Armenians in Rangoon

Elizabeth Carapiet Jacob’s legacy for a new Armenian Church in Rangoon.

Records of how the Armenian Church in Rangoon was funded and built after the disastrous fire of 1850 are all but lost. The original church was a wooden structure and was consumed by the unforgiving flames of that calamitous incident.

My chance finding of this Will and its contents give a unique and precious insight into how one individual of the Armenian community in Rangoon was desperately hopeful that her legacy could help to rebuild a new and better church for the local Armenians to worship at.

Source: British Library L/AG/34/29/86/87

In the name of the Lord God Amen. I Elizabeth Carapiet Jacob who was born in Rangoon and who am a resident thereof and an Armenian by nation and a Christian by faith being in a tranquil and perfect state of mind, make this my last will that the same may continue from after my deceased. I hereby direct that my respectable executors shall cause my body to be interred after my decease in the Armenian Burial Ground in this city [Rangoon] at a moderate expense and then call in and collect my entire estate and receive my dues and pay my debts and give and pay the residue to my heirs and successors in manner following, that is to say.

I give and bequeath the sum of one thousand and five hundred Companys Rupees to the Holy Deiparous Church of Rangoon to this end that they shall purchase a house in Calcutta with the said one thousand and five hundred Rupees and accumulate the net amount of the rents after payment of charges until the same shall have risen to five hundred Rupees when they shall lay out the amount at interest and on the said Holy Deiparious Church of Rangoon being about to be re-erected they shall give the said five hundred Rupees and the interest thereof whatever the same may amount to, to the managers of the Holy Deiparous Church of Rangoon in order that that sum being added to the amount of the national contributions the said church may be re-erected at Rangoon to the pride of my nation and the Glory of God and then afterwards they shall transmit the net produce of the rents minus charges from time to time to the managers of the Holy Deiparous Church of Rangoon for the purpose of supplying the necessaries and expenses of the said church.

Elizabeth made this bequest in her Will because in December 1850 the original Armenian Church was razed to the ground by a catastrophic fire that swept across the whole of the city.

Reports of the fire were carried in Indian newspapers as well as others around the world

Elizabeth's Will was written in the Armenian language by a local community member.
It was then read back to her in the Burmese language before she signed it.
The Will was translated into English in Calcutta by the Court appointed
interpreter George Aviet.

Later on in the Will Elizabeth goes on to say:

If the English Government restore or procure the restoration of our lost properties then I direct that my executors shall obtain my share and portion which will be more than fifty thousand Rupees and invest the same in the purchase of a few houses in Rangoon if that city remain under the Sovereign authority of the English but if it should not then they shall buy houses at Calcutta and with the net produce thereof minus charges establish a school at Rangoon for the purpose of educating the children of indigent Armenians gratuitously and the well regulated management thereof shall be assigned to patriotic and well disposed men to be elected and approved of by the nation.

And after making payments and distributions in this manner should the residue of my estate amount to more than one thousand Companys Rupees then I direct that my executors shall with that amount purchase one or two houses under the Flag of the English Government either at this place or at Calcutta and transmit the net produce minus charges thereof to my the officiating Priests of the Holy Deiparous Church in Rangoon but if it should not be more than one thousand Rupees then I give and bequeath the same subject to the pleasure of my respectable executors to be disposed of as they may think best.

In confirmation I affix my seal and signature to this my will in the presence of three witnesses this day the twenty seventh day of the month of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two. Elizabeth [her x mark] Carapiet Jacob

We the undersigned bear testimony that she in our presence sealed and signed this will and acknowledged it to be her last will and testament at Rangoon 27th July 1852. C.P. Catchick J.S. Jordan Carrapiet Zecharia.

A true translation of the annexed Armenian will 8th September 1852. Geo. Aviet.

Elizabeth’s husband, Carapiet Jacob who had been born in Julfa, died in Rangoon in August 1850 leaving his entire estate, valued at around fifty thousand Rupees to Elizabeth. She appointed her nephew Stephen Gabriel Eleazar as power-of-attorney to enable her to obtain probate in the Courts of Calcutta for her husband’s estate. Stephen’s English and native languages (he lived in Calcutta rather than Rangoon) were likely to be more proficient than the two languages she knew which were Armenian and Burmese. It would seem that Carapiet and Elizabeth did not have children as besides the bequests by Elizabeth to the Holy Deiparious Church of Rangoon (the Armenian Church of Rangoon), she left legacies for various nephews; children of her sister Margaret.

Sharman Minus, whose family were very much part of the Armenian community in Rangoon has a very interesting blog that recalls history and a number of personal memoires of this almost forgotten Church, it can be found here Chasing Chinthes.

It is also quite a timely find because there will be an Armenian Pontifical visit to the Far East at the end of September. His Holiness, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will be in Asia from September 28th to October 5th.

