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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

GRIFFITH, Charles, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 300

23 Francis Street

Woolwich

Jul 28th 1819

Sir,

I take the liberty of addressing you to request you will do me the favour to inform me what part of the south east coast of the Cape of Good Hope it is under the contemplation of the Government to form a new settlement by the latest circular to encourage emigration to that colony, and if the half pay officer entitled to a part in Nova Scotia or Canada will be allowed the same acreage of land by turning his views to the Cape settlement. I shall also wish to be informed if any of the transports to carry out settlers will sail from either of the out ports of Liverpool or Bristol.

I have Sir the honor to be your obed't humble serv't

Charles GRIFFITH

Lt. Royal Marines

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 410

Newtown

Sept 4th 1819

My Lord,

In compliance with your Lordship's directions of the 21st ult in answer to my application made through one of the magistrates of this county for permission to go out as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope.

I beg leave to assure your Lordship that with my brother, who wishes to join me in taking out ten labourers each, that we are most ready to conform to all the conditions upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant lands in the colony; and agreeable to the printed form desiring a detailed statement of the names and ages of all the persons we beg to transmit the following list of the twenty able bodied individuals with their wives and children who are desirous to accompany us.

We have the honor to be my Lord

Your most obedient humble servants

Valentine GRIFFITH

Charles GRIFFITH

Lieuts. Royal Marines Half Pay

A detailed statement of twenty men, eighteen women and twenty seven children proposed to be taken out to the colony of the Cape of Good Hope by Valentine GRIFFITH and Charles GRIFFITH agreeable to the form directed by letter of the 22nd August in answer to application through one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Montgomery to obtain permission to go out as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope Colony.

Newtown, Sept 4th 1819

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Valentine GRIFFITH

Lieut HP Royal Marines

Aged 29

Charles GRIFFITH

Lieut. Royal Marines

Aged 31

Names of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of Women

Age

Male Children

Ages

Female Children

Ages

     

Eliza GRIFFITH

23

       
     

Mary GRIFFITH

26

       

Richard JONES

Bailiff

30

Hannah JONES

29

Richard/Isaac

7/6

Betsy

2

John GRIFFITH

Farrier

22

Cornelia GRIFFITH

25

       

William JONES

Sawer

32

Ann JONES

30

       

Richard MILLS

Saddler

28

Eliza MILLS

24

       

Richard HAIRBOTTLE

Gardener

31

Jane HAIRBOTTLE

28

John/William

12/5

Jane/Betsy

8/1

Thomas JONES

Labourer

42

           

James DAVIS

Labourer

35

Mary DAVIS

31

John

7

Ann

3

Thomas EVANS

Labourer

33

Eliza EVANS

25

James/John

5/3

Eliza

8

James HOWELL

Mason

24

           

John JAMES

Joiner

40

Martha JAMES

36

John

6

   

James JONES

Sawer

29

Jane JONES

25

 

 

Jane

2

Thomas OWEN

Labourer

41

Harriet OWEN

40

       

Richard HUGHES

Carpenter

25

Ann HUGHES

30

Edward

8

Mary/Betsy

9/5

Thomas MORRIN

Blacksmith

28

Elizabeth MORRIN

23

Thomas

2

Ann

1

John WILLIAMS

Labourer

38

Mary Williams

33

John/Thomas

10/8

Mary

11

Thomas HOWELLS

Carpenter

33

           

Jno. MORGAN

Labourer

34

Hannah MORGAN

30

James/Reece

11/9

Jane

3

Jno. JENKINS

Labourer

31

Jessy JENKINS

33

       

Thomas LEWIS

Labourer

39

Martha LEWIS

35

John

7

Harriet

5

George GREEN

Miller

39

           

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 429

Hungerford Coffee House

Sept 21st 1819

Sir,

I am induced from a most unexpected circumstance earnestly to request you will favour me with some information respecting the application I had the honor to make to Lord BATHURST on the subject of the Cape of Good Hope settlement, as my immediate acceptance of half pay must depend entirely upon that application meeting a favourable answer.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed't humble sev't

Charles GRIFFITH

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 518

13 Cornwallis Street

Liverpool

December 14th 1819

Sir,

I beg to be allowed the indulgence of enclosing a new settler list of the party of settlers under the direction of myself & brother and ordered to embark on board the ‘Stentor' transport. It was out of our power before the present moment of going on board to convey a list corrected and to be depended upon, as the people were generally withdrawing from their agreement. You will perceive the alterations are simply that of names and a reduction of four in the number of women and two children. The spirit of the instructions for my guidance I trust will be found I have attended strictly to in the alterations I have been compelled to make. The party will be all embarking tomorrow and as my brother is in possession of Lord SOMERSET's letter on his arrival at this place I will forward by tomorrow's post that letter for any alteration that may be necessary

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed't humble sev't

Charles GRIFFITH

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