George Aviet. Translator and Interpreter of the Court in Calcutta 1791-1871

Part of George's will.

Sometimes I get help from the most unexpected places.
Most of you know that I have photographed all the Armenian graves in Kolkata. Those that are written in English I have transcribed, those that are written in Armenian are kindly being transcribed by volunteers and then there are those that are badly worn, or damaged that are really tricky or impossible to do. I have several in the last category.
 
One of the other elements of Armenian family history in India that I am slowly collecting, are the wills deposited at the British Library. [Recently released to www.findmypast.co.uk and available digitally] I have just finished transcribing the will of George Aviet who was a translator and interpreter at the Supreme Court in Calcutta. He died in January 1871. In this will there contained some really useful information: “ I will and direct that my body be interred in the yard of the Calcutta Armenian Church next to or as near as may be to the graves of my dear wives Hosanna and Annie, and that the expense of my funeral and other customary charges concerning my burial, including the price of an ordinary size marble slab, obituary inscription and fixing the same in masonry be not more than 600 rupees.”

As usual, when I finish transcribing a will, I turn to the photographs of the graves in my collection and see if I can somehow match up a grave that perhaps I haven’t been able to put a name to. Today, thanks to digital technology and a little bit of organisation, I have managed to identify George Aviet’s grave which until now, I had not been able to.
 
This is how I did it.
 
Firstly, I now know from his will that he had 2 wives, Hosanna and Annie. I searched for graves in my collection that I have already transcribed and found Hosanna’s grave. On that basis I know I’m in the right area of the graveyard to try and find George, it was after all his desire to be buried as near as possible to his late wives. I have not been able to locate the grave of Annie.

The uncategorised grave
I was able to identify as belonging to
George Aviet.

 Since I did not use a camera that had GPS or a geo-tagging facility when I took the pictures in 2007, I then looked at the properties of the photograph of the grave of Hosanna Aviet (by right clicking the image) and saw that it was taken on the 24 March 2007 at 06.16. Next, in windows explorer on my computer, I did a column sort by “date taken”. I searched again by the date, 24 March 2007 and time 06.16 and since I know and remember that when I was taking the photographs of the graves in the churchyard, I walked the cemetery in a row-by-row methodical fashion therefore I knew from my method that the grave of George Aviet must be close by. Two images along from Hosanna was a grave that I had not been previously able to identify due to its condition. On looking at it again, I can make out the date of death, 16 January 1871 and the word “translator” I can also see the year 1791 in the Armenian text at the top. Enlarging small sections I can now see the lettering "A V I E T”. Now playing around with the brightness, contrast and mid-tone levels settings I can also see part of the wording “Translator”. I can also see that it says “departed this life on the 16th day of January 18- -. Unfortunately my image cut off the last two numbers, but I am certain it is indeed George Aviet who died 16 January 1871 as per annotated in the Probate on his will.

 
He is a mostly forgotten community member, who played a large and important part in the legal system of Calcutta, whose name, signature and legal interpretation is still on hundred of documents in a dusty archive somewhere.

 
I shall be adding this grave to my website soon.

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 :)

Armenian Life, Love and Loss. Malcolm Peter Gasper And His 'Singular Aversion To His Wife'.

Wall memorial
at the Armenian Holy Nazareth
Church Kolkata

Continuing my theme of highlighting individual Armenians with an India connection, this story is about the complex and tragic love of two most unlikely of individuals.

 
Malcolm Peter Gasper another successful barrister produced out of the Calcutta community born 1848 in Calcutta and tragically died at sea off the coast of Aden in 1890. His memorial stone reads: 

 
“Sacred to the memory of Malcolm Peter Gasper Esq., (barrister-at-law) eldest son of Peter Malcolm and Madeline Gasper born at Calcutta 15th June 1848 died at sea off Aden 3rd August 1890 aged 42 years 1 month and 19 days. Who after taking the medal at the Doveton College, Calcutta in the year 1863 completed his education in England where he was the first Armenian student who appeared and successfully completed for the Indian Civil Service examination in the year 1869 but his health failing him he soon after qualified for the Bar and came to India in 1872. By his own exertions he attained a prominent position among the leading members of the local Bar in which he distinguished himself by his exceptional talents. The untimely loss of one whose future was so bright and promising has been deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and admirers who being members of the Armenian community have erected this Tablet to his memory.”

 

As we can see from the epitaph above, he was by all accounts, in the prime of life. He had been a law student at Lincoln’s Inn, London in 1869 and called to the Bar in 1871. During the early part of 1870, whilst in London he met Louisa Prosser the daughter of a butcher from Worcester in the heart of England. Louisa did not admit her father’s humble trade on the marriage certificate but rather stated he was a “medical doctor deceased”. 

The marriage certificate between Malcolm Peter Gasper
and Louisa Pross

Malcolm and Louisa married at the registry office in St. Pancras London on the 20th July 1870. Their first child a son, was born just a couple of months later in September of that year in London, their second child a daughter was born in Calcutta in 1874. Louisa struggled with her health whilst in India and with her husband Malcolm Gasper busy carving a career in law, it was decided that Louisa should return to England in 1875. After two years away from her husband, Louisa returned in Calcutta on the 29th November 1877, six months later on the 30th June 1878 Louisa gave birth to a full term baby. Whilst in England Louisa had an affair.

The divorce petition between
Malcolm and Louisa
co-respondent Martin Sarkies

 
At first Louisa denied it, but the correspondence in the divorce proceedings shows that eventually, she admitted she had been unfaithful during her time in England and “threw herself on the mercy of her husband”. He continued his divorce on the grounds of her adultery in which Malcolm Gaspar named the co-respondent as Martin John Sarkies.

