CO48/53 National Archives, Kew, London  ~   Selected Settler Correspondence for 1820 M-L

 

Transcribed by volunteers from the ZA-IB and ZA-EC Rootsweb mailing lists from digital photographs taken by Sue Mackay at the National Archives. The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained.

 

Letters were either addressed to Lord BATHURST, Secretary of State for the Colonies, (starting My Lord), or to his deputy Henry GOULBURN (starting Sir). Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily. If a page number is not given then the date of the letter will give a good idea of its whereabouts in the file.

 

ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape, and the names of actual settlers appeared in red. Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, therefore no colour distinction has been used. In many cases further letters by the correspondents below are filed with the 1819 correspondence.

 

MANLEY, Edward

 

56

No. 3 South Row

New Road

Euston Square

May 11th 1820

Sir

            Having made arrangements to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope with Major General CAMPBELL at my own expence I should wish to be informed whether I may purchase (at prime cost) agricultural implements at the colony as mentioned in a circular letter from your office last year, His Majesty’s Government having withheld at present any further encouragement, or as going out at my own expence will make any difference in purchasing the articles in question.

I am Sir

Your obed’t serv’t

Edw. MANLEY

 

MILLS, Daniel

 

4

9 Harley Street

20 January 1820

Sir,

            From the delay which has taken place in the embarkation of my Party for the Cape of Good Hope, a change has taken place in the People. Capt’n YOUNG informed me it is absolutely necessary that I should make out fresh lists, will therefore be infinitely obliged by allowing me to have a blank list  to fill up

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most ob’t hble serv’t

Daniel MILLS

 

26

At Messrs. HARRISON

12 New City Chambers

Bishopsgate Street

19 February 1820

Sir,

            It is with extreme regret I am under the necessity of troubling you again which has been occasioned by the delay in sailing. There is 3 of my people in the last list who have got into employment & have declined going, for which I have got 3 others in the same situation therefore there will be no alteration in the deposit or anything but changing their names. I hope you will have the goodness to excuse this trouble as can assure you it was not in my power to prevent it

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most ob’t hble serv’t

Daniel MILLS

 

NAVY BOARD re CALTON’s Party (Filed under 1821 in CO48/56)

 

Navy Office

17 January 1820

Sir,

            It appearing by a letter from Lieutenant MUDGE RN dated on board the Albury Transport at Liverpool the 15th instant that the names of the Emigrants for the Cape of Good Hope proceeding under the direction of Mr. CALTON, who are embarked in that vessel, differ widely from the names in the Return No.54. We request that we may be furnished with an amended return of the settlers who are to proceed with Mr. CALTON as early as possible, the sailing of the ship for her destination being delayed only for such Return

We are Sir your very humble servants

R SIPPING

J THOMSON

[illegible signature]

 

NEWCOMBE, Robert

 

122

Portsmouth

Jan’y 2 1820

My Lord,

            Having not the opportunity of writing an answer to the letter received from Mr. GOULBURN before our vessell with baggage arrived here, which was this morning after a long detainment owing to the waters &c at Exeter & Torhaven? have to inform your Lordship that Mr. J. PARKIN did recommend me to take another person in the room of C. CANTABURY, now ill, but on the arivall of the vessell with our party of settlers, now alongside the Weymouth, him says unless you give me 5£ I will not write to his Lordship recommending it to be done as I cannot do after advancing so much for the party. I have been at L.M. CHEESMAN concerning it and him said I had better state the whole of the business to your Lordship as then it will show how I am situated in the party as going with Mr.J. PARKIN. When I first consented in going with Mr. PARKIN as settler and others with me I did not know his circumstances but since is otherwise to expectation so therefore I humbly beg to lay this before your Lordship, the statement of whom I have paid deposit into Mr. PARKIN’s hand which sum has been paid to your order. The man Chr. HARWOOD in room of C. CANTABURY is a native of Exeter which his Master Mr. WILLIAMS Banker of Exeter will give him a charracter as a honest sober & industrious man. We are tomorrow morning going on board the Weymouth and as undestanding that him will not be victualed till answer from your lordship. Having provided myself with articles & nessessarys for the settlement it would be of no use for me to undertake it unless I could take this man with me as a settler. Had I known Mr. PARKINs circumstances as well then as I do now I would not have paid as much money in his hand to a risk of having again, as him is to receive moneys there from the person so apointed to repay the deposits. The money paid to Mr. PARKIN as deposit is as follows on the other side

