East India Company and Colonial Office and Predecessor: St. Helena Original Correspondence

This series contains original correspondence relating to St Helena. Also includes correspondence relating to Ascension.

Bound volumes arranged chronologically within the following subject headings: Despatches (letters of the governors), Offices (letters of government departments and other organisations) and Individuals (arranged alphabetically). Each volume with a contents list, or précis of each letter giving name of correspondent, date of letter and subject matter. From 1926 correspondence is arranged in subject files.

For further correspondence see WO 1/321-322 and 569-571.

For earlier records relating to Ascension see CO 749

For records after 1951 see CO 1024

Further records are among those of the East India Company held by the British Library, Oriental and India Office Collections.

Topics

International

Trade and commerce

Africa

With the exception of the period of Napoleon's imprisonment (1815-1821), St. Helena was administered by the East India Company from 1659, when the company occupied the island, until 1833 when it was brought under direct British government. Ascension was made a dependency of St Helena in 1922, and Tristan da Cunha in 1938.