Factory Records: St Helena

Laws and ordnances of St Helena, 1677-1714 Consultations, 1676-1696, 1699-1836 Law consultations, 1791-1793 Quarter Sessions proceedings, 1793-1801 Proceedings of Courts of Enquiry, 1798 Judicial consultations, 1804-1835 Land revenue consultations, 1824-1825 Military consultations, 1824-1835 Commercial consultations, 1824-1836 Paymaster's accounts, 1805-1819 Original letters from St Helena, 1698-1812, 1828-1836 Copies of letters from St Helena, 1814-1829 Despatches to St Helena, 1820-1835 and various miscellaneous records Note on Napoleon Bonaparte: Little information on Bonaparte's stay on St Helena is to be found in the records as correspondence on the subject was generally addressed directly to the British Government. However, the records contain one volume of letters concerning his accommodation (G/32/162).

St Helena was not a factory but a waystation for ships on the voyage homeward from the east. The Company ships the ''Dragon'' and the ''Hector'' first visited St Helena in 1603 on the homeward leg of the first voyage. In 1645 the Dutch took possession of the island and established a colony there, but the colony was abandoned in 1652 when the Dutch settled the Cape. In the same year, the Company's homebound ships found the island deserted and took possession. The Company's claim was confirmed in 1661 by a charter of Charles II. The island was granted in perpetuity by the king in 1673. In 1836 it was handed over to the Crown. The waystation was administered not by factors but by other Company servants, including a military commander.

Unrestricted

Miscellaneous Factory Records (G/40). The charter of 1673 is in Charters and Deeds (A) and is printed in A/2/3