 

Myself                           £10

Wm.LEATHERN            £10

C. CANTABURY            £10

J. MAYHO                     £10

SPRAGUE                    £5   Mr.PARKIN advanced the other £5 to make compleat

HARRIGOOD                 £10

                                    £55 paid by R. NEWCOMBE

 

These are persons that paid in Mr. PARKINs hand for themselves

Mr. DOBSON                £10

      CLOG                     £10

      LEACH                   £10

      CROSS                   £10 this £10 him has refunded to Mr. CROSS as him is not going

                                       £40

 

Now Mr.PARKIN as conductor advanced as follows

For himself & family       £15

Do. his brother               £10

SPRAGUE                    £5

                                    £30

Refunded to Mr.CROSS £10

                                    £40

This is a compleat shedule of the advanced deposits by the individuals of our party and should humbly beg your lordship to secure the above sum to me on our arivall at the Cape of Good Hope for which an answer to this will be humbly acknowledged by your lordships humble servant

Robert NEWCOMBE

Be pleased to direct on board the Weymouth

 

[Note from GOULBURN]

State to Mr. PARKIN the nature of the representation made & enquire if he agrees with the correctness of it

 

124

Spithead

Jan’y 5 1820

My Lord,

            Having on Sunday last writing answer to a letter received by me from Mr. GOULBURN and not receiving an answer but have allowed it to from the fault of Mr. PARKIN not sending the letter which him has directed to Ld C SUMMERSET at the Cape of Good Hope as him were desired so to do by L.R. CHEESEMAN, agent at Portsmouth. Having this day seen Mr. CHEESEMAN on board the Weymouth and told me that him had not received any order concerning what I had writing to your lordship and persuaded me to write a [amently?] of again with the copy of what I had writing

 

[Transcriber’s note: there now follows a copy of the letter written above]

 

            You will be pleased to pardon me for sending again so quick but as seeing Mr. CHEESEMAN on board expecting this man whom I have taken in the room of CANTABURY him advised to write [amently?] the same pirticulars as this man is now on board and cannot have any vituals till your lordship answer, as Mr. CHEESEMAN did not know that Mr. PARKIN had sent to your office the letter directed to Ld.C.SUMMERSET on Sunday evening last and has him has refused now on board to send it should humbly beg your lordship to favour me with an answer to this as understanding we are going to sea in a few days in great trouble & anxiety of mind concerning it. Now on board the Weymouth at Spithead

From your lordships humble servant

Robt. NEWCOMBE

 

NIND & COTTERRILL re William WAIT

 

128

Throgmorton St

Jany 20 1820

 

Messrs NIND & COTTERRILL have the honour of informing Mr. GOULBURN that the partnership disputes between Mr. LAFOSSE and Mr. WAIT have been settled by Mr. WAIT’s assigning to trustees the whole of his property except for his household furniture linen & cloathes & his interest in the grant of land at the Cape of Good Hope, and the Injunction out of Court of Chancery has therefore been abandoned.

            At the same time Messrs NIND & COTTERILL submit to Mr. GOULBURN their client’s claim under the assignment to the money deposited by Mr. WAIT or at least so much of it as was deposited for persons who have not actually proceeded to the Cape. Messrs. N & C have the honour of returning Mr. WAIT’s letter.

 

[pencilled note at foot: for letter vide WAIT’s correspondence]       

 

PARKER, Richard (brother of William) Filed under A-L in CO48/52

 

166

[To Sir Nicholas COLTHURST MP]

Waterview

Passage West

Feb 18th 1820

My dear Sir Nicholas.

