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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.

PURDON, George

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 311

Portumna

Co. Galway

Oct 18 1819

My Lord,

I presume to address your Lordship relative to the Emigration to South Africa that is at this moment contemplated by his Majesty's government and to state to you that I am a Surgeon in the Half Pay Establishment, who would willingly emigrate with any Colony to South Africa having the sanction of his Majesty's government and suitable encouragement thereto.

Ill health, from an accident that occurred to me, from the upsetting of a boat in the River Tagus, going to a transport to return to England, from the Peninsula in May 1813, obliged me, eventually, to retire on Half Pay in 1814. Having gradually established my health in my native air and judging that such a climate as South Africa, would best tend to a continuance of my health, connecting with it an active life, I presumed on addressing your Lordship.

For my professional character, and conduct as an officer in the Service, I beg to refer to Major General WALLACE late Lt. Col. Of the 88th Infantry under whose command I was assistant surgeon seven years near five of which was in Spain and Portugal; I also beg to refer to Sir James McGREGOR, the Director General of Hospitals.

I am further induced to state to your Lordship that I have seen in the publick papers that a Mr. Wm. PARKER of Cork is about to proceed, to colonize a point of the coast of S. Africa contiguous to the Cape, under the protection of his Majesty's government, and that he is, at this moment, arranging in London such a proceeding with the intention of forming a Military Establishment for the protection of the Colony. This circumstance, your Lordship is best acquainted with, and it will be known to you whether government would sanction a Military Medical Officer, on Half Pay that offers himself for such a service.

I beg to submit this circumstance to your Lordship's consideration and have the honor tobe

Your Lordship's obedient servant

George PURDON

Surgeon HP 32nd Foot

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