CO48/44 National Archives, Kew, London  ~  1820 Settler Correspondence I-O

 

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.

 

Names in red actually became 1820 settlers to South Africa, as listed in ‘The Settler Handbook’ by M.D. Nash, not necessarily with the Party listed here.

 

NB that names beginning with Mc/Mac are almost invariably filed by the letter following, eg McCLELAND is filed under C. Letters relating to actual 1820 settlers beginning with Mc/Mac are repeated here.

 

CRABBE, George re Joseph WHITE (Filed under M)

 

597

Trowbridge

14th August 1819

We the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts do certify that we do know and are well acquainted with Joseph WHITE of Trowbridge aforesaid Labourer who has a wife and five children all parishioners of Trowbridge that the said Joseph WHITE is an able bodied man but at present out of employment. We therefore recommend him as a fit and proper person to be sent to settle in his Majesty’s colony at the Cape of Good Hope he having been there at the taking of it as a mariner under the command of Admiral Sir G. KEITH.

George CRABBE, Minister

Thos.TINDRELL    }

Thos. STILLMAN   } Churchwardens

 

CRABBE, George re John WITCOMBE (Filed under M)

 

598

Trowbridge

14th August 1819

We the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts do certify that we do know and are well acquainted with John WITCOMBE of Trowbridge aforesaid Labourer who has a wife and four children all parishioners of Trowbridge that the said John WITCOMBE is an able bodied man but at present out of employment. We therefore recommend him as a fit and proper person to be sent to settle in his Majesty’s colony at the Cape of Good Hope.

George CRABBE, Minister

Thos. TINDRELL   }

Thos. STILLMAN   } Churchwardens

 

CRABBE, George re William WITCOMBE (Filed under M)

 

595

Trowbridge

14th August 1819

We the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts do certify that we do know and are well acquainted with William WITCOMBE of Trowbridge aforesaid Labourer who has a wife and five children all parishioners of Trowbridge that the said William WITCOMBE is an able bodied man but at present out of employment. We therefore recommend him as a fit and proper person to be sent to settle in his Majesty’s colony at the Cape of Good Hope.

George CRABBE, Minister

Thos. TINDRELL   }

Thos. STILLMAN   } Churchwardens

 

MACEY, John

 

747

Plymouth

13 Oct 1819

My Lord,

            Seeing in the newspapers encouragement held out by Government for emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope and as several families in the neighbourhood are inclinable to go thither upon terms that may appear equitable. As employ is difficult to be met with here at present I am deemed by two families residing in the town of Plymouth to solicit your Lordship’s particular information of the terms which are proposed to families or individuals. The heads of the two families making this enquiry are by trade carpenters and conversant also with husbandry and farming. They apprehend they are to be taken out gratis, but wish thoroughly to understand the terms and from what port they are to be shipped and what encouragement given on their arrival and to what part of the Cape they are to be sent &c &c

            The favor of a reply to these queries addressed to Mr. John MACEY, Stationer, Plymouth will be respectfully attended to and if appearing as expected it is apprehended will produce many more to emigrate to this country in these difficult times.

I am with due respect my Lord

Your Lordship’s most humble servant

John MACEY

 

MACEY, Walter

 

[Transcriber’s note: ‘The Story of the British Settlers of 1820’ by H.E. HOCKLY lists Walter MACEY as an independent settler]

 

719

370 High Street

Cheltenham

Oct 4th 1819

My Lord,

            I Walter MACEY of Cheltenham cabinet maker upholsterer & builder having seen your circular letter and the guide to the Cape of Good Hope Colony and by the particulars and the statement I have seen have made up my mind to go there with the advice of my friends and have got to join me my brother-in-law Ephraim ROBERTS who has been a miner in Cornwall and for this past ten year have had the sole management of and finding out the mineral springs & baths at Cheltenham. He understands the perfect management of the mineralogy of the springs and other minerals as I think will be some advantage in the Colony in finding out the above, as well fresh water springs. I will be prepared with the money to make the necessary contracts and the number of men & families to go there from the [obscured] I think I shall be able to get more of to the amount of thirty. I [obscured] by paying the same contract if it will meet with your Lordship’s approbation to be so kind as to give me an appointment I will get as many men as will go with a good free will & will be able to get some of all ranks of business as well as labourers - if it should meet with your Lordship’s pleasure to give me an appointment I shall be very much obliged to you to state what time the vessel will leave England and what place we should go from as we may be prepared with our baggage & other materials for the voyage.

