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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.

DOW, John

Written by Sue Mackay on .

The Upper End of Clayport Street

Alnwick

Northumberland

Aug 3 1819

Sir,

From your official circular dated Downing Street London 1819 I beg leave to inform you that I am willing to offer my service to become a settler in the Cape of Good Hope, having been two years at the Cape of Good Hope before. I was there at the time when Sir George YOUNG was the Governor, I was thirteen months at Cape Town and I was eleven months in the Interior as far as Algoa Bay, I was at the Bay when the French Frigate engaged the Camel Store Ship and the Rattlesnake Sloop of War. I shall be glad to know how we are to be provided for from the time of Landing at the Cape untill the Land is able to produce, and if I can receive my Pension at the Cape. I was a Serjeant in the 61st Regiment about Ten Years and Discharged from the 2nd Royal Veteran Battalion at the Reduction, but am able bodied and has a Wife and four Children under fourteen years of age and there are several able bodied Families where I reside who would wish to Emigrate. I would wish to know the time and place of Embarkation, I can produce an undeniable Character from each Regiment I served in if required.

I am Sir your very humble servant

John DOW

Serjeant from the late 2nd Royal Vet.Bttn.

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 679

Clayport Street

Alnwick

Northumberland

August 9th 1819

Sir,

I return you thanks for the answer to my letter of the 3rd instant and I beg pardon for once more troubling you, as not knowing to whom application is to be made I shall be humbly obliged to you if you will have the goodness to give me the address of any Gentleman to whom application is to be made for emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope.

I am Sir your very humble servant

John DOW

Serjeant in the late 2nd Royal Vet.Bttn.

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