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.

MOSS, Abraham

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 490

[This letter was addressed to Lord Sidmouth - see the next letter]

St Margaret's Bank

Rochester

21st July 1819

My Lord

On the behalf of myself and nine other respectable persons of Rochester & Chatham I humbly beg leave to apply to your Lordship for permission to settle at the Cape of Good Hope agreeably to the regulations printed out in your Lordship's circular letter and humbly request your Lordship will be pleased to cause me to be furnished with the following particulars

- at what period can we be sent out & shall we be allowed to take any & what goods with us?

- shall we be supplied with agricultural tools and seeds on our arrival at the Cape?

We humbly beg leave to add to your Lordship that we are all hearty young men and shall feel grateful by your Lordship's causing us to be furnished with the above particulars at your Lordships earliest leisure.

I remain my Lord

Your most obedient humble servant

A MOSS

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 549

St Margaret's Bank

Rochester

2nd August 1819

Hon'ble Sir

On the behalf of myself and nine other active young men able and willing to work we humbly beg leave to be allowed to settle at the Cape of Good Hope agreeably to the regulations of a public letter issued by your Lordship and we most humbly request your Lordship will be pleased to furnish us with the following particulars

- at what period can we be sent out?

[At the end of this year by [smudged] - GOULBURN'S notation]

- shall we be allowed to take any & what goods with us?

[A reasonable proportion - GOULBURN'S notation]

- shall we be supplied with agricultural tools and seeds on our arrival?

[No but they may be purchased - GOULBURN'S notation]

I remain with the greatest respect

Your Lordship's most obed hble sert

A MOSS

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 589

St Margaret's Bank

Rochester

12 Aug 1819

My Lord

In answer to your letter of the 5th inst desiring to be informed of the number of persons I engage to take out to the Cape of Good Hope agreeably to your Lordship's circular - I humbly beg leave as under to send you such list accordingly.

I am my Lord

Your mst obed hble svt

A MOSS

Abraham MOSS & wife

Joseph RICHIARDS

James RUDDEN & wife, 4 children under 14 years, 2 children above 14 years

John AUSTIN & wife, 2 children under 14 years

John UNDERHILL, wife, 2 children under 14 years

Morris [SOLOMON] wife, 3 children under 14 years

John MATTHEWS

George MATTHEWS

Montague MARKS wife, 2 children under 14 years

[James] LITTLE

John HOPKINS

  • Hits: 6729