723:"Sacred to the Memory of Anne, The Lady of Sir Bourchier Wrey Baronet, and daughter of Sir Robert Palk Baronet, of Haldon House in this County, who died the 5th day of September 1791, Aged 27 Years, leaving three infant children. Her Heart was pure and her manners unaffected. Her constant study was to know her Duty, and her greatest pleasure to discharge it. An affectionate Wife, a tender Parent, gentle, friendly, and benevolent. Taken from the World in the Prime of Years by a severe and lingering illness, She submitted to the will of Heaven with patient Resignation. Learn from her example that Virtue Is the loveliest ornament of Beauty!"
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515:"Rectitude of mind and benignity of heart formed the outline of his character. Uncorrupted by the luxury of the East, he was an encourager of bodily and mental exertion, furnishing his friends with the means not of idleness, but of being active for their own good and the good of society. My father was a little farmer with a large family; for him my uncle bought an estate, which enabled him to live a credit to his mother, and respected by his neighbours".
578:"Fort St. George. Dear Sir, I must trouble you again to desire that you will not sell the diamonds by an advance on the invoice price, which I understand is the usual method, because they are, I am assured, of a superior quality to most sent to England by this ship. You will be pleased therefore to open the bulses, and rate them by their quality when you dispose of them. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, Warren Hastings.
22:
409:, and vying with the British for trade supremacy. Initially this rivalry was merely a trade war, with only a minimal presence of armed troops, whose task it was to guard the warehouses. Soon however the situation evolved into armed fighting between the French and British, and eventually the British Government recognised they were at war with France over control of India. General
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While back in
England, the East India Company was experiencing various trading difficulties in India. At the Company's London Headquarters during discussions concerning who might be able to resolve the problem, one of the members declared: "Gentlemen, you forget, we have Palk at home". With one voice
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Palk was starting to amass a small fortune, mainly due to
Stringer Lawrence putting lucrative deals in his direction, but the directors of the Company soon instructed Palk to confine himself to his religious duties. This did not sit well with Palk and he returned to England. He renounced his clerical
449:
Robert Clive was an army officer in the East India
Company and later became Governor of Bengal. He arrived in India almost penniless, and due to his hard work and dedication to the King and the East India Company, he was well rewarded with many opportunities by his mentor, Stringer Lawrence. He later
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Volunteer
Militia. It was Robert who was to bring the family fame and fortune. According to Robert's own statements, the Palk family was resident at Ambrooke in the late 15th century, which at the time of Robert's birth in 1717 was owned by the Neyle family. This would therefore appear to discount
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and the Court of
Directors on his return. Returning to England was not however the end of his involvement with India. He provided introductions and was patron to many who, like himself, went to India with the intention of making themselves a fortune.
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with the East India
Company. However, matters were resolved and he was re-instated and returned to Fort St David in March 1751. It was at this time that Palk made the acquaintance of Stringer Lawrence, after which time they remained lifelong friends.
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the members replied "The very man!" Thus Robert Palk returned to India in
October 1761 and was invited to serve on the Council of the Company. He was appointed to membership of the Treasury Committee and also served as the Export Warehouse Keeper.
646:, which he had purchased from Lord Donegal in about 1759, but where he had been unable to purchase various surrounding fields which interfered with the estate. The Torwood estate was later developed by his successors into half of the resort of
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are written by
Hastings asking favours of Sir Robert. Diamonds were a key method of sending large sums of money back to England and one letter concerning these is dated March 1770, as follows:
469:, noted at that time that "Palk had long since given up studies of history and theology and had thrown himself into active engagement with the contemporary affairs of the British at Madras".
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from 1759 to 1764, his wealthy and well-respected colleague in India. She died in 1788, predeceasing her husband by 20 years. By his wife he had one son and three daughters as follows:
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were appointed to discuss the terms of a peace settlement with the French who controlled a large part of India. A year later a settlement was reached. A colleague of Palk's in Madras,
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437:, leading to his dismissal, and replacement by Robert Palk. This important promotion led to disagreements regarding the seniority of Palk over other chaplains. Palk sailed to
697:(c. 1766 – 1813), son and heir, whose godfather was General Stringer Lawrence. All future male heirs were named "Lawrence" in honour of the General. His descendant
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In 1752 Robert Palk was appointed to the lucrative position of "Paymaster and
Commissary in the Field" to Lawrence's army. In January 1754 Palk and
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On 7 February 1761 he married Anne
Vansittart (died 1788), daughter of Arthur van Sittart (1691–1760) by his wife Martha Stonhouse, daughter of
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near Exeter, he continued his involvement with the parish of Ashburton, where he owned land and supplied the parish church with a new organ.
