CO48/46
National Archives, Kew,
Transcribed by volunteers from the ZA-IB and ZA-EC Rootsweb mailing
lists from digital photographs taken by Rowena Wattrus 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
TAIT, Dr. William
[Transcriber’s Note: TAIT’s
Party was an earlier party of settlers not featured in Nash. The settlement of Peter TAIT, brother of the correspondent, is mentioned
on p.37 of Hockly’s ‘Story of the British Settlers of
1820’, and its success is said to have given impetus to the 1820 settler
scheme]
1
Somerset Coffee House
Tuesday January 5
Dr TAIT
presents his duty to Mr GOULBURN and begs most respectfully to acquaint him
that he has received letters from his Brother at the
As
Mr GOULBURN was kind enough to say, when Dr TAIT had the honour of an interview
in February last, that he would see him again relative to the Settlers to be
conveyed to the Cape whenever he obtained intelligence from his Brother of his
having received the Grand of Land, he now, therefore, presumes on Mr GOULBURN’s
kind condescension, and he will be infinitely obliged if Mr. GOULBURN will
appoint a convenient time to see him, when he will state the objects he has in
view and the assistance he expects from Government to enable his Brother to
introduce a value System of Agricultural improvements and a very valuable &
highly necessary class of Settlers into the Colony of the
[Note from GOULBURN across bottom of page] Appoint him for the next day I come to town
3
[To P. SMITH Esq, Colonial Office]
Febr 18th 1819
Sir,
From your very kind attention to me in January last, I am induced to take the liberty of acquainting you, that I have this day written to Mr. GOULBURN on the subject of the Settlers I wish to send to the Cape of Good Hope, and if you will grant me an extension of your kindness by accelerating the application from your office to the Transport Board for their Passage, so that the Settlers may leave this Country as soon as possible, you will lay me under the greatest obligation.
I am aware that I have no claim or right to intrude upon you for favours of this sort, but being, like yourself a Public Servant (a Physician of the Royal Navy) I hope you will pardon my intrusion, and afford me all the assistance in your power.
I am Sir
Your most obedient & very Humble Servant
Wm TAIT
5
Febr. 18 1819
Sir,
I beg leave to take the liberty of
acquainting you, that I have engaged Twenty Settlers
in
They are ready and waiting my directions to proceed to London and if you will have the goodness to order a Passage to be found for them from London, by the Transport Department, so that they may sail from this Country in the first or second week of March next, it will be greatly beneficial to my Brother’s interest.
As I do not wish to order the Settlers to proceed to London till I know the precise period when the vessel which may be Chartered to convey them will sail for the Cape, I will be infinitely obliged to you Sir if you will give directions that I should have due information on that subject so that I may have fourteen days at the least to order them to sail from Scotland.
I am ready to Deposit the Sum required as a security [obscured] those Persons shall be located on the Land granted to my Brother and I will be much obliged if you will honor me with Instructions in that respect.
I have the Honor to be Sir,
Your most obedient & very Humble Servant,
Wm TAIT MD
[Note from GOULBURN
across bottom of page]
Request him to furnish a list of the persons of the members of the several families if any that passages may be ordered – 24 Feb
7
[from George TAIT, brother of William and Peter TAIT]
Langrigg, by Duns
March 4 1819
Sir,
I have the honor to prefix by my Brother Dr. William TAITT’s directions a list of the persons I have engaged in this Country to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope as Settlers to be located on the land granted to our Brother Mr. Peter TAITT and I take the liberty of informing you they are all ready to embark at Berwick for London whenever I am directed to forward them.
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your Most Obedient & very humble Servant
George TAITT
List of Names
of Persons engaged to go out immediately to the Colony of the
Plowmen & Women Servants
Isaac TAITT and his Wife 2
& four children
___ TAITT oldest son of Isaac TAITT 1
Henry AITCHISON 1
William WIGHTMAN 1
Isaac STEVENSON 1
Robert ROBSON 1
Andrew MARSHALL 1
Thomas HILL 1
James GRIEVE 1
Edward WAKE 1
John DOUGLASS 1
Jean OGILVIE 1
Joseph McDOUGAL 1
Peter LAIDLAW & his Wife 2
& 2 Children
Andrew PRINGLE - Blacksmith 1
George HAVERY Joiner 1
James DONALDSON 1
19
[Note from GOULBURN]
Order a passage for them on deposit being made & acquaint him that this will be done
9
9th March 1819
Sir,
On being honoured with your letter of the 25th Ult., I wrote immediately to my Brother in Scotland, directing him to send you a list of the Persons he had engaged as Settlers to go to the Cape of Good Hope, and I have this day received a letter, acquainting me that he had sent you a list, consisting of sixteen men – three women - and six children.
When you have ordered the
Tonnage to be provided for their conveyance, I will be much obliged if you will
have the goodness to inform me, at what period the vessel will be engaged to
sail from
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your most obedient & very Humble Servant
Wm TAIT
[Note from GOULBURN] Let him know when we receive an
answer
11
March 15th 1819
Sir,
I am honoured with your note of the
12th instant, and I beg leave to enclose, herewith, a Bill at sight,
for one hundred and ninety Pounds, being the Deposit for the Settlers going to
my Brother at the
In offering you my most respectful acknowledgements, for your very kind and handsome attention to me in this business.
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your most obed’t.& very Humble Servant,
Wm TAIT
[Note from GOULBURN]
Acknowledge
receipt, book passages & write the necessary letter to Gov’r
of the
13
April 25th 1819
Sir,
I am honoured with your letter of the 22nd instant, and I have directed Andrew MARSHALL, one of the persons going to my Brother of the Cape of Good Hope, to call at your office on Tuesday next to receive the letter to His Excellency the Governor.
As some of the persons in
the List sent to you from
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your most obedient & very Humble Servant,
Wm TAIT
A list of Persons going to the Cape of Good Hope to Mr. Peter TAIT in the Ship Carmarthen
Andrew MARSHALL 1
Henry AITCHISON 1
James STEVENSON 1
Robert ROBSON 1
Thomas HILL 1
James GRIEVE 1
Edward WAKE 1
John DOUGLASS 1
Joseph McDOUGAL 1
George HAVERY 1
James DONALDSON 1
James FOORD 1
Isaac TAIT & his wife 2
Children (under 12 years) 4
William FOORD aged 14 1
William FOORD & his wife 2
Children (under 12 years) 2
Margaret HAVERY 1
George OGILVIE 1
25
Abstract
16 men – 3 women – 6 Children
April 25th 1819
Wm TAIT M.D.
TANNER,
Robert
23 Grovenor Market
10th
August 1819
Please Sir i have taken the lierbity to right to u. I heard that u endage
Men to go to
Robert TANNER
TARR, William
(filed under I at CO48/44)
12
No.2 Carnaby Green Market
Monday July
19 1819
Sir,
having seen the advertisement of a opertunity for Persons to emigrate to the Cape of Good hope
I wish to embrace the opertunity having a wife and
three children, a son 9 years, 2nd a girl 4 years & 1 a year old there
being no doubt Aplications of individuals if I can
make one agreeable to the advertisement I shall be happy as I am in Great
Distress having been a long time out of employ.
My Occupation is in the Husbandry line if I can be favourd
by a favourable answer it will much benefit your very humble servant
William TARR
No.2 Carnaby Green Market
Near
27 July 1819
Sir,
Having
seen an offer from Goverment of emegrating
to Affrica & having a family & out of
employment I am desirous of accepting the oportunity
of going if I can make one of the ten specified as I dont
doubt but their are numbers of gentlemen applying who wish to make up their
number. I was bred up in the husbandry line having a wife & 3 children one
boy of 9 years old one of 3 and 1 of one year. If a vacancy should [obscured] I
should be oblidge yo you
for information. I remain Sir your very humble servant & petitioner
Wm TARR
TAYLOR,
Charles
[Transcriber’s Note: It is not known whether this is Charles TAYLOR
of WILLSON’s Party]
71
My Lord,
The
writer of the following lines is a young man of respectability who wishes to emigrate to the
I remain your Lordship’s obedient humble servant
Charles TAYLOR
96
No.1
[Grey?] Court
August 19th
1819
The humble petition of Edmond TAYLOR to the Right Hon’ble Secretray of State
H’le petioner is a young man by trade a smith and bell hanger,
smith work in gen’l, aged 25 years. I served in His
Majesty’s army in the 90th Regt of Foot in the
H’le Lordship’s
most obed’t serv’t
Truely
TAYLOR,
Henry
23
Near the
Asylum
Lambeth
July 10th
1819
My Lord,
I was
much gratified by reading one of the public prints a few days ago since an
observation which fell from the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of
Commons stating he in concert with the rest of His Majesty’s Ministers had it
in contemplation to adopt the wise & humane intention to call upon
Parliament to make a grant of money to encourage emigration to the British
Colonies in North America, in consequence of which I took the liberty yesterday
to write to the above gentleman on the subject with a view to obtain leave to
embark for that country as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made for
the purpose, when I received for answer that I had addressed my application to
the wrong office, at the same time directing me to apply to your Lordship to
grant my request which I presume to hope your Lordship will be pleased to
comply with.
