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.

SOMERVILLE, James, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on 08 April 2015.

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 827

No. 5 Upper North Street

Sloan Street

London

7th August 1819

Sir,

Having a desire to emigrate to the settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, I wish to lay before you the following statements - That I am at present labouring under the distress of trade, with many losses attach'd to it and not being at present able to carry on the same any longer, & having a wife and family, also having been three voyages to the East Indies, induces me to undertake the same - I also wish to inform you that I am able to procure ten men to go with me, according to your regulations laid down - & having been in His Majesty's service 10 years & pensioned but small, induces me to hope that my services might be accepted of - & your humble petitioner will ever pray

James SOMERVILLE

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