            I was in London last week and called at your office in Downing Street and there finding that a personal applycation was of no use and have since that time seen the coppy of the agreement that some gentleman has that is going to take out a great number of settlers,

From your obed’t humble serv’t

Walter MACEY

 

If your Lordship should wish to have any reference to character &c I have two sisters at 35 Old Broad Street London, a brother of the same business as my self at Southampton will give any reference I require.

 

753

370 High Street

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

19th Oct’r 1819

My Lord,

            I was much disapointed in finding my application of the 4th to late to be accepted to go to the Cape of Good Hope Colony under the Government grant therefore myselfe and brother in law Ephraim ROBERTS with our wife and children have made a contract for the voyage and shall take 2 or more labourers to the Cape and we wish to go to Saldana Bay as we think there might be a speculation for finding springs and minerals. If it should meet with your Lordship’s pleasure to give us a grant of some land at Saldana Bay we shall be very much obliged to your Lordship and esteem it as a very great favour as we have engaged our passage in the brigg Orator now at the London Docks and to sail on the 1st Novem’r instant therefore we shall feel greatly obliged to your Lordship to give us an answer today if convenient as we are come up from Cheltenham on purpose to get your Lordships answer & ingage the passage as the time is so short that we should have to get ready and to be prepared for the voyage.

I am your Lordships most obliging humble serv’t

Walter MACEY

 

758

370 High Street

Cheltenham

Oct 22 1819

My Lord,

            I left a letter of application at your Lordship’s office in Downing Street for grant of land at Saldana Bay Cape Colony on the 19 instant. I sent on the 20 for an answer when H. GOULBURN Esq informed the person that your Lordship would give the land on receiving a satisfactory account of our being possessed of property sufficient to cultivate the land when we get there. Therefore I hope the enclosed letter will be sufficient to sattisfy your Lordship

We remain your Lordship’s most obliged humble servants

Walter MACEY

 

[on reverse of page]

I beg to state that I have now perused with attention the letter on the other side and to add from my knowledge of Mr. Walter MACEY (who has resided in my neighbourhood in the town of Cheltenham) that I am of opinion he will be a great acquisition at the Cape of Good Hope and I have also reason to be fully persuaded that Mr. Walter MACEY is possessed of property sufficient to enable him to cultivate lands at the Cape of Good Hope. Given under my hand at No.6 Cambray Street Cheltenham

October 23rd 1819

George MORRIS [letters after his name obscured in fold]

 

MACGILVRAY, William

 

575

Brechin

8th July 1819

The petition of William MACGILVRAY residing in Brechin N.B.

Humbly sheweth

            That the petitioner is very desirous of availing himself of the goodness of the Government in affording an opportunity of proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope.

            That the petitioner has had the honor of serving as a Lieutenant in the Militia for some time and resigned under a promise of obtaining an Ensigncy in the Line by raising men but which was never fulfilled.

            That the petitioner since he left the Army (having received a classical education) has been employed as a Schoolmaster, but is sorry to say that he is totally unable to earn a comfortable subsistence thereby, so many being in the line.

            That the petitioner is desirous of proceeding to the Cape in the character of a teacher of youth, provided your Lordship shall be graciously pleased to grant any encouragement, as the petitioner besides teaching the common branches of learning would undertake to teach the people of the Colony Agriculture, Navigation &c

            That the petitioner has no desire to quit this happy country from any dislike to the Laws or Constitution, on the contrary he has, and always will, regard this country as Blessed by enjoying such freedom and many Privileges both of a temporal & spiritual nature, above any other; & considers that they are truly infatuated & are unworthy who shew any contempt to the Government of this country, who has always evinced the deepest concern for the welfare of the people.

            That the petitioner observes with the deepest concern & regret a spirit of sedition & rebellion in many of the lower order of society, to an alarming degree; and he knows that there are at this moment a correspondence carried on of a dangerous nature betwixt some of the great towns in England and some of the Manufacturing Districts of Scotland, entirely unknown to the civil authority, & which it would be very necessary for the Government to take steps to discover the leaders thereof, being hostile to the Constitution.

            That the petitioner can produce satisfactory testimonials of his good character and of his loyalty to Government if necessary to forward his views of proceeding to the Cape. And the petitioner hopes as he has no family and he proceeds without any concern or connection with the labouring classes who may proceed, that your Lordship will be pleased to dispense with requiring a deposit from him & that your Lordship will also allow him a salary.

            May it therefore please your Lordship to take this petition under your consideration and be graciously pleased to grant the desire thereof, and your petitioner shall ever pray.

