Cawnpore and Collectorganj

Cawnpore, as written on the Kotwali building, has its own unique history. Kanpurites are surely dying to know. Oh, yes! They react in the same tone. Yeah, great, thanks, if it is properly detailed. It remains relatively exciting to make a clear concept of the past. The first contextual clue thoughtfully emerges from the pure pages of history. 

History tells us that Awadh Nawab Saadat Ali Khan gave the East India Company a sizable portion of his domain. The seven districts of Kanpur, Bareilly, Fatehgarh, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Moradabad, and Etawah were later created from this large territory. Thus,  it was basically the land of the Nawab of Awadh. 

In the year 1802 itself, the first three-year land settlement of the district was done, which could not have happened without the full formation of a district. Therefore, the history of the establishment of Kanpur Collectorate is said to have been linked to November 10, 1801. 

At that time, Abraham Welland was posted as the district collector of Jaunpur.  He was later declared the first collector, judge and magistrate of Kanpur district. 

Having the distinction of being the first collector, he had served the district from March 8, 1802, to March 21, 1803. Later, he was transferred as the judge of the Bareilly Circuit Court. After him, J. Richardson became the second Collector of Kanpur and remained till  March 22, 1803.

It also remains appropriate to discuss a locality called Collector Ganj. It was settled by Abraham Welland even. Therefore, this very place was named after him. 

Effectively, a pond of Juhi Ki Rani Kunwar existed there. The pond was later dried up, and a market was set up upon the waterless land there. Initially, a grain market was set up there. It is still being maintained. It turns out to be a historical fact.