I have the honor to be my Lord
Your Lordship’s most dutiful & very humble servant
Henry TAYLOR
59
2nd
August 1819
The petition James TAYLOR and others –
I am informed that there is family wanted to as
settlers to the
George BOTT } Jas. TAYLOR }
John BOTT } Eliz.
Wm. BOTT } Robt TAYLOR }
John BOTT } 4 family
Geo BOTT } James
OWEN }
Sarah BOTT } Susan
OWEN } one family
Emma BOTT } Eliz.
OWEN }
Thos. PRATT }
Ann PRATT }
one family
Ann PRATT }
Please to send an answer and direct to James TAYLOR
Wharf Street Leicester
TAYLOR,
James (2)
84
No.3
August 12th
1819
My Lord,
Having
a desire to emigrate to the
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
James TAYLOR
TAYLOR,
James (3)
112
No.11
St.Lukes
[Received 3rd
September 1819]
Sir,
Having
seen in the newspapers that labouring men is wanting at the
Your humble servant
James TAYLOR
TAYLOR,
John (1) (
41
24th
July 1819
Sir,
We
having seen your printed form and being desirous to go to the
1. Can we three families have our allotments of one
hundred acres each near to each other
2. After depositing ten pounds each in your possession
are we suffered to take the remainder of our property an[d] utensals
or confined to any other regulation
3. You mention we are to go out in November in order
to be there in the planting season. Will our government provide us with utensals and sufficient seed or with live stock to enable
us to cultivate the land.
4. On our landing at the Cape does government convey
us to the place of settlement together with our families and other necessaries
that we take out – and are there [huts] or houses provided to keep us from the
inclemency of the weather.
Our names and addresses are as follows:
John
TAYLOR,
John
FELL*,
Sir, your favouring us with an early ans’r will ever oblige
Your most obed’t and humble servants
John TAYLOR
Henry MARSHALL
John FELL
*[Transcriber’s Note: John FELL is not listed in Nash but
appears in Hockly’s ‘Story of the British Settlers of
1820’ as a member of CLARK’s Party along with John TAYLOR
and Henry
MARSHALL. His age is given as 37 with wife Jane FELL (39) and children Jane
(11), John
(9) and William
(6)
63
St.Georges
East
Aug 4 1819
Sir,
I beg
to return you my sincere thanks for the kind attention you paid to my letter of
the 24th ultimo, likewise to inform you that I received yours of the
3rd instant, and will feel ever grateful if you have the goodness to
lay the enclosed before my Lord BATHURST in order that I may have as much time
as possible to arrange my affairs, should I be so fortunate to be suffered by
His Lordship and my Government to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope. Your
compliance Sir will ever oblige
Your most obed’t humble serv’t
John TAYLOR
92
St.Georges
East
[Received
Aug 18 1819]
Sir,
I am
fearful there is some mistake respecting my letter to Earl BATHURST I enclosed
in one to you of the 4th inst, as you have forwarded me the same
circular I answered before.
I beg
Sir to inform you that I am fully prepared with every requisite that the
Government requires, agreeable to the instructions laid down in the circular,
and only waiting for your appointment. You’ll perceive as follows the names,
addresses, ages and the particulars of each families.
Your ansr Sir will ever oblige
Your most obed’t humble serv’t
John TAYLOR
|
Names |
Residence |
Age |
Wife |
No. Child’n |
Male |
Ages |
Female |
Ages |
|
John
FELL |
|
34 |
34 |
3 |
2 |
6/9 |
1 |
12 |
|
Henry
MARSHALL |
|
28 |
34 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
William WHEAT |
|
34 |
33 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
1/3/4/13 |
|
Thomas WILLIAMS |
|
21 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John HUBBARD |
|
35 |
37 |
3 |
2 |
1/9 |
1 |
12 |
|
William ROBINSON |
|
39 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas CHANDLER |
4 Bear Ally, Fleet Street |
27 |
24 |
2 |
2 |
2/4 |
|
|
|
Robt
Horatio WARDER |
|
21 |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John James MORGAN |
|
23 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
William.Fredric
POOL |
|
25 |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
WENTWORTH |
|
34 |
25 |
2 |
2 |
6/13 |
|
|
|
John BAUMSTER |
|
34 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip THOMPSON |
|
22 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Anthony ROWLAND |
|
23 |
Single |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John HESELTINE |
|
27 |
24 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
135
St.Georges
East
4th
October 1819
My Lord,
By
your Lordships orders I received I received a letter from Henry GOULBURN Esq
dated the 30th ult in which your Lordship states its not advisable
to accept of my proposal – my Lord in my last letter to your Lordship I stated
I was in every respect willing and in sercumstances
to conform to your Lordship’s and government’s directions and comply to
everything laid down in the circular.
I am
very much inconvenienced in consequence of your Lordship’s not accepting me as
I have been obliged to assist those persons whome I
meant to take out with the means of support – they as well as myself fully
dependent upon the appointment.
Therefore
I take the liberty to state to your Lordship that if you’ll be pleased to grant
the land for each I will engage to defray every expence to the place of
location – without the least assistance voted by Parliament for the Emigration.
The persons I propose taking with me are of the following description –
Agriculturalists, Gardeners, Carpenters, Smiths and
Millwrights & any other description of person your Lordship thinks
requisite for the use of the Colony. Your Lordship’s answer will confer a
lasting obligation on
Your most obed’t humble serv’t
John TAYLOR
[Note from GOULBURN]
If he can satisfy Lord B that he has means to
cultivate the land Lord B will recommend hom to the Gov’r.
BURNS, G re John TAYLOR (Filed under
B in CO48/41)
395
Middlesex
August 17th
1819
Sir,
A
most respectable friend of mine from Hatfield of Ratcliff Highway has desired me to give the
Bearer Mr. John
TAYLOR, who he has known for 19 years, as a Neighbour, a letter of
introduction to you, as Mr. TAYLOR wishes to go with 10 friends to the
Cape of Good Hope,
I have the honor to remain Your obdt, Hmble
Sr.
G. BURNS
TAYLOR, John
(2)
25
15 July 1819
Sir,
In
consequence of the vote of the House of Commons to assist persons wishing to emigrate to the
I am Sir
Your most
obedient and humble servant
John TAYLOR
36
22 July 1819
Sir,
I had
the honour of receiving your letter with the conditions under which it is
proposed to give encouragement to emigration to the
I
perceive the Government reserves the right of working the mines and of making
such roads as may be necessary for the ordnance of the Colony.
As I
am intimately acquainted with the exploring, surveying and working of mines,
making of roads and the most beneficial system of improving a country, making
allotments of grounds &c – I should be glad of an appointment at a small
salary under Government as an experimental agriculturalist and engineer as I
presume several of [obscured] business will be needful at the Cape.
Satisfactory recommendations will be given.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your most faithful servant
John TAYLOR
TAYLOR, Joseph
34
51
East
22
July 1819
Sir,
Having
for some time determined to go from England to the Cape of Good Hope as an
agriculturalist and observing by the public papers that His Majesty’s
Government intend to give every facility to such persons as are desirous to
emigrate for that purpose, and as it is necessary for me to know the grounds
upon which persons are to be sent out, I take the liberty of applying to you on
this occasion and to request a reply to the following questions.
What is
the precise spot fixed upon for the new colony and the nature of its situation
and soil, if near a navigable river and whether any Europeans have already
commenced a settlement there. Should I take with me a number of persons,
whether any compensation will be granted on account of that number and what
provision will be allowed for their support during the time which may expire
before a quantity of land is cultivated sufficient for their maintenance? Supposing
the distance to be 300 miles from the
I remain Sir
Your most obed’t humble serv’t
Joseph TAYLOR
TAYLOR, William (1)
61
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
I am Sir your obbidient
humble servant
Wm.
TAYLOR, William (2)
155
2
Glass House Fields
Ratcliffe
October
31st 1819
Sir,
Having
been invited to become the Minister of several families emigrating with your
permission to the Cape of Good Hope I beg to be informed what support His
Majesty’s Government intend to give to dissenting clergymen. I am of
Calvinistic persuasion.
I am Sir
Yours very respectfully
Wm.
TEMPEST, V.W.
