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.

PHILLIPS, James re Thomas WILLSON, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 189

No.3 Tann St

Aldersgate St

3 Sept 1819

Cape of Good Hope Colonization

Sir,

I have to apologise for troubling you, but understanding that a Mr. Thomas WILSON is officially employed by Government in collecting persons and sending in statements for the above purpose to your office and having seen a letter of his of which I beg to trouble you with a copy on the other side, and being desirous of avoiding the possibility of becoming a dupe to an artifice, I respectfully request to be informed if what he states is the fact, as the terms proposed by him are that £5 be paid the first week of the current month into his hands without any security for its proper appropriation, £5 in Octr & £5 the last week in the same month, which last sum is for the purchase of stores of him on landing at the colony.

You will observe by his letter that it is necessary I should determine by the 8th inst and will therefore I trust excuse my pressing for an immediate answer.

I am Sir most respectfully

Your obed't humble svt

Jas. PHILLIPS

190 [copy]

Bridge Cottage

Chelsea Water Works

3 Sep 1819

Sir,

In conformity to the Government regulation for settling at the Cape of Good Hope your name has been duly entered to proceed under my direction and you are therefore required to pay your first deposit on or before the 8th inst otherwise you will be excluded the present opportunity. The vessel for your conveyance will be ready to sail in November.

I am Sir

Your obedient servant

(signed) Thos. WILSON

  • Hits: 6294