                                    In the absence of my brother who is now aboard ship at Cove waiting the first fair wind to sail for the Cape of Good Hope, I beg to request you will do me the kindness by ascertaining whether Government intend to encourage emigration next September to South Africa. Conceiving that Wm. was on his voyage a letter has been addressed to me by a gentleman of respectability at Enniscorthy County of Wexford stating that 100 Protestant families were anxious to proceed to the colony my brother’s party are to be located on. I have been further assured that every individual has his deposit ready to make & will also take out means, not only of subsistence, but for other purposes; as Wm. has engaged in this undertaking I am desirous to forward his views & could the addition now offered of loyalty & respectability be added to his strength it would give his friends here some satisfaction. I therefore have no hesitation in imposing on you the task of making in the Foreign Office such enquiry as will enable me to give a favourable answer, or at least a decisive one. Your knowledge of Mr. GOULBURN will I am certain greatly facilitate this object. I will take on me for you on some future occasion ten times over the trouble I now put you to.

Forgive the haste I write in and believe me most sincerely

Your faithful friend

Rich’d PARKER

 

PARKER, William

 

147

Passage West, Ireland

3 Jany 1820

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 29th ult and agreeably thereto take leave to return the letter to Lord Charles SOMERSET.

            As soon as the East Indian arrives in Cork Harbour I shall immediately embark the remaining part of the settlers and transmit to you fair copies of the lists of the individuals on board, in conformity to the instructions which Lieut. LEWIS the Resident Agent for Transports has received from the Navy Board.

            It will be necessary to substitute a few names in the room of some persons who have declined proceeding from circumstances that have occurred since the lists were returned.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

159

Ship East Indian

Cove of Cork

22 January 1820

Sir,

            With reference to my letter of the 3rd inst to which I have not as yet been favoured with an answer I take leave to inform you that the extreme severity of the weather prevented a few of the settlers joining this ship here until yesterday and that from deaths, marriages and various other circumstances that have occurred among the individuals who were to proceed with me to the Cape of Good Hope I was obliged to make a few more alterations in the list of settlers.

            I have now the honour to transmit you three fair copies of the number actually on board who have been mustered by Lieut. WOLRIDGE RN Agent of Transports and who transmits to Lieut. LEWIS the Resident Agent here a fair copy of the same.

            On a consultation with Rear Admiral Sir Josiah ROWLEY and Lt. LEWIS it has been deemed most expedient to prevent delay and expense that the East Indian should proceed to sea although I have not received a dispatch for General Lord Charles Henry SOMERSET, but which I take leave to submit may be sent by the first ship to His Excellency.

            I have to crave your reference to my letter of the 25th ult wherein the cause of the number of able bodied men being seventy six instead of seventy five is fully explained.

I have the honour to be Sir with much respect

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

161

Ship East Indian

Cork Harbour

23 Jan 1820

 

            Mr. Wm. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN , takes leave to send him three copies of the Rules which with the very kind assistance of Mr. WILBERFORCE and several other distinguished and benevolent characters he has framed for the management of the settlers proceeding under his direction to the Cape of Good Hope.

            The wind has unfortunately come round to the southward and it almost blows a hurricane. Mr. PARKER does not intend sleeping on shore, that no further alteration should take place in the list of his settlers after requests that Mr. GOULBURN will have the kindness to forward the enclosed to Lord ENNISMORE and Mr. MACAULEY.

 

PARKIN, John

 

145

On board the Weymouth

Portsmouth

Jan 2 1820

My Lord,

I have to inform your Lordship of altering my shudel [schedule] that Benjamin LEECH he may take out his son Richard LEECH aged 12 years hold. I reckmend him to your Lordship.

I beg to rimen your Lordships verry humble sirvent

John PARKIN

Conductor No.20 to the Cape of Good Hope

 

PRINGLE, Thomas

 

149

London, 43 Princes’ Street, Soho

January 8, 1820

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you that the party of settlers proceeding under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope have now all arrived in London, and that I have notified their arrival to Captain YOUNG of the Transport Office, who has promised to have them embarked in a few days.