17-29
9th
June 1819
Mr. TEMPEST avails himself of Earl BATHURST’s obliging permission of sending the accompanying
questions relative to the Grant of Lands at the Cape of Good Hope to his
Lordship’s office, requesting his Lordship will have the kindness to direct
they may be answered, and that the questions with the answers may be directed
to him at Messrs WITHAM’s Chambers, Grays Inn Square.
[Note from
GOULBURN: Send him the answers annexed to his queries as the best in my power
to afford]
[Transcriber’s
Note: GOULBURN’s answers are written on a separate sheet with TEMPEST’s numbering. For ease of reading his answers have
been inserted below in square brackets directly after the relevant questions]
1st What quantity of land will be granted
to any one cultivator and from what time will the grant take place: and will
such grants be attended with any expence to the grantee?
2nd Will any further and what quantity of
land be granted to the cultivator in proportion to the
number of servants & labourers he may take out?
[At the rate of 100 acres for every labourer or
settler to land upon the land]
3rd If any of the servants or labourers, in
respect of whom any additional grant shd be made, shd die or desert the colony, will the cultivator be
expected to replace them?
[Not if the persons are once actually settled but if
the settlement duty of cultivating a proportion of the land be
not performed the land will at the end of the usual period revert to the Crown]
4th Will any further and what grants be made after the lands comprized
in the first grant shall be brought into a state of cultivation? And how is
this to be ascertained?
[There will be no objection to such an extension on
application to the Governor]
5th Will the grants be made in fee simple
of for any other limited estate or under any and what reservations?
[State the particulars from the Govt. proclamation]
6th Do the lands proposed to be granted lye
near the
[This must rest with the Governor after communication
with the Party]
7th What is the nature of the land in its
present state and what will be the probable expence per acre for clearing and
draining it?
[The land now uncultivated]
8th Are coals and other fuel, lime and marle to be procured upon the land or at a reasonable
distance?
9th When the lands are cleared or drained
will they be fit for European cultivation?
10th What implements or utensils for
clearing and cultivation will be necessary for the cultivator to take out with
him: or can the necessary implements be procured at the
11th Will any and what encouragement be
given by Government for the importation of cattle for the purposes of husbandry
and the improvement of the breed: and if any of them shd
die in the passage will any indemnity be given?
[Cattle may be imported as far as the law permits such
importation but Govt. will not incur any risk]
12th Will the lands proposed to be granted,
in their present state, maintain such cattle as may be imported?
[Qs 7,8,9,10,12 are questions rather to be answered by
practical agriculturalists at the
13th Can the natives be employed in the
clearing and cultivation of the land? And what is the usual price of their
labour?
[Natives can be hired but labourers are scarce &
wages consequently high]
14th Can building materials be easily
procured and where?
[Varies in different parts of the Colony]
15th What is the state of the markets?
[Markets are well supplied in general]
16th What facility is there in disposing of
the produce of the land?
[Varies in different parts of the Colony]
17th Does Government give
a free passage to the Cutivator & his followers
or allow any & what tonnage?
[No]
18th Does Government make
any provision for the wives & daughters of the followers?
[No]
[Transcriber’s Note: this was written in early June
1819, before the Chancellor’s official announcement of the emigration scheme
and the grant of £50,000. This would explain the negative answer to the last
two questions]
TEVITON, George
106
[Street name
obscured]
August 30th
1819
My Lord,
As I
understand a new settlement is going to be formed at the Cape of Good Hope by
British Subjects I feel a desire to be one amongst the number who may be
allowed to go but should wish to be informed respecting the arrangements made
for conveyance &c and if habitations as well as land will be provided, also
the means of subsistence until the land can be brought into a state of
cultivation and if seeds, plants, as well as implements of husbandry will be
provided. My family consists of my wife and myself, our ages both thirty. I was
Lieutenant in the Third West York Militia three years and one year in the 33rd
Regt Foot but was under the necessity of resigning my commission in consequence
of my father’s ill health. If your Lordship would give me an appointment, civil
or military, to settle at the
Your Lordship’s most obed’t serv’t
George TEVITON
THACKERY, Henry
78
Car Green
Near
10th
August 1819
My Lord,
I beg
your Lordship’s clemency for this intrusion as I have seen in the public papers
that Government is pleased to encourage emigration to the
I am my Lord
Your most
obedient and most humble servant
Henry THACKERY
THACKWRAY, William
53
No
July 30th
1819
The
humble petition of Wm THACKWRAY, one of His
Majesty’s most loyal, and faithful subjects, sheweth: That he has a wife, and
six children, and finding his uttermost endeavours inadequate
to obtain for them a support in his native Country, and hearing that his
Majesty’s Government have generously granted certain privileges to Emegrants going to the Cape of Good Hope, Your petitioner
therefore appeals with the greatest respect, and submission, to Your Lordship,
humbly hoping that you will take it into consideration to grant such privileges
to your petitioner, to enable him to attain his object in becoming a settler in
the Cape of Good Hope, and that this may meet with Your Lord’s approbation, is
the earnest prayer of your humble petitioner, and for which he will feel
himself laid under a still greater sense of obligation, and gratefulness to
Your Lordship.
I am Your
Lordship’s Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant
Wm THACKWRAY
THIRKETTLE, Robert
82
No.6
Sun Street
Bishopsgate
Sir,
I
have taken the liberty of sending a line beging the
of your goodness and favour to send me to the Land of the Cape of good hope for
my trade is very bad a young man 25 yrs haveing a
wife and one son and should be very glad to go with any and the first that is
going
Sir I am your humble and most obedient servant
Robert THIRKETTLE
THOMAS,
Alexander
32
Barnstaple,
July 20th
1819
Sir,
Since
I had the honour of receiving your favor of the 7th June last
respecting the grants of land to His Majesty’s Naval and Military Officers
proceeding to
Therefore
under these circumstances I have the honour to inform you that I am one of the
original captors of that Colony under Sir Geo. Keith ELPHINSTONE,
now Lord KEITH and Sir Alfred CLERK in 1795 and have been there several times
since and would feel it a most particular favour if you will please to inform
me of the intentions of His Majesty’s Ministers respecting grants of land
&c to officers who may become settlers there.
I have Sir the honor to remain
Your most ob’t serant
Alex Kasstner THOMAS
Captain RN
THOMAS,
Henry
171B
November 23rd
1819
Sir,
Understanding
persons wishing to leave this Island for a residence at the Cape of Good Hope
on paying a certain sum at your office are insured a portion of land on their
arrival there &c, would feel particularly obliged by your causing me to
receive that information requisite for my embarkation for the same, having been
many years an agriculturalist in the Isle of Wight and now unemployed.
I am Sir
Yours must humbly
Henry THOMAS
THOMAS, John
and William WILLIAMS
45
No.3
Cloath
Fair
27 July 1819
Honoured Sirs,
Your
petitioners John THOMAS and William WILLIAMS, both by trade Carpenters, would
be very happy to be admitted to be two of those persons should it meet with
your approbation to emmigrate to the
THOMAS,
William
43
No.4
New
July 26th
1819
Sir,
I
would esteem it a great favour if you would oblige me with further information
respecting the encouragement to individuals to emigrate
to the
It as
already been stated that a grant of 100 acres of land be given and that ten
pounds be deposited in the hands of Government and to be returned on their
arrival at the Cape, that the lands be measured and the individuals to be put
into possession free of expence, but should those who are inclined to emigrate
have nothing but the ten pounds I doubt but they will be seriously situated before
they could receive any assistance from the land they are about to cultivate.
The statement in the papers inform us that the
victualling at the expence of the Government shall cease on their landing. I
should suppose it meant on their arrival at the spot of ground allotted them.
Thinking seriously of going, I beg you will oblige me with information on the
following heads.
- Whether those who emigrate will be supplied with
provisions till they arrive at the spot of ground allotted them or whether the
victualling ceases at the landing on the
- Whether they will be supplied by Government with
implements for agriculture, seed &c
- Whether they will be furnished with a horse, a cow
and what other animals are actually wanted.
As an
encouragement I suppose I need not mention whether Government will so order
things as to put those who emigrate out of all fear of being molested by the
natives around them, and lastly whether the sum of ten pounds (under whatsoever
circumstances those emigrated are sent) used with economy is sufficient to
support a man his wife & two children till the land he as cultivated will
produce enough for their subsistence. I mention this last article as I am
confident many who are inclined to emigrate are in those circumstances as even
to find difficulty in raising this small sum. Your kindness in answering the
above will anxiously be expected by
Your much
obliged humble servant
Wm. THOMAS
PS I beg further to intrude on your kindness to state
the distance from the
Wm. THOMAS
THOMPSON,
Robert
80
Star Court
Fleet Street
August 12th
1819
Sir,
With
all due respect I beg your Honor’s best Direction how
I shall proceed to Emigrate to the
Yr obed’t humble serv’t
Robt THOMPSON
THOMSON,
Alexander Gregg
30
Stonehaven
Kincardineshire
19th
July 1819
My Lord,
I
take the liberty of addressing you and have but one apology to make for so
transgressing on your Lordship’s goodness, namely the total want of means to
support my wife & family.
