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.

COPE, Aaron

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 142

Flying Horse Yard

No.12 Bread [Street]

Spittal Fields

London

9th Aug 1819

May it please your Lordship

I having been informed that thro' the channel of your Lordship's most gracious interference persons are permitted to emigrate from England to the Cape of Good Hope under the Government of this Kingdom for the purpose of improving and cultivating that Colony, and that being from the great depression of manual labour out of employ & am very solicitous to engage in such an undertaking with the provision it may meet your Lordship's approbation.

I beg to inform your Lordship that I have been generally brought up in the agricultural line and have a tolerable judgement in husbandry, that I am now about 45 years of age, has a wife with one child only and that we all have perfect health: have been some time upon the continent and also that I have served in the Hon Co's Service on the Island of St. Helena: and that I had considering the Cape of Good Hope under its present arrangements to be congenial to my wishes and assured that its climate will agree with my health as I have already been there, so with all humility trust to your Lordship's most gracious and benevolent interference in my behalf and most humbly solicit your Lordship's approbation. To this my humblest request, also praying that any regulations united in such business may be made known that In case I may be deemed a fit character for your Lordship's encouragement I may be accordingly prepared. It may be necessary to inform your Lordship that I am already a Pensioner upon the Contingent Mil. establishment of the Hon. E.I. Company but as such pension do not exceed more than 4¾d a day: that I should most gladly give it up if I could be in any way placed in a means of providing by industry for the dayly exigencies of myself and family.

I am your Lordship's most obdt and humble sevt

Aaron COPE

  • Hits: 5340