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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.

NEAVE, Joseph, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 861

Secretarys Office, Chelsea Hospl

20 August 1819

Mr NEAVE presents his Compliments to Mr GOULBURN and with reference to his Letter of the 17 inst transmitting a printed Circular respecting emigration to the Cape of Good Hope Mr NEAVE requests that the Petition enclosed in Mr REVELL'S letter to Earl BATHURST of the 14 inst upon this subject may be returned.

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 887

Liverpool

Sept 11th 1819

My Lord

An application having been made to your Lordship on my behalf by my friend Charles Stoker DUDLEY Esq for one of those grants of land about to be given to those persons who wish to become settlers at the Cape of good Hope, I have in consequence received (through him), from your Lordship's office, a circular desiring the names, ages &c of those I intend taking out with me. I therefore presume to become troublesome by requesting to know if a delay for a few days in forwarding that list, will be injurious to my hopes of obtaining that grant. I might have made out many lists from the numerous applications to be taken out, but I am anxious to have a little time in order to obtain characters to those I engage with. May I likewise beg to be informed if it be necessary that Mrs NEAVE'S name should appear in the list, as she will not leave this country under two years, owing to our having some family affairs to arrange.

I beg to state to your Lordship that I am 30 years of age and that until I was 17 was with my father, then a considerable Miller, & Farmer in the South of England, since which period I have principally been in Banking Houses in which employment I now am. The sum that I shall have at my disposal at present, will be about three hundred pounds. May I also solicit of your Lordship the favour of being informed if it is likely that I shall be accepted as one of the settlers if my list of individuals to be taken out, be such as your Lordship approves. I would not have ventured this request had I not held a situation, the loss of which would be serious to me, did I not go to the Cape, and I should feel much hurt to be obliged to behave unhandsome to my employer by giving him too short a notice of my intention of leaving him, & the money I intend to thus employ is a interest, and some notice of my calling it in, to be required by the person in whose hands it is. My address, My Lord, is "to the care of Joseph HADWEN Esq, Liverpool" - as early a reply as may be convenient to your Lordship will much oblige, My Lord, your Lordships

Most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

PS Will the settlers have the advantage of Exchange in the return of the deposit at the cape.

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 889

Liverpool

Sept 14th 1819

My Lord

I had the honor of addressing your Lordship on the 11th inst requesting to be informed if a delay for a few days in forwarding the list of names of those who are to accompany me to the Cape (should I be so fortunate as to be selected as one of the settlers) would be injurious to my hopes of obtaining the grant of land. At the same time I ventured to make two or three other requests.

I herewith beg to enclose to your Lordship the list required, trusting it will be such as to meet with approbation, a finer, or more healthy body of men, will not, I think, be found proceeding to the Colony. Most of them have lived several years in their last places. May I, my Lord, solicit as early an answer as possible, that I may give as much time to my employer as I can for him to find another to fill my situation.

I have the honor to be My Lord

Your Lordships most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

PS your Lordship will be pleased to desire that I should be direct for "to the care of Mr Joseph HADWEN Esq Liverpool" & I beg to assure your Lordship of my readiness to fulfill the terms, or to conform to all the conditions, upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant lands in the Colony.

JN

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Joseph NEAVE, Clerk in a Banking House but was with his father a considerable Miller & Farmer until 17 years of age

Jane NEAVE, 27

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Robert KIRBRICK

Agriculturalist

21

           

William JONES

Gardener

21

           

Thomas PRICHARD

Gardener

23

           

Thomas MOORE

Mason

22

Elizth. JOHNSON

20

James

16

   

Rd DWERRYHOUSE

Butcher

22

           

William WRIGHT

Wheelwright

20

           

Richard HUDLESTON

Blacksmith

25

Sarah

26

John

5

Betsy

2

James SIMMONS

Labourer

20

           

Richard GEARY

Labourer

21

           

R COPLEY

Labourer

23

           

Joseph TYLER

Labourer

32

           

NB James MOORE is the brother of Thomas MOORE and placed under his protection by his parents. Thomas MOORE & Elizth. JOHNSON will marry previous to sailing. Mrs NEAVE does not go out at present.

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 900

Liverpool

13th Oct 1819

Sir

In compliance with the desire expressed by your letter of the 30th ult I beg leave to transmit three lists of individuals about to proceed under my direction to the Cape. You will observe in them a difference from the one before sent, as some who had then engaged having left me and their places taken by others.

I am request by Messrs WHITLEY and HAYHURST to inform myself if we may be allowed to form ourselves into a crops [sic] of Militia, as it appears to be the wish to locate ourselves as near together as possible. If an additional list to that which has been accepted under the direction of these gentlemen, and which is in a state of forwardness be approved, we shall be able to form one, if not two companies should this proposition meet the approbation of his Majesty's Government, would arms and clothing be provided?

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 913

Liverpool

October 27th 1819

Sir

I had the honor of addressing you on the 13th inst when I enclosed the returns of settlers proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope under my direction, but I am fearful they have not reached their destination, or that your letter (to inform me of the amount and where my deposit is to be paid) has miscarried.

