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.

CAMPBELL, Duncan, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 351/352

Portsmouth, Sept 28th 1819

My Lord,

Wishing to avail myself of the offer of the Government to convey settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, I have to request your Lordship would be pleased to grant my application to be included in the number of those who proceed to the colony this year.

I regret being so late in my application, but I hope your Lordship will be induced to extend this indulgence to me when I state that several of my friends and connections have succeeded in obtaining your Lordship's permission to proceed thither, and it would be of great importance to us to go out together from the mutual support and assistance we should be able to render each other in overcoming the obstacles incidental to a new settlement.

I lament the lateness of this application the more, as I could have procured, for your Lordship's satisfaction, testimonials of my knowledge of agriculture and of my fitness for the situation of a colonist. Should your Lordship require any certificates of my general conduct and character, I shall have the pleasure in submitting several from officers of high rank, under whom I have had the honor of serving.

I have only further to state, that should your Lordship be pleased to grant my request, I could carry with me ₤1000 or ₤1200 Sterling, and ten labourers and mechanics of good character agreeably to your circular instructions.

I have the honor to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient very humble servant.

Duncan CAMPBELL

Capt. Royal Marines

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 353

List of persons accompanying Capt. D. Campbell to the Cape of Good Hope

         

Children

     

Settlers

Labourers

Age

Woman

Age

Boys

Age

Girls

Age

 

J. PRICE

40

M. PRICE

38

J. PRICE

12

M. PRICE

9

         

L. PRICE

7

   

D. CAMPBELL

M. WILLIAMS

36

E. WILLIAMS

36

W. WILLIAMS

8

S. WILLIAMS

7

Cap'n ½ Pay

R. LOYD

35

A. LOYD

37

R. LOYD

8

J. LOYD

5

Rl. Marines

       

G. LOYD

7

   
 

L. MOORE

30

L. MOORE

40

L. MOORE

12

   
         

L. MOORE

9

   
 

J. CAMPBELL

40

M.CAMPBELL

35

       
 

J. THOMSON

20

           
 

J. MCINTYRE

36

J. MCINTYRE

30

J. MCINTYRE

6

L. MCINTYRE

5

 

S. SMITH

28

           
 

J. OWEN

25

S. OWEN

24

       
 

R. SMITH

24

           
                 
 

10 Men

 

7 Women

 

8 Boys

 

4 Girls

 

Signed D. CAMPBELL

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 424/425

Portsmouth Oct 14th 1819

Sir,

I beg to explain my not having sent to you before now the official lists of the persons I engaged to go with me to the Cape of Good Hope. I had procured them in Wales, contiguous to the port of embarkation, and having written to my agent there for an accurate description of them, I had the mortification to learn that from some prejudice they had drawn back from their contract. I have since then been engaging men in this quarter, and hope to have the number completed by the end of this week, at the furthest, by the beginning of next.

This obstacle being unavoidable, and totally unforeseen on my part, I hope you will have the kindness to consider it as a sufficient apology for this delay, which has given me infinite uneasiness from the fear that it might interfere with your arrangement, and consequently rule against my own prospects.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient very humble servant.

Duncan CAMPBELL

Capt. R Marines

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 432

Portsmouth Oct 18th 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to forward to you lists of the individuals who have placed themselves under my direction to proceed to the Cap of Good Hope.

I regret that they have been so long delayed from the unavoidable cause which I have already stated, and beg to express my gratitude for your kind indulgence.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient very humble servant.

Duncan CAMPBELL

Capt. R Marines

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 450

Portsmouth October 20th 1819

Sir,

I had the honor of informing you that I was under the necessity of procuring men in this quarter to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope, in consequence of those I had previously engaged, in Wales, having broken their contract. I have now to solicit the favor of embarking my men at this place in the event of any of the vessels calling here; or (if none should call) at the port most contiguous from whence the vessels may be ordered to depart, as it could be the means of saving me a serious expense, and the women and young children much fatigue.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient very humble servant.

Duncan CAMBELL

Capt. R M

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 551

Portsmouth December 21st 1819

Sir,

I feel great regret in being obliged to address you again respecting some changes in my party of settlers. On sending for them to embark I find that several of them are unable to fulfil their engagements; one from the dangerous illness of his wife, another from being seized by his creditors and another has been persuaded by his relations to decline going to the Cape and two others from unavoidable causes. I have supplied their places by the same description of persons, substituting man for man &c so that the list remains the same as before as to number and age, the only difference being the change of name. They are arrived here and are ready to embark the moment your permission is obtained for this alteration. I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient humble servant

D. CAMPBELL

List of Persons declining to go to the Cape with Capt. CAMPBELL

Jas. PENNY 25 Martha PENNY 25

John BROWN 28 Elizabeth BROWN 26 dau Eliz'th

Jas, TURNER 40

Chas. BRUSHWOOD 24

John SMITH 30

J. YEARMOUTH 12

Total Men 5

Total Women 2

Children under 14 2

Total 9

List of Persons ready to accompany Capt. CAMPBELL in the room of those left behind

Chas. JORDAN 26 Martha JORDAN 25 Chas. JORDAN 3

John LITTLEFIELD 40 Mary LITTLEFIELD 38

William LOVELOCK 40

J. KIMMISH 19

John LITTLEFIELD 18

Chas. LITTLEFIELD 13

Total Men 5

Total Women 2

Children under 14 2

Total 9

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 559

Portsmouth, December 24t 1819

Sir,

In compliance with your directions in your note of the 23rd inst I have the honour to send herewith the letter addressed to the Governor of the Cape.

I beg again to express how grateful I feel for the indulgence you have shewn me. I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

D. CAMPBELL

  • Hits: 7880