Early papers, 1615-1616. Copies of letters sent from Fort York, 1685-1686. Fort Marlborough Public Consultations, 1705-1818.
Factory Records: Sumatra
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 IOR/G/35
- Dates of Creation
- 1705-1818
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 164 volumes
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Sumatra was visited by ships of the first voyage. Captain Lancaster reached Achin in 1602 and obtained permission to trade there. A factory was established in 1615 and at around the same time, others were established at Tiku, Priaman and Jambi. Pepper was the main purchase at these ports. A factory was later set up at Indragahiri but was closed in 1622. In 1649 trade was opened at Padang and Indrapore. From the beginning, trade in the region was constantly opposed by the Dutch and the factories were gradually withdrawn. When the English were finally driven out of Bantam, a fortified settlement was established at Bencoolen in 1687 on Sumatra's south-west coast. It was known as Fort York (from 1714 as Fort Marlborough). The factory was made subordinate to Fort St George. In 1785 Fort Marlborough and its dependent settlements were made subordinate to the Government of Bengal. In 1824 all British possessions on Sumatra were ceded to the Dutch in return for Malacca and its dependencies.
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