Skip to main content
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.

DETHERIDGE, Watkins

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 762

9th Sept 1819

Dear Sir,

I have been perusing your circular and should wish to embark for the Cape of Good Hope. I can produce a good character from the country where I was 11 years in place of Great [obscured] also another in London from Alderman WOOD and several other Aldermen. I am single man, 40 years of age in November next and my only Business was in the early part of my life Land Surveying, which I followed 17 or 18 years in many parts of England where open fields was inclosed. I find in your eighth resolution that the Land shall be measured at the expense of Government. I can produce 40 or 50£ of my own property and if you or Earl BATHURST on behalf of the Government will contract with me as to measuring and allotting out the different quantities &c &c I shall be happy to serve you and dare venture that you will find in me puctuallity and honesty. I can find plenty of sober, industrious, healthfull people [to take] with me and mostly people that have been brought up to Agriculture.

I am Sir your humble and obedient servant

Watkins DETHERIDGE

  • Hits: 5519