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.

GIBSON, Thomas

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 294

No.1 Trump St

King St

Cheapside

July 27th 1819

My Lord,

I take the liberty of asking your Lordship the following questions respecting the emigration to the Cape of Good Hope.

What time the ships sail, where from & what luggage the passengers are permitted to take out with them, whether it is confined to weight or compass & whether they will be allowed to take out goods from this country on speculation.

As one person takes out ten or more families & pays a deposit of ten pounds for every such family, whether he has the 100 acres himself or the persons he is taking out or whether an individual upon paying his own deposit could go upon his own foundation & be under no control from any other person.

What part of the Cape it is intended to settle & if any part of the grant voted by Parliament is to be appropriated to the use of the settlers.

Hoping my Lord you will not think these questions too ?? I remain my Lord

Yr Lordship's most humble serv't

Wm.Thomas BROWN

Thos. GIBSON

  • Hits: 5721