Previous to their departure from Scotland, however, some alterations had taken place in the names and numbers of the party, of which it is necessary to report to you. When nearly ready to sail from Leith, the servants, both those engaged by my father & our friend Mr. SYDSERFF, who had been all engaged on written agreement for four years, refused to embark unless certain extravagant demands were conceded to them, quite inconsistent with the terms they had engaged upon, & inconsistent with our future circumstances.  Rather than submit to their conspiracy or incur the trouble of seeking legal redress, my friends discharged the whole of them and engaged other men in their stead.  But not being able to find a smith and joiner on such short notice, my eldest brother had also remained behind in Scotland, with a view of joining us next year with some accessions of money and implements. In consequence of these changes the Party now consists of 21 individuals, in place of the 27 formerly stated in the official lists, viz. besides myself, 10 men, 6 women and 4 children, Alexander NOBLE’s wife and four children being, of course, left with him. This man NOBLE was the instigator of the conspiracy for rise in wages &c.  

With a view to fill the vacancy that now remains for one man, I have advertised yesterday, but we do not consider it of any importance, unless required by the Colonial Office. I enclose a list of the individuals withdrawn and of those added in their place, and hope that you will be pleased to allow of this alteration, especially as we now losing rather more capital and fewer persons.

Mr. BARROW of the Admiralty has informed me that you have been so good as promise me a letter of recommendation to the Governor.  For this most important favour I beg to present my most grateful and respectful acknowledgements.

As a slight testimony of my sense of the obliging attentions you have bestowed on my concerns, I beg leave to request your acceptance of the little volume with (sic) accompanies this letter, & I remain with the highest respect Sir,

Your obliged & Obdt. Servt,

Thos. PRINGLE

 

Names of the persons withdrawn from Thos. PRINGLE’s Party of Settlers proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope.

 

William PRINGLE, agriculturist    }

Alex. NOBLE, joiner                   }

Walter TURNBULL, Blacksmith   } = 5 men

Andrew SCOTT, ploughman        }

William RITCHIE, Ploughman      }

Isabel SLORACH, wife of Alex. NOBLE   =  1 woman.

Margaret NOBLE           }

Mary NOBLE                 } children of Alex. NOBLE = 4 children

Isabel NOBLE                }

Christian NOBLE           }

Total 10 persons

 

Names of the persons engaged into the party in place of those withdrawn :-

 

Thomas DAVIDSON, agriculturist, aged 22           }

James ECKORN (sic), ploughman, aged 20         } = 4 men

Alexander MORTIMER, ploughman, aged 23        }

James SOUNESS, ploughman, aged 19              }

 

Of the four men last mentioned the two former are natives of Roxburghshire, the two latter servants of Mr. SYDSERFF are from East Lothian.

 

[Note from GOULBURN]

Alter his list accordingly – thank him for his book and say I will send him the instruction to Ld.Charles in a few days

10 Jan

 

152

London, 153 Princess Street, Soho

January 13, 1820

Sir,

I had the honour to receive your note of 10th instant the day before yesterday, and would have more promptly obeyed your directions in returning the letter to the Governor had I not experienced some difficulty in getting it out of a trunk which my friends had left at the Wharf on their arrival.  I now inclose it along with the full and final list of my party, which are now perfectly completed by the accession of Wm. ELLIOT and E. RIDGARD a saddler with his wife and two children.  As the latter of these persons, besides possessing a trade which may be very useful to the party and neighbourhood, is possessed of considerable capital,  I hope his joining in with his relation Wm. ELLIOT who is bred a farmer, will meet with your approbation.

As the list of alterations sent in a few days ago will be superseded if this is accepted of I have to prevent all mistakes inclosed first a list of the whole names withdrawn and those received in their room, and secondly a complete return of the whole names &c of the party as they will stand upon these alterations being made.

I have the honour to be with the highest respect Sir

Your much obliged and obdt. servt.

Tho PRINGLE

 

Names withdrawn from Tho. PRINGLE’s party of settlers.

