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.

PRESTON, Thomas

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 254

No.49 Francis Street

Newington

Surrey

4 October 1810

Sir,

Having some friends who I expect will advance me about £500 I should be desirous of availing myself of the present opportunity afforded by Government of settling at the Cape of Good Hope.

I am now forty six years of age and have till within these few years been engaged in a very extensive concern in the Lead Trade, which I was obligated to relinquish through the unfavourable result of some mercantile speculations.

In addition to the experience of more than thirty years active employment in commercial pursuits, a constant thirst after knowledge and information and a particular attachment to all the mechanical arts together with the application of science to the practice and improvement of whatever may be useful for the concerns of life – have rendered me perhaps rather peculiarly fitted for an undertaking of this description.

May I request therefore to have a copy of the conditions upon which the applicants will be permitted to settle, together with such further explanatory information for the due regulation of their proceeding as is permitted to be given.

I am with great respect Sir

Your most obed't humble servant

Thomas PRESTON

  • Hits: 5665