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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

Correspondence 1821 to 1837.

Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, whereas ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape.

Unless otherwise stated letters were written to either the Secretary of State for the Colonies or his deputy.The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained. Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily.

DIPLOCK, John re Mary GOWAR, 1825

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew, CO48/74, 144

The humble petition of John DIPLOCK and others

Sheweth

That in the year 1819 one Richard GOWER, then of Greenwich in the County of Kent, Plumber and Glazier, was induced with his family consisting of a wife (Mary GOWER) and three children to emigrate to His majesty's settlements at the Cape of Good Hope, taking with him a considerable property which he had saved in this country.

That the said Richard GOWER on his arrival at the Cape settled in Graham's Town where he used every exertion to support himself and family but in consequence of the failure of the crops and other misfortunes he was reduced to great extremities which ultimately caused his death in the month of July last leaving his said wife the said Mary GOWER and her three helpless children (the eldest only 10 years old) entirely destitute in a strange land.

That your petitioners are advised that in cases of such extremity Government have in some instances granted free passages home to this country and your petitioners being unable to send her the means of returning and conceiving that this is a case for the merciful consideration of Government.

Your petitioners therefore trusting to the well known humanity of your Lordship prays that you will be graciously pleased to take the case of the said Mary GOWER and her said three children into your serious consideration and order them a free passage to England and petitioners as in duty bound will pray.

 

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National Archives, Kew, CO48/74, 151

8 Walnuttree Walk

Lambeth

2nd March 1825

Sir,

With reference to my letter of the 4th ultimo inclosing a petition from the friends of Mary GOWER praying a free passage home from the Cape of Good Hope for herself and children, I shall esteem it a particular favour your obtaining an early answer thereto.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obed't serv't

John DIPLOCK

[Transcriber's Note: Mary DIPLOCK married Richard GOWAR on 16 Dec 1810 at St.Martin in the Fields, Westminster]

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