 

William PRINGLE, agriculturist

Alex. NOBLE, joiner

Walter TURNBULL, blacksmith,

Andrew SCOTT, ploughman

Wm. RITCHIE, ploughman  = 5 men

 

Mary PRINGLE

Isabel SLORACH, wife of Alex. NOBLE  = 2 women

 

Margaret, Mary, Isabel & Christian NOBLE = 4 children

 

Total  11 persons

 

Names of persons taken into the party in the room of those withdrawn :-

 

Alex. MORTIMER, ploughman, aged 23

James SOUNESS, ploughman, aged 19

James ECKORN (sic), ploughman, aged 20

William ELLIOT, agriculturist, aged 27

Ezra RIDGARD, saddler, aged 29.                       = 5 men

 

Elizabeth RIDGARD, wife of E. RIDGARD, aged 24   =  1 woman

 

Andrew RIDGARD

Marianne RIDGARD, children of E. RIDGARD, aged 2 and 1 year  =  2 children

 

Total 8 persons

 

Enclosure in letter of 13th Janry 1820

Return of Settlers proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope under the direction of Thomas PRINGLE.

 

No.48

 

Total No.of men (besides TP) 12

Total No.of women  6

Total No.of children under 14 years of age  6

Total No.of the whole party  24

£150                            

 

Table showing  Names of Men, Ages, Trade,  Women, Ages, Male children, Ages, Female Children, Ages.  [The amount of deposit money has been inserted in the last column; the figure is inserted below in square brackets]                                   

 

Robert PRINGLE, 61, Agriculturist, Mrs. R. PRINGLE, 45, R. D. PRINGLE, 10, C.H.PRINGLE, 7, Beatrice PRINGLE, 3½   [10]

John PRINGLE ,29, Agriculturist. [10[

Charles SYDSERFF, 22, Agriculturist. [10]

George RENNIE, 23, Agriculturist, Mrs RENNIE (his mother), 44, C RENNIE, 11.[20]

John RENNIE,  22, Agriculturist, Eliz. RENNIE (his sister), 15 [20]

Peter RENNIE, 20,  Agriculturist. [10]

Alex. MORTIMER, 23, Ploughman. [10]

James SOUNESS, 19 Ploughman. [10]

James ECKORN (sic) 20, Ploughman. [10]

Wm. ELLIOT, 27, Agriculturist. [10]

Ezra RIDGARD, 29, Saddler, Eliz. RIDGARD (his wife), 24, And. RIDGARD, 2, Marianne RIDGARD, 1. [20]

 

Th. PRINGLE, 30, Mrs. Tho. PRINGLE, 32, .Janet BROWN, 35 [20]

 

£150

 

177

Deptford, On board the Brilliant Transport

February 1 1820

Sir,

            I beg to mention that I embarked here yesterday with my party, and we are appointed to sail on Thursday first. May I therefore take the liberty to solicit the obliging letter of introduction to Lord Charles SOMERSET which you were so kind as promised me – if it is not already inclosed in the personal letter which you so politely returned to me with the alterations in my party stated in it.           

I take the opportunity to mention also, that my friends in leaving Scotland have forgotten to bring with them the official letter from the Colonial Office accepting my application and authorising me to take out twelve settlers &c.  I do not know if this paper be of any essential importance  - but as it may be useful in settling my friends in their respective allotments, I should wish to be favoured with a duplicate of it – if it be not troublesome to you.  Begging your excuse for all the trouble which I have given you, of which the present I trust will be the last occasion, I have the honour to remain with sincere feelings of respect & gratitude, Sir,

Your much obliged & obdt. Sevt.

Tho. PRINGLE

 

ROBERTSON, George re J GRANT (see correspondence of J. GRANT in CO48/52)

 

255

The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of East Ross to the Rt Hon’ble Lord BATHURST one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Humbly sheweth

That the case of your petitioners is one of unexampled hardship to which they beg with respectful earnestness your Lordships most serious consideration.

In the month of September last Captain GRANT of the 78th Regiment by public advertisement at the church doors and by hand bills invited as many persons of good character as were inclined to emigrate with him to the Cape of Good Hope. He set forth that he was authorised by Government to make this proposal and particularly enjoined those who were willing to accompany him to be quite ready for sailing in the month of November last. We the undersigned, allured by the advantages held out to us, and relying with perfect confidence on the representations of Captain GRANT as a Government Agent, sold nearly all our property and made every preparation for the voyage, and were quite ready to fulfil our part of the terms prescribed by Government. We had now discontinued the exercise of our respective trades and were daily in expectation of orders to proceed to the port of Embarkation; but to our great surprise and disappointment we were informed that we were not to sail until December. We have been since that time amused by similar representations: till at last captain GRANT has informed us that we may proceed to the Cape as we best can as he does not intend to go there till next November.