Wm. MACGILVRAY      

 

MACKA, John

 

Plocktown

August 6th 1819

Sir,

            I have the honour to enclose a memorial for the Right Honourable Earl BATHURST and request you will lay the same before his Lordship with your convenience. Please address to me at Plocktown, Lochalsh, County of Ross, by Lochcarron NB

I have the honor to be

Your most obd’t humb sev’t

John MACKA, Surgeon

 

The Memorial of John MACKA

Sheweth

            That your memorialist after his return from North America in August 1817 did memorial your Lordship for a recommendation to the Governor of Canada for a grant of lands having then in view to return to America but from unforeseen accidents he could not accomplish his design of returning again to North America.

            Your memorialist took the liberty then of stating to your Lordship that he had served for several years both in a medical and military capacity in the Fraser Fencibles in Ireland during the rebellion and afterwards in the Ross-shire Militia in Scotland until the peace and consequent reduction of the Regiment in the 1802.

            That whilst the memorialist was serving in Ireland the trouble in that country occasioned considerable fatigue to the troops owing to which the memorialist contracted a weakness & swelling of his right leg which threatened serious consequences – in this situation he attended his Regt. in the action of Castlebar where his horse was shot under him and himself obliged to march thirty miles that day, a circumstance which rendered the complaint of his leg still more distressing but from a strong desire of serving his King and Country the memorialist accepted of his appointment as Surgeon & Ensign in the 2nd Regt. North British Militia. He still finds the increasing weakness & swelling of his leg disables him from any active service or fatigue.    

            That your memorialist did apply to His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief to give any Pension or situation that might to him seem proper but was informed it was inconsistent with the [seal?] of office to grant any compensation to a man in the situation of your memorialist which he must consider a great grievance after spending the best years of his life in the service of his King and Country the only in Fencible and Militia Regiments and being now reduced to live in retirement in a remote corner of the country with a wife and three children to support by his feeble exertion in a poor country.

            The memorialist trusts that your Lordship will commiserate his situation and consider him entitled to the particular recommendation and protection of Government: and therefore the memorialist humbly requests as Government are now to form settlements in the Cape of Good Hope he will be appointed to a situation in that country and to the usual grant of lands his situation formerly in the Army entitles him to receive with the appointment of being Surgeon to any of the ships going to the Cape of Good Hope.

            Your memorialist begs leave to state that having much professional experience together with a thorough knowledge of the Gaelic language he conceives he might be of no small service to his countrymen in particular and that all the facts set forth in this memorial can be easily authenticated to his Lordship.

 

MACKAY, William

 

498

4 Bedford Court

Chandos Street

22 July 1819

The memorial of William MACKAY Ensign on half pay of the Cape Regiment

Most respectfully sheweth

            That memorialist served in the 93rd Regiment at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806 and was appointed to the Cape Regiment at its first formation and served in it until its reduction in September 1817. Was on the command under Colonel GRAHAM in 1812 which recovered the Frontier District (or Zuurveldt) from the Caffres and on all commands of importance formed on the Frontier during six years doing duty on the Great Fish River.

            The reduction of the Cape Regiment obliged memorialist to retire on the half pay of his Regt. without any other means of improving his income and without any employment intends going out to the Cape to settle on the Frontier and in consequence of his long service in that colony hopes your Lordship will be pleased to grant him a free passage in the first ship going out to the Cape in the employment of the Government.

            Memorialist applied to your Lordship in August last praying for a passage to the Cape, to which application your Lordship replied that you had no means at your disposal which could enable your Lordship to comply with the request.

            Should your Lordship have any occasion for the service of the memorialist in any capacity at the Cape or at any part of the Interior he shall be very happy to be employed.

Memorialist as in duty bound shall ever pray

Wm. MACKAY

Ensign HP Cape Regt

 

MACKINDER, John (see also Elijah LAMBDEN under L)

 

650

Great Grimsby

Aug 27th 1819

Sir,

            Has it is my particular wish to emigrate to the new colony of the Cape of Good Hope I make thus bold to address your Lordship understanding that your Lordship is the proper person to apply to upon this business. I am by profession an Ironmonger but have been employed in the Farming Business latterly. I am a single man 28 years of age and your Lordship may depend if I embark I will do the utmost in my power for the good of the Colony and the Government and likewise to myself. If your Lordship thinks proper that I should make one of the number thus to embark I hope your Lordship will send me down an answer to that purpose soon as convenient that I may enter myself at the Custom House here at this port. I hope your Lordship will state the precise time and place of embarkation that I may hole myself in readiness for that purpose and that I may not trouble your Lordship again on the subject. God save the King and Prince Regent and I hope your Lordship will live long to see many an happy day and enjoy the same with good health & spirit.

