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.

MOORCROFT, James, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 533

3 Pleasant Place

near West Square

Lambeth

July 29, 1819

My Lord

Having a desire to go to the Cape of Good Hope, under the conditions advertised in the different Newspapers, I take the liberty to solicit your Lordship's favour to appoint me one for such undertaking. But not being able to suggest in what way further to proceed on the business, I am under the necessity of further soliciting your Lordship to favour me with any other instructions you may deem fit.

As there are various ideas on the Condition respecting the ten families taken out by a person possessing the means, I would wish your Lordship to explain in what situation they stand in, after arriving there; it don't appear that they have any land given them; it seems to be all the property of the one person so taken them out, and the said ten families as servants, (or slaves as many say, but I hope not; having too high an opinion of my native Country for such an act) which I hope to find contradicted in the answer your Lordship may favour me with, which will greatly oblige

Your Lordship's most obedient and very humble serv't

James MOORCROFT

  • Hits: 6786