            We are in the most destitute situation, having disposed of all our property, and having been obliged to subsist since November on the little money we made by the sale of our property. Should your Lordship not be good enough to induce Government to afford relief we cannot fail to become a burden on the parishes in which we reside. May it please your Lordship therefore to take our case into your most gracious consideration and grant us what relief to you seems meet.

George ROBERTSON

John McINTOSH

John ROSS

William FORBES

John BROUSTER

Donald ROSS

William CAMERON

Collin McDONALD

John ROSS

Alex DINGWALL

George TAYLOR

John POLSON

 

SCOTT, John et al

 

The humble petition of John SCOTT, James CRAWFORD, Charles SLEE and William KIDSON, emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope now on board La Belle Alliance

Humbly sheweth

That your petitioners having paid to Mr. WILLSON ten pounds as Government deposit and five pounds fifteen shillings for Stores & Commission each feel themselves much inconvenienced by the arrangement of the ship that they consider their lives in danger during the passage – in consequence of the partition placed in the middle of the ship preventing that free current of air which is so highly necessary where 250 persons are placed in a space not exceeding 15 yards by 9 yards. Your petitioners further pray that their situation will be taken early into consideration and your petitioners will ever pray

John SCOTT

James CRAWFORD

Charles SLEE

William KIDSON

 

[Note from GOULBURN: Refer to the Navy Board for their consideration. 8 Jany.]

 

SEPHTON, Hezekiah

 

On board the Aurora

Deptford

3 Jan 1820

Sir,

            Being informed by Capt. YOUNG that the defaulters in my party who had engaged to emigrate to the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope might be replaced by making application to you, I have 8 defaulters in my party. I should be glad if you would be kind enough to replace them. I also should be glad if you could inform me what the salary of our Minister Mr. SHAW will be and how it is to be paid and when the salary commences and at what time it will be paid.

            In regard to the medicine chest for the use of my party I should wish to be informed if the Surgeon Mr. CAMPBELL is to retain the same (altho he does not belong to our party but intends to settle with Mr. BAILY’s party on our arrival at the Cape) or whether it is to be for the use of my party on our being located in the Colony.

I am Sir your obed’t serv’t

Hez’h SEPHTON

 

Robert HARVEY 32 Labourer Mary 24 instead of Wm.PUTNAM

Richard PICKSTOCK 45 Taylor Francis 35 instead of Jas. ANSTEAD

   Charlotte 9

   Wm. GRAVETT 16

Thomas KING 39 Carpenter Sarah 39 instead of MALKIN

   Thomas 14

   William 6

John AMES 44 Sayar [surveyor] Sarah 27 instead of Edw. BULPIT

   Sarah 2

Georg GRAVETT 18 Labour instead of JARROTT

William PENNEY 30 Bricklayer Roashannah 30 instead of Jas. ROSS

Thomas NORTON 38 Smith Eatey [sic] 38 instead of John BOWTELL

Philip DIXON 30 Smith Elizabeth 27 instead of Jas. MAGUIRE

   Phebe 1

   Elizabeth 5

 

[Note from GOULBURN: Admit the substitutions and acquaint him that the Gov. has been directed to make such an allowance to Mr. SHAW as may be adequate to his decent maintenance.]

 

319

Aurora

Deptford

Jan 20 1820

Sir,

            I hope you will excuse me being so trubelsom but the cause is that i trubel you at this time, Joseph GOODS is dead previous to our imbarkation and in consequence of that his family cannot proceed with me to the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope and to inable me to return their deposit wich they stand in great need of i wish to replase them by two others who willing to go with me.