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between 1767 and 1782. Hastings was the first Governor General of India and often wrote to Palk back in England. Some of the letters in the
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He was educated at Ashburton Grammar School, and was subsequently sponsored by his maternal uncle and godfather Robert Abraham, to attend
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in Devon, and died at the age of 27, leaving three infant children. Her mural monument survives in Tawstock Church inscribed as follows:
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stock and his mother was Frances Abraham, the daughter of Robert Abraham. Walter Palk supplemented his income by acting as a carrier of
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in Devon is named after him. Various places in Torquay are named after his family, including "Palk Street", Tormohun, Torquay.
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was given the task of forming an army, and history now remembers him as the "Father of the Indian Army". An
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The Warren Hastings Correspondence in the British Museum contains many letters written by Robert Palk to
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Robert Palk took a great interest in political matters, especially in matters concerning India and the
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Palk eventually left India in January 1767 at the age of 50, and was well received by both King
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Palk died at Haldon House on 29 April 1798, ten years after his wife. They were both buried in
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and made a fortune in India greater than Palk or Stringer Lawrence could ever have dreamt of.
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On a semi-terrestrial globe of the northern hemisphere proper an eagle rising as in the arms
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Sable, an eagle displayed argent beaked and legged or a bordure engrailed of the second
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Report on the "Palk Manuscripts" in the Possession of Mrs. Bannatyne, of Haldon, Devon
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On 14 November 1760 "Robert Palk of Headborough" received a grant of arms as follows:
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was passed in 1773 which effectively took control of Indian interests away from the
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Robert Palk was born in December 1717 at Lower Headborough Farm in the parish of
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Early in 1749 the chaplain at Fort St David, Francis Fordyce, publicly insulted
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resigned in November 1763, it made way for Palk to take up the post of
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suppositions in some sources that Robert himself was born at Ambrooke.
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in October 1750 with the intention of resigning his post and seeking
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vows and on 7 February 1761 married Anne Vansittart, the sister of
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999:"History of The Palk Arms - A 16th Century traditional Devon pub"
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563:'s Act of 1773, for the regulation of the East India Company.
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Encyclopaedia Heraldica, Or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry
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Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Ashburton
968:, 1789-1800, 4 vols., Tiverton, 1999, Vol.1, p. 165
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and the stretch of sea between India and Sri Lanka, The
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Anne Vansittart, Lady Palk (died 1788). Portrait by Sir
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in 1748, at the time when the French were in control of
950:, collection of Torre Abbey Historic House and Gallery
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Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Wareham
913:, 3 Vols., Vol.2, London, 1793, p. 181, footnote
794:, 3 Vols., Vol.2, London, 1793, p. 181, footnote
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and its shareholders and placed it into the hands of
511:His nephew Jonathan Palk said of his uncle Robert:
540:also served as MP for Ashburton. Despite living in
389:In 1747 he was appointed naval chaplain to Admiral
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46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1038:, Historical Manuscripts Commission, London, 1922
865:"the family seat" History of Parliament biography
555:and mainly supported the government. Palk was a
1020:Palk, Robert (1717-98), of Haldon House, Devon
1045:The Palk Family of Haldon House & Torquay
386:, under whose auspices he was sent to India.
8:
1327:Baronets in the Baronetage of Great Britain
708:Anne Palk (1764–1791), who in 1786 married
605:Two Asian Indians in loincloths and turbans
253:, in Devon, England, was an officer of the
152:14 November 1763 – 25 January 1767
141:President of the British East India Company
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269:in 1767 and between 1774 and 1787 and for
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946:See 1863 painting by John Wallace Tucker
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
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293:from the cloth mills at Ashburton over
329:(1791-2) and in 1798 a Captain in the
1347:18th-century English Anglican priests
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615:("With God Guiding"). He was made a
44:adding citations to reliable sources
829:Love, Introduction, p.v; Sutherland
245:(December 1717 – 29 April 1798) of
1029:, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
1018:Sutherland, Lucy S., biography of
382:, generally regarded as the first
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1352:British East India Company people
397:, bound for India. He arrived at
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888:History of Parliament biography
710:Sir Bourchier Wrey, 7th Baronet
672:Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet
384:Prime Minister of Great Britain
31:needs additional citations for
699:Sir Lawrence Palk, 4th Baronet
695:Sir Lawrence Palk, 2nd Baronet
362:by Bishop Weston and held two
346:, where he graduated in 1739.