I remain your Lordship’s most obedient & humble servant

Jno. MACKINDER

 

MACNEILL, Neil

 

764-770

[To Henry MONTEITH, Provost of Glasgow]

Glasgow

19th October 1819

My Lord,

            Agreeable to the conversation I had with your Lordship I beg leave to transmit two copies of a memorial to Earl BATHURST which will I hope meet your approbation. I also enclose an abstract list of the persons proposing to form the colony and I hope your Lordship’s sanction will induce the Government to grant the requested aid, a ship from Clyde. Our object my Lord is general and our number may show that it is not so much individual benefit but colonisation at large to be our wish, each hoping in time to assist the others and under this impression we have every firm hope that our petition will be attended to. We have to thank your Lordship for your constant good wishes and we hope that a future period will reward your exertions in our behalf and justify the expectations formed from the proposed colony.

            The transmission of the enclosed papers and the further prosecution of this desirable object we entirely leave to your Lordship’s direction and in the name of the memorialists I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord

Your most ob. Servant

Neil MACNEILL

 

May I be permitted my Lord to suggest that if Government do not consider the number on the annexed list sufficient for one ship the requisite number may be soon obtained either from here or from the Highlands, and your Lordship will please remark that in the list enclosed I have not included any person from the latter country as the memorial bears to be on account of the people in and around Glasgow

N MacN

 

List of Families proposing to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope under the direction of Neil MacNEILL

 

 

Name

Present Residence

Occupation

Remarks

Total Number

1

Charles COVERLY

Anderston

Farmer

Self wife and six children

8

2

Robert COVERLY

Ditto

Ditto

Self and wife

2

3

James COVERLY

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and two children

4

4

William YOUNG

Anderston

Plumber

Self and wife

2

5

James WILSON

Anderston

Baker

Self and wife

2

6

David WALKER

Glasgow

Wright

Self wife and one child

3

7

William WALKER

Ditto

Sawyer

Self and wife

2

8

John WALKER

Ditto

Sawyer

Unmarried

1

9

John HENDERSON

Bridgetown

Weaver

Self wife and six children

8

10

John PARKER

Glasgow

Labourer

Unmarried

1

11

William FERGUSON

Ditto

Weaver

Self wife and one child

3

12

Ross FERGUSON

Ditto

Ditto

Self and wife

2

13

James STONE

Ditto

Ditto

Self and wife

2

14

Daniel MUNRO

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and daughter

3

15

Edward WOODS

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and three children

5

16

William ROSS

Ditto

Labourer

Self wife and son

3

17

Hugh Freeland

Spring Bank

Weaver

Self wife and 8 children

10

18

John TURNBULL

Bridgetown

Ditto

Self wife and one child

3

19

Thomas LESLIE

Ditto

Labourer

Unmarried

1

20

Charles TODD

Ditto

Weaver

Unmarried

1

21

John TODD

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

22

William TODD

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

23

Peter DUFF

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and child

3

24

Wm. McLUCKIE

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and two children

4

25

Robt. COULTER

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and three children

5

26

Thomas IVESON

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

27

William WALLACE

Ditto

Labourer

Self and wife

2

28

Isaac ROBERTSON

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and three children

5

29

Robt. GLASGOW

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and six children

8

30

James GLASGOW

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

31

William GLASGOW

Ditto

Weaver

Unmarried

1

32

John GLASGOW

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

33

Robert GLASGOW

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and one child

3

34

Robert ANDERSON

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

35

Andrew SMITH

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

36

James LAW

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

37

Thomas MUIR

Calton

Ditto

Unmarried

1

38

William BUCHANAN

Bridgetown

Farmer

Self wife and two children

4

39

Arch’d BUCHANAN

Ditto

Weaver

Unmarried

1

40

John BUCHANAN

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and two children

4

41

Thomas BUCHANAN

Kilbarchan

Printer

Self wife and one child

3

42

John WALKER

Bridgetown

Weaver

Self wife and one child

3

43

Robert DOUGAL

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

44

Arch’d McPHERSON

Trongate

Ditto

Unmarried

1

45

Robert HOGG

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

46

Maxwell SMITH

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

47

Wm. ENGLAND?