At
the death of my father I became possessed of a considerable property in the
Island of Jamaica & this country, sufficient to carry on a mercantile
business, great part of which I accordingly embarked in a large establishment
in Glasgow & which I considered likely to increase my patrimony, but from
unavoidable circumstances the House with which I connected myself stopt payment and this with some private engagements
deprived me of everything I possessed in the world and my estate being put
under sequestration I have for the space of the last two years been almost
destitute of the means of subsistence.
Under
these heavy misfortunes I have ventured to write to your Lordship and request
any information you may think proper to give me regarding the terms I would be
allowed to go out to His Majesty’s Colony at the
I
further beg leave to mention that should your Lordship require any references
regarding my character I am ready {obscured] so to some of the most respectable
members of the House of Commons and should your Lordship be inclined to take my
request under your kind consideration your favors
will find me at the Post Office of this place or if my personal appearance is
necessary I will attend your Lordship’s orders & I have the honor to be
Your Lordship’s humble servant
A.G. THOMSON
86
Stonehaven
Kincardineshire
14th
August 1819
My Lord,
I
have to acknowledge receipt of your Lordship’s letter of the 3rd
inst [containing?] copy of the printed circular specifying the conditions under
which encouragement is held out to those persons desirous of emigrating
to His Majesty’s Colony at the
In
consequence of which I now make offer to your Lordship to carry out from ten to
fifteen able bodied individuals and to make the necessary deposit required by
Government. The individuals shall consist of those well acquainted with the
practice of agriculture as carried out in this part of Scotland, and part shall
be mechanics of different descriptions such as masons, wrights &c. and I
bind myself that they shall all be sober, well behaved and industrious
individuals.
Your
Lordship will confer an obligation by informing me if my personal appearance is
necessary at your office and if it is your Lordship’s intention to allow implements
of husbandry to be carried out free of freight and if any other assistance is
to be granted to settlers by Government than the free passage out to the
Colony.
Any
information on the subject which your Lordship thinks proper to trust me with
so as to enable me to make a compleat
agreement with my men will be thankfully received and I trust will excuse the
liberty taken by
Your Lordship’s most humble and obliged servant
A.G. THOMSON
121
25th
Sept 1819
My Lord
Enclosed
I beg leave to hand you a list of the men I propose taking out to his Majesty’s
Colony at the
Deferring other information till I see your Lordship I
have the honor to remain
Your Lordship’s most humble servant
A.G. THOMSON
125
October 2nd
1819
138
Charing
Cross,
5th
October 1819
I called with a letter from
Your obliged and humble servant
A.G. THOMSON
PS As I have to return to
[Note in corner] Appoint him for tomorrow at 1
123
[Internal memo]
7 October
1819
Mr.THOMPSON
I have satisfied this gentleman that he has come too
late. He has however set his mind on going to the
PS
[Note from GOULBURN]
Let him have a recommendation to the Governor similar
to that given previous to the new plan of emigration, recommending him for a grant
of land
List of Men proposed to be taken out to the
|
Names |
Age |
Occupation |
|
|
Alexander MACLANE |
23 |
Agriculture |
Unmarried |
|
John BONNARD |
29 |
Do. |
Married |
|
Robert WILSON |
25 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
Alexander YOUNG |
21 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
John WEBSTER |
25 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
William RITCHIE |
19 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
James HOWIE |
23 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
William SCOTT |
26 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
Walter KAY |
24 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
James CALDER |
23 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
William SIMSON |
20 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
Thomas GRANGE |
23 |
Mason |
Unmarried |
|
James GRANGE |
21 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
Robert PENMAN |
23 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
George FLUMING |
26 |
House
Wright |
Unmarried |
|
John PATTERSON |
29 |
Do. |
Married |
|
William MACALL |
20 |
Cart
Wright |
Do. |
|
John THORNBURN |
21 |
Do. |
Unmarried |
|
Thomas GRAHAM |
26 |
Blacksmith |
Do, |
|
William BRYCE |
26 |
Wood
Cutter |
Do. |
THOMSON,
Robert
27
43
Commercial Sale Rooms
Mincing Lane
16 July 1819
Sir,
Would
it be convenient for Mr. BARKER & myself to see
you at the Colonial Office on Wednesday next at 11 o’clock forenoon relative to
emigration to the
Your very obed’t humble serv’t
Robert THOMSON
THOMSON,
Robert & George LAING
98
North
Brixton Ferry
21st
August 1819
Sir,
I am
aware it is my duty to have accompanied my joint application with Mr. R.
THOMSON for a grant of land at the Colony near the Cape of Good Hope with a proper
intraruction to you and which is in a state of
progress and withheld a few days only for the signatures of a few more friends
of mine (now in the country) who are well known to His Majesty’s Government,
when on their arrival in Town it will be signed by them and sent in to you.
I respectfully am Sir
Your very ob’t servant
George LAING
100
21st
August 1819
Sir,
The
enclosed letter of introduction from our friends to your
address will shew it is our intention to emigrate with our families to
the newly projected colony at the
The
plan on which we intend to proceed is that after being favoured by His
Majesty’s Government with a grant of land there, then to engage from sixty to
one hundred men and their families as labourers agreeably to the rules
presented by Government in the circular letter issued from my Lord BATHURST’s office on that subject.
For
these reasons we beg leave to tender for a grant of land at the new Colony near
the Cape of Good Hope in the proportion to a number of from sixty to one
hundred labourers and their families with accommodation for them and some
merchandise for their use &c to be embarked in and by the first transports
which Government may intend to dispatch with settlers for that Colony.
The
deposit of ten pounds per man as required by the Government circular is ready
to be advanced on the number of men hereinbefore mentioned whenever and
wherever Government may please to direct it to be paid.
We
have agreed to admit two or three highly respected young men as junior partners
in this undertaking. Waiting the favour of a reply we remain very respectfully
Sir
Your most
obedient humble servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
Robert THOMSON
3 Union Buildings
New
[enclosed]
7 August
1819
Sir,
Mr.
Robert THOMSON of the
We are Sir
Your most
obedient servants
[Signed]
Wm KIMBLE & Co
Denis LAMBERT & Co
Joseph THRUST? & Sons
HODGKINSON,
BRANDISON & Co
NORTH, SIMPSON & GRAHAM
SAYER &
GARDNER
Thos. WILSON
Robert FARRAND
[illegible signatures]
Do not know Mr. Robert THOMSON but the respectability
of those persons who have signed this letter induces me that Mr. Robt THOMSON is properly qualified for the
situation he requests
W. MELLISH
Office of
Woods
31st
July 1819
Sir,
Mr.
Robert THOMSON of
I have the honor to be Sir
Your most
obedient and most humble servant
James KING
110
3 Union
Buildings
New
3 September
1819
Sir,
We
beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 23rd ult.
We have now the pleasure to hand you annexed Mr. LAING’s
introduction as promised by him in his letter to you, and enclosed under our former
cover, which we hope may meet your approbation.
We
presume it may be necessary to transmit to Government a detailed statement of
all the number, names and ages of the labourers, their wives and children whom
we intend to take out under our direction to the new Colony at the Cape of Good
Hope, in immediately attending to which we only wait the instructions of
Government so to do, and we hereby pledge ourselves as being ready to conform
to all the conditions upon which His Majesty’s Government have offered to grant
lands in that Colony.
We remain Sir very respectfully
Your most
obedient humble servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
[enclosed]
25 August
1819
Sir,
Mr. George
LAING of North Brixton Surry having been from 1797 to 1812 a Settler & Sugar
& Cotton Planter in the Colonies of Demerera
& Essequibo and during that period in the
constant habit of following up and superintending the labour of Negroes in the
cultivation and planting of new lands &c, we therefore beg leave to
recommend him to the notice of His Majesty’s Government as a person properly
qualified to superintend and direct a colony of settlers in the newly projected
settlement on the south east coast of Africa near the Cape of Good Hope.
We are Sir your obedient servants
Thomas WILLIAMS,
John LOWE
Thos. WILSON
Robt. FARRAND
A. ROLAND
Denis LAMBERT
W, LUCKINGTON
140
3 Union
Buildings
New
6 October
1819
Sir,
We
have the pleasure of owning receipt of your favour of the 30th ultimo
advising that our application of the 17th August made
through you to his Majesty’s Government for leave to carry out to the newly
projected settlement near the Cape of Good Hope one hundred able bodied
labourers and their families under the regulations prescribed in the Government
circular has been accepted, and therefore requesting we will forthwith render
in to you a list of all such labourers &c specifically detailed on the
three blank schedules which we have also received enclosed from you for that
purpose.