257:who served as Governor of the
55:"Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet"
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1027:: House of Commons 1754-1790
812:Situated on the outskirts of
1382:People from Ashburton, Devon
325:in Devon from 1796 to 1811,
243:Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet
1274:Baronetage of Great Britain
1109:Parliament of Great Britain
1068:http://www.palkhistory.net/
730:Catherine Palk, died young;
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559:in sentiment but resented
553:British East India Company
261:. In England he served as
255:British East India Company
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1063:Haldon Belvedere website
733:Emelia Palk, died young;
701:(1818–1883) was created
619:on 19 June 1782 by King
1214:William Gerard Hamilton
354:Palk was ordained as a
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524:Robert Palk served as
520:Election to Parliament
344:Wadham College, Oxford
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1377:British MPs 1784–1790
1372:British MPs 1780–1784
1367:British MPs 1774–1780
1362:British MPs 1768–1774
1357:British MPs 1761–1768
1203:January–October 1774
1058:TheOnlyPalkArms.co.uk
1034:Love, Colonel H. D.,
1025:History of Parliament
911:History of Devonshire
875:History of Parliament
792:History of Devonshire
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654:Marriage and children
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1342:Royal Navy chaplains
818:Buckland in the Moor
816:on the road towards
627:as a Freeman of the
315:Member of Parliament
40:improve this article
1198:1768 – January 1774
1193:March–November 1768
1210:Christopher D'Oyly
1091:Governor of Madras
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907:Polwhele, Richard
788:Polwhele, Richard
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57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1292:
1285:
1281:New creation
1280:
1246:
1233:
1191:Ralph Burton
1189:
1173:
1140:
1127:
1089:
1084:George Pigot
1044:
1035:
1023:
1019:
1003:the original
993:
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870:
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852:
845:Introduction
844:
825:
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799:
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783:
766:public house
762:
759:Palk Straits
753:
741:
703:Baron Haldon
669:
638:
635:Landholdings
612:
604:
596:
588:
586:
571:
565:
550:
546:Haldon House
544:and then at
532:in 1767 for
523:
510:
502:
494:George Pigot
491:
487:
471:
460:
448:
435:Robert Clive
432:
394:
388:
353:
341:
307:Marley House
280:
247:Haldon House
242:
241:
236:
228:
211:Haldon House
207:(1798-04-29)
170:Succeeded by
163:George Pigot
147:
102:
96:January 2017
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1322:1798 deaths
1317:1717 births
1118:John Harris
744:Dunchideock
613:Deo Ducente
538:Walter Palk
467:Robert Orme
452:Baron Clive
358:in 1739 at
313:, Devon, a
303:Walter Palk
295:Haldon Hill
158:Preceded by
122:Robert Palk
1311:Categories
1295:1782–1798
1255:from 1784
1095:1763–1767
977:Sutherland
966:John Swete
962:Gray, Todd
928:, Volume 2
897:Sutherland
877:biography
856:Sutherland
803:Sutherland
776:References
621:George III
601:supporters
561:Lord North
505:George III
372:Egloskerry
66:newspapers
1236:Ashburton
1164:John Pitt
1130:Ashburton
987:See image
814:Ashburton
763:Palk Arms
684:Berkshire
644:Tor Mohun
640:Tor Mohun
583:Baronetcy
530:Ashburton
483:Berkshire
429:Promotion
423:The Crown
376:Launcells
338:Education
331:Ashburton
323:Ashburton
283:Ashburton
267:Ashburton
196:Ashburton
148:In office
937:Polwhele
755:Palk Bay
746:church.
705:in 1880.
368:Cornwall
364:curacies
1287:Baronet
1250:to 1784
1176:Wareham
770:Hennock
648:Torquay
617:baronet
542:Torquay
534:Wareham
456:Plassey
393:on the
311:Rattery
277:Origins
271:Wareham
80:scholar
1245:With:
1188:With:
1139:With:
1047:, 2008
843:Love,
607:. His
439:Bombay
407:Madras
395:Namura
356:deacon
350:Career
299:Exeter
216:Spouse
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
1134:1767–
847:, p.v
712:, of
611:was:
609:motto
599:with
593:crest
591:with
492:When
291:serge
87:JSTOR
73:books
1241:1774
1185:1774
1181:1768
1136:1768
557:Tory
528:for
374:and
265:for
251:Kenn
202:Died
190:Born
59:news
682:in
481:in
454:of
405:in
370:at
366:in
321:of
42:by
1313::
909:,
834:^
790:,
686:,
650:.
603::
595::
526:MP
485:.
425:.
263:MP
1183:–
666:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
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