I feel more convinced of its being the case as Messrs HAYHURST & WHITLY'S returns were not forwarded until some days after mine, and several days have elapsed since they received instructions where to pay and the amount of the deposit required from them. The latter of these gentlemen is now in London, and will have informed you that we conceive it be, to the mutual advantage of the whole that our two parties should locate themselves together, and that we hope such arrangement will not interfere with the plans of his Majesty's Government.

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 915

Liverpool

Nov 3rd 1819

Sir

I fear you will deem me troublesome or negligent, troublesome in so frequently addressing you, or negligent because my deposit has not been made. I have however by this nights mail remited Mr HILL Esq one hundred & thirty pounds which I believe to be the sum required from me, for the party proceeding under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope.

I am fearful there has been some mistake, either my letter of the 13th ult with the returns has not reach you, or that your reply stating the amount, and where my deposit was to be made has miscarried. I have learned from Mr WHITLY that the deposits are made to Mr HILL, at the Treasury, which has induced me to forward mine to that gentleman and by so doing I hope to have acted correctly.

I had the honor of addressing you on the 27th ult, saying I was apprehensive of some mistake as I had not been called upon for the deposit as your favour of the 30th of Sept informing me Earl BATHURST to accept of my proposal to take settlers to the Cape, & that on my returns being sent I should be directed where to make, and what the amount of the deposit would be. May I beg the favour of a reply, saying if I have done right in sending the money to Mr HILL. My address will be "to the care of Joseph HADWEN Esq Liverpool".

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

[GOULBURN'S notation at the foot of the page: ‘What has given rise to the mistake?' to which clerk has written in pencil ‘It's all right']

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 926

Liverpool

Nov 22nd 1819

Sir

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th inst accompanied by one to the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and the regulations to be observed by the settlers during the voyage, and allow me, Sir, through you, to assure the Earl BATHURST that I shall not fail to co-operate with the Master of the vessel appointed for my conveyance in enforcing adherence to them.

The last letter which I had the honor to receive from you, was addressed James, instead of Joseph NEAVE. Should this mistake of name be in the letter addressed to Lord SOMERSET I trust it will create no difficulties on arrival at the Cape of Good Hope.

On the otherside I have given some names which I beg to have placed instead of those against them, & I fear I shall be obliged to find some one to fill the place of WRIGHT the Wheelwright as he now appears undetermined to go, or to remain in England but I hope some few days hence will not be too late to change his name as I particularly want a person of his discipline.

I have the honor to be, Sir

Your most obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

J. KEEGAN aged 27, gardener, instead of Thomas [BATHER]

R. N. KNOWLES aged 35, planter, instead of Thomas PRITCHARD

I. STEEL aged 32, labourer, instead of Thomas MOORE

T. DOWNING aged 21, Cooper, instead of R. DWERRYHOUSE

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 928

Liverpool

Dec 6th 1819

Sir

In compliance with the desire expressed in your note of the 1st inst I herewith enclose a correct return of settlers about to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope under my direction, and I also beg to return your letter to Lord SOMERSET that it might be corrected.

May I beg to be informed if the directors of Parties might not be allowed to take a few pounds each of gunpowder for private use. There appears to be some difficulty on this point at the Customs, will it be necessary to address the Lords of the Treasury on the subject?

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

Names of Men

Age

Profession

Names of Women

Age

Male children

Age

Female children

Age

Joseph NEAVE

30

 

Jane

27

       

Hugh STAGG

40

Agriculturist

Ann

27

   

Sarah

1

Rd HUDDLESTON

25

Smith

Sarah

26

John

2

Betsy

5

John KEEGAN

32

Gardener

Jane LLOYD

23

       

Rd H KNOWLES

35

Planter

           

Isaac STEEL

32

Labourer

           

Thos DOWNING

21

Cooper

           

John FLEETWOOD

20

Agriculturist

           

Rd GEARY

21

Mason

           

F G RANN

22

Draper

           

James SIMMONS

20

Labourer

           

James TYLER

32

Labourer

           

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 935

Liverpool

Dec 26th 1819

Sir

I have again to trouble you with another list of my settlers but trust I shall not have occasion to intrude on your goodness any more.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your obed servt

Joseph NEAVE

Names of Men

Age

Profession

Names of Women

Age

Male children

Age

Female children

Age

Joseph NEAVE

30

             

Rd HUDDLESTON

25

Smith

Sarah

27

John

2

Betsy

5

Rd QUILLHAM

35

Farmer

Ann

30

   

Ann

12

John KEEGAN

32

Gardener

Jane LLOYD

23

       

Rd H KNOWLES

35

Planter

           

Thos DOWNING

21

Cooper

           

John FLEETWOOD

20

Agriculturist

           

Richard GEARY

21

Mason

           

James TYLER

32

Labourer

           

F G RANN

22

Draper

           

James SIMMONS

20

Labourer

           

Thomas GREGORY

24

Carpenter

           
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