Barrowfield

Cartwright

Self and wife

2

48

Nicholas FITZIMONS

Bridgetown

Weaver

Self wife and five children

7

49

William NAPIER

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and two children

4

50

Peter KELLY

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

51

Robert JOHNSTON

Ditto

Farmer

Self wife and two children

4

52

John McMILLAN

Ditto

Weaver

Self wife and six children

8

53

John BARRY

Provan Mill

Wright

Self wife and ten children

12

54

John MacALISTER

Bridgetown

Weaver

Self wife and two children

4

55

John DOUGAL

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and five children

7

56

George HUTTON

Glasgow

Ditto

Self wife and six children

8

57

John BARRY

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

58

James SMITH

Calton

Shoemaker

Unmarried

1

59

John ROBERTSON

Germistown

Gardner

Unmarried

1

60

Wm. McPHERSON

Glasgow

Labourer

Unmarried

1

61

James RAE

Ditto

Ditto

Unmarried

1

62

John TAYLOR

Broomielaw

Sawyer

Self wife and one child

3

63

William YULE

Ditto

Ditto

Self wife and four children

6

64

Thomas CHAPMAN

Ditto

Brewer

Self wife and two children

4

65

Andrew PARK

Glasgow

Baker

Self wife and four children

6

66

James PARK

Ditto

Wright

Unmarried

1

67

Peter GRAHAM

Ditto

Surgeon

Unmarried

1

68

William TENNER

Ditto

Wright

Self wife and two children

4

69

John CRAIG

Bridgetown

Weaver

Unmarried

1

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

213

 

            This memorial is respectfully submitted agreeable to the instructions of Government relative to the encouragement of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope. A considerable number of families in and about Glasgow have selected from their number Mr. Neil NACNEILL to make application to the Government for the proposed aid.    

            That the different persons composing this list herewith enclosed viewing with confidence the very favorable terms held out by Government, and having every hope in the success of the proposed colony, have determined to accompany Mr. MACNEILL thither and they trust that this memorial will be considered and their prayer granted.

            The deposit required by Government is ready to be paid to any authorised agent. Your memorialists beg leave to call your Lordship’s attention to the distance at which they live from the general place of shipment and trust that the same will be taken into consideration and that Government will be pleased to order their embarkation from the Clyde, as the expences which they would necessarily incur in going to England will be a considerable drawback on their means, and they further beg leave to state that their number is as many as can be well accommodated on one ship.

            Your memorialists have every certainty if the prayer of this petition is granted that their example will be followed by many of their countrymen and that their seems in time every prospect of forming a colony not only beneficial to the settlers but ultimately tending to the real interests of the United Kingdom. In order to prove the sincerity of the memorialists intentions, and in compliance with the orders of Government, the memorialists have waited on the Lord Provost of this City and they trust that under his sanction Government will listen to their petition and grant the aid required.

And your memorialists shall pray

Neil MACNEILL

 

Glasgow, 26th October 1819

My Lord,

            By desire of a number of people resident in this City and neighbourhood who are desirous of emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope I transmit to your Lordship their memorial and petition together with a list and particular statement of their families, which I earnestly recommend to your Lordship’s earliest attention. As your Lordship will observe by the memorial and a letter addressed to me, which is also enclosed, that the object of these people is to be permitted to embark at some of the harbours on the Clyde, which would be a great saving of their time, trouble and expense to such poor individuals.

With highest consideration I have the honor to be, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most faithful servant

Henry MONTEITH

Provost            

 

MADDEN, Thomas for J.M. GRIMWOOD

 

652

Bloomsbury Place

27th August 1819

Sir,

            I yesterday made application at your office for the particulars of the terms offered by Government to those who are disposed to become settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, and was then informed that such application must be made in writing.

            I therefore now beg leave to request that you will be pleased to direct that a copy of such particulars be transmitted to J.M. GRIMWOOD Esq, Bloomsbury Place, Bloomsbury Square.

I have the honor to be Sir with high respect

Your most obedient and faithful humble servant

For J.M. GRIMWOOD Esq

Thos. MADDEN

 

MADDOX, Thomas

 

729

Westbury

5th October 1819

Honoured Sir,

                        I am extremely sorry to inform you that my wife having heard an unfavourable account respecting the Cape of Good Hope she has for her part declined going and even gone to the Heads of the Parish to prevent my selling any part of the Goods which will prevent my going except I may be allowed to go alone with the little money I can make up without selling things here, which will I hope be about Ł3. I am very willing to go myself and can work my passage there having served nearly 12 years in the Portsmouth Division of Marines, during which time I acquired some knowledge of shoemaking, and I would turn my hand to anything to render myself useful both whilst going over and after my arrival at the Cape so that I may never become troublesome to the Government after my arrival at the Place. Should I be favoured with a passage and I am required at any future time to take up Arms in defence of the Government I shall be ready to do it. The Company I was to go with was Charles HYMAN’s to whom I beg you will address as follows by return of post if possible as his return must be made on Thursday next.