For
which communication we beg leave to return you our best thanks and we will
forthwith proceed to prepare the schedules as desired and forward them to you,
and we remain very respectfully
Your most
obedient humble servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
148
3 Union
Buildings
New
15th
October 1819
Sir,
Referring
you to our letter of the 7th inst we have now the honour
of acknowledging receipt of your letter of the 13th inst
in reply to which we will provide ourselves with a medical practitioner who
will be properly qualified to accompany the settlers which Lord BATHURST has
been pleased through you to grant us permission to take out to the Cape of Good
Hope, and the name and particulars of which medical gentleman will accompany
the schedule.
We respectfully are Sir
Your very humble servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
163
3 Union
Buildings
New
25th
October 1819
Sir,
The
period having arrived when, by your notice to us, our schedules containing the
names of all the settlers whom we intend to take with us to the
Mr.
LAING has some business to arrange which will occupy his attention during the
whole of the next month and Mrs. THOMSON is hourly expected to be laid in
childbed, besides two of her children are ill of the hooping
cough and two children are ill also of the scarlet fever.
We
therefore submit that if not trespassing too far on His Majesty’s Service to
solicit the favour of an [extension] of six or eight weeks of more time from
the date hereof to enable us to overcome these obstacles and be more
satisfactorily prepared for the voyage.
Our
numbers will consist of one hundred able bodied men, about twenty five women
and fifty children. We respectfully are Sir
Your very obedient servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
169
1 November
1819
Sir,
We
are favoured with your letter of the 29th ult informing
us that as we have not transmitted our returns into your office within the
period fixed for receiving them you were therefore directed by Lord BATHURST to
acquaint us the acceptance of our proposal to take one hundred families to the
Cape of Good Hope must be considered as cancelled.
However
much we may lament the receipt of this intelligence we considered it a duty
under all the circumstances which we owed to you, to His Majesty’s Government
and to ourselves to inform you with our reasons as stated in our letter of the
25th ult for not seeing our way clear to comply with Earl
BATHURST’s former instructions communicated to us
through you on that subject.
Our
numbers being chiefly engaged and made up for the purposes before mentioned we
shall therefore continue our arrangements on the undertaking and so soon as the
obstacles which have detained us at present are removed we will then complete
our schedules, propose the charter of a ship for our conveyance to the Cape of
Good Hope and submit the whole through you to His Majesty’s Government and from
the accustomed liberality of which we will hope for a favourable result!
We respectfully are Sir
Your very obedient servants
Robert THOMSON
George LAING
[Note from GOULBURN]
Lord B will of course consider any proposition which
may be submitted but he thinks it right to warn them if they expect any
assistance from Govt against engaging any persons or embarking in any expence
without the previous sanction of this department
THORN,
William (1)
57
No.2
Aug 2nd
1819
Sir,
Acording as I was desired at your office I have sent the
ages of myself my wife and children to go to the
Wm. THORN 38
Ann THORN 37
Wm. THORN 14
Robert THORN 12
Mary Ann THORN 9
Samuel THORN 7
Ann THORN 3
If you will be so good as to let me know your terms
you will oblidge
Your humble serv’t
Wm. THORN
THORN,
William (2)
73
No.1 Crown
Place
9th
August 1819
My Lord,
Having
seen by the papers and the Motion of the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the
Exchequer that certain portions of land was to be granted by His Majesty’s
Government to persons wishing to proceed to the South East of the Cape of Good
Hope, I most humbly beg leave to state to your Lordship that I am a native of
the West of England and spent my youthfull days with
my Father there who is a Farmer. I am by Trade a Baker and am at present a
little reduced through misfortunes I have met with in Trade, and have a Wife
and two young healthy Boys.
I
most humbly beg your Lordship will be pleased to grant me a portion of land
subject to such regulations as may be thought necessary. If permitted I could
take out with me a limitted number of necessitious young men which I trust would meet your
Lordship’s approbation.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
Wm. THORN
THORNHILL,
Christopher
[Transcriber’s Note: The correspondence below is signed “C.T. THORNHILL”,
the initials standing for Christopher Thornhill – which may seem a bit odd. He
was in fact born Christopher Thornhill CAMM and
changed his surname by deed poll in 1803 in order to inherit his cousin John THORNHILL’s estate as specified in the latter’s will.
Christopher was no stranger to colonial life as in the late 1700s he managed a
sugar farm in Antigua in the
“ THORNHILL initially entered into a
partnership with William WAIT and Arthur BARKER to take a party of some 50
labourers and their families to the Cape, under WAIT’s
direction ...Towards the end of December 1819, when the party was about to
board the Zoroaster transport, the
Colonial Department was notified that WAIT had been arrested for debt and a writ to
prevent his leaving the country had been issued on the application of a former
business partner. THORNHILL was appointed head of the party in WAIT’s
place. Three weeks later, however, with the Zoroaster
still lying at Deptford, WAIT managed to settle his affairs and obtain his
release. THORNHILL
was unwilling to place himself and his share of the party’s finances again
under WAIT’s direction, and a quarrel developed
that the Colonial Department was called upon to settle by arbitration. An
official was sent from
137
5th October 1819
Sir,
Some Gentlemen with myself who possess some capital, would
emigrate to the Cape, and engage to complete the full complement of men allowed
to be put into one ship; if we can be allowed to proceed with the Transport to
a port in Scotland, so as to save expences to the families going out – every
necessary reference will be given should this proposal be approved: your answer
will oblige.
Sir
Your most
obedient servant
C.T.
THORNHILL
172-173
21st December 1819
Sir,
I beg leave to refer you to Mr. WAIT’s list of
persons about to embark to
Having understood that that Gentleman was a man of property
I entered into an agreement with him to advance half of the deposit to be
placed in the hands of his Majesty’s Government and to share equally with him
in the Grant of Land. Agreeable to this arrangement I advanced £300 towards the
deposit for which I have Mr. WAIT’s acknowledgment and I have
received considerable expence in making other necessary arrangements for this
undertaking. I now find unfortunately
that Mr. WAIT
has been prevented by legal process from embarking and that some application is
intended to be made to his Majesty’s Government relating to his deposit.
Under these circumstances I hope you will excuse my
addressing you on the subject and requesting the favor of your sentiments as to
the course likely to be adopted by Government in consequence of the proceedings
alluded to and what course I ought to take, as the party have
received directions to embark on the 22nd instant.
It will be impossible for me without the promised assistance
of Mr. WAIT
to undertake the concern and it is now too late in the season to find any other
person to supply his plan – but I should be very glad to arrange to take out
the party next season if that can be permitted – should that not be the case I
hope there will be no objection to my receiving back the £300 of the deposit
advanced by me as the arrangement has not in any respect fallen off on my part.
I have the
honor to be
Sir your most obedient and humble servant
C.T.
THORNHILL
174
29th December 1819
Mr. THORNHILL requests leave to enclose for Mr.
GOULBURN the Receipt for the Deposit given to Mr.WAIT.
176
[the date, first paragraph and name and address at the end of
the first page and signature are all hand written and the rest is a standard
official printed letter]
[Letter
sent to: Mr.WAIT Esq., Walnut Tree House]
16 November 1819
Sir,
Mr. HILL of the Treasury has reported to me that you have
paid into his hands the sum of 655£ being the amount of your deposit money.
I therefore transmit to you by Earl BATHURST’s
direction, a Letter to the Governor of the
Directions
have been given to provide you and your party with a conveyance to that Colony;
and you will receive from the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Navy due notice of
the time and place which they may appoint for your Embarkation.
I am directed by Earl BATHURST to take this opportunity of
acquainting you, that he feels assured that you will not fail to impress upon
the persons who have placed themselves under your direction, the necessity of
observing an orderly conduct during the Voyage; nor, does his Lordship doubt
that you will cordially co-operate with the Master of the Vessel appointed for
your conveyance, in enforcing implicit adherence to the Regulations established
for the guidance of the Settlers, and which have no other object than to ensure
their comfort and their safety.
I am, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
Henry GOULBURN
P.S. If
there should be any Naval Pensioners among your Party, I request that you would
desire them, on their arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, to write to the Pay
master of the Pensions at Greenwich Hospital, and solicit from that Officer
directions respecting the Payment of their Allowances.
180
31st December 1819
Sir,
I have been informed that it is necessary to procure an
order for the shipment of six barrels of gun powder about to be shiped on board the Zoroaster
Transport, Captain THOMPSON, bound for the
Permit me
to request the favor of your procuring me an order to that effect.
I have the
honor to be Sir
Your most
obedient servant
C.
