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.

STRUTT, Colonel re David Polley FRANCIS, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 857

[Transcriber's note: These are a series of scribbled notes and were probably delivered by hand at the Colonial Department when D.P. FRANCIS appeared in person]

Dear Sir,

Mr David Polley FRANCIS a person who farmed in Essex very extensively was esteemed a very good practical farmer. His bothers are in large farms & his father I well knew & they are a very intelligent family & perhaps Mr. FRANCIS may be of service to Government in respect to the measure of making a settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. If you will see him perhaps you might find him at liberty to be of service & perhaps your plans may be serviceable to him.

I am Sir in the greatest haste

Yours faithfully

J.H. STRUTT

This letter was misdirected by Col. STRUTT who told Mr. FRANCIS that the gentleman in whose Department the business is would see him upon it – as Mr. FRANCIS wishes to go out to the Cape of Good Hope – and would feel obliged by knowing the inducement Government holds out.

D.P. FRANCIS

13 Assembly Row

Laytonstone

Essex

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 953

[received Sept 23 1819]

Dear Sir,

I thank you for your attention to Mr. FRANCIS. Can his request be complied with. He is very active & clever.

I remain Sir

Yours faithfully

J.H. STRUTT

I send his letter as his address is on it

[In clerk's hand] Colonel STRUTT forwarding an application from Mr. FRANCIS who wishes to be put on Dr. BARUK's list. The Dr's list is now before Mr. GOULBURN]

[enclosed letter to Col.STRUTT MP, Terling Place, Essex]

13 Assembly Row

Laytonstone

September 21st 1819

Sir,

I can only hope you will excuse the liberty I am about to take in troubling you again on the subject of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, as it is my first wish to be allowed to proceed to that settlement. I have united my self with Dr. BARUK who is very highly recommended to Government and whose society and assistance I expect to derive great advantage from; but his advice as well as many other friends is that it would be of the first importance to me to obtain a letter of recommendation to Government to be allowed to proceed with Dr. BARUK's Party. This I have no means of obtaining from a quarter so likely to be attended with success as from yourself. I am aware your first letter was of great service to me as I have had several communications from Mr. GOULBURN on the subject, but as I have altered my plan of going out and have written to Mr. GOULBURN with Dr. BARUK's [obscured] to say so, I am led to believe that it will be of the highest consequence to be [obscured] up as above stated. As mine was one of earlyest applycations I have great hopes of being allowed to proceed and can only hope and solicit to have your assistance in this business.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your obed't humble serv't

D.P. FRANCIS

  • Hits: 6148