I remain with the greatest respect

Your very humble servant

Thos. MADDOX

At Charles HYMAN’s

Short Street

Near Westbury

Wilts

 

PS I hope you will allow me to go as I am very anxious to go alone if my wife will not

 

[Transcriber’s note: Thomas MADDOX and his wife Susan and two children appear on Charles HYMAN’s first return, but not on the subsequent one he submitted. Thomas and Susan appear together on the 1841 census for Westbury, both weavers living at Dilton Marsh]

 

MAHONY, Thomas

 

604

53 Charles Street

Westminster

August 18th 1819

My Lord,

            We have the honor to address you Lordship on the intended colonization of Algoa Bay on the coast of Africa, it being our intention to avail ourselfs of the assistance of Government in forwarding that object. We at the same time think it our duty to offer our services in any manner you Lordship may please to direct them for the material benefit of the Colony.

            In doing so, my Lord, it imposes on us the necessity of informing your Lordship that we had the honor as architects and builders to commence under the command of the Honorable W.W. POLE the fortifications of Bantry Bay and Cork Harbour, also the improvements of the works of Kinsale-Limbrick with the martelo and signal towers of these parts of Ireland, and from twelve successive years experience in the Royal Engineer Department do conclude our services may prove usefull on the present occasion to your Lordship’s Colony.

            We have the honor to state to your Lordship that we can refer to Lieut. General MAN of the Honorable Board of Ordnance as to our ability in takeing the most extensive surveys and estimates, having for many years from 1500 to 2000 men in our employment at a time in the ordnance works, the whole of which we executed by contract fully to the approbation of the Honorable Board which they were pleased to testifie by the letter which is in our possession received year after year during the period before mentioned on an expenditure of over two hundred thousand pounds.

            We have also the honor of informing your Lordship we can take with us a number of usefull and intelligent artificers and to any extent your lordship thought proper, who together with our services we humbly beg leave to offer your Lordship’s Governor so long as he may think them requisite to the General Establishment.

            We have the honor to state my Lord that we look for no endusmnet or appointment or anything further than to be recommended to the notice of the Governor which our length of service already, in his Majesty’s service, has we have the honor to state a slight claim [new page] Lordship, and after placeing our people on the improvement of the ground agreeable to the regulations granted, we would appropriate our time after in takeing surveys and proper maps of the country which we hope may be one day usefull. The limits of a sheet do not enable us to explain our future determination. We beg leave to have the honor, my Lord, of an interview, when we hope we should give such explanation as may be satisfactory to your Lordship or to your Lordship’s secretary – and to receive the information requisite.

We have the honor to be my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant

For MAHONY and TURVEY

Thos. MAHONY

 

625

53 Charles Street

Westminster

24th August 1819

Sir,

            I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 20th instant. Beg leave to state I am ready to comply with the stipulations contained therein and the request you will be please to say when I am to wait on you to pay the money for not less than 10 families nor more than 20 – men being fitted for any new establish’t being active and well informed. Beg leave to know what time is limmitted to give in the names or if requisite at present.

I also beg leave to state there are a few points I am anxious to be allow’d to ask explanation for personally. May I request to be allowed that favour as communicating these queries by writing may give trouble, which would be contrary to my wishes.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

656

53 Charles Street

Westminster

28th August 1819

Sir,

            In compliance with your letter of the 25th inst I have the honor to annex a statement of the familys I have engaged to proceed under my directions to the Cape of Good Hope.

            I have proportioned them in their respective capacitys, in number equal to what would cooperate to their mutual benefit in establishing permanent residences as well as the cultivation of the ground. I also have engaged a respectable man who had the management of large vineyards distilation &c for many years which to the plantation he would be of general value.

            I beg to state I am not aware of any further assurance I can give in compliance with Earl BATHURST’s regulations than depositing the money agreeable to the circular. I shall be anxious to comply with the regulations of the Earl BATHURST Department and to gain his Lordships good opinion as I have been to gain that of the Noble Lords I served under for the last thirteen years in the Ordnance Department as stated in my letter to you of the 18th instant which I had the honor to transmit.

            Should depositing the money not be sufficient I shall go further as I hold sufficient property in houses in London to guarantee what I undertake.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Thomas MAHONY, 35

Architect, Surveyor and Engineer

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Andrew CONWAY

Bricklayer & Mason

35

Anne

30

 

 

 

 

James SISK

Plumber, Painter & Glazier

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas SIMPLE

Carpenter

30

Mary

27

1

10

1

8

James CRONIN

Carpenter & cabinet maker

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michel TOOLEY

Sawyer

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jer’h SULIVAN

Sawyer

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas CARTIE

Cooper

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles READ

Gardner

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

John BURGIS

Farmer

38

Eleoner

36

3

14/9/5

3

8/3/2

Cornel’s LAMB

Farmer

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wm. PAGE

Ditto

28

Mary

26

 

 

 

 

Richard SHORT

Ditto

27

Ann

25

1

6

 

