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.

GWYER, Thomas

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 307

Newport

Monmouthshire

29 July 1819

My Lord,

Having been informed that it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to give every encouragement to persons of character who are inclined to settle in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope I beg to be informed of the support intended to be given and the proper steps to be taken in an application to go there. I beg leave to observe that I have been brought up as a sail maker, am 26 years of age & have a wife & two children but from the decrease of business am unable to carry it on here with any advantages.

I have the honor to be my Lord

Your most obed't hbl svt

Thomas GWYER

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 340

Newport

Monmouthshire

Aug 6 1819

My Lord,

I have been honored with your reply to my letter with the printed terms proposed to persons disposed to settle in the new colony near the Cape of Good Hope. It is stated in those terms that the Government allowance will cease on the parties landing in which case the expence of maintenance & the erection of habitations must fall upon the settler and which must be attended with a greater expence than it is apprehended they can afford. I beg therefore to be informed whether any aid in respect to provisions will be granted untill the first harvest can be got in. I have a relation a female who would be glad to accompany me with her family with a view to settle in trade and who would take out a cpital of a few hundred pounds who is desirous of knowing whether under these circumstances Government would defray the expence, also whether any distinction will be made in the accommodation aboard the ship between the persons who with some property take out ten men & those men who are of an inferior rank.

I beg to apologise for these queries but am anxious to acquire every information on the subject & should be glad if I could be refered to any documents which could give any information on the present state of the settlement.

I am my Lord

Your most obed't hbl svt

Thomas GWYER

  • Hits: 6148