CHESHIRE, William re GARDNER's Party, 1820 Settlers

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 284

Birmingham Workhouse

Sept 6^th 1819

My Lord,

By desire of the Birmingham Overseers, I have the honor to inclose you a list of persons who wish to avail themselves of the offers of Government respecting the Colonization of the Cape of Good Hope, and, after promising that the required deposit will be paid for the whole in the name of Edward GARDNER, allow me to request, on behalf of the proposed Emigrants, that your Lordship will have the goodness to order that a reply to this communication may be transmitted to me as early as convenient, stating that these Applicants will be accepted, and if so, the time and place when and where they should asemble, ---- with any other information which may appear to your Lordship as necessary.

I have the honor to be,

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Wm. CHESHIRE

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 345

Birmingham Workhouse

September 27^th 1819

My Lord,

Having been honoured with a prompt reply to my application of the 6^th instant on behalf of certain persons wishing to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope and informed that the “Proposals were under consideration and due notice would be given of the decision that may be taken thereupon” it may be considered an unwarrantable intrusion to address your Lordship again on the occasion, in this stage of the business. Yet I trust an importunity originating not merely in the anxieties but even in the necessities of the applicants to make the earliest possible arrangements respecting their future destinies will be kindly excused by your Lordship, and that you will have the goodness to direct that the cases in question may be directed upon at as early a period as may be consistently with the regular routine of official engagements.

I have the honor to be My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Wm. CHESHIRE

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 404

Birmingham Workhouse

October 9^th 1819

Sir,

Mr. John HARTEL, whose name was submitted in the list of persons about to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope, which the Overseers of Birmingham had the honor to transmit to Earl BATHURST on the 6^th ult, and consequently one of the accepted persons, being himself a substantial yeoman it was suggested to him that he ought not to lose his proper vantage ground but place himself as the head of a party, the more especially as locality and connexion would afford him superior facilities in the selection of suitable persons to accompany him. Acting under such suggestion I take the liberty at the instance of Mr. HARTEL to request you will have the goodness to submit to Earl BATHURST the list herewith sent and I beg to accompany it with the expression of a wish that he may not ultimately suffer in the accomplishment of his ardent desire of being included and at the earliest convenient season his Lordship's acceptance of his proposal by an arrangement that appears in itself eligible although attended in the first instance with some unavoidable delay.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. CHESHIRE

List respectfully submitted to Earl BATHURST's approval of Persons proposing to become Settlers at the Cape of Good Hope under the direction of John HARTEL, October 9^th 1819

Remarks: John HARTEL: The father of this family & head of the whole party is also a very experienced varnish maker & thinks his selection of gums suitable for that purpose may be advantageously availed of by exporters to the Mother Country.

Total Number of the Men 10

Total number of the Women 9

Of Children being persons under 14 years of age 16

Total number of the Whole Party 35

[Transcriber's Note: John HARTELL eventually emigrated as an independent settler with GREATHEAD's Party. See also correspondence under H at CO48/43]

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 484

Birmingham Workhouse

Nov 3^rd 1819

Sir,

The party under the direction of Edward GARDNER feeling considerable anxiety owing to some of their number not being enabled to fulfil their intention of proceeding forthwith to the Cape of Good Hope, I have ventured to assure them, that they might confidentially rely on the liberty of Government, particularly as they have sold the little all they possess to enable them to emigrate which would prove their ruin if prevented from going.

Nine of them have this Day forwarded their deposit of One Hundred Pounds as specified at foot, and they await your instructions when and where they are to assemble . – An early reply would a favour stating, as their number is not equal to that first proposed, whether there would be any objection to a few others accompanying them if proper persons, & provided they could pay their deposit money.

Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Wm. CHESHIRE

Edward GARDNER, wife & 3 children 12.10

Isaac DUGMORE, wife & 5 children 17.10

John DUDLEY, wife & 2 childre 10.00

John WRIGHT 10.00

Wm. SEAL 10.00

Abraham BEESLEY 10.00

[Edmund] DUDLEY 10.00

Benjamin BAYLISS 10.00

Wm. ABBOTT 10.00

£100.00

Remitted through the Bank of Smith & Gibbins & Co. to

Wm. Hill Esq. Commissionarial Treasurer, London

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 503

Workhouse Birmingham

Nov 13 1819

Sir,

By desire of Edward GARDNER, and in compliance with your Letter of the 10^th inst., I subjoin the omitted particulars respecting Benjm. BAYLISS and as no further alteration will now be made to Edward GARDNER's list, he earnestly requests you will have the goodness to notify to him the place of embarkation, as he wishes to rejoin thither, with his Party, immediately, and if you could mention the probable time also, it would particularly oblige.

I have the honor to be Sir,

Your most obedient servant

Wm. CHESHIRE

Benjamin BAYLISS is a single man aged 24 years – a Coach Harness Bucklemaker and has paid his Ten Pounds Deposit some time since.

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 519

Birmingham Workhouse

Nov 25^th 1819

Sir,

Since my respects of the 19^th inst., I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you, -- and apprehension lest some communication may have been mislaid or got into an irregular channel, I yield to the strong importunity of Edward GARDNER & his Party by giving you this trouble & respectfully refer you to the Annexed copy of my of my said letter, trusting you will have the goodness to excuse my giving you so much trouble.

I have the honor to be Sir,

Your most obedient servant

Wm. CHESHIRE