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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.

SKELTON, Hamilton

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 985

Rosemount

Dundalk

4th Oct 1819

My Lord,

Being applied to by a considerable number of young men of good character in this country with respect to becoming settlers in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope I am induced to apply to your Lordship as to the proper method of furthering these desires.

I should have no hesitation in becoming a settler myself provided I was vested with any authority or situation under Govt. there & my passage granted out. I can bring from 50 to 100 men at least and can give your Lordship most respectable references as to my character and abilities. I would bring none but those of good character with me who might be fully relied on by His Majesty's Govt.

I have the honor to be

Your Lordship's obed't humble servant

Hamilton SKELTON

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