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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.

HILES, William

Written by Sue Mackay on .

Filed under N

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 838

Prince Eugene Lane

Corner of Avon Street

Great Gardens

Bristol

23rd September 1819

The petition of William HILES of the City of Bristol

Humbly sheweth

That Petitioner has served in His Majesty's Royal Regiment of Artillery upwards of fifteen years and was discharged therefrom in consequence of the Reduction in February 1815, upon a Pension of five pence per Day, and that since being discharged Petitioner has not been able to obtain any employment to support himself, his wife and five children, which has reduced him to the lowest ebb of distress. Petitioner further begs to state that in order to obtain some relief for himself has about six months since opened a day school as the only means in his power but without any prospect of success. Petitioner therefore humbly prays that he may be allowed under the same generous benefit as other British subjects to emigrate with his family to the Colony about to be formed near the Cape of Good Hope.

Petitioner further humbly prays that His Excellency the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department will be pleased to direct that Petitioner be informed on what terms he can be admitted to emigrate, he never having seen any circular, or other official document relative thereto and only knows of such an arrangement by mere hear say.

And Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray

Wm. HILES

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