THORNHILL
[Note from
GOULBURN on the reverse of the above letter]
He must
apply to the correct Board. Lord B cannot feel any necessity for his shipping
such a quantity of gunpowder
3rd
January
THORPE,
James
47
July 27th
1819
Sir,
Having
been inform by an advertisement in the newspaper there
being a quantity of persons wanting to go to the
I remain your obedient humble servant
James THORPE
THORPE, R.
re Thomas WILLSON
115
Queen Street
September 9th
1819
Sir,
If I
offend I ask pardon as I have no wish to do so. My object is chiefly this;
being about to engage with a person of the name of Thos. WILSON of Chelsea Water Works
for the Cape of Good Hope I wish further to ascertain wether
the said Thos.
WILSON has received leave from you to raise the compliment required,
what each person of 20 years is to pay, wether
Government finds any utentials to till the ground,
the quantity of luggage each is allowed to carry. By answering the above you
will very much oblige
Your most humble
and obedient servant
R. THORPE
NB Please to answer the above as the said Thos. WILSON
is an entire stranger, to know wether he is about to
defraud me or not as he has informed me that each person must pay the money on
Monday next
TILLY, B.
128
St.James’
Street
Portsea
Sept 30 1819
My Lord,
As
here are several persons (among who is myself) who have it in contemplation to emigrate to the
Your Lordship’s most obedient very humble servant
B. TILLY
TINDAL, Charles
67
5th
August 1819
Sir,
I beg
leave to be favored with the prospectus of the plan upon which His Majesty’s
Ministers propose to establish the new settlement at Algoa Bay on the Southern
Coast of Africa, in requesting which I am particularly desirous to know how far
the plan would embrace the emigration of settlers at their own expence, carrying
out with them husbandsmen &c, whether the
encouragement to such settlers would differ from that held out to others; as
also whether the lands about to be granted are confined to the neighbourhood of
Algoa Bay or comprise the range of coast towards Plettenburg
and the Knysna. I beg to apologise for these detailed enquiries.
I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant
Chas. TINDAL
Lieut. RN
TODD, George
38
No.1 Whiten
Rents
Dock Head
Southwark
July 22 1819
May it please your Lordship,
The proffered offer of Government to
citizens wishing to settle at the
Your Lordship’s most humble obedient servant and
respectful supplicant
George TODD
TOLLETT, William
40
23 July 1819
The memorial of William TOLLETT,
late a Merchant, at
Humbly sheweth
That your memorialist is desirous of proceeding to the
That your Lordship’s memorialist can give
unexceptionable references as to character and abilities to the most
respectable merchants in London and Plymouth; and now most respectfully
solicits your Lordship’s interest in his behalf to enable him to proceed on his
intended voyage & at the same time to assure your Lordship that no exertion
on his part shall be wanting to promote the general interest of the Colony and
to merit your Lordship’s approbation and support.
And your Lordship’s memorialist as in duty bound will
ever pray &c
Wm. TOLLETT
TOLMÉ, Murdoch
74
Dunvegan
10th
August 1819
My Lord,
I
have the honour to address your Lordship on the subject of a Circular Letter
lately issued from your Department relative to persons wishing to emigrate to
the Cape of Good Hope and Have in consequence to inform your Lordship that
their are from thirty to one hundred families in this and the adjacent isles
who are desirous to avail themselves of the very liberal terms which are
offered by Government. There are, however, some further particulars with which
they wish to be made acquainted, such as a previous knowledge of the particular
district in which they are to be settled and whether, in the event that
Government approve of their situation, transports would be sent to this quarter
to take them away. Should their proposals take effect I propose to accompany
them, but would wish in the meantime to be pointedly informed which terms or
encouragement will be given to myself & how I am to enforce [payment?] of
my advances to Government from the settlers on [or] after arrival? From this I
hold in view that I should advance most of the deposit money as the people are
poor in general.
They
are all Protestants of decent morals, bred to husbandry, fishing & the
rearing of [sheep] and black cattle.
Should
this proposal meet your Lordship’s attention so far as to honor me with a
favorable reply I shall thereafter make references which I hope will satisfy
your Lordship as to my character and qualifications. I
have the honor to be my Lord
Yr Lordships most ob hb svt
Murdoch TOLMÉ
TOMBLING, T.
28
Mount Street
July 19th
1819
My Lord,
I
shall consider myself very much obliged in being informed if it is in the
contemplation of His Majesty’s Government to grant certain proportions of land
in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope to Officers of the Army in the
like manner as it is granted in Canada, and if the grant will be extended to
such officers of the British Militia as are now unprovided for by the State,
and who may be willing to emigrate.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
T. TOMBLING
Captain Cambridge Militia
TOMLINSON,
James et al
117
[Received 20
Sep 1819]
|
J. TOMLINSON Wife and 4 children Thos. HYDE Wife and 3 children John NUTTALL Wife and 2 children Robert CLOUGH Wife and 3 children |
The humble petition of James TOMLINSON late a
private in his Majesty’s 2nd Dragoon Guards but now an Outpensioner of Chelseas
Hospital at 6d per day resident at Lanebridge
within the Township of Habergham Caves in the
County of Lancaster; Thomas HYDE late a private in his Majesty’s 84th
Regt of Foot but now an Outpensioner of the same
hospital at 9d per day resident at Lanebridge
aforesaid; John NUTTALL late a private in his
Majesty’s 79th Regt of Foot but now an Outpensioner
of the same hospital at 9d per day
resident at Lanebridge aforesaid and Robert
CLOUGH late a private in his Majesty’s 10th Regt of Dragoons but
now an Outpensioner of the same hospital at 9d per
day resident at Lanebridge aforesaid |
Sheweth
That your
petitioners are desirous of emigrating with their families (a list of which is
in the margin) to the intended Colony at the Cape of Good Hope but being
destitute of the money necessary for the purpose your petitioners on the 6th
instant caused a petition to be presented to the Commissioners of Chelsea
Hospital soliciting that they might be allowed to commute their pensions in
order to enable your petitioners to emigrate as aforesaid, not knowing at the
time that such Commutation was against the existing Law; to which petition an
answer was returned on the 14th inst stating that such a commutation
would be illegal, but that if petitioners could obtain your permission to
proceed to the Cape of Good Hope as settlers your petitioners might receive the
pensions there with the other Outpensioners now
residing in the Colony upon transmitting to the Royal Hospital of Chelsea the
particulars of the time of your petitioners embarkation and naming the place of
future residence.
Your
petitioners therefore humbly pray your Lordship would be pleased to grant such
permission and if possible allow your petitioners to proceed to the said
intended Colony passage free without making the Deposit required by the
existing regulations, it being impossible for your petitioners to procure the
sums necessary for such Deposit; but your petitioners are willing in case your
Lordship please to grant permission without making a Deposit as aforesaid
[that] their pensions shall be retained by Government till the Deposit be paid.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
The
petitioners respectfully entreat that as early an answer as possible may be
returned to their petition, directed to James TOMLINSON at Lanebridge,
near Burnley,
James TOMLINSON
Thomas HYDE
John NUTTEL
Robt CLOUGH
TOUGHTON, James
1081
[Received 25
Aug 1819]
Sir,
Having
called at Downing Street respecting the proposals concerning going to the
Your humble servant
James TOUGHTON
TOURNIER, John
131
No.4
5th
October 1819
The humble memorial of John TOURNIER
Sheweth
That
your memorialist having served more than eight years as Midshipman in His
Majesty’s Navy viz. with Capt. Sir M. SEYMOUR in the Amethyst, Niemen
and Hannibal from January 1809 till
September 1814, with Captain WALKER in the Bedford from September 1814 to July
1815, with Captain PAGE in the Puissant
from July 1815 to August 1815 and with Captain BROUGHTON in the Spencer from May to August 1817, when
your memorialist was discharged sick to the Royal Hospital at Plymouth, of
which services and good behaviour your memorialist has certificates from his
several captains and that in the course of such service your memorialist was
frequently engaged with the enemy and amongst others at the Capture of the Niemen, French
frigate, at the expedition to Flushing, at New Orleans and at cutting out
vessels in the Basque Roads, and your memorialist is one of four brothers who
have served in His Majesty’s Navy, two of whom were lost in the Service.
Your
memorialist being by the reduction consequent on placing the British Navy on
the Peace Establishment left destitute of any employment, and with all prospect
of promotion being closed, is desirous of going to the Cape of Good Hope as a
settler, but finds considerable impediments in availing himself of the
benevolent intentions of Government towards individuals similarly situated with
himself, as your memorialist understands that to enable him to participate in
the benefits held out he must join a club under the responsibility of a
Principal who must be approved by Government, and in case of such Principal not
being approved the individuals composing the club are deprived of the
advantages of the grant of land and voyage and have no other means of going out
with the privileges Government have granted. Your memorialist understands that
the rejection of the Principal is not usually communicated to the individuals
composing the club. Your memorialist might therefore be kept in suspence and uncertainty till too late to enable his going
out at all.
