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.

COMBE, John

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 191

16 Swallow Gardens

Chamber Street

Goodmans Fields

12 Aug 1819

My Lord,

In consequence of the intention of Government being made generally public respecting their grant of permission to persons who may wish to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope, and being credibly informed that application in person must be made to your Lordship's office for information, I have presumed to approach your Lordship. Flattered with the hope of your Lordship's approbation in respect to granting me a permission, conformable to the regulations which I beg to be acquainted with, and which I understand is already laid down, as an instruction to those who may be accounted eligible for such an enterprize.

I have to acquaint your Lordship that I am born a British Subject and principally brought up in the County of Gloucester, by profession a taylor, has a wife and one son whose names and ages are hereafter mentioned, that I have a small into the [image cut off] of husbandry, agriculture and botany, that as my father superintended a Gentleman's pleasure and kitchen gardens also had the charge of many acres of arable and pasture land during the period of 35 years that I have been enabled to borrow some information from his experience.

That the Death of Friends and the uncommon Depression of Trade almost in every Department, particularly my own, obliges me to seek an asylum where it may be found, and being given to understand that an opportunity now offers by emigrating to the Cape, where probably a large field of improvement may be most assisted by the sober, honest and industrious exertions of proper persons, I hope thro' the gracious interference of your Lordship to be named in the number of your Lordship's choice. If required, incontestable proof of good character can be adduced from a respectable resident of London.

That I have, and also my small family, the advantages of youth and health and being anxious of providing for the exigencies of age and infirmity am soliciting to become a candidate for any place where the prospect of procuring a honest livelihood may be afforded. Praying that I may be furnished with information so as to enable me in time to act up to the regulation prescribed.

I am your Lordship's most obedient and very humble servant

John COOMBES

PS Your Lordship's applicant is aged 34 years

His wife Esther COMBE aged 29 years

His son James COMBE aged 12 years 10 months

The above 3 named persons have the advantages of education and are all brought up to the Church of England persuasion.

  • Hits: 5630