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.

COOKE, John Yeoman

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 46

13 Cornwall Road

Waterloo Bridge

Lambeth

Jul 22 1819

My Lord,

Messrs. J. COOKE, C. BROCKLESBY and J. BROCKLESBY having observ'd an offer on the Part of Government to Persons wishing to Emigrate to form a new Colony at the Cape of Good Hope avail ourselves of this opportunity and trust that you will grant us such grounds and advantages as are held out by the British Parliament, we complying with the restrictions annex'd thereto.

The aforesaid J. COOKE has been Employed by the Hon'ble Navy Board as packer of Slop Clothing at Somerset House and in His Majesty's dockyards wherever found necessary 7 years and was discharged on the return of Peace and has been out of Employ Ever Since with a Wife and 3 children.

The said C. BROCKLESBY, Master and Owner of a Ship with a Wife and 4 children, having lost considerable sums of Money within the last 3 years through the Pressure of the Times, together with his brother John BROCKLESBY proposes to join and assist each other in the Establishment of the propos'd Colony where they flatter themselves they will be found good and faithful subjects to His Majesty and therefore submitting the same to your approbation, having had the honour to address the Right Honourable N. VANSITTART on the subject and directed by Note of 21st instant to apply to your Lordship, therefore beg your Early Attention

We have the honour to be your Lordship

Your Lordship's most humble servants

John Yeoman COOKE

Chas. BROCKLESBY

John BROCKLESBY

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 146

13 Cornwall Road

Waterloo Bridge

Lambeth

Aug 4 1819

Sir,

In consequence of your printed circular address to me that no less than Persons under one responsible and intelligent Chief or Head would be allow'd [to] emigrate to the Cape, I take the liberty of asking as a favor another communication, having been inform'd by friends that by reason of numerous applications you might not be disposed to give Every Person an audience. We have now with your permission selected the number of Persons appointed and I believe them to be such as are within the meaning of the Grant and will bear Investigation, having already been inform'd we are under the Civil Power only and found in necessary Implements for agriculture.

We wish further to be inform'd if it is the Pleasure of Government to furnish a quantity of Powder and Shot for defence, temporary Tents &c till able to build for ourselves and what Tonnage is allow'd for ten Persons to take out provision necessaries Tools for Building &c and if it is yet announced what time the Persons are to Pass the Board and deposit Paid in order that the said Persons may make arrangements with their Familys and Concerns and provide all that is necessary at the best market. Should this be the meaning of his Lordship's circular we should be Happy in the Endeavour to assist in the promoting of the welfare of the said proposed Colony.

I have the honour to be your most obdt humble servt

John Yeoman COOKE

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 270

13 Cornwall Road

Waterloo Bridge

Lambeth

Sep 3 1819

Sir,

Having been from Town has prevented me from answering yours of 26 inst so early as I otherwise should have done but hope it will not depreciate my wishes.

The following statement therefore hope you will consider as fit to be laid before his Lordship having been as before stated employed by the Hon'ble Navy Board for a number of years and though worthy of managing the packing the Stores at Deptford and Woolwich Yards for Canada during the Canadian War and then employed till the Return of Peace at Navy Office, since which period I have carried on the business of Cheesemonger which unfortunately do not answer after losing a great sum of money. I have embraced the offer of Government and hope the following statement will prove I am still worthy the consideration of his Lordship's favor which will confer an Everlasting Impression and Obligation on

Your most obdt humble servant

J.Y. COOKE

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

J.Y. COOKE has always till bound at 16 years of age been brought up a farmer in the parish of Effingham in the County of Surrey where family have reside in our farm namely Tibb House Farm upwards of 500 years

John Yeoman COOKE, Packer, 36, Mary Ann COOKE, 32

Children John 8, Caroline 6, Mary Ann 2

Name of Settler

Profession or Trade

Age

Wife

Age

Male Children

Ages

Female Children

Ages

Charles BROCKLESBY

Mariner

40

Sarah

29

Chas/Henry/Fred'k

7/4/6m

Mary Ann

8

John BROCKLESBY

Mariner

37

           

Gavin HOGG

Farmer

34

           

Henry HILL

Farmer

25

           

George GRANT

Husbandman

20

           

Alexander THOMPSON

Husbandman

25

Mary

28

William/John

7/6

   

William JOHNSON

Husbandman

30

Sarah

28

       

Joseph EDWARDS

Husbandman

30

Mary

29

Thomas

7

Mary

6

Thomas GEORGE

Husbandman

32

Mary

32

John

8

Caroline/MAnn

6/2

  • Hits: 6161