Your obed’t servant

Hez’h SEPHTON

 

George CLARK 36 Husbandman Elizabeth 31 instead of Jos. GOODS Sener

   Childer George 8 Frances 6 Mary Ann 4 Cathrian 1

Thomas ISTED 36 Husbandman Susan 29 instead of Jos. GOODS Juner

   Sarah 4 Thomas 2

 

332

Aurora of Gravesend

Feb’y 14th 1820

Sir,

            In answer to your letter respecting Mr. GOODS deposit money paid into the hands of His Majesty’s Government appears from my books to be twenty seven pounds ten shillings which exactly corresponds with the family intered in the same. Also with the schedule returned to you. The mistake appears to be this, a man the name of James ANSTEAD who intended to go in the party borrowed of Mr. G five pounds which was paid at the time the last deposit was paid by GOODS & Mr. G received the receipt for the whole which was twenty two pounds ten shillings. This I have explained to ANSTEAD when he said he had a memorandum to prove he paid it himself & this is the sum I am willing to return to Mrs G & told ANSTEAD the same a long time ago if he would produce such memorandum and in order to prove I have no intention to withold from Mrs.G [how might?] have remitted to you five pounds – hoping you will cause ANSTEAD to bring to you the meorandum he says he has in his possession before you [give] Mrs.G any more money than was returned and if it appears to you Mrs.G has paid any more than has been returned you will of course give her the money remitted but if on the contrary I trust you will the first opportunity remit the sum to me at the Cape & you will oblige

Your humble servant

Hezekiah SEPHTON

 

Rec’d the sum of £5 in question

M. GOODES

 

[Note from GOULBURN: To what does this refer?]

           

SMITH, John of WILLSON’s Party

 

324

Downs

Le Bell Alliance

Feby 5th 1820

Sir,

            The man of the name of Charles BOWSHER that was going out with me has wilfully left me without any cause and I have lernt by a letter I receivd in the Downs he has or means to go and apply to your office for a passage in the Brilliant and say he lost his passage by mistaking the time the ship was said to sail and I have got another man in his stead of the name of Mathew MENS..[name unfortunately obscured in binding] which name (with your primission) shall be inserted in the list and Charles BOWSHER erased from the same as he has forfited all by runing away from the ship.

Honored Sir I have the honor to be

Your Honor’s most obed’t and humble servant

John SMITH

 

[Note from GOULBURN: Take care this man has not got a passage]

 

SMITH, P re Mrs GOODE

 

321

Downing Street

26th January 1820

Dear Sir,

            In compliance with your directions I went this morning to see the poor woman whose case was imperfectly related to you in the letter addressed to you by Mrs. R. GRAY.

            As you had also desired me to proceed to Deptford upon business relative to the Cape settlers I determined to go on board the Aurora Transport, the ship referred to by Mrs. GRAY, and there endeavour to find out the woman’s name and at the same time take measures if necessary for securing her late husband’s deposit money and baggage.

            I was informed by SEPHTON, the leader of the party of Wesleyans who are on board that ship, that the name of the woman after whom I enquired must be GOODE; that her husband had belonged to his party but that he had been prevented by illness from coming on board the ship; but he had seen him five weeks ago in good health. A man named TALBOT, a friend of GOODEs, who was present, told me that he had died of a liver complaint. It was true that GOODE had paid SEPHTON 35£ as deposit money and 2£ 7s the share of the settlers’ subscription among themselves to purchase tools &c. The former sum SEPHTON meant to return to the widow; but without harbouring any suspicion of his integrity I suggested that the money should immediately be lodged at this office, conceiving that to be the best means of satisfying you that Mrs. GOODEs claim would be attended to without delay.

            With respect to the small sum, SEPHTON stated that according to the regulations adopted by his fellow settlers it had become forfeited to the Society, but I urged him to endeavour if possible to obtain the consent of the people to return that money also, which he promised to do.

            The baggage and bedding of the poor family had already been returned to them by Captain YOUNG’s order.

            I then went to see Mrs. GOODE, & Captain YOUNG, who had business in town, was good enough to accompany me. She seemed to be a very decent woman and told me her case very shortly. Her husband having left his occupation and being burthened with a large family, had fretted very much at not receiving orders to embark so soon as he had expected. He felt sick and took to his bed. An apothecary who was sent for from the Borough, after seeing the poor man, told Mrs. GOODE that he was dying of a broken heart.

            I should observe that the period which elapsed between GOODE’s leaving his occupation and the order of embarkation ( the     ) [left blank] did not exceed four or five weeks.