 
Martin John Sarkies born in Dacca in 1855 was the youngest son of the well known Armenian Dacca merchant John Carrapiet Sarkies. Martin was also a barrister. He went to school in Darjeeling and studied law at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge in the UK, eventually called to the Bar in 1882. However, as a young student he and Louisa embarked on an affair almost immediately she arrived in the UK. It appears to have started around May 1875 and continued to October 1877, the baby she bore on the 30th June 1878 in Calcutta was his.

 
 

The death record of little Bertie Gasper

With divorce proceedings ongoing, Louisa alone in Calcutta was facing the wrath of a cuckolded husband but even more tragically her baby, named Bertie, lived only 6 weeks, dying on the 13th August 1878. She had lost her husband, a baby and was rebuffed and rejected by Martin Sarkies. By 1881 Louisa was back in the UK living in Kensington with her young daughter by her husband Malcolm Gasper. The census record shows that she was supported financially by Malcolm Gasper, presumably because their daughter was in the UK for her education. It is unknown what happened to Louisa after this date.

 
The divorce of Louisa and Malcolm was completed in 1880.

The marriage certificate of
Martin Sarkies and Belinda Russell

Meanwhile in April 1881 Martin Sarkies was living in Brighton, still a student at law, and in August of that year at St. Mark’s Church, Brighton, he married the girl next door, Belinda Russell. Her family are on the same census sheet as Martin Sarkies in the next house. This was a short-lived union because in 1883 Belinda filed for a divorce citing cruelty. The divorce was reported in many UK newspapers as it was quite sensational for its time: 

 
Western Mail 30th June 1884

 
“SINGULAR AVERSION TO A WIFE A BARRISTER IN THE DIVORCE COURT

Divorce petition of Martin Sarkies
and Belinda

 
In the Divorce Court of Friday before the Right Hon. The President, the suit of Sarkies v Sarkies was heard. This was the petition of Mrs. Belinda Annie Marie Sarkies for the dissolution of the marriage by reason of the cruelty and misconduct of her husband, Mr. Martyrose Johannes Sarkies, a barrister. Dr. Deene, Q.C. and Mr. Searle appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. Inderwick Q.C., and Mr. Bayford for the respondent, but practically there was no defence. The parties were married on August 10, 1881, at Brighton, and the following day they came to London, putting up at the Grand Hotel. A few days afterwards the respondent ceased to sleep with his wife (who was the daughter of the late Colonel Russell), except at long intervals, and after December 1881, the co-habitation ceased. When remonstrated with by the petitioner as to his strange behaviour he replied that he could give no reason for his conduct except “that his idol was smashed”, and that he had ceased to care for her. According to the evidence of the petitioner, the respondent used abusive language towards her and had threatened her, in addition to which he had insulted her in the presence of her friends. While they were living at Radcliffe Street, Kensington, he told her that he only intended that they should live as brother and sister, when she asked him for some brotherly affection. He had called her a liar and hypocrite. In support of the cruelty evidence was given to the effect that the petitioner at times appeared very much distressed; that the respondent used to threaten his wife; and that he treated her with great neglect; while her mother, who was called, deposed to be struck on one occasion by her son-in-law. In regard to the other charge, testimony was adduced to the effect that the respondent consorted with loose women.

 
Sir James Elmnen was of opinion that the respondent’s misconduct was clearly established, but in regard to the cruelty the circumstances were not such as were usually laid before the court. He appeared to have conceived a most extraordinary aversion to his wife, whom he habitually neglected and insulted, although he never was guilty of actual personal violence. There was one insult of the grossest kind, which, the respondent, a barrister, and presumably, a gentleman, did not deny, and that was in regard to her having a divorce from him. Taking that in combination with the rest of the case, he (the learned judge) came to the conclusion that legal cruelty had been established, and he granted a decree nisi, with costs.”

 
Both Malcolm Peter Gasper and Martin Sarkies went on to marry again, but no amount of searching can bring Louisa up either in the UK or India.

 
Malcolm Peter Gasper’s second marriage took place with Alice Pringle in November 1881 in Calcutta, as we know from his epitaph his untimely death in 1890 meant she was left with two young children aged 5 and 7. Alice remarried in June 1895 to Frederick Kehl in Calcutta, dying there in 1937.

Insolvency notice of barrister, Martin Sarkies,
whose application for discharge was rejected
and put back 2 years six months.

 
Meanwhile, Martin John Sarkies seems to have been living beyond his means, enjoying the inheritance from his father’s estate. He first appears in the papers in January 1896 as insolvent, later in July 1896 he applied to the High Court for discharge from his insolvent state. However, the judge, Mr. Linklater (today, a very familiar name in the world of law) did not feel that Martin Sarkies’s speculations had been particularly professional and deemed that his discharge would be considered in a further two years six months from the day of the application. Presumably after he was cleared of bankruptcy he then went on to marry a few years after his divorce from Belinda to Ada Watkins in 1902 in London. They had no children. Martin died in Dinard France in 1915 his estate amounted to £40 his widow Ada died in 1940 also in France her estate amounted to around £300. Incidentally, Ada had also been previously married to Arthur Bloor, who ironically had committed adultery; her divorce from Arthur was granted in January 1900. I wonder if she ever knew the full story of the affair her husband Martin had had with Louisa?

 
Belinda also remarried in 1886.

 
It appears everyone, except Louisa, regained some sort of life with new partners after this tempestuous time.

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.

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.