 

Dennis BURRELL

Labourer

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

John CONNOR

Ditto

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward TURVEY

Planter

39

Julia

37

2

12/9

1

10

John WRIGHT

Miner

26

Caroline

25

 

 

2

6/4

Rich’d MATTHEWS

Nurseryman & Distiller

37

Eliza

30

1

12

1

14

 

TOTAL 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I expect a good Smith. Request permission for him when he arrives

 

710

53 Charles Street

Westminster

28 Sept 1819

Sir,

            I have the honor to request you will be so good as to inform me whether there is an advantage allow’d in the choice of ground in the grants to be given Emigrants to Algoa Bay who would be at the sole expence without any advance from Government for the parties taken out under their direction each party not less than 20 in number, complying with all the regulations of Earl BATHURST Department.

            Beg leave to know if such grants are to be given when the head directed of each party may wait on you to obtain the requisite instruction on that head.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

737

53 Charles Street

Westminster

Oct 1819

Sir,

            I beg leave to send you the enclosed which I have no disposition to prevent if you allow me the favour of amending my list, as I will hold out the advantages of his services equally as if belonging thereto. He is a very honorable man and of superior ability and will I am confident find him anxious to comply with your wishes on the subject I had the honor of communicating with you yesterday.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thos. MAHONY

 

[enclosed letter to Thomas MAHONY from Peter CAMPBELL]

No.3 Lambeth Butts

20th Oct 1819

Dear Sir,

            I have been so busy for the last day or two that I have not had time for calling on you. I feel much obliged by your promptitude in giving me the preference and I trust it will not inconvenience you to alter your arrangement; but I have been compelled to yield to a predilection which Mrs. CAMPBELL entertains for Mrs. DANIEL and attach myself to the party of Mr. TURVEY

I am dear Sir your obdt serv’t

Peter CAMPBELL

 

MAIDMENT, John

 

520

No.23 St.Ann Cort

Oxford Street

July 27th 1819

Sir,

            As I understand that Government sends out emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope I beg leave to solicit the permission to be sent out and also to state that I am 25 years of age and have been brought up in the country and cannot get imployment at present and beg to state that with my former industery I can advance the sum requir’d

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed’t humble serv’t

John MAIDMENT

(a wife no child)

 

MAJOR, Patrick

 

504

Rathdrum

Co.Wicklow

July 23rd 1819

Rt.Hon.Sir

            I beg leave to state that I am an out Pensioner of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham from his Majesty’s 81st Regt. of Foot, who hearing that your Lordship has granted land with passage out and rations &c to Protestant subjects at the Cape of Good Hope near Cape Town, I would willingly become a settler with my family.

            Would also lodge Ł50 if required in any office your Lordship would be pleased to mention till my arrival. Should my request meet your Lordship’s aprobation I would be happy to know what time would answer best for a settler to leave Europe and where to apply for passage.

Rt Hon Sir I am your very obed’t serv’t

Patrick MAJOR

PS an answer will be thankfully acknowledged addressed to Patrick MAJOR Pens’r, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

 

614

Rathdrum

August 22nd 1819

Rt.Hon.Sir,

            I acknowledge rec’t of yours of the 29th ult referring me to the printed circular letter concerning the Cape of G Hope which states the encouragement given by His Majesty’s Government for settlers in that colony.

            I beg leave to state that I have a wife and six children and that I will advance money as requested in proportion to my s’d family but that I am not able to take out 10 able bodied families.

            Therefore should my request met your Lordship’s aprobation to grant me leave to become a settler with my family by me lodging in a sum in proportion to my family I shall do it  with the greatest thanks.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obd’t humble serv’t

Patrick MAJOR

 

PS I would be happy to know where I should apply for my passage

 

680

Rathdrum, Sept 12th 1819

My Lord,

            I beg leave to state that my family consisting of a wife and six children with two young men  friend of my own who wish to accompany me and become settlers in His Majesty’s settlement Cape of Good Hope. We shall deposit at the time of our embarkation at least eighty pounds to be repaid as pointed out in the circular should it meet your Lordships aprobation to give us the grant of land with a passage out &c.

            We shall immediately prepare at the rec’t of your Lordships answer an be in readiness to embark on the first of December next.

            We are all of the Established Church haveing served his Majesty in the late War. I and one of the young men are Pensioners. We can procure the best Characters if required.

I have the honor to be my Lord

Your Lordships obd’t humble serv’t

Patrick MAJOR

 

PS The two young men’s names who wishes to become settlers with me is George WORTH and Isaac SAUL. Please to order an answer addressed to Isaac SAUL, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.

