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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.

STEWART, William

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 864

Warren's Quay Cork

16 August 1819

My Lord

I beg leave in the most respectful manner to]claim leave to remove to the intended Colony at the Cape of Good Hope in terms of your circular Letter and to state that I am ready to deposit the money required for ten individuals or families which I intend to carry with me.

Should this application meet with your Lordships approbation, I will follow it up with ample recommendations which my friends will transmit thro' Mr. KENNEDY the Member for Ayr where I was originally bred and Sir Nichols C COLTHURST Bart, the Member for this City where I have resided as a Mercantile Agent for the last ten years.

In justice to myself it is proper that I should state to your Lordship that I do not apply as a person unable to gain a livelihood but since the return of peace, business has so much declined and the number of persons in my profession have so greatly increased that by remaining much longer, it will be out of my power to remove at all.

I have the honour to remain

Your Lordships most obedient and most Humble Servant

Wm. STEWART

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 892

Warren's Quay Cork

27th August 1819

My Lord

In addition to what I had the honor of stating to your Lordship in my Letter of the 16th Instant I now transmit a detailed Statement of the number, Name, and Age, of all the Men, Women and Children whom I propose taking under my direction to the Colony at the Cape of Good Hope and I beg leave to give an assurance that I am ready to conform to all the conditions on which Her Majesty's Government have offered to grant Lands in the Colony.

I have the Honor to remain

Your Lordship's most Obedient and most humble Servant

Wm STEWART

Statement of the numbers, names, and Age of all the Persons, Men, Women & children, proposed to be taken under the direction of William STEWART to the Colony at the Cape of Good Hope, according to the terms specified in the circular Letter by the Right Honorable Earl BATHURST &c &c

 

Names and description of the Person taking out settlers

William STEWART

Merchant and Commercial Agent

William STEWART 17

Isabella STEWART 14

Ninian STEWART 13

A. Campbell STEWART 12

Names of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Daniel REARDON

Labourer

35

Judith REARDON

30

Thomas REARDON

10

Ann REARDON

12

Thomas McNABB

Farmer

45

Margt McNABB

40

William McNABB

10

Elizabeth McNABB

11

William WALLACE

Farmer

40

Anne WALLACE

39

Thomas WALLACE

11

   

William DRISCOLE

Labourer

25

Margt DRISCOLE

20

Joseph DRISCOLE

6

   

Dennis O'BRIEN

Labourer

30

Anne O'BRIEN

28

   

Anne O'BRIEN

6

John HOWARD

Builder

32

           

Dennis COCKRAN

Carpenter

30

Eliz'th CORKRAN

26

   

Eliz'th CORKRAN

8

Charles YOUNG

Mason

33

           

John KNIGHT

Ship Builder

40

Jane KNIGHT

27

Wm. KNIGHT

10

Jane KNIGHT

8

Daniel SHEA

Taylor

25

           

Cork 27th August 1819

Wm. STEWART

[Transcriber's Note: William STEWART married Ann CAMPBELL in Ayr, Scotland on 29 September and had the following children: Ann (b 26 Jun 1799, William (b 26 Aug 1800), Isabella Campbell (b 13 Jun 1803), Ninian (b 5 Aug 1805) and Archibald (b 2 Feb 1819)]

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 909

Warren's Quay Cork

30 August 1819

Sir

In pursuance of your Letter of the 21st Current I transmitted the requested papers to Earl BATHURST and the [honor] of my troubling you at present that having only seen a Copy of His Lordships Circular letter (respecting the nature and extent of the assistance to settlers at the Cape of Good Hope) in the hands of another person to whom it had been sent, I request you will favor me with a copy addressed to myself.

I am respectfully Sir

Your most Obedient Humble Servant

Wm STEWART

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 939

Cork

10 September 1819

 

Sir,

In the first Letter which I had the honor to address to Earl BATHURST, under date the 10th Ult, proposing to remove to the Cape of Good Hope, I referred to Sir Nicholas C. COLTHURST Bart. the member for this city for my Character, but I find that Sir Nicholas, and the Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON the other member, are both out of the Country, in consequence of which, I this day waited upon Mr. Gerard CALLAGHAN of this City, the member for Dundalk, who immediately gave me permission to add his name to the City representatives, and that he was ready to answer any inquirys which might be made respecting me, and I am particularly anxious that these should be made as soon as convenient in case Mr. CALLAGHAN should also have occasion to leave this part of the Country.

I have the honor to remain, with respect Sir,

Your most Obedient Servant

Wm STEWART

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 948

Cork

20 September 1819

Sir,

I had the honor of addressing you on the 10th Instant, to which I beg to refer, and on calling this day at Mr. CALLAGHAN's Counting House (as he lives in the Country) I do not find he has received any communication on the subject of my last.

Having given up my dwelling House from which I must remove on the 29th Instant, and in the event of my going to the Cape of Good Hope it would be necessary for me to dispose of the furniture, and to make some preparations for the Subsistance and Comfort of my family on their arrival in Africa and having no doubt of satisfying every inquiry which may be necessary respecting my Character, Education, etc. I hope you will pardon my requesting [you] to have the goodness to move the Earl BATHURST to give a favorable and early decision on my proposals.

I have the honor to remain, respectfully Sir

Your most Obedient and most Humble Servant

Wm STEWART

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 969

Cork 30

September 1819

 

Sir,

I had the honor of addressing you on the 10th and 20th Instant and calling on Mr. CALLAGHAN this morning I do not find that he has received any communication. The reason of my troubling you at present, is briefly this, - as it is my determination in the event of my receiving a favorable answer to my proposal, immediately on my arrival at the Cape, to commence business as a Builder, for which if the Colony succeeds, there must be a very considerable demand and as I find that from the immense number of unemployed artisans in Cork, I can select from persons more answerable to my purpose than those whose names I have already forwarded, I beg to know if I may be allowed to alter the List. I do not mean to alter the number, but merely to substitute persons, more eligible from there professions for the purpose above stated and equally in want of employment and perfectly willing to subscribe implicit obedience to every dictate of his Majesty's Government.

I request an early answer to this, and would be much obliged by your saying the probability of an early and favorable decision being taken on my proposals and if my going to London would be of any service.

With much respect, I have the honor to be Sir,

Your most Obedient Servant

Wm STEWART

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