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.

OWEN, John

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 957

Fulham

Aug 30th 1819

My Dear Sir,

Though I feel extremely sorry to trouble you on any matter which concerns myself, yet I cannot forbear intreating you and, so far as you may be enabled to give it, in accomplishing an object which lies very close to my heart.

My second son, now in his 18th year, has been at Bremen for 2 years, partly that he might learn the German language, and partly that he might be less in the way of temptation till I should be able to procure something for him to do. He has of late shown an unsettledness of disposition & a tendency to extravagance and it appears necessary that he should be recalled immediately. In fact he has nothing to occupy a restless mind and when he returns to me he will be in the same situation.

Some foreign appointment seems most likely to suit the turn of his mind and the new settlement in Africa occurred to me as perhaps likely to afford something of the sort. I venture to suggest what has passed in my mind and have only to request the benefit of your judgement & assistance in such way as the many calls upon both may allow you to afford them.

I am, my dear Sir, vary faithfully

John OWEN

  • Hits: 6093