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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,
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.
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
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
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. [His will gives his name in English as
Carrapit Thomas]
