East India Company

[cavalier_pyrate]

greetings to all,

i am currently in the sca, and i know this will hurt to say (with so many pirate groups out there) i wanted to try and create a nautical group that deals with more of the royal navy or trade ships, (but will never foget my roots arrrrrrrh) what i am needing to know is , is there any one that knows of any groups that reecreate the east india company, and dose any one know any good sources for info (most that ive come accross deals with the late 17th and 18th century )i need to find more on the beging of the company around the early 16th century, and what types of ranks did they use? ive heard that they were eaqualed to those of the royal navy

alexander the cavalier pyrate

[Fox]

You won't find any information on the East India Company of the early 16th century, because it wasn't set up until 1601.

A good site which deals with various aspects of the EIC, but is still being built is: www.eicships.info

Congratulations on joining the right side of law and order. Now, if the two of us just stand here with our backs together and our cutlasses out we might just make it out alive...

I set up and have run for the last 5 years a nautical LH group specialising in Navy and privateers 1580-1700, but we also do the odd event as merchants. We're in the UK but if I can be of any help I'll be more than willing. Our website is Bonaventure if you fancy seeing what we do.

[cavalier_pyrate]

greeting to ya foxe,

i must apologize for the slip up, it was the early 17th century which i was meaning , didnt relize my mistakes until after posting, i took a little bit of time to look at yer site, tis the stuff fer me, but unfortunatly i find my self over across the yonder sea, (west coast of florida to be exact) perhaps one of these days ill make a trip over to england, spent most of my time over seas in lower europe and north africa,

( Now, if the two of us just stand here with our backs together and our cutlasses out we might just make it out alive......) we just might, luckly for us i brought a barrel gun powder.....................

alexander

[Fox]

Ah, now if it's the early 17th century you're interested in may I suggest (if you've not already found it) the excellent "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" by Giles Milton. To quote the blurb from Amazon:

The book deals with the competition between England and Holland for possession of the spice-producing islands of Southeast Asia throughout the 17th century. Packed with stories of heroism, ambition, ruthlessness, treachery, murder, torture, and madness, Nathaniel's Nutmeg offers a compelling story of European rivalry in the tropics, thousands of miles from home, and the mutual incomprehensibility which often comically characterized relations between the Europeans and the local inhabitants of the prized islands.

At the center of the action lies Nathaniel Courthope, a trusty lieutenant of the East India Company, who took and held the tiny nutmeg-producing island of Run in the face of overwhelming Dutch opposition for more than five years, before being treacherously murdered in 1620. To avenge his death, and the loss of the island, the British took the Dutch North American colony at Manhattan. (As Milton wittily remarks, although Courthope's death "robbed England of her nutmeg, it gave her the biggest of apples").

Actually the book, although centred on the first quarter of the 17th century begins its tale in 1553 and ends in the 1660s, and is utterly readable.

It's available from Amazon here

[the Royaliste]

Should anyone have a really strong penchant for things 'East Indiaman', I've a nice eight reales coin, 1783, from the shipwreck of the British East Indiaman 'Hartwell' complete with COA for a reasonable price. My reales and asstd. coins are becoming hard to keep track of in rough seas.......

[Stynky Tudor]

. . . the excellent "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" by Giles Milton. . .

. . .competition between England and Holland . . . 17th century. . . stories of heroism, ambition, ruthlessness, treachery, murder, torture, and madness. . .

. . .Nathaniel Courthope, a trusty lieutenant . . . East India Company, . . . took and held the tiny nutmeg-producing island . . . overwhelming Dutch opposition . . . treacherously murdered in 1620. . .

. . .begins its tale in 1553 and ends in the 1660s, and is utterly readable. . .

It's available from Amazon here

Wow that Nathaniel's Nutmeg book sounds great!

Most of my historical interests and reference is from about early 1400 to the early 1800s. (that’s pretty much where my interests fall off) And the bulk of the history I have on that time period is centered about the English Civil War and the related weapons.

This book sounds right up my alley, very cool! Thanks for the referral

Um, . . . I mean, Arr thanks me matey.

(burp)

[Captain Jim-sib]

A description of E. Keble Chatterton's book The Old East Indiamen from Bookfinder.com

First published in 1915. Reprinted by Conway Maritime Press, 1970.

May be a good source for you.

London Rich & Cowan Ltd. 1933; The merchantmen fleet of the Honourable East India Company. The men and their ships, life on board, the Indiaman's sailors, the Company's flag, the voyages, some of the fights against the Dutch, the French and pirates. Rebound in strong library binding. First Edition No Jacket Cloth 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall Ex-Library; Good; Maritime Ships Naval Boats Merchant Ships Nautical East Indiamen: The East India Company's Maritime Service Social History Shipping ...

Also, the following Chatterton book is back in print.

THE ROMANCE OF PIRACY: The story of the adventures, fights, and deeds of daring of pirates, filibusters, and buccaneers from the earliest times to the present day

Price: $29.00

E. Keble Chatterton: Pirates and acts of piracy were not limited to the Caribbean Sea and the 16th and 17th centuries, as we often think, but ranged far across time and place. The author describes the men of adventure who took to pirating in classical times around the Mediterranean Sea, and, later, the Vikings in the North Sea, the Algerian Corsairs, and the English who crisscrossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of (primarily) Spanish gold, as well as the pirates of Borneo and China. Biographical sketches of several well-known pirates are included: Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, Captain Avery, Captain Kidd, and Paul Jones (who would later be best known as John Paul Jones, friend of Benjamin Franklin). In addition to these famous men, the story of one Aaron Smith unfolds as he, an innocent English seaman embarking on a merchant ship in 1821, is taken by pirates and abused by them. Smith turns to piratical actions to save his life, eventually makes his escape, and is charged with piracy by the High Court of Admiralty when he makes landfall in England in 1823; he was acquitted. A broad history of pirates and piracy that is informative and engaging. (1914) reprint, paper, index, illus., 354 pp Colonial A3127HB 0788422987 Book 

[cavalier_pyrate]

Should anyone have a really strong penchant for things 'East Indiaman', I've a nice eight reales coin, 1783, from the shipwreck of the British East Indiaman 'Hartwell' complete with COA for a reasonable price. My reales and asstd. coins are becoming hard to keep track of in rough seas.......

greetings Royaliste,

can you send me a photo of what east india company items you have? i might be interested in taking them off yer hands if the price is right! do have or know where i might find me some original EIC buttons?