Burnaby Lautier - English

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6. India The BURNABYS arrived in Tranquebar21, India, in 1784. They adapted quickly, joining other Europeans, including many French Huguenots, in the upper echelons of local society. In 1785 Georgina Grace married Jean Ezechiel CHAMIER, a member of the Madras government. Charlotte followed in 1787 by marrying Josias DU PRE PORCHER Esq., a member of a Huguenot family who had fled to Charleston, South Carolina, USA. In 1793 Harriot Emma BURNABY completed the list with her marriage to John RICHARDSON. By this time Henry was 20 years old and a partner in the firm KINDERSLEY, WATTS & CO, a trading company that also dealt in insurance and legal matters.

Illustration 10: Indian Coromandel Coast At the end of the 18th century Tranquebar was a prosperous trading centre which had been under Danish rule since 1620. The district was situated in the province of Madras on the Coromandel Coast, about 140 km south of the French trading post Pondicherry. Trade was under the control of the Danish East India Company, which had expanded and prospered up until that point. To prevent the seizure of valuable cargo ships, Denmark aimed to maintain its neutrality during armed conflicts. What made Tranquebar unique for trade after 1772 was its admission of private 21

Tharangambadi, Danish colony since 1620, founded by the Danish East India Company.

Burnaby Lautier

The origins of a surname

11


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