Extracts from the 1689 House of Commons Journal concerning complaints against the East India Company.

25 May

And the Counsel for the East India Company delivered in a Narrative of the Rebellion, or Tumult, which happened 21 October 1684, dated at St. Helena, 27 December 1684

8 June

Resolved that those who ordered martial law at St Helena (the Company refusing to reveal who had signed the order) not be covered by the general act of indemnity for these crimes.

13 July

Petition of Martha Bolton, Widow, was read; setting forth, That George Sheldon, her Brother, and one Gabriel Powell, Two of the Nine Persons condemned by Martial Law at Sancta Hellena, having, in December last, delivered to one Captain Dore, (then coming for England), a Petition to the late King James; setting forth, The ill Usage they had from the East India Company, and their Agents; whereof as soon as Major Blackmore, the Governor, and Holden, the Deputy, had Notice, they ordered them immediately to be clapt up in the Hole (a Dungeon without light): And that the Petitioner's Brother Sheldon was, by ill Usage, very sick, when they carried him into the Dungeon; and was so ill when there, that he begged, on his Knees, to have the Door opened to let in some Air: But it being denied him, he died in Five Hours: And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

A Petition of George White was read; setting forth, That his Brother went to India in 1675, on a Ship freighted by the East India Company; and remained there, by Permission, on giving Security to indemnify him from One hundred Pounds Penalty, for any Person left behind him; which, being exacted by the Company, was paid by his Brother's Correspondent here: And that his Brother, by the Company's Factors, was introduced into the Service of the King of Syam; and, by the Petitioner's Interest in that Court, advanced to a very beneficial Employ; continuing in that prosperous Estate Twelve Years, never receiving any Command from the Company to return for England, or any Intimation of their Displeasure for his Stay there; but encouraged by their Factors, with whom he friendly corresponded, and traded yearly to the Company's Port of Madrasse, with his own Ships: That, in 1687, the Company's Factors and Servants unjustly seized the Petitioner's Brother's Ships and Merchandize, to the Amount of Twenty thousand Pounds; and condemned the same, confiscating it to the Company's Use, contrary to the very Charter whereon they ground a pretended Authority of their illegal Proceedings: And in seizing one of his Ships, called the Satisfaction, in the Red Seas, they killed Wm. Randall her Master: And that, in 1687, the Company made an Assault on Mergen Port, in Syam, where the Petitioner's Brother then resided, who very narrowly escaped with Life; and lost thereby, above Twenty thousand Pounds more; and is, after all these Losses and Sufferings, lately dead, leaving Two young Children under the Petitioner's Care, who is their Guardian, and administered to the Goods and Chattles of their Father: And therefore praying the Consideration and Relief of the House for the Benefit of the poor Children.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the several Petitions against the East India Company . . . ., be revived; and do sit this Afternoon: And that Mr. Pitts, Sir Walter Moyle, Mr. Burrage, Mr. Harley, Sir Cha. Blois, Sir Philip Gell, Sir John Thomson, Sir Rob. Clayton, Mr. Carter, Mr. Smith, Mr. Hobby, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Walter Young, Sir Wm. Cooke, Mr. Reynell, Sir Roger Twisden, Mr. Chadwicke, Sir Nevil Catlyn, Sir Cha. Cæsar, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Ash, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Bockland, Mr. White, Sir Wm. Yorke, Sir Tho. Samwell, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir John Cotton, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Fenwick, Lord Sherrard, Mr. Brereton, be added to the said Committee.

17 Aug

Woollen Manufactures

Then the Amendments proposed by the Lords to be made to the Bill for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool, and encouraging the Woolen Manufactures of this Kingdom, were read the First time throughout; .. Petition of the East India Company was offered; setting forth, That there be a Clause added to the Bill for preventing the Exportation of Wool, giving Liberty to all Persons to export the Woolen Manufactures into any Parts beyond the Seas: That, forasmuch as the said Clause may be construed to give Liberties to others, besides the Petitioners, to trade into the East Indies, which may be of very dangerous Consequence, and cause the Losing of the East India Trade, not only to the Petitioners, but to the whole Kingdom for ever

The House voted not to let the Company's petition be read.

30 Oct

Petition of Eliz. Martha, Grace, and Sarah Colston, Daughters of John Colston, late of the Island of St. Helena, was read; setting forth, That John Colston, the Petitioners said Father, resided several Years in the said Island; and by his Industry there, made a comfortable Provision for his Family: And that, in 1685, the Managers of the East India Company procured a Commission to try the Petitioners said Father, with sundry others, by a Court Martial, for a pretended Rebellion: And accordingly Sir John Weyborne, who brought out the Commission, together with Major Blackmore, the Governor, with other their Associates, presumed to try and condemn to Death the Petitioners said Father; who they cruelly executed the Three-and-twentieth of November 1685: And that, after they had thus taken away the Petitioners Father's Life, they seized his Estate, and thereby reduced his Widow, with Seven Children, to great Distress and Misery: And praying their Case may be heard, that those who have been instrumental in shedding the Blood of the Petitioners Father, may be brought to Justice; and that such Restitution and Satisfaction may be made to their distressed Mother, as to the Wisdom of the House shall seem meet.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the East India Trade; and how it may be managed to the best Advantage of the Nation.

And it is referred to Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Garway, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Johnson, Colonel Tipping, Sir Philip Gell, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Grey, Sir Walt. Young, Major Wildman, Sir Rob. Davers, Colonel Birch, Sir Cha. Bloys, Colonel Sackvile, Mr. Pitts, Sir Fra. Drake, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Onslowe, Sir Fran. Drake, Mr. Christy, Colonel Austen, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Rowe, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Willoughby, Mr. Sherrard, Sir Fra. Guibon, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Leveson Gowre, Sir John Cotton, Mr. Smith, Sir Cha. Cæsar, Mr. Montague, Mr. Coningsby, Sir John Knight, Sir Ralph Dutton, and all the Members of the House that serve for the Sea Ports: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet Tomorrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Queen's Court: And they are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

23 Dec

Petition of John and Thomas Temple, Owners of the Ship Bristoll, was read; setting forth, that they, the last Sessions of this House, exhibited their Petition, thereby setting forth the great Oppression they had sustained in relation to the said Ship, which was plundered and sunk by one John Tyrell, Captain of the Phænix, and the Master and Mariners of the Bristoll barbarously treated and imprisoned, by Order of the East India Company: Which Petition was committed to the Committee appointed to consider of the East India Trade: Who examined the Matter of the said Petition; and made a Report therein to the House, asserting their Damage to be Thirty-one thousand Two hundred Eight Pounds Two Shillings and Ten-pence; which they are ready again to make appear: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House therein.