A large collection of legal and official documents

Persia and India, 16th-19th Century

(48)

Footnotes

The documents are as follows:

1) An edict from Prince Nasir al-Din Mirza (later Nasir al-Din Shah) appointing a certain Ahmad Khan as an attendant of the royal household, dated jumadi al-thani 1265/April-May 1849 and bears the seal impression and signature of the Prince.
2) A copy of a document issued through the recommendation of Mirza Najaf Khan to Ahmad Reza Husayni, son of Hakim Imam al-Din Khan, to be raised to the rank of 1000 and 200 horses and the title Khan, dated 15 dhi-hajja, 23rd regnal year/AH 1195/2nd December 1781. Bears several notes that it had been seen by the Emperor, but as it does not bear the Emperor's seal impression and his tughra, it must be a copy. It does, however, have the seal impression of Mirza Najaf Khan with his numerous titles. Najaf Khan (d. 1782) was a Persian of royal Safavid descent who went to India at Afghan invasion of Persia. He held the title of Deputy Minister of Oudh. He is described as one of the greatest reformers of the Mughal Army. There is also another official seal impression with the name Muti Ram and dated 19th regnal year 1191/1778.
3) An edict issued to officials of a place (?) in the sawba of Ahmad Abad that Madhudarsh, Jadudarsh and Gisudarsh should continue their cultivation of their land as before, dated 15 dhi-qa'da 1120/26th January 1709 with the seal impressions of many of Farrukh Siyar's officials.
4) A letter in response to a letter regarding land, issued by a British official Robert Law [?] whose seal with the date 1833 is affixed to the letter.
The letter is dated 'Fifth April 1844'.
5) A cordial letter stressing friendship and unity, written to a Raja (name not recognized) by a Sikh (his seal impression unclear), dated 1st May 1827.
6) An invitation to the wedding celebration of Sultan Jahan Begum daughter of the Princely ruler of Bhopal, Shah Jahan Begum, on 20 dhi-hajja 1291/29th January 1875. The invitation is dated 16 dhi'l-qa'da 1291/20th December 1874. The letter bears the (personal?) seal of the ruler as 'Nawwab Shah Jahan Begum' with a date that is not clear. The name of the bridegroom is not given, but it is very probably H.H. 'Ali Jah, Ihtisham al-Mulk, Nasir ad-Dawla, Nawab Ahmad 'Ali Khan Bahadur of Muzaffar Nagar, Sultan Dulha Sahib, Nawab Consort of Bhopal. The addressee, as mentioned on the blue envelope, is Colonel Martin, possibly Cunliffe Martin, recorded by Buckland as Colonel, son of James Ronald Martin, C.B. (Educated at Cheltenham, entered the Indian Army in 1852; In Indian Mutiny 1857-8; in Afghan war 1880; retired in 1881. (Buckland, p. 277). Another seal of Shah Jahan Begum dated 1265 is used to seal the envelope. The English reply is included.
7) A testimony of claim to a debt that had been sent through someone who did not deliver it, written on 4 rabi' al-thani 1137/21st December 1724. It bears the seal impression of a religious judge called Asbah al-Din dated AH 1133/AD 1720-21).
8) A testimony regarding land, dated 20 rabi' al-awwal 1072/13th November 1661 with seal impressions of religious judges.
9) A testimony regarding property and rent dated 17 sha'ban 1033/13th November 1661, with the seal impression of a religious judge.
10) A testimony regarding payments dated 22 safar 983/2nd June 1575.
11) A note to a certain 'Abd al-Karim to purchase certain amount of wax, the date section is damaged but bears the seal impression of an official of 'Alamgir with the date 33rd regnal year.
14) A private correspondence replying to a letter regarding the Isfahan Army and raising the army rank of Fakhim al-Mamalik, written by Abu'l-Fath al-Tabataba'i.
15) A waqfnama of various properties to the Shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad endowed by a certain Qahhar Quli. The document is dated jumadi al-ukhra 1246/17th November 1830 and bears witnesses notes and seal impressions.
16) A Qajar legal document registering settlements of various claims dated muharram 1271/September-October 1854.
17) A Qajar legal document registering settlements dated 13 rajab 1270/11th April 1854. This and the above are related.
18) An Indian document on the inheritance of certain deceased persons dated 20 ramadan 1138/22nd May 1726 (apparently in two sections).
19) A Qajar property sale document dated 8 sha'ban 1311/14th February 1894.
20) The reply of Amir Nizam Garrusi to a letter. The letter is not signed or dated but bears his seal at the back.
21) A Mughal document of sale of property dated 38th regnal year (1695) with the seal dated AH 1092/AD 1681-82.