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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.

JOHNSON, Thomas

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 108

Billy Mill

9th September 1819

My Lord,

I humbly beg permission of your Lordship for a passage to the Cape of Good Hope under the encouragement and advantages held out by Government to settle there. I have been a practical miller and farmer on my own account for the last fourteen years, have a wife and family of three boys and two girls and am thirty three years of age. Can take out with me one very intelligent and experienced millwright, one cartwright, one or two able blacksmiths with about ten others mostly husbandmen with their families.

An answer stating whether we can be allowed the priviledge of emigrating and if so what time will be necessary to hold ourselves in readiness for the voyage, addressed for me Bill Mill, by North Shields, Northumberland will greatly oblige

Your Lordship's most obedient servant

Thomas JOHNSON

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 129

My Lord,

In conformity to the directions contained in your letter of the 13th inst I transmit for your consideration a detailed statement of the number of persons, names and descriptions of those proposing to settle at the Cape of Good Hope

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Thomas JOHNSON

Miller and Farmer, Billy Mill, by North Shields, Northumberland, age 33

Mary JOHNSON 36

John/Thomas/James 12/10/6 Mary/Jane 7/2

Names of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of Women

Age

Male Children

Ages

Female Children

Ages

Thos.McCONNEL

Millwright

44

Marg't

43

Thomas

6

Christ./Marg't

12/9

Geo. McCONNEL

Millwright

19

           

Wm. BLASS

Millwright

22

       

Christina BLASS

13

Wm. HUTCHINSON

Blacksmith

42

Elizabeth/Elen

 

27/19

1

Ann

13

Wm. HUTCHINSON

Blacksmith

19

           

Thos. BEALE

Stone Mason

26

           

Geo. PINKNEY

Husbandman

27

           

Geo. ANGUS

Husbandman

21

           

Robt SIMINSTON

 

30

           

Wm. LANDALS

 

23

           

Thos. SCOTT

 

42

Ann

40

Thos/Walter

13/9

Eliz/Mary/Isabella/
Thomasina/Ann
16/11/5 3/1

Henry BELL

Stone Mason

29

Jane

28

Robert

3

Jane

1

Thos. SCOTT

Husbandman

19

           

Edw. JOHNSON

Tailor

30

Eliz.

28

   

Eliz./Isabella

3/2

My Lord, I am fully determined to abide strictly by the conditions granted by his Majesty's Government and have no person in the list who does not express themselves firmly to the same purpose. My Lord I beg to observe that from my own personal knowledge of the [obscured] abilities if the mechanics they will be of the highest importance to the colony. I would be favoured by being allowed to take out with me a pair of mill stones and other machinery and the sooner I receive your Lordship's directions to prepare for the voyage will oblige

Your Lordship's most obedient servant

Thomas JOHNSON

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