The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.2 | Sept 2023

Local Group Programmes

what happened in India during the 300 or so years of change. He started by stating that over 2 million British were buried in India before 1947. Life in India in the 1700s was good for the British and suggested that many of us will have Indian connections with family born in India. In 1591 Sir James Lancaster from Basingstoke sailed with three ships to prove a route to the Spice Islands and brought pepper back to the UK. The Indian economy was huge in 1615 with the building of the Taj Mahal, an example of Indian power. At this time, how to make money was the plan! Buying cheap to avoid taxes and selling high and keeping the difference was one way. This saw the introduction of the trading companies, using ships, which were armed for security, and the setting up of factories, which were trading posts or warehouses, but guards were needed to provide security. By 1800, the East India Company had been set up and this had the world’s largest private army. It wasn’t all good as many were dying of fever and half of the new arrivals had died within 2 years of various diseases or in war. Young men met lovely girls of all religions with different rules. By 1773, there were financial problems and the Government started to exert control. In the early 19th Century, there were many English women looking for husbands which resulted in a lot of mixed Indian/English families which developed into a class divide. By 1858 saw the Government of India Act and the end of the East India Company. This was followed by the British Raj 1858-1947 with Princely States. By 1871, Queen Victoria had become Empress of India and by the 1914-18 War, many Indians served. By 1947, Indians were pushing for independence and democracy. The British did a lot of bad things in India and there is the thought that what would have happened to India without the Brits! Forthcoming Meetings: September 21th Special Operations Executive in the New Forest Nick Saunders October 19th Researching Ancestors who fought in WW1 & WW2 Simon Fowler - via Zoom November 16th Posted in the Past Helen Baggott - via Zoom December 14th Christmas Social

For all the latest news visit… www.hgs-familyhistory.com

111