AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 6 – eConnect Reviews CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 196 of 237 as of date, which is a rotten legacy left behind by the East India Company. It is anybody’s guess as to why Fort St George was chosen to house the Legislative Assembly. Yale’s goods in trade mainly comprised Rose Water, spices, diamonds, cloth and the most lucrative human trafficking. Through this all, Shri Sriram recounted the practice of a “fishing fleet” of unmarried English women arriving in India, looking for prospective English grooms. One such despatch during Yale’s time in Madras had five women, of which four of them found their partners within a month. Ms. Catherine Barker, the fifth one, did not find a partner in a hurry. She turned an entrepreneur, probably the first women entrepreneur of Madras. Elihu Yale spotted her talents early and partnered with her in business. Though Catherine Barker had set her eyes on marrying Yale, Elihu opted to marry the wealthy and influential Catherine Hynmers, widow of his recently deceased friend and second-in command in the Company. These strategic moves pitchforked Elihu Yale as the Governor. Catherine Barker still had a big role to play in Yale’s life. To quote Shri Sriram from a blog published by him “She soon married John Nicks, a close friend of Yale’s and had ten children for four of whom Yale was godfather. Several were named after members of the Yale family.” No marks for guessing what went on behind the scenes. Mr John Nicks, her husband, was conveniently sent off to Point Calimere, for overseeing the Company’s interests there. The colourful and scandalous life style and the rowing eye of Elihu Yale drew in another woman into his life – Mrs. Hieronima da Paivia, widow of a diamond merchant. By 1689, with Yale’s legally wedded wife Catherine Hynmers and children permanently back in England, Catherine Nicks and Hieronima da Paivia literally ran the Governor’s establishment . In 1692, East India Company dismissed Elihu Yale from the post of Governor in the face of growing dissent and mounting charges of corruption. All his ill gotten wealth was attached. Yale was in no hurry to leave Madras. Through wheeling and dealing, of which he was a master, he challenged that the Charter of East India Company to be reviewed. The Company, not wanting their very existence questioned by judiciary, quickly withdrew all charges against him and released all of his attached properties. Yale finally left for England in 1699 with a huge wealth. Overwhelmed by the size of his wealth and dealing with much free time, Yale started investing in artefacts and collectibles from across the world. When Christian missionaries from Connecticut, his place of birth approached him for donations for constructing Churches and educational institutions, he generously parted with his collectibles. Auctioning of the same