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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.

LACY, Timothy

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 269

Borrisokane

Ireland

July 26th 1819

May it please your Lordship

Being determined to avail myself of the opportunity and encouragement at present giving by Government to settlers going to the Cape of Good Hope, having at present the number of settlers capable of work (viz. ten, some with families and some without families) by which I will be entitled to a grant of land in said settlement and a vessel to take them thither. There are some passages set forth on the details from Downing Street of which I pray to be informed more fully. The first is whether I as the person taking out said settlers be obliged to make a deposit for myself and family [margin note: Yes] Secondly whether I as the person taking out said settlers be obliged by Government to give them on their location any certain quantity of land or does it rest with myself what quantity I may give them. [margin note: Agree with them beforehand] Thirdly what number of years is laid out by Government to bring the land so granted into cultivation [margin note: a proportion every two years]. Of those three passages set forth in the details I pray your Lordship's information as I intend applying for a vessel to take out said settlers so soon as I receive your Lordship's answer. The form of the application would be most desirable and humbly pray if it be your pleasure to send me the outlines of it and through whom in this country I am to make the application so as to become entitled to His Majesty's gracious grant. I have the honor to subscribe myself

Your Lordship's obedient and very humble serv't

Timothy LACY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 322

Borrisokane

Ireland

Aug 11th 1819

My Lord,

Being determined to go as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope I took the liberty of addressing a letter to your Lordship praying your Lordship's information on some parts of that detail set forth from your office, to which I have not rec'd your Lordship's reply. If it be your Lordship's pleasure I should be informed thereon I humbly pray your answer as soon as your Lordship's convenience will admit. As the letter I alude to might (by some mischance) not have reached your Lordship I now will mention the particular points on which I pray your Lordship's information. The first is whether I as the person taking out said number of settlers be obliged by Government to give them a certain number of acres or does it rest with myself what quantity I may give them. The second is whether I am obliged to make a lodgement for my own family in the same proportion as for the settlers I take out. The third is what number of years is laid out by Government to bring the land to a state of cultivation. As at present I have the number of settlers by which I will be entitled to His Majesty's most gracious grant, I humbly pray your Lordship's information.

I remain my Lord your very obedient and humble servant

Timothy LACY

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