 

NB We should be glad the encouragement given when in the colony would be stated by return. Also where we should apply for passage. We should also be glad to know if any ten families joining themselves together and advancing as requested in the circular, whether each family or private individual would be allowed his 100 acres to himself. As there are a great many here who would apply only they are in dread the person applying and receiving the grant would hold all and they who would accompany him and even advance their money become slaves to the said person applying.

 

760

Rathdrum, 21st October 1819

My Lord,

            I propose to take out to the Cape of Good Hope, complying every way to the proposals in the circular and depositing said sum. Also conforming every way to any regulations which his Majesty’s Government may wish to apply.

Patrick MAJOR

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Patrick MAJOR, Farmer, Rathdrum, County Wicklow, Ireland

 

Names of Settlers

Age

Profession or Trade

Names of Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

P. MAJOR

32

Farmer

W. MAJOR

32

1st

9

1st

13

G. WORTH

32

Shoemaker

Mrs. SAUL

24

2nd

7

2nd

11

I’c SAUL Jun

26

L. Surveyor

- WEBSTER

22

3rd

6

3rd

6

I’s SAUL

20

Farmer

- MATES

24

4th

1

4th

14

Jno. SAUL

22

Do.

- SAUL

22

 

 

5th

5

Wm. SAUL

20

Labourer

 

 

 

 

6th

4

H. WEBSTER

24

Blacksmith

 

 

 

 

 

 

L. MATES

32

Farmer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wm. MATES

28

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.MOORE

28

Labourer

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

10

 

 

5

 

4

 

6

 

MALLETT, William

 

Penryn

Nov 6th 1819

My Lord,

            I take the liberty to write to your Lordship to desire your to inform me as near as possible when the fammily will sail for the Cape of good hope and whether the that are going from Falmouth will embark at Falmouth as my self and fammily have engaged to go and should esteem it a great favour to know as much of the particulars as possable, an answer by return of post would be very gladly received and should be glad to know whether any more can be taken.

I am my Lord

Your Lordships servant

William MALLETT

Please to direct to Wm. MALLETT, Mason, Penryn, Cornwall

 

MANDY, John

 

571

Lambeth Marsh

7 August 1819

Hon’d Sir,

            Having a desire to avail myself of the offer made by His Majesty’s Government (as detailed in the printed circular) to go as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope, I have taken the liberty of transmitting herewith the names, occupations, ages &c of the persons I wish to take with me and am in every other respect willing and prepared to conform to all the regulations mentioned in the same.

I am Honor’d Sir

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

John MANDY

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers

John MANDY of the New Cut, Lambeth Marsh, carpenter

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

John MANDY

Carpenter

30

Ann

29

John/Stephen

6/4

Sarah

13

John BEACALL

Surgeon

33

Ann

31

George/Richard

6/2

Clarissa/Jessey

8/4

William BEACALL

Currier

27

Mary

29

Edwin

3

 

 

Richard GOWAR

Wheelwright

30

Mary

28

Edwin/Frederick

8/3

Mary

1

Daniel MALLETT

Straw Hat Maker

40

Hannah

33

 

 

Mary

13

Michael FITZGERALD

Farmer

30

Sarah

28

 

 

 

 

James FITZGERALD

Farmer

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph MANDY

Wheelwright

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel RANDALL

Farmer

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thornton MOORE

Turner

31

Elizabeth

30

Samuel

1mo

Eliz’th/Sarah/Ann

7/5/2

 

631

Lambeth Marsh

25th August 1819

 

The humble petition of John MANDY of Lambeth Marsh in the County of Surrey, carpenter

Humbly sheweth

            That your petitioner being desirous of availing himself of his Majesty’s Government to be allowed to settle at the Cape of Good Hope

            That your petitioner is ready to conform himself to all the conditions upon which His Majesty’s Government have offered to grant lands in the colony.

            Your petitioner therefore humbly hopes his request will be granted and he will as in duty bound ever pray &c

John MANDY

 

573

Lambeth Marsh

2 October 1819

Sir,

            Peter FEAGAN one of the persons named in the enclosed lists is an out Pensioner of Chelsea Hospital at 6d per diem from the 68th Regiment of Foot and resides at No.2 Virginia Street Ratcliff Highbury

I am Sir your most obedient and very humble servant

John MANDY

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers

John MANDY

New Cut, Lambeth Marsh

Carpenter

Aged 30

Mary his wife

Aged 29

John MANDY son aged 6

Stephen MANDY son aged 4

 

Names of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Joseph MANDY

Wheelwright

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard GOWAR

Do.

30

Mary

28

Edwin/Frederick

8/3

Mary

1

Michael FITZGERALD

Farmer

30

Sarah

30