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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.

SOUTHEY, George, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 735

Wellington, Somerset

July 21st 1819

My Lord

I most humbly beg leave to ask your Lordship what the terms are on which Government proposes to send Settlers to the Cape of Good Hope as there are many industrious men with families in this neighbourhood who would be glad to embrace the opportunity and they are not disaffected persons who want to live in anarchy but men that would be content to work hard for 7/- [shillings] per week if they could get constant employment.

I am my Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient & humble servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 833

Wellington, Somerset

Aug 9th 1819

My Lord

I beg leave to ask your Lordship what return must be made by persons desirous of going to the Cape of Good Hope as settlers.

When and to whom is the deposit to be paid.

When are they to embark.

What tools and utensils is it necessary to take out.

As Government reserves a right of selecting from the several offers made to them, those which may prove upon examination to be most eligiable, what certificates are required or how is the eligibility to be proved.

An answer my Lord will much oblige

Your Lordships most obedient humble servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 866

Wellington, Somerset

Aug 17th 1819

My Lord

With the permission of the Government I will take out about Fifty persons (including women and children) to the Cape of Good Hope as settlers - upon the terms specified in the printed Circular.

I beg your Lordship will inform me as early as possable whether my offer is accepted or not as it will be very inconvenient to prepare for going and not be permitted.

I am my Lord

Your Lordships most obedient humble servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 943

Wellington, Somerset

Sept 16th 1819

A detailed Statement of the persons whom George SOUTHEY proposes to take under his direction to the Cape of Good Hope on the conditions upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant Lands in the colony.

No

Names

Ages

No of men

No of women

No of children
above 14
No of children
under 14

1

George SOUTHEY

39

1

     

2

Jane

38

 

1

   

3

Sophia

16

   

1

 

4

William

13

     

1

5

Richard

11

     

1

6

George

9

     

1

7

Elizabeth

7

     

1

8

Henry

4

     

1

9

Canon

1

     

1

10

Elizabeth SKINNER

30

 

1

   

11

William HITCHCOCK

37

1

     

12

Ann

38

 

1

   

13

Ann

13

     

1

14

William

9

     

1

15

Grace

7

     

1

16

Maria

5

     

1

17

Daniel

2

     

1

18

James PARSONS

26

1

     

19

John PERRY

37

1

     

20

John SPILLER

21

1

     

21

Thomas BERRY

21

1

     

22

Thomas GLASS

35

1

     

23

Ann

33

 

1

   

24

Elizabeth

15

   

1

 

25

John

13

     

1

26

Daniel

9

     

1

27

Thomas

6

     

1

28

James

4

     

1

29

Ann

1

     

1

30

William HILL

22

1

     

31

Thomas STEVENS

21

1

     

32

John JEFFRIES

21

1

     

33

Thomas KERSWELL

25

1

     

34

Harriet

18

 

1

   

35

Thomas INGRAM

27

1

     

36

John SHADLING

20

1

     

37

Robert SHADLING

18

1

     

38

James CLIST

12

     

1

38

Henry WEBBER

11

     

1

40

Mary GREEDY

9

       
 

TOTAL

 

14

5

2

19

My Lord

I am ready to take out the above Persons to the Cape of Good Hope and to conform myself to all the conditions upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant Lands in the Colony.

I am, my Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 994

Wellington

5th Octr 1819

Sir

I received yours of the 30th Sept inclosing the returns which I should have filled up and transmitted to you but since my letter of the 16th Sept I have had applications from several persons to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope, therefore beg leave to ask if I may be permitted to enter them on the Lists, if not whether I may change two or three of those whom Earl BATHURST has been pleased to accept for two or three of these that has since applied.

I am Sir

Your obedient servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1025

Wellington

Octr 13th 1819

Sir

I have entered on the Returns more Names than the thirteen accepted by Earl BATHURST if I have done wrong I request you will have the goodness to send me other blank Returns that I might correct it.

I am Sir

Your humble servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1090

Wellington, Somerset

Nov 18th 1819

Sir

I beg leave to request that you will give me as soon as convenient an account of the time and place of embarkation for the Cape of Good Hope as a few days notice will be of much service and you will greatly oblige Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

George SOUTHEY

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1101

Wellington, Somerset

Dec 11th 1819

Sir

James HARTNELL for whose going to the Cape of Good Hope with his wife and seven children I paid a deposit of twenty-five pounds now refuses to go on account of the death of one of his children and having two more dangerously ill therefore I beg leave to ask if I may be permitted to take other persons in lieu whose number nor deposit exceeds HARTNELL's.

I am Sir

Your most obedient servant

George SOUTHEY

[GOULBURN'S notation:] Have no objection to his taking other persons but their names must be communicated to this office.

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1110

Wellington, Somerset

Dec 16th 1819

Sir

I have to request you will enter on the returns in lieu of James HARTNELL and his family

Thomas INGRAM, 27, Husbandry

William STARK, 26, Husbandry

Thomas ROGERS, 16

I am Sir

Your most obedient servant

George SOUTHEY

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