George Weldon (died 1697) was an English merchant and the Deputy Governor of Bombay.
Life
John Ovington described Weldon as "a gentleman well descended".[1] According to one source, he was Deputy Governor of Bombay from 1688, succeeding on the death of Sir John Wyborne.[2] Another source puts John Vaux, and George Cooke who died, between Wyborne and Weldon, who was Deputy Governor from 1690.[3]
In 1689 Weldon, described as a factor, was sent to Vasai (Bassein) with Abraham Navarro, by Sir John Child, 1st Baronet as Governor. The mission was to treat for terms with the Mughals; Child died in 1690 before they returned to Bombay.[4][5]Aurangzeb settled the state of war that had existed with the East India Company in February 1690, on heavy conditions.[6]
Weldon died on his voyage back to England and was buried in Mauritius in 1697.
Family
Weldon married Susannah, the widow of Sir John Child, in 1692; she was the daughter of Captain John Shaxton or Shackstone, a previous Deputy Governor.[7]
Legacy
Susannah Weldon erected a monument on his grave that served as a landmark for shipping. Its location became known as Baie du Tombeau (Tomb Bay), which may refer to Weldon's monument, or an earlier loss of Dutch ships there in 1615.[8]
References
Dictionnaire toponymique de l'Île Maurice, Société de l'histoire de l'Île Maurice 1997, article "Baie du Tombeau"
