Factory Records: Patna

Diaries and consultations, 1680-1685 Consultations, 1744-1747 Consultations of the Provincial Council of Revenue, 1772-1780 Proceedings of the Courts of Appeal (Revenue), 1779-1780 Accounts and invoices, 1781-1782 Narrative of massacre at Patna, 1763

Once a factory had been established in 1651 at Hugli in Bengal, factors continued up the Ganges valley and established further settlements. Among them was Patna, where raw silk, sugar and saltpetre could be purchased. Patna had natural advantages as a trading centre because it was situated at the junction of three large rivers, the Son, the Gandak and the Ganges. In 1685, hostilities between the Company and the Emperor Aurengzeb resulted in the temporary expulsion of all Company servants from the Emperor's dominions. The factory was confiscated but was later restored to the Company. The factory was closed shortly after 1709 but was later re-established. In 1765 the district of Patna became part of the Company's first territories. In 1770 a Provincial Council of Revenue was created, based at Patna, to supervise the collection of land revenues for the Company in Bihar. Other Provincial Councils followed but in 1781 all were abolished and their powers were transferred to the Committee of Revenue at Calcutta.

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Bengal Proceedings (Calcutta Committee of Revenue) (P) Home Miscellaneous: H/456D