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.

DONOVAN, Joseph, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 766

No.4 Carlile Lane

Near the Marsh Gate

Lambeth

Sept 17th 1819

Sir

I have unavoidably delayed filling up the printed schedule I received from you in consequence of several of my party having withdrawn their names from the original list which I addressed to you in a letter some days ago, but having now supplied the vacancy I again beg leave to call your attention to the inclosed list

I remain Sir your most obed'tsevt

Joseph DONOVAN

Name and Description of Person taking out the Settlers:

Joseph DONOVAN, Naturalist & Artisan*

My wife# and two male children under seven years of age

* age 26 years

# age 27 years

Name of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Women

Age

Male Children

Ages

Female Children

Ages

Chas. WHITE

Carpenter

27

Ann

27

   

Two

6/2

John JOLLEY

Hatter

26

Mary

21

Thomas

Ann

James RANDAL

Harness Maker

25

Ann

25

   

Ann

Thos. RANDAL

Butcher

23

Widower

     

Matilda

3

Chas. DAVIS

Carpenter

27

Widower

 

Two

6/7

   

John KEELER

Farmer

29

Frances

30

Two

10/1

   

Geo. MOOR

Taylor

30

Elizabeth

24

   

Susannah

6

Thos. DAWSON

Gardener

28

Margaret

30

Robert

9

Margaret

6

William DAWSON

Labourer

29

Sarah

30

Two

10/7

   

Geo. MARIOT

Brewer & Distiller

29

Matilda

27

George

7

Matilda

5

John BARLEY

Builder

28

Sophia

25

John

4

Sophia

5

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 775

No.15 South Street

Near the Lambeth Road

Sept 29th 1819

Sir,

In compliance with the earnest solicitations of my party whose names &c I transmitted and directed to your office in Downing St on the 17th inst and not having rec'd an answer I take the liberty of addressing these few lines to you begging the favour of your opinion respecting their being anxious to ascertain what certainty we may expect of going to the intended Colony.

I trust you will excuse our impatience but being all more or less possessed of some property which must be disposed of if we are accepted we shall therefore consider ourselves favoured by the earliest information you can afford us on the subject, as we shall then have an opportunity of preparing whatever we think necessary.

For my own part I have already put myself to some inconvenience by letting my [house] I held yearly for one much too small [with] the advantage of being able to leave [without] notice.

PS A few lines in answer to these will be deemed a particular favour by

Your humble servant

Joseph DONOVAN

  • Hits: 5809