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Captain George Julius DARE was the father of Amelia Lydia DARE, and hence the father-in-law of Sir Thomas Jackson. Although he died long before TJ arrived in Hong Kong, his business and family connections were of considerable use to TJ, and hence to HSBC. His Singapore ship chandler business was situated about 100 metres away from where HSBC built its main Singapore office decades later, in 1892. His sons carried on after his death, based at first at Yokohama, and then at Singapore. One of his sons, Alfred Henry DARE was the last junior to be recruited for HSBC from the region.
Sharon Oddie Brown. July 31, 2015

 

The Borneo Question; Or, The Evidence Produced at Singapore  By India. Commissioners Charged With the Enquiry Into the Facts Relating to Sir James Brooke pages 19-20.

 

SATURDAY, 23RD, SEPTEMBER 1854.

GEORGE JULIUS DARE, Ship Chandler, Singapore, called by Mr Woods.

Q. MR WOODS. You sailed many years on this side of the Cape of Good Hope? A. Yes.

Q. Can you tell us how many years you have sailed East of the Cape altogether? A. From 1823 to 1839 out of Calcutta to China &c., and from 1840 till 1845 I sailed between this port and China.

Q. Since then I think you have been settled here on shore? A. In 1845 I went home and returned in 1846, I have been settled on shore here since February 1848.

Q. You have commanded several vessels in the trade between this and China? A. Yes.

Q. How many? A. Three.

Q. During the time you have commanded these vessels have you ever visited the Coast of Borneo? A. Never.

Q. By what passage did you proceed to China? A. Principally up and down to China Sea,—occasionally, twice I think, by the Eastern passage.

Q. Now as Master of a vessel I suppose it teas part of your duty to make yourself acquainted about pirates? A. I don't know whether it was a duty, but it is natural for every Master of a vessel to do so, the Eastern Seas being much talked, about as infested by them.

Q. Will you tell the Commissioners the particular name or description of the pirates you ever heard of in these Seas? A. Malays, Illanese and Balignini and we knew them as pirates in the Eastern Seas,

Q. Did you ever hear of any persons on the Coast of Borneo, called Dyaks being pirates? A. Yes, when Sir James Brooke's Expedition against them in 1849 or 50 took place, in which the Nemesis was concerned.

Q. Did you ever whilst you commanded a vessel fall in with any description of pirates? A. Yes, I fell in with a fleet of 5 prahus which chased me about three hours in the Southren entrance of Macassar Straits.

Q. In what year was that? A. I think in 1843. Q. Will you describe to the Commissioners the prahus you were chased by? A. I could not tell what country they belonged.

Q. Were they large or small? A. I should think they were boats carrying from 50 to 60 men each.

Q. Had they masts and sails? A. Yes.

Q. Was their form like a Malay prahu or canoe? A. Like Malay prahus, or Illanese.

Q. They did not attack you? A. No.

Q. What became of them? A. When they got within about a mile of me they lowered their sails down altogether in a lump and seemed to have a consulation, there being a small boat pulling from one to another, and upon a vessel called the Maia closing on me, coming up with a breeze, they made sail and went in another direction.

Q. You remember in 1849 there was much discussion about an expedition against the Sakarah and Serebas Dyaks on the Coast of Borneo? A. Yes.

Q. That was the Expedition in which the "Albatross" and the "Nemesis" were engaged? A. Yes.

Q. Did you know the Captain and the Officers of the Nemesis"? A. Yes.'

Q. Did you ever speak with them upon the subject of that Expedition? A. Yes.

Q. Did they speak among each other about the subjectwhether they considered the Expedition justifiable or unjustifiable? A. I heard them speak about the Expedition.

The Commisioners declined to receive the testimony of Mr Dare as to the conversations of these officers, after hearing Mr. Woods's argument for its admission, remarking that, if necessary, the evidence of the officers could be taken in Calcutta, and Mr .Woods then desired that a note might appear upon the minutes of his having tendered the evidence.

Q. Commissioners. You are one of the persons who signed the Memorial of Mr. Hume[1]? A. Yes.

Q. Did you authorise this description of yourself—" G. J. Dare, Ship-chandler, sole partner in the firm of G. J. Dare & Co., late Master of the "Masdeu," "John Bagshaw" and other vessels, and has sailed exclusively in the Archipelago for 10 years."? A. No, it must have been added, I did not authorize it—I never traded in the Eastern Archipelago—my voyages have all been to China.