Your
memorialist therefore humbly prays that in consideration of his and his
family’s services he may be permitted to go to the Cape unconnected with any
club and may be granted a free passage to the
And your memorialist as in duty bound will ever pray
John TOURNIER
TOWNSEND,
John
51
Mary le Bone
28 July 1819
Sir,
The
writer of this is a respectable young man who has a brother and sister settled
at the
I remain your humble servant
J. TOWNSEND
65
Mary le Bone
4 Aug 1819
Sir,
I
received your letter of instruction in answer to mine and am ready to deposit
10£ for myself as I know of no other persons going out with whom I could join.
If this should meet your approbation I should be oblight
to be favoured with further instructions.
I remain
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
John TOWNSEND
TOZET, Solomon
170
Ligueira
near
3 Nov 1819
My Lord,
Your
Lordships goodness will I hope pardon for the liberty taken in addressing your
Lordship on the subject of emigration to the
I
observe by the public papers the support and encouragement His Majesty’s
Government offers to those who wish to become settlers in that Colony and can
be approved.
The
little knowledge I have of the
I
hope this intrusion on your Lordships time will not be too great an
infringement by informing: I have been here nearly eight years during that time
under the patronage of John JEFFERY Esq, Consul general,
I
wait with all humble submission encouraged to hope may in part excuse the
presumption in troubling your Lordship for an answer with the regulations
accompanied in order to make the necessary arrangements should I prove to be
one of those of your favour, and beg leave to remain with all possible respect
and deference
Your Lordships most devoted and most obedient humble servant
Solomon TOZET
TREGARTHA, William and Richard SILBY (filed under S in CO48/45)
802
No.1
Tower Royal
Budge Row
August 3rd
1819
Sir,
We
beg leave to lay before you this letter as expression of our wish and desire to
proceed to the
We remain Sir
Your most humble
servants
Wm. TREGARTHA
Richard SILBY
Sir,
I thank you for the printed circlar
in answer to a letter sent to his Lordship conserning
going to New Sou Wells
Wm. TREGARTHA
TREVERS, John
108
[Received
Aug 27 1819]
Sir,
I
understand [hole in paper] have made application for men to go to the cape of
good hope i am a single man and a labourer and i am 22 years of age. My residence is No.7 North Row
Clapham Surry
I am your humble servant
John TREVERS
TRYER, Nicholas
90
2 Little
Near
Whitechapel
16 July 1819
My Lord,
I
having been informed that an opportunity now offers for persons who may wish to
emigrate from this country to the Cape, thro’ the medium of Government, such as
your Lordship will on all occasions furnish applicants with the necessary
information that may be required by those whom your Lordship may think proper
for such encouragement.
I
therefore have to acquaint your Lordship that I wish to avail myself of such an
opportunity with the provision I can obtain your Lordships approbation. I am
now 45 years of age, sound in all aspects as to my health and constitution,
have been generally accustomed to country business being a [Pension?] by
country, have no family or any incumbrances. I
[obscured] as I am like numberless more destitute of manual labour and having a
small capital would readily risque it in any
enterprize sanctioned by Government. As I am not immediately acquainted with
the conditions should be most obliged for such information as may be necessary
to enable me to make such arrangements prior to the sailing of the shipping
under your Lordship’s direction.
I am your Lordship’s most obt
and very humble serv’t
Nicholas TRYER
TUBBS,
Edmund
118
Sept 5th
1819
My Lord,
I
take the liberty to request to be informed whether an officer may have a grant
of land at the Cape of Good Hope with or without a passage for himself &
family and I beg to add with a view of giving as little trouble as possible
that I am acquainted with the printed regulations with regard to settlers and
that I merely wish to be informed if an officer may in any way have a grant
bearing a similitude to Canada.
I have the honor to be my Lord with the highest
respect
Your most obed’t humble serv’t
Edm’d TUBBS
Lieut. Late 8th R.V.
Batt
[Note from GOULBURN]
No distinction is made in favor of officers of the
Army and Navy in granting lands to settlers
TUCKER,
William
146
[Received 15
October 1819]
The humble petition of William TUCKER, Surgeon of Imber near Heytesbury in the
Sheweth
That
your petitioner is the eldest son of Richard TUCKER Schoolmaster of Imber in the County of Wilts who has a family of nine
children; that your petitioner not having been initiated into any trade or
profession left his home at the age of eighteen and without friends, prospects
or pecuniary resources he succeeded in acquiring such a knowledge of the
Medical and Chirurgical Professions as to qualify him for the situation of
Visiting Assistant, in which capacity he resided three years with Henry THOMSON
Esq, Surgeon of Kensington, and since that period your petitioner has resided
with other Surgeons of eminence in London. Your petitioner by a steady
perseverance in the same system of diligence and application with which he
commenced his professional career was enabled to go through the usual routine
of Hospital Studies and after passing his examinations before the respective
constituted bodies was elected a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a
Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries. Your petitioner is now unfortunately
arrived at a period when all his further efforts are futile, and not possessing
either property or connexions he is induced, most humbly, to solicit the
following favor of you: that you will be pleased either to recommend him to the
Surgeoncy of a Ship intended to convey emigrants to
the Cape of Good Hope or to some medical appointment, foreign or domestic,
naval or military, in which his talents may be advantageously employed. And
your petitioner will ever pray.
TUDOR,
Charles
119
Sept 22 1819
My Lord,
I
take the liberty of addressing your Lordship on the subject of inquiry
respecting the manner in which I am to proceed in placing the deposit money in
the hands of a proper agent as Mr. WHITLEY in this town wants £1:0:0 per head
over the stated sum of which I should pay before departure. And I would
consider it a great favour if your Lordship in answer would let me know whether
he (Mr.W) is the agent of Government in this town, as
he does not inform us who we are to pay the deposit money to, nor in whose
hands to place it, but the £1:0:0 above stated he wants for himself. He styles
himself Messrs WHITLEY & Co No. 3 School Lane
I am my Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedient and very humble servant
Charles TUDOR
TURNER, John
94
TURVEY, Edward
[Transcriber’s Note: See also correspondence of Thomas MAHONY filed under M in CO48/44. “TURVEY
(a drawing master) was initially a member of the party led by Thomas MAHONY, whose application to emigrate was
accepted on the recommendation of the Dowager Countess of
157
Wednesday
Sir
I had the honor of waiting on you on Monday last with a
letter from the Right Honble the Dowager Countess of
Liverpool to _ GOLDBURNE Esq and presented to you a
letter from Her Ladyship to the Right Hon’ble the
Earl BATHURST relative to TURVEY and MAHONY. We have since been favourd
with a letter accepting our proposals and a grant to take out 17 men and for
which we beg leave to return our most grateful acknowledgements.
At the time I had the honor of seeing you I mentioned that
subsequent to our letter of the 20th August two of my sons between
22 and 25 years of age had made arrangements to be of our party and begged to
know if they could be included with my brother in law and two able bodied
farmers as their assistants making 22 able bodied individuals instead of 17. You
mentioned that we could [amend] our list and I again beg permission to do so in
their favour.
I need hardly add that to a father this will be a most
grateful boon and I should feel particularly happy in being able to acquaint
the Countess in
The favour
of an answer will much oblige Sir
Yours very
respectfully
for self
and MAHONY
Edward TURVEY
[notation overleaf:] five persons to be added to list of Mr MAHONY
159
Monday [undated]
Sir
I had the honor of waiting on you Monday last in consequence
of a letter from the Dowager Countess of Liverpool to Mr
GOLDBURNE and presented to you a letter from the
Right Hon’ble the Earl BATHURST to the Countess of
Liverpool relative to a grant for TURVEY and MAHONY.
Since which period we have been favourd with a letter
accepting our proposals and a grant to take out 17 men and for which beg to
express our most greatful acknowledgements.
At our interview I begged to state to you that since our
first proposal two of my sons aged between 22 and 25 years of age and my
brother in law have made arrangements to be of our party. To have all my family with me would be a
great comfort to me and you informed that we could amend our list. I again beg permission to do so in their
favour: together with two able bodied farmers as their assistants, thusly
making 22 able bodied individuals instead of 17. One of my sons is a Sadler and the other a
farmer.
You will perceive in going to a foreign country how much
happiness a father would attach to the company and assistance of his children
and your kind interference to adjust this arrangement will be ever greatfully remembered by Sir
Your
obedient and most humble servant
Edward TURVEY
Mr MAHONY being informed that this can be
accomplished will forward his list as soon as possible.
