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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.

BRIDGER, John , 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

46?

No.20 Angel Street

St.Martins le Grand

We the undersigned beg leave to state to you the number of our families

BRIDGERs

Wife

1 daughter 18 years

1 son 13 years

2 daughters 12 & 10

ALLEYs

Wife

1 daughter 18 years

2 sons, one 13 one 11 years

2 daughters one 10 one 8 years

We wish to know if any of the above will be included in the number each settler is to take out. We wish also to know if we have the rite to select our own men and beg to know if the vessel will sail from the London River. We wish to know if you could put us in a way how we could secure ourselves to go as great arrangement will be required. Mr. BRIDGER is very well acquainted with agriculture and unders cattle. I understand cattle in the manage in all there stages and also understand the use of medicins and how to treat them in disease. I think I could be of great service to my neighbours on the settlement.

We are Sir your obdt servants

Thos. ALLEY

John BRIDGER

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 484

Jersey

Sep 9 1819

May it please your Lordship to give me necessary information were I am to pay the deposit money & whether the ship goes from the London River or any of the sea ports & what tonnage is allowed for baggage as it will make a material difference in moving of it. And if the settlement is near any town or village as to get our stock and provisions and how far from the Cape Town or if connectivly with a Bay so as we could get water conveyance as it requires a serious consideration as I shall have to victual the people till the return of our crops which will be a considerable time first. An answer to the Post Office Jersey will greatly oblige

Your very humble servant

John BRIDGER

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 644

16 Angel Street

St.Martin le Grand

My Lord,

I beg to return you my thanks for the circular I rec'd at Jersey. I beg to offer myself to your Lordship, as a proprietor I am quite competent in property & will conform in every respect to the rules laid down in the circular. Praying your Lordship to accept me as a proprietor

I am your Lordship's obd servant

John BRIDGER

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 646

Angel St, St.Martins Le Grand, 1819

Sir,

I rec'd your letter this morning acquainting me that the whole number of persons whom it is possible to send to the Cape for the ?present?, for which I am exceedingly sorry for having moved my family from Jersey to London at great expence for the advowed purpose to go out, and having troubled a friend in Hampshire to select my settlers & under the present circumstances it will be a very great disappointment. Sir, I beg pardon for being so troublesome, which I hope your kindness will excuse. Sir, should any proprietor fail in going out I should be happy to fill up the vacancy or if you can inform me of any other plan of going out I should feel greatly obliged as I will be sorry to disappoint the men that my friend has

I am Sir your most obedient servant

John BRIDGER

[Transcriber's Note: John BRIDGER and Thomas ALLEY independent settlers in Hockly's ‘Story of the British Settlers of 1820' –see the correspondence of John LEIGH in CO48/44. John BRIDGER died in 1821 and his widow Ann BRIDGER emigrated to Tasmania with her three youngest children. See http://www.australianbeers.com/pubs/bushin/bush.htm

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