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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.

MATTERS, Henry

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 535

Avely, Essex

29th July 1819

Sir,

Having a desire to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope with my wife and family consisting of 6 children namely two sons between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, one son and three daughters under fourteen years of age, being by trade a cooper and have been employed as such for some years in the West Indies, but do also understand something of the Agricultural Business and my three sons have likewise been for some time employed therein. Understanding that a grant of land is to be made to each settler on his arrival at the Cape, but that the victualling at Government expence shall cease as soon as landed at the settlement. Now Sir, what I beg to know is how myself wife and family are to be supported until the land so granted is to be brought into cultivation, or untill the first harvest is got in, for I must acquaint you that I am a man in very indigent circumstances and by no means able to support myself and them. What information you can give on this point will be most thankfully acknowledged and received by, Sir

Your most humble and obedient servant

Henry MATTERS

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