Consultations, 1690, 1696-1712, 1723-1751, 1752-1756. Letters, 1692-1759.
Factory Records: Fort St David
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 IOR/G/18
- Dates of Creation
- 1690-1759
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 20 volumes
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The Company had established a factory at Tegnapatam, about 100 miles south of Madras, in 1686. Printed calicoes were the main commodities purchased. In 1690, the Company bought the town's fort from the Maratha ruler, Rama Rajah, renaming it Fort St David. Following the capture of Madras by the French in 1746, Fort St David became the temporary headquarters of the Madras presidency. In 1752 the governor and council returned to Fort St George and in 1758 Fort St David was given up to the French. The French abandoned the fort in 1760. Fort St David was probably named after the patron saint of Wales by the Governor of Fort St George, a Welshman, Elihu Yale.
Access Information
Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Bibliography
The Madras Record Office published calendars of several Fort St David consultations and letters to and from the settlement. See V/27/46/108-138 for details.