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.

MAHONY, Thomas, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 604

53 Charles Street

Westminster

August 18th 1819

My Lord,

We have the honor to address you Lordship on the intended colonization of Algoa Bay on the coast of Africa, it being our intention to avail ourselfs of the assistance of Government in forwarding that object. We at the same time think it our duty to offer our services in any manner you Lordship may please to direct them for the material benefit of the Colony.

In doing so, my Lord, it imposes on us the necessity of informing your Lordship that we had the honor as architects and builders to commence under the command of the Honorable W.W. POLE the fortifications of Bantry Bay and Cork Harbour, also the improvements of the works of Kinsale-Limbrick with the martelo and signal towers of these parts of Ireland, and from twelve successive years experience in the Royal Engineer Department do conclude our services may prove usefull on the present occasion to your Lordship's Colony.

We have the honor to state to your Lordship that we can refer to Lieut. General MAN of the Honorable Board of Ordnance as to our ability in takeing the most extensive surveys and estimates, having for many years from 1500 to 2000 men in our employment at a time in the ordnance works, the whole of which we executed by contract fully to the approbation of the Honorable Board which they were pleased to testifie by the letter which is in our possession received year after year during the period before mentioned on an expenditure of over two hundred thousand pounds.

We have also the honor of informing your Lordship we can take with us a number of usefull and intelligent artificers and to any extent your lordship thought proper, who together with our services we humbly beg leave to offer your Lordship's Governor so long as he may think them requisite to the General Establishment.

We have the honor to state my Lord that we look for no endusmnet or appointment or anything further than to be recommended to the notice of the Governor which our length of service already, in his Majesty's service, has we have the honor to state a slight claim [new page] Lordship, and after placeing our people on the improvement of the ground agreeable to the regulations granted, we would appropriate our time after in takeing surveys and proper maps of the country which we hope may be one day usefull. The limits of a sheet do not enable us to explain our future determination. We beg leave to have the honor, my Lord, of an interview, when we hope we should give such explanation as may be satisfactory to your Lordship or to your Lordship's secretary – and to receive the information requisite.

We have the honor to be my Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

For MAHONY and TURVEY

Thos. MAHONY

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 625

53 Charles Street

Westminster

24th August 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 20th instant. Beg leave to state I am ready to comply with the stipulations contained therein and the request you will be please to say when I am to wait on you to pay the money for not less than 10 families nor more than 20 – men being fitted for any new establish't being active and well informed. Beg leave to know what time is limmitted to give in the names or if requisite at present.

I also beg leave to state there are a few points I am anxious to be allow'd to ask explanation for personally. May I request to be allowed that favour as communicating these queries by writing may give trouble, which would be contrary to my wishes.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 656

53 Charles Street

Westminster

28th August 1819

Sir,

In compliance with your letter of the 25th inst I have the honor to annex a statement of the familys I have engaged to proceed under my directions to the Cape of Good Hope.

I have proportioned them in their respective capacitys, in number equal to what would cooperate to their mutual benefit in establishing permanent residences as well as the cultivation of the ground. I also have engaged a respectable man who had the management of large vineyards distilation &c for many years which to the plantation he would be of general value.

I beg to state I am not aware of any further assurance I can give in compliance with Earl BATHURST's regulations than depositing the money agreeable to the circular. I shall be anxious to comply with the regulations of the Earl BATHURST Department and to gain his Lordships good opinion as I have been to gain that of the Noble Lords I served under for the last thirteen years in the Ordnance Department as stated in my letter to you of the 18th instant which I had the honor to transmit.

Should depositing the money not be sufficient I shall go further as I hold sufficient property in houses in London to guarantee what I undertake.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Thomas MAHONY, 35

Architect, Surveyor and Engineer

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Andrew CONWAY

Bricklayer & Mason

35

Anne

30

       

James SISK

Plumber, Painter & Glazier

36

           

Thomas SIMPLE

Carpenter

30

Mary

27

1

10

1

8

James CRONIN

Carpenter & cabinet maker

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michel TOOLEY

Sawyer

44

           

Jer'h SULIVAN

Sawyer

28

           

Thomas CARTIE

Cooper

27

           

Charles READ

Gardner

20

           

John BURGIS

Farmer

38

Eleoner

36

3

14/9/5

3

8/3/2

Cornel's LAMB

Farmer

30

   

 

 

 

 

Wm. PAGE

Ditto

28

Mary

26

 

 

 

 

Richard SHORT

Ditto

27

Ann

25

1

6

 

 

Dennis BURRELL

Labourer

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

John CONNOR

Ditto

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward TURVEY

Planter

39

Julia

37

2

12/9

1

10

John WRIGHT

Miner

26

Caroline

25

   

2

6/4

Rich'd MATTHEWS

Nurseryman & Distiller

37

Eliza

30

1

12

1

14

 

TOTAL 17

             

I expect a good Smith. Request permission for him when he arrives

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 710

53 Charles Street

Westminster

28 Sept 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to request you will be so good as to inform me whether there is an advantage allow'd in the choice of ground in the grants to be given Emigrants to Algoa Bay who would be at the sole expence without any advance from Government for the parties taken out under their direction each party not less than 20 in number, complying with all the regulations of Earl BATHURST Department.

Beg leave to know if such grants are to be given when the head directed of each party may wait on you to obtain the requisite instruction on that head.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 737

53 Charles Street

Westminster

Oct 1819

Sir,

I beg leave to send you the enclosed which I have no disposition to prevent if you allow me the favour of amending my list, as I will hold out the advantages of his services equally as if belonging thereto. He is a very honorable man and of superior ability and will I am confident find him anxious to comply with your wishes on the subject I had the honor of communicating with you yesterday.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

[enclosed letter to Thomas MAHONY from Peter CAMPBELL]

No.3 Lambeth Butts

20th Oct 1819

Dear Sir,

I have been so busy for the last day or two that I have not had time for calling on you. I feel much obliged by your promptitude in giving me the preference and I trust it will not inconvenience you to alter your arrangement; but I have been compelled to yield to a predilection which Mrs. CAMPBELL entertains for Mrs. DANIEL and attach myself to the party of Mr. TURVEY

I am dear Sir your obdt serv't

Peter CAMPBELL

  • Hits: 7247