CO48/46 National Archives, Kew, London  ~  1820 Settler Correspondence T-Y

 

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 South Africa, as listed in ‘The Settler Handbook’ by M.D. Nash, not necessarily with the Party listed here.

 

ULYATE, Henry

 

210

[undated]

My Lord,

            I trust you will excuse my troubling you as the following circumstances under which I labor will I hope be considered a sufficient apology. Having agreed with a gentleman to go with him to the new settlement intended to be established in the colony at the Cape of Good Hope as his clerk and steward for the space of three years and to receive from him an under grant in perpetuity of fifty acres of land (myself possessing a small yearly income) He now having declined going (through the unfortunate failure of the principal of the party, Mr. WAIT of Walnuttree House near Brentford) leaves me laboring under great disappointment after having disposed of my furniture and other  property and provided myself wife & six children with suitable apparel and other necessaries [for] three years. I therefore hope under the above mentioned circumstances this application to you requesting an individual [grant] of land from His Majesty’s Ministers will be attended with success as in such case it is my intention to pay my [own] passage out and proceed to the Cape by the first conveyance I can meet with – should the reverse take place my loss will be very considerable. You answer at your earliest convenience will be considered an obligation confered on

Your most obedient servant

Hy. ULYATE

 

UNDERHILL, John

 

208

Chatham, Kent

9th Nov 1819

Honorable Lords Commissioners of the Navy

Most humbly sheweth that your Petitioner served his time in his Majestys at Chatham as a shipwright and at the reducement of the yard was discharged and after served as labourer so long as was able to support my family. Having been advise by many of the officers of His Majesty yard to apply to your Lordship for to go out to Cape of Good Hope on wich I ever trusted in your Lordships goodness and still do trust. I have a wife an small family nearly starving for the want of bread. Humble petitioner will ever in duty bound to pray and serve you

John UNDERHILL

Near the post office, Chatham, Kent

 

John UNDERHILL/ wife an 2 children

Edes QUENTON

William BENNETT/wife

John READY/wife an 2 children

 

[note on reverse]

The shipwrights for the Naval Yards at the Cape are already provided.

As it appears to be an offer on behalf of himself & others to go to the Cape put it under cover to Mr. GOULBURN

 

UNDERHILL, S.W.

 

193

No.9 Exeter Street

Sloane Street

Chelsea

August 2nd 1819

Sir,

            Having been informed that you will give every information connected to the emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, I shall feel obliged if you will state the manner and terms on which from 10 to 20 persons in the farming line will be taken who wish to settle at the Cape but have little or no money to pay their passage. If Sir you will give this information you will oblige

Your most obed’t humble servant

S.W. UNDERHILL

 

UNWIN, John

 

212

Langley, near Macclesfield

August 1st 1819

My Lord,

            I have been directed to apply to you respecting emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope. I have been in the country 11 years and am well inform’d with their language. I have been through most parts of the country and was as high as Cat River with Lord SOMERSET. My desire is to emigrate to there and I believe I can get 9 and my wife. I was discharged from the 83rd Regt at 6d per day. I am about 31 years old. Your ans’r on the subject will oblige

Your Lordships humble & obedient servant

John UNWIN

 

PS There is a great number desirous to go there and could wish to have me with them

Please to direct for me to be left at Wm. LEATHER, Langley near Macclesfield, Cheshire

 

USTONSON, Onesimus

 

No.6 Camomile Mews

Camomile Street

Bishopsgate

[received 28 July 1819]

Sir,

            Onesimus USTONSON wishes to go to the Cape of Good Hope. Family consists of himself, wife & 2 children, age of myself 30, wifes age 26, boy 2 years girl 10 months

Your obedient servant

Onesimus USTONSON