GORDON, John

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 270

17 Finch Lane

Corn Hill

15 July 1819

The memorial of John GORDON, formerly Lieutenant and Quarter Master in the late 99^th Regiment of Foot but now an Ensign on the retired list 2^nd Royal Veteran Battalion

Humbly sheweth

That your memorialist has had the honor to serve His Majesty thirty five years, has been twice wounded in the Service, by which he has lost the use of his left arm.

That your memorialist has lost his rank in consequence of having sold his Lieutenancy previous to the reduction of the late 99^th Regt of Foot in the year 1796

That your memorialist is the only son of Lieut. James GORDON of the 78^th Regt of Foot, called the Murray Whites, that he served in the American War under the ever memorable General WOLFE and was twice wounded at Quebec on both thighs which rendered him a cripple for life.

That your memorialist's father was possessed of a grant of land of very considerable extent including purchases made in the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, North America amounting to upwards of 20,000 acres, 800 acres of which were in a high state of cultivation at the breaking out of the American War when being a Loyalist and taken prisoner in arms, the Revolutionary Government dispossessed him of his lands and gave them to General KNOX, an officer in its service, & that he never received any compensation.

That your memorialist having a family is desirous of settling in one of our colonies abroad or rather at the Cape of Good Hope and prays a grant of land in extent according to his rank and also in compensation for the loss sustained by his father for his loyalty by the confiscation of his property in Plymouth County, State of Massachusetts. Your memorialist also prays for a proportionate allowance in money, implements of husbandry & provisions to enable your memorialist to recover the same quantity of land as that in a state of cultivation which your memorialist's father possessed, also a passage for himself and family

And your memorialist will ever pray

John GORDON

[written across foot of page: with respect to compensation he must address himself to the Treasury and with respect to a grant of land at the Cape I can only enclose him a copy of the circular]

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 272

17 Finch Lane

Corn Hill

24 July 1819

The memorial of John GORDON, formerly Lieutenant and Quarter Master in the late 99^th Regiment of Foot but now an Ensign on the retired list 2^nd Royal Veteran Battalion

Humbly sheweth

That your memorialist has had the honor to serve His Majesty thirty five years, has been twice wounded in the Service, by which he has lost the use of his left arm.

That your memorialist served in France under His Grace the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo to the Capitulation of Paris 7^th July 1815

That your memorialist is the only son of Lieutenant James GORDON of the 78^th Regiment of Foot called the Murray Whites, that he served in the American War under the ever memorable General WOLFE & was twice wounded at Quebec in both thighs which rendered him a cripple for life.

That your memorialist's father was possessed of a grant of land of very considerable extent including purchases made in the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, North America amounting to upwards of 20,000 acres, 800 acres of which were in a high state of cultivation at the breaking out of the American War when being a Loyalist and taken prisoner in arms, the Revolutionary Government dispossessed him of his lands and gave them to General KNOX, an officer in its service.

That your memorialist having a family is desirous of settling in one of our colonies abroad or rather at the Cape of Good Hope and prays a grant of land in extent according to his rank and also in compensation for the loss sustained by his father for his loyalty by the confiscation of his property in Plymouth County, State of Massachusetts.

That your memorialists also prays for a proportionate allowance in money, implements of husbandry & provisions to enable your memorialist to recover the same quantity of land as that in a state of cultivation which your memorialist's father possessed, also a passage for himself and family

And your memorialist will ever pray

John GORDON

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 293

17 Finch Lane

Corn Hill

28July 1819

Sir,

I am favor'd by receipt of your letter of 23 inst for which I request that you would accept my best thanks. I have the presumption to state that I have engaged 10 able bodied men who are willing to emigrate with me to the Cape of Good Hope provided you approve and on the terms expressed in the Government circular. If not intruding may I request the favor of an answer to the [?]mentioned questions viz: which side of the Cape does Government intend them to settle, the presumed distance from the Cape and Latitude, and as some time would elapse before they could be provided with [?orders} whether the Government would be pleased to furnish them with old tools as well as intrenching tools.

Waiting your reply I have the honor to be, Sir, with respect & esteem

Your most obed't serv't

Jno. GORDON

Ensign Ret'd List 2^nd R.V.Batt

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 342

17 Finch Lane

London

6 Aug 1819

Sir,

I solicit permission to submit to the Right Honourable the Earl BATHURST for his approval a return of 15 heads of families including myself and family, in all 45 persons, proposing to emigrate under me to the Cape of Good Hope. Several other gentle'n viz Messrs AUSTIN, BROWN & SMITH, men of capital and enterprise intend joining me to make up 100 families so as to avail ourselves of the Government circular in nominating our own clergyman in time. I trust we will find employment for thousands of our countrymen.

From the infant state of the colony I would take the liberty of respectfully submitting to his Lordship's consideration if it would not be advisable to form the persons emigrating into companies of 100 each to be furnished on the first onset with [returned ?] Arms, Cloathing, Ammunision, Intrenching tools & Accoutrements; place them on the same footing as the Colonial Militia; by these means it would save Government some expence as well as enable them to defend themselves. Being an old officer I would undertake to discipline my own party without fee or reward giving me the rank I formerly held being that of Capt. by [level?] that would prevent them being taken by surprise.

