Eliza Cordelia, the daughter of Chaund Bebee (Chand Bibi), was born on this day, according to the baptism register. The “Natural Daughter of C Rothman Esq”, she was baptised in Calcutta on January 23, 1803. Chaund Bebee, or Bebee Shore, was described as a single woman and a “Mussulmannee” in her will, according to a British Library entry. She died in July 1836 at Entally.
The will states that she was the mother of the “natural” children of John Shore, who was appointed Governor-General of Bengal and later became Baron Teignmouth. His Indian mistress has been mentioned in accounts but not much more is known about her identity.
The will mentions that she owned several houses in Entally and in Hastings Place in Calcutta and a plot of land in “Chuckerbear in Panchanogram near Calcutta”.
Eliza and her eight children were the main beneficiaries of Chaund Bebee’s will. It mentions that the proceeds from the sale of her property were to be invested for the benefit of her daughter “exclusively of any husband she may chance to marry who is not to intermeddle therewith”.
Eliza was widowed and did not remarry. She died on November 12, 1856.
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