| Description | 1. Undated deposition concerning Captain James Lapthorne, commander of the ship Essex and Mr Thomas Avery, ships mate and Mr Avery's search for clandestine goods onboard ship. Thomas Avery said he had nothing to say against the said Captain James Lapthorne.
2. 14 Jul 1709 Letter to Honourable Thomas Pitt and owners of the ship Essex concerning ship's Captain Lapthorne, giving a report that he thought his ship was not safe, whilst his mate Mr Thomas Avery was on board the ship. He also requested that Avery be confined there until another opportunity offered its self of sending him to your port. His request was granted.
3. 16 Feb 1710 Invoice from Captain James Lapthorne to the owners of ship Essex in Balavia for wages paid to the ships company, sugar, gold, elephant tusks.
4. Undated receipt from James Lapthorne for boat hire etc.
5. Undated deposition taken before the Honourable Richard Skingle, Governor Samuel Stotherd and Mr Thomas Holmes, council of York Fort Bencoolen. John Hood the boatswain of ship Essex, gives testimony under oath against Thomas Avery ships mate, saying he saw Thomas Avery taking opium and other treasures from a chest and trying to send it on another ship to his wife in Madras. Other oaths confirming John Hood's account were made by other members of the ships company.
6. 17 May 1708 Invoice from John Sexton, Fort St George to the owners of ship Essex for sundry items including sails, garden water butts, boat hire for powder and arms. Also Cattamaran hire.
7. 18 May 1708 Receipt from Robert Raworth to Captain Care for long cloth.
8. May 1708 Invoice to owners of the Essex account for the ship bought at outcry, etc.
9. 26 May 1708 Customs note for Mr Keir for exports.
10. 22 May 1708 Expenditure account for ship Essex. Items included sail cloth, sail needles, wax candles, leather buckets, pumps, powder horns, lead shot and priming irons.
11. 20 Apr 1708 Receipt from Mr A Jones to Mr Addison, the owner of ship Essex Outcry.
12. May 1708 Receipts from John Sexton (2).
13. 17 May 1708 Receipt from Walter Keir to Captain Sexton.
14. 14 Apr 1708 Inventory of stores remaining on board the ship Essex, Fort St George. Including two sets of sails, iron guns with their carriages, anchors, globe lamp, compass, bell, shot and new main top mast.
15. May 1708 Invoice for goods bought and loaded on the Essex. Including guns and opium.
16. Undated invoice to the owners of the Essex for long cloth, wax cloth, firearms, anchorage etc.
17. 27 May 1708 Shipping notice for ship Essex under James Lapthorne at anchor in the road of Madras and bound for Johore. Cargo includes long cloth, 20 chests of opium and 194 slabs of lead.
18. 14 May 1708 Invoice from John Sexton to Mr Addison for the East India Company. Includes muskets and other guns.
19. 22 Jul 1709 Letter from Mr Pitt, also signed by Robert Raworth, Jane Cary, Edward Fleetwood, Cat Nicks, Cooke Freeman and Thomas Plumb, to Captain Edward Harrison regarding the cargo of the ship Essex. Saying they have written to Captain Peacock and Captain Gough about the ship, of which Edward Harrison is the owner and asking if it should arrive in Bengal to ask Captain Lapthorne for their effects and accounts and if they refuse to comply to seize him and our estate "and bring him hither". Then to dispose of all goods proper for that market and either sell the ship or load her with proper goods.
20. 27 May 1709 Letter from Thomas Pitt, Fort St George, also signed by Edward Harrison, Robert Raworth, Jane Cary, Guiton Addison, Edward Fleetwood, Cat Nicks, Cooke Freeman and Thomas Plumb, to Captain James Lapthorne, commander of ship Essex. Saying that they have received his letters from Jehore by the Danes ship and wish he had come away with them. Hoping the letter may then find him in Bengal, where they order him upon receipt of this letter to deliver up their ship and all their concerns to Captain Eustace Peacock and Captain Harry Gough. Also that Captain Harrison will then be with him to adjust matters relating to them.
21. 26 Nov 1709 Letter from unknown, Fort St George, to Captain Lapthorne concerning the fact that they are glad he has now arrived on their coast and sorry that they are in such a bad condition. Sending a anchor and cable tomorrow and to follow orders from Mr Harrison to proceed hither.
22. 6 Jan 1710 Letter from Edward Harrison appointing Edward Fleetwood and Henry Davenport, Madras merchants as his lawful attorneys.
23. 10 Mar 1710 Letter from Edward Harrison, Cape of Good Hope to Edward Fleetwood, concerning additional instructions left to Edward Fleetwood for management of his concerns. Involving the ship Pearl left in China last Season. Also news of the French taking a Dutch ship bound for Surrat.
24. 19 Jan 1710 Letter from Captain Edward Harrison, Fort St George, to Mr Edward Fleetwood or in case of his death or absence to Mr Henry Davenport, with instructions on his assets, including stock in ships, goods remaining unsold.
25. Undated list from Edward Bugden of items belonging to Captain Edward Harrison. List includes medicines and tea.
26. 26 Mar 1711 Note from William Warre, Fort St George concerning appointment of Henry Davenport to be continued in Council.
27. 25 Aug 1710 Notes from William Warre, Fort St George concerning Mr Montague taking his place as second on the board by succession on the death of President Addison. Also concerning a full hearing that is to take place into Henry Davenports claim that he is ordered one of the council there.
28. Undated note of account of the Moco Goods. Includes paper and white cloth and white silk.
29. Letter signed by Henry Davenport, Osmand Beauvoir and Henry Hudson concerning instructions received at Mallacca from Honourable William Frazer and Messrs Thomas Frederick, Edward Fleetwood and Charles Boone on behalf of the freighters of ship Halifax to China. Concerning a provisional order to return to Madras via Batavia if French ships were known to be in the straights of Mallacca. No French ships were reported so the ship carried on with its journey.
30. Undated paper concerning Joan Domingos de Matos and Manual Rodrigues de Andrade and their voyages on various ships and conditions set out to them.
31. 27 Aug 1709 Paper concerning Josias Berners of Madras and money matters with Governor Pitt, Fort St George.
32. Receipt from Josias Berners to Robert Raworth concerning 2500 Madras rupees for a subscription on ship St David on voyage to Bengal and Moca.
33. Undated letter of attorney (in Spanish) about Manuel Rodregues. Delivered by Henry Davenport.
34. 29 Oct 1712 Invoice sent to Henry Davenport from John Legg, concerning the invoice of Mr Wildebrand Allington.
35. Notes (three different notes on one piece of paper). First in Arabic dated 12 Apr for his proportion of gold. Second note dated 25 Dec 1709 from Fort St George making over the note in Governor Pitt's subscription to ship Marlborough to Henry Davenport. Third note 2 Jul 1709 from Thomas Pitt for interest in the ship Marlborough to Captain Thomas Walton bound for Canton in China.
36. 31 Mar 1712 Receipt from Robert Raworth to D Jolley for subscriptions on voyages on the Oxford to Batavia and the Sarah and Lester to Manela.
37. 1711 Invoice from Thomas Cooke, receiver for Sea customs collected for Robert Raworth, Fort St George.
38. 2 Sep 1711 Document signed by and concerning Arran Jones and Doctor Francis Jolle of Fort St David.
39. 11 Mar 1713 Invoice for Doctor Jolly, Fort St David. Account of adventures sent abroad. |