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.

FREEMAN, William

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 226

Irthlingborough

29 Sep't 1819

My Lord

Since an emigration to the Cape of Good Hope has been spoken of I have entertained a strong inclination to avail myself of the offer made by Government.

I have a wife and two children and as the former is rather timid at the thought of the voyage, and the prospect of procuring a subsistance for the first few months; I have taken the liberty to ask of your Lordship that information which a remote country village will not afford.

I think some explanation of myself necessary as an apology for the liberty I take in addressing your Lordship. I bore a commission for three years prior to the peace of 1802 in the 1st West York Militia at that time commanded by Lord FITZWILLIAM, and in the interval of peace I went into business which did not succeed and now I keep a school which will not keep me. I shall be able to take with me two or three hundred pounds. The honor of an early reply will much oblige

Your Lordship's most obedient servant

William FREEMAN

Qn 1st. Can my family be accommodated with a passage free of expense to the intended settlement, and take with us necessary furniture?

2. Can we be sure of the grant of 100 acres of land upon the terms stated?

3. Can we purchase provision at or near the intended settlement until the first crop be fit for use; or will it be necessary to provide ourselves from this country?

4. Can we take 1 or two other families paying in every case the required deposit, and in that case will each head of a family be accommodated with 100 acres of land?

5. Is any time or times, place or places fixed for embarcation?

Please to direct

W. FREEMAN

School Master

Irthlingborough

near Higham Ferrers

Northamptonshire

  • Hits: 5992