Richard Craddock's Career with the East India Company - Man Family

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received from Ahmadabad, converted at the rate of 2s. 3d.
(two shillings and three pence) to the rupee, gave an
annual rate of £150; though it included nothing for food.
This far exceeded the rate sanctioned by the home
authorities. However, they directed Craddock to place in a
separate account certain ‘charges merchant’; to enter under
the head of ‘presents’ the cost of arrack given ‘to the
officers of the Durbar and Kotwal’; and to reduce to just
one the three peons employed ‘for the quickening up of your
dyers, washers, beaters, etc.’ If these changes were made,
and the expenses of diet should prove ‘not extraordinary’,
they trusted the Company would allow the amount. They
approved the purchase of new indigo, but desired that a
preference should be given to the flat variety, as the
round was not esteemed in England. (EFI 55-60, p.165)
(EFI 55-60 pp. 162-165. For details see Letters: October 18
1658 Surat to Ahmadabad (p. 244); Nov 9 1658 (p. 249); Nov
13 1658 (p.254); Nov 20 1658 (p. 260) in Factory Records
Surat Vol. 84 part 3))
1659
Cradock’s honesty, integrity and steadfastness were
rewarded in 1659. On 31 January of that year Anthony Smith
was called down from Ahmadabad and the factory there was
placed under the superintendence of Craddock with
injunctions that, until Smith returned, ‘all the ceremonies
that belong to the chief of your factory are not to be
used’. However this arrangement was altered by a letter
from Surat dated 3 June 1659, notifying Craddock of his
appointment as chief, with Nicholas Bladwell as his second.
We learn later (EFI 61-64 p. 22-23) that Smith had left
personal debts behind in Ahmadabad which caused Craddock
considerable trouble, as Smith’s creditors would not allow
Craddock to send down the Company’s goods to Surat until
they had obtained satisfaction.
But Smith’s debts were not the only problems facing
Craddock. In a letter sent by the Surat office to the
company in London we learn more of Craddock’s situation.
From Ahmadabad we can expect no indigo the next year,
unless the crop proves great; for we hear [from Craddock]
there will be very little or none of this year’s stocks