he first marriage recorded at St. Mary’s church in Fort. St. George, Chennai was that of Elihu Yale and Catherine Hynmers, widow of Joseph Hynmers, Yale’s Erstwhile Superior, on the 4th October 1680. Yale is also said to have connections with the ‘Kaaduvetti family’ near Mahabalipuram.

He is said to have used their large rice godown to store his ill-gotten wealth. It is not only the rice godown of this native friend that attracted Yale, but also his daughter. Yale used the godown for storing his plunders from commercial English boats of the Company, anchored near Mahabalipuram Town. His gifts to such friends were enormous. From Muslin clothes, Persian perfumes, Roman jades not to forget the royal furniture. The Hide Away BAR and The Duchess Dressing Table are a part of that looty. The village, near Vallipuram still believes in the “DORAI PEI”, the “Englishman Ghost”. In 1699, before he could return to London, he had to clear himself of numerous charges of personal gain. Nevertheless, he sailed with 5 tones of spices, precious stones (mainly diamonds with which he was to continue a successful trade with his successor, Thomas Pitt), leather goods, cottons and silks, and ‘Oriental’ artefacts! A duty of 24,000 pounds Sterling was paid on the goods when he arrived in England.