161
[Letter from Earl BATHURST, who was the MP for
Cirencester, to the Countess of LIVERPOOL]
Cirencester
Dear Madam
I had the honor of receiving yesterday your Ladyship’s
letter in behalf of Edward TURVEY & Thomas MAHONY, who have applied to be among the number
of those who are to proceed to a Colonial Settlement at the
I do myself
the honour of enclosing (what I happen to have by me) copies of the
Regulations, & which your Ladyship will be able to judge of their case.
I have the
honor [to be]
Your
Ladyship’s most humble
142/144
Sir
I had the honor of receiving your letter yesterday in
consequence of which I shall decline any statement of Mr MAHONY’s
conduct, at the same time I beg leave to say that having had the honor of being
recommended to Lord BATHURST by the Right Hon’ble the
Dowager Countess of Liverpool to whom I have been known for 12 years, I feel it
my duty to repel any insinuation that may have been made to my veracity or
integrity. I therefore beg to place my
honor in your hands the vindication of which alone will induce me to make any
avowal of Mr MAHONY’s conduct. I shall feel much obliged by your having the
goodness to present the enclosed letter to the Earl of BATHURST. I feel most grateful for your attention to my
different applications and have the honor to be Sir
Your
obliged and very humble servant
Edward TURVEY
[enclosed letter]
My Lord
I beg respectfully to bring to your Lordships recollection
of circumstance of the Dowager Countess of Liverpool writing to your Lordship
on my behalf in respect to a grant of land at the Cape of good Hope which was applyed for (if I have not been deceived in this as
in other matters by Mr MAHONY)
on the 20th of August last in the joint names of MAHONY
and TURVEY.
Since your Lordships consent to the grant has been received in the
separate name of MAHONY that gentleman’s conduct has been
such as leaves the [rest of us] no hope but in your Lordships Justice, he then
refusing to comply with any of the agreements entered into prior to its
receipt.
A second grant application was then agreed on and your
Lordship permitted 5 names more to be added to the 7 then agreed to by Mr MAHONY & me making my part of the grant to
consist of 12 families, most of whom have parted with their houses and
businesses and Mr MAHONY now a second
time refusing to comply with his promises to them they look anxiously to me for
your Lordships decision.
Your Lordship will perceive how cruel it was to hold out
false hopes to any Men under such a momentous undertaking as emigration and it
is impossible to conjecture what his motives could be in so doing. Those
persons my Lord are willing to come and declare on oath the hopes which were
held out to them, they have all made their arrangements and have purchased fire
arms and other articles for the undertaking and as my Lord we are placed in
this unheard of situation and as the government do not interfere with the
agreements between the settlers and the persons they take out may we my Lord
entreat a grant for our party, which consists of
Mr John BURGESS, farmer, Burwash
Mr Peter DANIEL, jeweller (quitting business) and family
Mr CAMPBELL, surgeon, and family
and
myself and sons, and 7 able bodied husbandmen selected at Burwash
In presuming my Lord thus to intrude you will perceive that
justice to the parties who have been led through me to hope compel an act I
would not as an individual think of. I
also my Lord feel that I owe it to the recommendation of the Countess of
Liverpool to whom I have the honor of being known for 12 years and who has so
much interested herself in endeavouring to procure
this ground for me and to whom Mr MAHONY is
intirely unknown except through me.
Anxiously
waiting your Lordships answer
I am my
Lord
your
Lordship’s most obedient and most humble servant
Edward TURVEY
Mr MAHONY refuses to accept the 5 names your
Lordship permitted to be added to the list which was requested with his
concurrence
150/152
Sir
I have the honor to enclose you a list to be presented to
the Right Hon’ble the Earl of BATHURST and in
addition beg to say that the names and ages of the labourers and families can
be sent in in at the utmost in 3 days from the time
of his Lordships answer to this proposal.
I have the
honor to be Sir
Your most
obliged and most humble servant
Edward TURVEY
[enclosed]
My Lord
Agreeable to the desire of Mr
Richard PENN I beg respectfully to submit to your Lordship the names of myself
and friends who formed the party with Mr MAHONY
and are desirous my Lord of having our part of the grant separate.
Our Party
my Lord consists of
My father,
my wife, myself and 8 children
Mr John BURGIS, wife and 6 children
Mr DANIEL, wife and 4 children
Mr William Wright TURVEY*, my eldest son his wife and 4
children
Mr John CAMPBELL*, surgeon aged 37, wife, 2 children
and 7
able bodied husbandmen some with and some without families selected expressly
from their knowledge of farming.
My lord I beg to say for myself that I am 38 years of age in
full health and strength that I have cultivated a farm of 37 acres which I have
at present let, but for the last 10 years have followed commercial pursuits and
am a tolerable draughtsman and landscape painter.
Mr John BURGIS, farmer of Burwash
Mr DANIEL, jeweller has been 18 years in business, has made a few hundred pounds
and is quitting business. He is 39 years
of age, is a good Smith and in good health and strength.
Mr William Wright TURVEY, my eldest son is a strong able
man, 23 years of age is a good farmer and has been for some time in the iron
trade.
Mr CAMPBELL is an able man has a good knowledge of farming.
Our intentions are to divide the land into five farms and to
take out the 7 farmers or husbandmen for the cultivation together with the
assistance of our families, several of our children being strong active lads.
The labourers have been selected at Burwash
in
I have parted my house.
Mr CAMPBELL has sold his house in
I am my
Lord, respectfully
Your
Lordship most obedient and most humble servt
Edward TURVEY
*[Transcriber’s Note: Nash lists William Wright TURVEY
as William WRIGHT, presumably from the final return when the surname was not
listed. John CAMPBELL is actually Peter CAMPBELL, who changed party on several
occasions but eventually emigrated with SEPHTON’s Party – see his
correspondence under C in CO48/42 and under Thomas MAHONY
in CO48/44]
154
Wednesday
Sir
I had yesterday the honour of receiving your commands to
send in my list. Am I to receive printed
papers for that purpose to be filled up. I leave
I have the
honour to be Sir
Your most
obedient and humble servant
Edward TURVEY
[Note on
the reverse] You must if you wish to go send in your list without delay
Yours
R. P.
[Transcriber’s note: Richard PENN was an official at
the Colonial Office]
165
Wednesday [received
Sir
I yesterday had the honor of receiving your letter of the 25th
Inst relative to the return of the lists of my Party’s names which I beg leave
to inform you was transmitted by me to the Colonial
office on the evening of the 25th.
I would consider it a most particular favor if you could give me any
intimation of the latest period it is calculated that the Expedition will sail –
and from whence the Embarcation will take place.
I have the
honor to be Sir most respectfully
Your
obliged and obedient svt
Edward TURVEY
178
31 Decr 1819
Sir
In effecting my arrangements for emigration I fear I have
given much extra trouble and I beg to return my greatful
acknowledgement for the different favours I have
received. May I who beg you will impute
my present inquiries only to my wish of complying as far as I think it my duty
to those persons who have placed themselves under my direction, some of them
friends wishing now to join this party beg to know if by paying their own
passage out to the Cape will they be allowed a grant of land and if that land
may be annexed to ours. I also beg to
know if my second eldest son aged 22 whose name was in the first list but who
declined going out fearing he would not be able to make some pecuniary
arrangements but which the extension of time has now enabled him to compleat, can now accompany me by paying in to Mr HILL the amount for his deposit. I am requested by the
party to inquire if we are permitted to take out ammunition and to what
quantity we will be limited, also to know on the land being divided into
separate farms whether any one person defaulting to cultivate his part the
whole of the grant to me becomes forfeited.
I am also requested to ask if the Government provided fire
arms for the Settlers and also if tents are included in the stores provided by
the Government to be purchased by the Settlers with the agricultural implements
at prime cost, and lastly if the Settlers will have an opportunity of
purchasing any provisions on their landing.
I hope those inquiries are not improper and if the [sic] are that you
will pardon me.
I have the
honor to be Sir
Your most
obedient and humble servt
Edward TURVEY
[notation overleaf] Give him the answers which have been
given to others making similar enquiries
TURVEY, John
88
August 16
1819
John TURVEY will thank the
gentlemen of this office to inform him the agreements to go to the
TWITCHIN, Robert
21
23 June 1819
Sir,
Having
understood that persons are permitted to emigrate to
the
I have the honor to be Sir
Your most obed’t humble servant
Robt TWITCHIN
At Mr. Joshua TWITCHIN’s
Butcher
Stockwell Green
Surry
[Transcriber’s Note: Robert TWITCHIN
did not long survive writing this letter. According to a TWITCHIN
descendant he died aged 36 on 28 November and is buried in All Saints
Churchyard, Fulham]