DAMANT, Edward, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 659

Fakenham

Norfolk

Aug 1^st 1819

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that in consequence of the encouragement promised to persons emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope I have engaged twenty labourers of different descriptions with their families to proceed with me to that Colony, and as it is the particular wish both of myself and those people that we set off as soon as we can after Harvest I should be obliged by His Lordship allotting us to the first vessel appointed to proceed to that place.

Having relatives who have long been settled in the interior of this colony & who have pointed out the great necessity of improvements in the breed of cattle it is my intention to take out with me some for that purpose, and hope your Lordship will be pleased to grant a passage for them, together with the most approved agricultural implements now used in this country.

Trusting that I shall be favoured with an early answer, I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 771

No.8 Paragon

Blackheath

20^th September 1819

Mr. E. DAMANT presents his respectful compliments to Mr. GOULBURN and would be exceedingly obliged by Mr. G. informing him if there is any answer to Mr. D's proposal of taking out people to the Cape of Good Hope, the men he has engaged being distressed beyond measure at the uncertainty of their situation & they would be deprived of work the whole of the ensuing winter should the proposition not be acceded to and they not know it before Michaelmas, but were they now acquainted with it they would be able to renew their present engagements if necessary.

An early answer will much oblige.

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 789

Fakenham

Norfolk

8^th October 1819

Sir,

On the receipt of your circular accepting my application for taking out twenty three able bodied settlers to the Cape of Good Hope I proceeded immediately to this place in order to transmit you a correct list agreeably to your wish. On my arrival I find a great many more people are desirous of going and men of good character, strong and healthy, most of them married with families, and as it is my wish to take these people I should feel particularly obliged by being informed if it is necessary for me to make a fresh application to include them in the list I am directed to forward and whether by my taking out fifty settlers I might be allowed a passage for my Surgeon, as from so many families going a medical man would be actually necessary.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 793

Fakenham

14^th October 1819

Sir,

I have the honour to transmit to you a correct list in triplicate of the names for the twenty three settlers His Majesty's government have been pleased to grant me permission to take to the Cape of Good Hope, all of which people [are] under legal agreement to proceed with me.

I also forward a list of two men who receive a pension from Government and who wish to be allowed to secure it at the Cape.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 797

Fakenham

18^th October 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit you herewith the list in triplicate filled up agreeably to your directions and which I hope is correct. I also send you an account of the men receiving pensions but not knowing the exact kind of John PAGE's admittance I fear it will not be sufficiently satisfactory.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 815

Fakenham

3^rd November 1819

Sir,

Having settled for the passage of myself and people going out to the Cape of Good Hope and obtained the receipt from the Commissariat Department, I take the liberty to request that you will have the goodness to inform me the name of the ship and the day the people must be at Deptford to embark, as it will take some time to collect them together.

Mr. WOODHOUSE, the Member for the County, promised to write to you to request permission of Government to allow me the privilege of taking with me a breeding Horn with a Devon bull or two, and as he is at present from home I trust you'll excuse my troubling you to inform me if that request is granted or not. In anxious expectation of an early answer

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 823

No.8 Paragon

Blackheath

21^st Nov 1819

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that myself and party are appointed to the Ocean Transport but, as there is some little attention in the names in the list, in consequence of the men who were Pensioners and were ordered to join at the several Depots and two or three also who have fallen sick, all of which are filled by men of the same description, but different names & ages, there is some demur in taking these men on board. I should therefore be particularly obliged that as this alteration was owing to entirely unforeseen circumstances and in some measure the Government's own act, you will have the goodness to give directions that the Party may be received which I now have at Deptford. Requesting the favour of an answer.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient servant

Edw. DAMANT