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.

RORKE, John

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 599

Waterford

September 8th 1819

My Lord,

Having seen by the publick papers that government are pleased on certain conditions to take out settlers to Algoa Bay in Africa, I beg leave most respectfully to address thee on behalf of myself, my wife, eights sons & two daughters (names and ages as at foot) who with two agricultural servants wish to go there if it meet thy approbation, two of my said sons are tradesmen viz. carpenter & shoemaker – and as I have no doubt but those of good character & industrious habits will meet with favour from thee I beg with great respect to remark that we can have from our fellow citizens of the first rank & respectability the most unexceptionable testimonials of a loyal moral and industrious deportment on our part – we being of the religious profession of the people called Quakers.

If I might hope for a favourable answer to this application I would entreat thy orders how to proceed in this matter. Being of but poor circumstance am in hopes the conditions will be made as favourable to us as may be.

I am my Lord with the greatest respect

Thy sincere [friend]

John RORKE

Names Ages

John RORKE 50

Wife

Sons George 27

William 26

John 24

Thomas 22

Edward 20

Joseph 18

Richard 14

Samuel 8

Daughters Esther & Frances 10 & 2 years

& 2 Labourers

  • Hits: 6047