am unable to identify exactly which Aviet Minas this document refers to.
David Melik Freedone Beglar v Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon 1854
David Melik Freedone Beglar sues Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon in Dacca 1854.
Mr. D.M.F. Beglar – Decreeholder
V
Mr. Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon – defendant.
To: The Sheriff of Calcutta
Civil Courts.
Sir
With reference to the warrant issued to you from this Court on the 27 June 1849 in the above case, I have the honour to forward to you a Roobkaree from the Principal Sudder Ameen of thes District dated 19 May last, soliciting at the request of the Decreeholder, that the amount of the Decree Rs. 1947-8-4-6 therein referred to, may with interesting, be realised from the effects of Mr. Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon Defendant, advertised for sale by you in satisfaction of a Decree in favour of Bebee Catherine Arrathoon.
I have the honour to be sir your most obedient servant
The Judge.
Zillah Dacca
The 14th July 1854.
Mr. D.M.F. Beglar – Decreeholder
V
Mr. Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon – defendant.
To: The Sheriff of Calcutta
Civil Courts.
Sir
With reference to the warrant issued to you from this Court on the 27 June 1849 in the above case, I have the honour to forward to you a Roobkaree from the Principal Sudder Ameen of thes District dated 19 May last, soliciting at the request of the Decreeholder, that the amount of the Decree Rs. 1947-8-4-6 therein referred to, may with interesting, be realised from the effects of Mr. Arratoon Harrapiet Arrathoon Defendant, advertised for sale by you in satisfaction of a Decree in favour of Bebee Catherine Arrathoon.
I have the honour to be sir your most obedient servant
The Judge.
Zillah Dacca
The 14th July 1854.
Location:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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