In the Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette released on 25 AUG 1842, the office of Mr Edward Francomb is said to having been located at 1 Magistracy Road. Yet, according to the 1845 map, the Edwards was located on Arbuthnot Road then.
I wonder if Magistracy Road was renamed to Arbuthnot Road between 1842 and 1845. It would be so nice if someone could prove me right.
I''m also interested to know
I''m also interested to know the answer to when the Arbuthnot Road name was given to that road, and who it was named after.
I do not think Magistracy
I do not think Magistracy road became Arbuthnot Road as ti did not exist on the 1842 map (A proposed bridleway was shown which became Arbuthnot Road. I think magistracy road was either a precursor name for Pottinger Street or the name of a short 40 foot wide road shown approximately where Hollywood Road in front of the former central Police station is today
Frank King in his 1988 book: The History of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation: Volume 1, states that Arbuthnot Road was was named after Geroge Arbuthnot, a civil servant who was private secretary to the prime minister Robert Peel. Arbuthnot was extensively involved in passing the Bank Charter Act of 1844 so was a well known person at the time and which would fit the timescale for the naming of the road sometime between 1842 and 1845.
Magistracy Street was not
Magistracy Street was not that short raod, definitely. As I've mentioned in #1, the Edwards was located at 1 Magistracy Street. With reference to the 1845 map, the Edwards was next to Arbuthnot Road. Also, it seems to me that, in the 1843 map, the small rectangle opposite the Victoria Gaol was the Edwards, and the road next to it was built in the same location as the present Arbuthnot Road, with only small differences.Therefore, I think that Magistracy Street was the present Arbuthnot Road, but I don't have any evidence to support the renaming.
On the 1845 map the name
On the 1845 map the name Edwards refers to the person's surname as this is the style employed for all names listed. If Edward Francomb's residence was listed on the map it would be under Francomb, not Edwards
It is unlikely (although not inconceivable) Arbuthnot road is Magistracy street as Arbuthnot road did not exist in 1842 at the first mention of Magistracy street. Magistracy street is mentioned a number of times in the early history of Hong Kong: robberies of numerous residents are reported there 'in sight of Major Caine's house' (which was on Pottinger) and there are complaints that residents are dumping sewage in the middle of the road. My best guess for its location is the stub of road on the 1842 map that became Hollywood road but there is no firm evidence for this, except it being next to the magistrate. It could in fact be any one of the numerous roads below Hollywood Road that wew laid out in the first days of the colony.
Location of Magistracy Street
I can confirm that Pottinger Street was originally called Magistracy Street. I had been confused by James Legge using Pottinger Street in his description of Hong Kong in 1843 reproduced here, but I believe this was a recollection of the early years of Hong Kong rather than a contemporaneous account . From the friend of China 1844:
Mr J B Pain is auctioning a lot ‘having a frontage to Magistracy street between Queen’s Road and the Roman Catholic Cathedral, formerly Mr Harton’s and commanding a most extensive view of the Bay and considered one of the most salubrious situations in the Town.
Sale auction to take place at 12pm on Monday 18th May 1844 at rooms of the auctioneer.
Source. Friend of China 11th May 1844
I believe Pain was located opposite Chiam's Hong on Queens Road as a Mr Lattey, Chronometer and Watchmaker, had a business in the upper part of Pain's new store opposite Chiam's Hong.