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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.

WOOD, Joseph

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 255

Moor Street

Blackburn

23rd July 1819

May it please your Lordship

We the undersigned having read in the newspaper that it is intended by Government to grant certain indulgences to persons who may be disposed to become settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, we humbly beg that we may be permitted to avail ourselves of this opportunity of going as settlers to such part of the Cape as shall be chosen for that purpose. But we humbly beg leave to state that we have all large families and have been partly unemployed some time, consequently can have but little property. But what money we have shall be willingly deposited in the hands of any person who may be appointed for receiving it. We refer to Mr. William BLACKBURN, Grocer, Penny Street Blackburn for our characters, in whose employ we have been but who is declining the cotton business.

Hoping that your Lordship will condescend to further this our humble request by sending necessary instructions, we are with due respect

Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servants

Joseph WOOD

Henry WATERWORTH

Thomas COOK

Christopher FRANKLAND

Address Christopher FRANKLAND, Moor Street Blackburn Lancashire

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 414

Blackburn

31st August 1819

May it please your Lordship,

There is ten men here who have families and who wish to avail themselves of this opportunity of going as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, but we are unwilling to go as being bound to one person as we do not know how he may act with us when we arrive there. We humbly request to know whether we may not be allowed to pay the deposit money individually on our own account so that we may be free men on our arrival out. If our proposal should be accepted as above stated we humbly request to be informed into whose hands we shall pay the deposit money, at what time we are to pay it and where we are to embark from. It is necessary we should know these things previous to our making arrangements for emigrating; it seems by advertisements that there is a ship going from Liverpool. Would your Lordship condescend to inform [whether] Messrs WHITLEY & Co are authorised by Government to take out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope.

We are my Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servants

For self and others

Joseph WOOD

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