As announced on the respective Facebook pages of the Armenian communities in Hong Kong and Singapore - see links below.

ChinaHay
Armenians in Singapore - South East Asia

The following press release by the Henri Arslanian, Chairman of the Armenian Community in China says:

Dear friends,

We are pleased to announce that His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will be in Asia from September 28th to October 5th.

You will see below the details of 2 important events that will take place in Singapore and Myanmar to celebrate the visit of His Holiness. As the dates coincide with the National Day Golden Week in China, I am sure that many of you will be interested in attending these events.

SINGAPORE - Sunday 28th September 2014 - time tbc - Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Armenian Church of Singapore. His Holiness will also bless two Khachkars recently installed in the Church gardens. Lunch will be served following the Holy Mass. Please rsvp with the community in Singapore if you will be able to attend: community@armeniansinasia.org

MYANMAR - Saturday 4th October 2014 - time tbc - Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Armenian Church in Yangon. More details will be announced soon.

I know that many of you will be very interested in attending these events due to their historical importance. I will of course attend both the Singapore and Myanmar events to represent the Armenian Community of China.

Look forward to seeing you all soon.

Henri Arslanian
President, Armenian Community of China


It is a very exciting time to have a current Catholicos scheduled to visit the Armenian Church in Myanmar. It has been a back-water for a number of years and has just a handful of Armenians who have chosen to stay in Yangon. It will be a wonderfully historic occasion. I cannot find a reference to a previous Armenian Patriarch visiting the Armenian Church in Rangoon. However, in 1876 there was a visiting Armenian Prelate to Hong Kong, who had already seen the communities in Penang and Singapore. It is likely that he also went on to visit the community in India perhaps he also made the journey to Rangoon.

Extract from the North China Herald and the S.C.&C. Gazette December 1, 1876

Report from Hong Kong

Among the passengers who have arrived and departed by the ‘Arratoon Apcar’, is the name of the Armenian Prelate, Archbishop Gregoris. The Right Reverend gentleman has come on to Hongkong as a traveller, to know and see something more of the Chinese and Chinese cities than he has done in Penang and Singapore. The few Armenian residents at Hongkong possessing no special place of worship, the Prelate was unable to hold any service, but he read prayers (of course, in the Armenian language), over the grave of S.A. Seth at the Protestant Cemetery, as the tombstone was being put up. The Right Reverend Father, in his full robe, and with a hat of a peak shape, presented a sight never before seen in this part of the world. Though an Archbishop, under whose See are the Armenian churches in India and Persia, he is only 42 years old, and has made a favourable impression on his few resident countrymen, to whom he made a pleasant address on Sunday last at the residence [Caine Road] of Mr. C.P. Chater. 

The grave of Seth Aviet Seth in Hong Kong over whose tomb the Archbishop said prayers.

The inscription says:

“Sacred to the memory of Seth Aviet Seth who was one of the earliest merchants of Singapore. He came to China in 1845. Born in Madras and died at Hong Kong on 11th February 1875 aged 65 years. Be ye also ready: for in such as hour as ye think not the son of man cometh. St. Matthew XXIV. 44.” 

For those interested in their Armenian family history roots in Burma, the LDS film number 1356948 [Item 2] contains the records of St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church in Rangoon. It will have a comprehensive list of the only recorded Armenian births, marriages and deaths in Burma that are still available. The LDS film has more entries than those held at the British Library.

George Aviet. Translator and Interpreter of the Court in Calcutta 1791-1871

Part of George's will.

Sometimes I get help from the most unexpected places.
Most of you know that I have photographed all the Armenian graves in Kolkata. Those that are written in English I have transcribed, those that are written in Armenian are kindly being transcribed by volunteers and then there are those that are badly worn, or damaged that are really tricky or impossible to do. I have several in the last category.
 
One of the other elements of Armenian family history in India that I am slowly collecting, are the wills deposited at the British Library. [Recently released to www.findmypast.co.uk and available digitally] I have just finished transcribing the will of George Aviet who was a translator and interpreter at the Supreme Court in Calcutta. He died in January 1871. In this will there contained some really useful information: “ I will and direct that my body be interred in the yard of the Calcutta Armenian Church next to or as near as may be to the graves of my dear wives Hosanna and Annie, and that the expense of my funeral and other customary charges concerning my burial, including the price of an ordinary size marble slab, obituary inscription and fixing the same in masonry be not more than 600 rupees.”

As usual, when I finish transcribing a will, I turn to the photographs of the graves in my collection and see if I can somehow match up a grave that perhaps I haven’t been able to put a name to. Today, thanks to digital technology and a little bit of organisation, I have managed to identify George Aviet’s grave which until now, I had not been able to.
 
