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.

JOHNSON, Alexander

Written by Sue Mackay on 03 April 2015.

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 42

27 Long Acre

28 July 1819

Sir,

Having a strong desire to take advantage of the offer of His Majesty's Government to emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope I beg leave most respectfully to state my situation and beg your assistance. I am a taylor by profession and have a wife and five sons under fourteen years of age. I have but little money and consequently should be glad to enter into any arrangement which would enable us to get there. I can produce the most satisfactory testimonials to character and abilities as a workman as well as an earnest desire to serve my employers. Should you approve I shall be happy to wait upon you or receive your instructions in any way you may think proper.

I am respectfully your obedient humble servant

Alexander JOHNSON

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