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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.

STONE, Palmer

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 759

July 25th 1819

To Lord SIDMOUTH, Secretary of State

The Petition of Palmer STONE of Stanmore near Edgeware Midd'ex

Sheweth - that in 1797 he purchased a commission in the 30th Regt. Foot then in the West Indies that he served there until their return in 1801. He then was 2 years in Ireland, where he received a severe wound - at the Peace of 1803 he retired - that upon the recommencement of the war - he; as second in rank and adjutant contributed principally to the raising & disciplining of the Duke of CUMBERLAND's Volunteer Sharp Shooters - that in 1805 he engaged in the farming business on a large scale - in Sussex and Surry and in which he contributed 'till a short time past when from unavoidable losses & failures of others, he was compelled to give up his business with the loss of nearly all his property.

That being of an active disposition and free from incumbrances the prayer of his petition is to obtain, under your Lordship's sanction, some appointment to the Cape of Good Hope - under the new settlement act for which he hopes he is able to engage - having a practical knowledge of measuring and setting out of lands & roads - and some acquaintance of mineralogy - also all kinds of husbandry business, particularly the breeding and rearing of cattle, and the growing and drying of hops, which from the information he can obtain, might in that climate be successfully cultivated so as to produce profit to the [King] and comfort to the individual.

Lastly your petitioner begs leave to state that his father Robert STONE Esq. late of Seaford in Sussex, is well known to Sir John LEACH the vice chancellor - who can vouch for his respectability and that the object of his petition, is a respectable employment, not salary - and in which his utmost endeavors will be excited to do credit to his station.

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