This is how I did it.
 
Firstly, I now know from his will that he had 2 wives, Hosanna and Annie. I searched for graves in my collection that I have already transcribed and found Hosanna’s grave. On that basis I know I’m in the right area of the graveyard to try and find George, it was after all his desire to be buried as near as possible to his late wives. I have not been able to locate the grave of Annie.

The uncategorised grave
I was able to identify as belonging to
George Aviet.

 Since I did not use a camera that had GPS or a geo-tagging facility when I took the pictures in 2007, I then looked at the properties of the photograph of the grave of Hosanna Aviet (by right clicking the image) and saw that it was taken on the 24 March 2007 at 06.16. Next, in windows explorer on my computer, I did a column sort by “date taken”. I searched again by the date, 24 March 2007 and time 06.16 and since I know and remember that when I was taking the photographs of the graves in the churchyard, I walked the cemetery in a row-by-row methodical fashion therefore I knew from my method that the grave of George Aviet must be close by. Two images along from Hosanna was a grave that I had not been previously able to identify due to its condition. On looking at it again, I can make out the date of death, 16 January 1871 and the word “translator” I can also see the year 1791 in the Armenian text at the top. Enlarging small sections I can now see the lettering "A V I E T”. Now playing around with the brightness, contrast and mid-tone levels settings I can also see part of the wording “Translator”. I can also see that it says “departed this life on the 16th day of January 18- -. Unfortunately my image cut off the last two numbers, but I am certain it is indeed George Aviet who died 16 January 1871 as per annotated in the Probate on his will.

 
He is a mostly forgotten community member, who played a large and important part in the legal system of Calcutta, whose name, signature and legal interpretation is still on hundred of documents in a dusty archive somewhere.

 
I shall be adding this grave to my website soon.

Insolvency of Henry George Kinsey Captain of the Barque 'Johannes Sarkies' 1848

Exhibit B referred to in the annexed affidavit of Arrakiel Gentloom Aviet Summon this 31 day of July called before me.

In the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors at Calcutta.

In the matter of the Petition of Henry George Kinsey late of Howrah in the twenty four Purgunnah Master Mariner and late Commander of the Barque Johannes Sarkies and now a prisoner confined in the common gaol of Calcutta seeking the benefit of the act of the ninth year of the reign of His late majesty George the fourth entitled an act to provide for the relief of Insolvent Debtors in the East Indies.

Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the faith and so forth.

Upon the application of Mr. Pearl attorney for an on behalf of the above named Insolvent and upon reading a petition and schedule an assignment the certificate of the Gaoler of the Calcutta jail and a certificate of Patrick Hanton Esquire the Examiner of this Court written at the foot of the said petition and a certificate of the attorney of the said Insolvent written at the foot of the said schedule filed this day. It is ordered that Saturday the fifth day of August next be appointed for hearing the matters of the said Petition. It is further ordered that notice of the day so appointed as aforesaid be personally served upon the detaining creditor and also upon all the other creditors of the said Insolvent stated in the said schedule to be resident in Calcutta or the suburbs thereof one month before the day so appointed for hearing as aforesaid.

It is further ordered that notice of the day so appointed as aforesaid be inserted once in the Englishman the Bengal Hurkaru and the Calcutta Exchange Gazette newspapers of Calcutta and also once in the Bengallee and English in the Bengallee Government Gazette printed at Serampore and once in the Bengallee Newspaper styled the Somachar Chundrica or in the Bengallee newspaper styled the Prohakurin the Bengallee and English language one month before the day so appointed as aforesaid and it is further ordered that the gaoler of the Calcutta gaol do upon being served with this order bring up the body of the said Insolvent before this Court on Saturday the fifth day of August next at the hour of eleven o’clock in the forenoon and in like manner from day to day until the further order of this Court to be examined before the said court pursuant to the stated in this behalf provided and it is further ordered that no creditor of the said Insolvent shall be allowed at the hearing to oppose his discharge unless he shall have given notice of his intention to the Chief Clerk three clear days before the day of hearing.

Witness Sir Lawrence Peel Knight Chief Justice at Fort William in Bengal the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
Chief Clerk.

1853 Sir Lawrence Peel Knight delay acquiring property of Aviet Minas East India Co

1853 Sir Lawrence Peel Knight, Chief Justice, upon reading certificate of Prothonotary and a certificate of the Sheriff of the Town of Calcutta (Frederick Bellaires?), adjourns hearing in the case of Fieri facias usually abbreviated fifa, a writ of execution after judgment obtained in a legal action for debt and damages, as more time is required by Sheriff to acquire property of Aviet Minas in the cause of John Gomes.

There were several MINAS family members in India during this period, and unfortunately I am unable to identify exactly which Aviet Minas this document refers to.