Sir Paul E. Pieris - Some Notable Singhalese Families

          In this series of books, written about Notable Singhalese Families of the 18th Century, Sir Paul E. Pieris makes references to family members in two of these volumes. However I have not had the opportunity to study both these volumes in detail or has had access to the other volumes, to provide to you a complete list of such references made.

            Both the volumes relate to other families, but the De Fonseka and D'andrado names are mentioned in the main body or in historical documents reproduced in these books. Thus, although only a name may have been mentioned in passing (and which may sometimes seem irrelevant), yet it was decided to publish these sections of the book in full, for the interest they yield for the fellow Genealogists and Historians.

            The reference made to Reynoldus D'andrado in Part 3, is used by many writers, including Patrick Peebles in his book 'Social Change in the 19th Century' to highlight the cast hierarchy.

            "It is impossible to derive a unitary Singhalese caste hierarchy; although in the nineteenth century the India-oriented British strove mightily to do so. The absence of a rigid hierarchy is confirmed by the diary of Adrian de Alwis. He records for example that the goyigama  Maha Mudaliar Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe named karava  Mudaliyar of the Fishers, Reynoldus de Andrado, an executor of his estate."

            The relevant sections of the books have been reproduced below.

            Some Notable Singhalese Families - Part 3, Adrian de Alwis

            Some Notable Singhalese Families - Part 4, The Illangakone Family