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

Correspondence 1821 to 1837.

Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, whereas ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape.

Unless otherwise stated letters were written to either the Secretary of State for the Colonies or his deputy.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. 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.

COLLING, James (son of Thomas COLLING), 1833

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/152 

 

Your petitioner wishes to emigrate to Algoa Bay where his father and Brothers went some years ago in the service of His Majesty's Government. Your Petitioner being an apprentice at the time could not leave the Country. Your petitioner begs to state that he is by trade a Millwright and Engineer and flatters himself he is able to construct any kind of Mechanism that may be required for the improvement of the Colony and the want of practical Machinists he has been told is much felt by the Colonists. Not wishing however that Your Lordship should trust to his own opinions of himself he begs leave to refir Your Lordship to Mr. MAINWARING, Millwright, Commercial Place, Lambeth, to whom he served his apprenticeship and whos business he conducted for ten years ther after or to his present Employers Mas. RENNIE, Engineer, Holland street, Blackfriars Road. Your Petitioner begs also to state that he is in 31 year of age and as wife and four children. He there for hope that Your Lordship will be kind enough to take his Petion into Consideration and grant him and his family a passage to Algoa Bay in any manner that may be most covinent to His Majesty's Government and your Petitioner shall ever pray
James COLLING

At Mess.RENNIE Engineer
Holland Street, Blackfriars Road
March the 26 1833

 

6 Richmond Street, Lambeth
3rd May 1833

Sir,
   I beg leave to say that I am a Millwright in the employ of Messrs RENNIE, and about to emigrate with my wife and four children to Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, where my father (in the employ of Government) and eight of my brothers and sisters now live, but not possessing sufficient means to take us there, and understanding that His Majesty's Government are in the habit of granting small sums to individuals of respectable character about to emigrate, I will feel very grateful if the Colonial Department will befriend me by advancing, say, £20, the which I will faithfully repay to the Governor or other accredited Officer as soon after my arrival in the settlement as I possibly can. Your good offices in procuring me the loan of £20 will greatly benefit and much oblige
Your most obedient and very humble servant
James COLLING

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