Waiting your reply I have the honor to be, Sir, with respect & esteem

Your most obed't serv't

Jno. GORDON

Return of Men, Women and Children volunteered to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope agreeable to the Govt. circular under the direction of Ens'n John GORDON 2^nd R.V.B

	Names	Mens ages	Womens ages	Child'n nos	Child'n ages	Total in each family	Trade or Profession
1	Thomas McCARTHY	28	22	2	4 & 2	4	Labourer
2	George PHELPS	28	28	2	8 & 9	4	Bricklayer
3	David OURCE?	29				1	Mason & Slater
4	Daniel MURRAY	34	32	2	8 & 4	4	Blacksmith
5	Daniel HURLEY	35	30	2	8 & 6	4	Stone Mason
6	Felix McCARTHY	32	26	1	10	3	Carpenter
7	John MARTIN	34	36	2	13 & 15	4	Labourer
8	Wm. GORDON	18				1	Farmer
9	Wm. CONNOLLY	30	26			2	Labourer
10	John DONOVAN	29	34	1		3	Do.
11	Thos. KELLER	39	38	2	9 & 7	4	Boat Builder
12	Jas. EVANS	22				1	Cooper
13	Jas. HAIL	24	22			2	Gardener
14	John LANE	23	21	2	4 & 2	4	Farmer
15	J.GORDON

J.GORDON wife & 2 children under 18 years, officer Ret'd List

London, Cromwell Cottage, Old Brompton in 17 Finch Lane

August 17^th 1819

J. GORDON

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 364

Cromwell Cottage

Old Brompton

August 14^th 1819

My Lord,

In obedience to your Lordship's commands I took the liberty of submitting my memorial praying a grant of land at the Cape of Good Hope & compensation for losses sustained by my father in North America to the Right Honourable the Earl of LIVERPOOL and Lords of His Majesty's Treasury to which their Lordships have been pleased to return an answer of which the annexed is a copy. If your Lordship would favor me with an interview of 5 minutes at convenience I could explain more than I am able to write in hours.

Waiting your Lordship's reply

I have the honor to be, Sir, with respect & esteem

Your most obed't serv't

Jno. GORDON

Ensign Ret'd List 2^nd R.V.Batt

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 366

Treasury Chambers

11 Aug 1819

[To Mr. GORDON, Cromwell Cottage, Old Brompton]

Sir,

Having laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury your memorial of the 28^th ult praying a grant of land at the Cape of Good Hope and compensation for losses sustained by your father in North America, also a free passage for yourself and family to the Cape of Good Hope, I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you that they have desired the same to be submitted to Lord BATHURST for his consideration and for such directions as his Lordship may deem expeditious thereon.

Your humble serv't

(signed) R. LUSHINGTON

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 397

Cromwell Cottage

Old Brompton

31 August 1819

My Lord,

I took the liberty of addressing your Lordship on 7^th inst conformable to the Government circular, assured under your direction, transmitting to you my tender for one hundred families of which number Mr.Wm.EARLE Jun's 25 families formed a part, volunteering to locate with me at my expense at the Cape of Good Hope, but not having been favor'd with an answer is my appology for again intruding on your Lordship's time.

While I can safely calculate upon the industry of these People I may confidently introduce them to your Lordship's notice as persons fully deserving of protection in as much as their necessities cannot be exceeded & that those necessities are solely the result of the pressure of the times, a pressure produced alone by the unlimited use of meccannical inventions superceeding manual labour.

Unwilling to have my name associated with those adventurers who are now making contracts with the unfortunates, at once arbitrary, oppressive and contrary to the views and intentions of the Government. I beg leave to lay before your Lordship the substance of my argument with those individuals as the best security I can offer for the fullfillment of the Government wishes in the establishment of a peaceable and happy colony.

First – I propose to see that they are sufficiently and well cloathed previous to embarkation

Secondly – To victual them from their landing in the colony to a period of 3 years or until the grant of land is in a state of cultivation

Thirdly – To provide them with tents until such time as cottages can be erected

Fourthly – To aportion off to each a piece of land in proportion to the extent of their families which they are to cultivate for their own exclusive profit

Fifthly – That they shall labour 8 hours every day for me, Sundays excepted

Sixthly – At the expiration of three years when their services expire to assign over to them a portion of the 100 acres with cottage &c

By these means I hope to make a comfortable and happy peasantry. If those persons who seek the colony as the remedy to the evils resulting from an overgrown population at home, and I may confidently predict the same line of conduct that has ever marked (my family) loyalty and affection to the mother country and its Government will be the result of my efforts, a stake in the ground is the rallying point of loyalty.

Upon these terms my Lord I solicit in the name of my associates as well as myself the priviledge of taking out one hundred families to the Cape and I most earnestly request that I may learn from your Lordship the very earliest oportunity whether my proposals are acceded to or not; I ask it in charity to the forlorn individuals who seek this step as their only refuge from [calamities?] which already overwhelm them.

I am ready to pay the £10 deposit for each of the families taken on my own account, say 20 families. I have the honor to be with prfound respect & esteem

Your most obed't serv't

John. GORDON

Ensign Ret'd List 2^nd Royal Vet.Batt

 

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 415

Cromwell Cottage

Old Brompton

7 Sept 1819

My Lord,

Being desirous to increase the number of families volunteering to locate with me at the Cape of Good Hope to 25, including myself and family, in all 90 persons, & as well as to guard against mistakes as some on the former return have declined going, I should wish to withdraw that delivered on 6^th August

And am with profound respect and esteem my Lord

Your Lordship's most obed't humble sev't

Jno. GORDON

Return of Men Women and Children volunteering to locate themselves under the direction and in the service of Ensign J GORDON 2RVB at the proposed new settlement at the Cape of Good Hope agreeable to the conditions laid down by Government with their Descriptions &c

Cromwell Cottage, 7^th Augst 1819

J. GORDON

Ensign Ret'd List