Skip to main content
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.

LEWIS, David

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 239

Milford, February 4th 1819

May it please your Lordship

From a correspondence I have had with the Hon'ble Colonel Rob't Faulk Greville [Col.Robert Fulke Greville was Equerry to George III] on the subject of the Colonization of the Cape of Good Hope, I am by him to apply to your Lordship. I now beg permission most respectfully to be informed on what term encouragement would be given to settlers inclined to embark for that colony. Friends and self with a capital of about 2000£ with a family of children and servants amounting to 20 souls are inclined to proceed in the coarse of this year with an intention of cultivating the vine, corn and tobacco, provided your Lordship will inform us what quantity of land will be allotted us according to our capital and also inform us wether it is the intention of Government to grant us a free passage out with proportion of tonnage for implements and furnture.

Would your Lordship be pleased to give us such information as guidance for our future consideration.

Your Lordship's most hbl sev't

David LEWIS

  • Hits: 6412