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.

CROGGEN, William re Benjamin OSLER, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 200

64 Cornhill

London

August 14th 1819

Sir,

I have the honour to enclose to you a copy of a letter addressed by Benjamin OSLER of Falmouth to Andrew YOUNG Esq, Mayor of that Town, on the subject of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, which copy I received from Mr. YOUNG to send into the proper office in London, and I would most respectfully beg the honour of an answer to it with any printed circulars or regulations for Mr. OSLER's information addressed to Mr. YOUNG or to me here.

I have the honour to be

Your obedient

Wm. CROGGEN

[enclosed letter from Benjamin OSLER – filed under C]

202 Copy

To Andrew YOUNG Esq

Mayor of Falmouth

Falmouth, 25 July 1819

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you I am desirous of availing myself of the late liberal arrangement of government in assisting those who may be disposed to emigrate to the Cape and most respectfully solicit your immediate application on my behalf. I consider you Sir (chief magistrate of the town) the proper channel through which I should apply.

My family consists of a wife and ten children, my own age 44, my wife 45, two children above 18, two between 18 and 14 and the remaining six below that age, all healthy and capable of work. Three or four of the youngest I would leave with their friends at home until I was established, the others would accompany me, for whose passage I would advance the amount required by government agreeably to the regulation and in addition take with me one able husbandman and in like manner advance for him. My means I am concerned to state to your worship allow me to go no further. Our habits are those of industry, sobriety and economy and from the experience I have had in general concerns flatter myself I should be found a useful settler in the new colony, the temperature of which is such as I have been accustomed to. In the event of obtaining permission will be anxious to embrace the first opportunity of embarking. I am most respectfully Sir

Your obedient humble servant

Benjamin OSLER

  • Hits: 6061