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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.

SEPHTON, Hezekiah, 1820 Settler

(see also correspondence for Edward WYNNE in CO48/46)

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1075

11 Bedford Court

New North Street

Red Lion square

London Novr 11 1819

My Lord

Having been disappointed in Mr Thomas COLLING he not being able to go out, at the Head of One Hundred familys as accepted by you, and as I am selected by the Company to succeed him, I hearwith agree to accept of the terms proposed by His Majestys Government to to take the One Hundred Settlers under my care to the Cape of Good Hope and await your pleasure for such other neccesary information as may be required for our guidance.

I am My Lord

your most Ob't Servant

Hez'h SEPHTON

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1085-1089

Nov 18 1819

My Lord

Having accepted of Mr SHAW as our minister to accompany me with One Hundred Settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, I hearwith submit to you the Inclosed testimonial as a proper person to officiate in that capacity.

My Lord

Your most Ob't Humble servant

Hezekiah SEPHTON

[Note on the back from GOULBURN: Let him be accepted and write to Lord C. SOMERSET accordingly]

[enclosed letter]

Wesleyan Mission House

Hatton Garden

Nov 18th 1819

May it please Your Lordship

The Committee for managing the Wesleyan Missions having been applied to by a number of Settlers going out to the Cape of Good Hope under the sanction of His Majesty's Government to appoint them a Minister and Mr William SHAW having offered himself to the Committee for that service, we are directed by the Committee to State to Your Lordship that Mr SHAW is a person of approved character as a Minister in our Society, and is considered by us in every aspect to be a proper person to take charge of the religious conduct of the persons who have accepted him as their minister.

The Committee beg leave to submit to Your Lordship that they do not make themselves responsible for the conduct of the individuals composing this colony, though from what they know of the leading persons among them they confidently trust that they could conduct themselves so as not to forfeit the good character they have at home, and the Committee having been applied to by them, they are anxious that so large a body of people, chiefly members of the same religious body as themselves, should not go out without a Minister of their own persuasion.

We have the honour to be

Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servants

Jabez BUNTING

Jos. TAYLOR

Rich'd WATSON

Secretaries

Names of Mr SHAW's family

William SHAW, aged 21 years, minister

Ann SHAW – 31-

Margaret Ann SHAW aged nine weeks

Sophia HARRIS aged 17 years; servant

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