Q. Were you aware of that description having been appended to your signature? A. Not until about a week ago, when a gentleman told me.

Q. You have no personal knowledge of the character of the people of the West Coast of Borneo? A. None.

Mf Woods said if the Commissioners would allow him he would explain how this confusion about the signatures had arisen. After the original memorial to Mr Hume was signed, his Clerk copied the names in a legible hand on a separate sheet of paper, and he (Mr Woods) added the descriptions from his own knowledge and from the information of others. This was transmitted to Mr Hume with the original memorial and Mr Hume was also referred to gentlemen who had been long resident in Singapore for information regarding the persons who had signed the memorial. How this paper had been substituted for the original signatures in the copy of the memorial laid before Parliament, Mr Woods could not account lor, and he could only refer to Mr Hume for an explanation.

The Commissioners observed that Mr Woods would have an opportunity of offering an explanation when he himself was examined.

Some Chinese Merchants here presented an Address to the Commissioners, signed by themselves and a number of other Chinese interested in the trade with Borneo. It was arranged that they should procure a translation of the Address which the Commissioners could afterwards verify by means of the Court Interpreters. It was understood that this Address was favorable to Sir James Brooke.

 



[1] Joseph HUME. See: Further Correspondence Respecting Piracy on the Coast of Borneo. The Masdeu was at Chusan Harbour in China near Taiwan, then known as Formosa (1843 record of typhoon).

 

Chinese Repository. Vol 12. In Allen’s Indian Mail, 1845, there is a reference to Capt. Dare’s logbook To prove that good anchorage had been found there, the logbook of Capt. Dare, when he visited that part of the coast of Cochin-China in the Masdeu, in 1842, was sent to Capt. Hayes… The refusal of Capt. Hayes to proceed to the relief of his unfortunate countrymen is very extraordinary, seeing that the first ground of his hesitation, which might have been of some little weight, if correct, is completely void of any foundation, it having been shewn to him that several vessels of late years have visited Padaran Bay and found anchorage there, besides the Masdeu-the Prima Donna, the Peruvian and the Vestal, may also be mentioned as having remained there for several days…. That Capt. Hayes should seriously put forward his second reason as an excuse, shews that he must either have very little sympathy with his fellow-countrymen, or be in a most lamentable state of ignorance in regard to the character of the Cochin-Chinese government and people, and of their general treatment of foreigners. The Masdeu's Log-book would shew him with how much hospitality people in distress are there treated – when they were denied all provisions whatever. We do not know in what light the admiral will view the conduct of Capt. Hayes, or how far the rules of the service bear him out, but a very considerable feeling has been produced among those in Singapore who are acquainted with the circumstances.

Allen’s Indian Mail. Vol IV, 1846:

·       Passengers arrived [Singapore] ARRIVALS: July 31 per John Bagshaw, Dare, Swan River. … PASSENGERS ARRIVED: Per the John Bagshaw: Mrs. Dare and family. Mrs. Wipe and child.

·       From Portsmouth, February 9: John Bagshaw, Dare, Cape and Swan River.

Allen’ India Mail Vol V. 1847.

·        [Singapore] ARRIVALS: Feb 16 John Bagshaw. PASSENGERS ARRIVED: Drs. Messit and Howe, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Malton, Mrs. Dare and family.

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1835-1869), 16 November 1843, Page 4. Singapore: ARRIVALS OF PASSENGERS Capt. Dare per Neuteut.

The Straits Times, 6 September 1848, Page 2 The John Bagshaw was now captained by Captain HACKETT, and G.J. DARE had two ads for his shop.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday 4 July 1846. and the brig John Bagshaw, Captain Dare, from London for Swan River, were at the Cape of Good Hope on the 22nd April.

Allen’s India Mail 1846. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH: John Bagshaw  Dare, London to Swan River, Feb 13. Lat 41 deg. 40 min. Long. 11 deg W.

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal 13 June 1846. John Bagshaw, 210 tons, G. J. Dare, commander, from London and Cape of Good Hope; sailed the 9th February. Passengers, Mrs. P. Broun and family, Mr. Lazenby, and --Powell.

 

 

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