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.

TAYLOR, William (1)

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 61

Hampton Common

August 4th 1819

Sir,

Through the kindness of Sir Charles EDMONSTONE I have received your official letter. He has permitted me to make use of his name – I therefore take the liberty of asking for further particulars, being very anxious to go out as a settler. I do not quite understand whether every man is to have a hundred acres for himself or whether the ten are to work as labourers under the one man who takes them out. There is no person of the latter discription in this neighbourhood and I do not know how I am to act - & I shall be much obliged by your informing me who I am to apply to & whether if ten persons or a fewer number who like myself are wishing to go out will be permitted to do so upon each of them advancing the ten pounds – and whether each will have the hundred acres. I have been to London but as I was told in Downing Street that I could not see you I have taken the liberty of making up these enquiries.

I am Sir your obbidient humble servant

Wm. TAYLOR

  • Hits: 5488