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

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

BOWDEN, Joseph

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 557

Plymouth

Sept 28th 1819

My Lord,

I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing your Lordship but interested as I am I know not what else to do. I am by trade my Lord a cartwheel wright and through the turn of things here I have not been able to get any work at my own business these 2 years past. I had come to a determination to go out to the Cape of Good Hope and had agreed (with several more) with Mr. George REEVES of Exeter who we understood had a grant with certain encouragement from your Lordship to take out a certain number of persons. From some reason or other he informs us he cannot stand by proposals with us. If your Lordship would have the goodness to inform me by what means I can go out to the Cape of Good Hope I should ever feel grateful for your Lordship's goodness. I am my Lord a young man and can get a character for my abilities and sobriety and flatter myself that I could make myself very usefull to the Colony. I understand my Lord there is a deposit of 10£ to be paid. I have as much money and will gladly pay it - if your Lordship would have the goodness to answer this you would confer a great favour on your Lordship's humble servant

Joseph BOWDEN

At Mr.PRIN's

No.3 Higher Street

Plymouth

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