            Mrs. GOODE further mentioned that in order to support her dying husband and her family she had gradually sold their bedding, that the expences of his funeral amounting to 6 guineas remained unpaid and that she had only a few shillings in her possession.

            I enquired whether in her embarrassing situation she would not be glad to proceed with her family to the Cape. Her eldest son, who is 18 years of age, had been entered as a settler; he was entitled to a grant of one hundred acres of land and I had received an assurance from Mr. SEPHTON that he and his party would most willingly take them and assist them so far as their means would allow. Mrs. GOODE, however, disliked the proposal. She appeared confused and frightened at the idea of removing her family to an unknown country without the protection of which she had so recently been deprived.

            I proposed that she should at least not repel the opportunity of providing for some of her boys by allowing them to proceed to the Cape, but she was unwilling to part from them and burst into tears.

            Captain YOUNG had the humanity to offer to provide for one of her sons in the Navy, but she was again overpowered by her feelings.

            I then begged her to think these matters over; gave her a pound to provide for her immediate wants and left her with the assurance that her husband’s deposit money would be returned to her tomorrow or the day following.

I have the honour to be, dear Sir

Your most faithful humble servant

P. SMITH

           

SOUTHEY, George

 

298

Kennersley Castle

Hungwood Road

Near Bristol

Jan 1st 1820

Sir,

            I am sorry to be under the necessity of again troubling you, but Wm. HITCHCOCK and family, Thomas HITCHCOCK aged 16, William HALLETT and family and Thomas REGEN aged 16 not being come on board I beg leave to take in lieu of them

John BIGGS 42 Mason

William BIGGS 13 his son

John BIGGS Jun 19 Mason

Eliza THOMAS 18

Thomas SAWYER 21 Husbandman

Geo. RUSSELL 20 Husbandman

James BERRY 14

I am Sir your most obedient servant

Geo. SOUTHEY

 

STANLEY, John

 

300

Star Inn

Dale Street

Liverpool

1 January 1820

Sir,

            Applying to Lieut. CHURCH on the subject of beds for persons going to the Cape under my direction, he refers me to the Secretary of State’s officer.

            As soldiers in transports are always found beds, I fully expected they would be found for my party, and as a matter of course came unprepared with them. My wife and self are provided but the settlers will want 20 beds & suitable blankets – as they are even on board quite destitute for themselves and children – the weather being severe they and their children feel the effects of it, and as it is not in my power to find them, having been at great expense for many months without being able to get a profit by my business, my capital is reduced at least one third since my offer to Government was made to proceed to the Cape. Requesting you will be good enough to grant the beds immediately

I am most respectfully Sir

Your obed’t humble servant

John STANLEY

 

[Note from GOULBURN]

I forget what the arrangement was with respect to beds

[Answer from clerk, probably Richard PENN]

As most of the settlers were prepared to take beds with them only a limited supply was directed to be placed on board the transports

Order 8 Jan’y

 

307

Liverpool

January 4th 1820

Sir,

            I was honoured with your note of the 31st ult for which am obliged. The purport of the present is to hand you original duplicate and triplicate returns of settlers proceeding under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope.

            As I before requested, the beds & blanquets required are very much wanted. You will readily admit that when the weather is as severe as to make the thermometer rest 14 degrees below the freezing point that it cannot be very comfortable for men, women and little children from 1 month to 6 years old to take up their abode every night on bare boards on board the John, now lying in the River Mersey. As to my finding them it is entirely out of the question. For want of them I have been obliged to take ASHBROOK’s family ashore, as for want of proper bedding clothes and the proper necessaries one of his children is dying of a fever and two others of the measles. They are now ashore at my expense for lodging, medicines and the [means?] of food, what I certainly was totally unprepared for. I have no children of my own, yet it would appear I am liable to the maintenance of fifteen both in England and elsewhere, to which my funds are totally inadequate, for as I before observed what with the total absence of business and the support of my family for 6 months, since my offer in July my property is reduced full one third. I beg to be excused for being this candid and remain most respectfully, Sir

Your obedient humble servant

John STANLEY

 

NB The letter to Lord Charles SOMERSET is on board the John but shall be sent by tomorrow night’s post.

 

[Note from GOULBURN]<