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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.

DEER (or DYER), J.W. re James ERITH, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/42, 707

Admiralty Office 14 Aug 1819

Being acquainted with some of the connexions of Mr. James Thomas ERITH the writer [of] the accompanying Petition, I beg leave to acquaint you that I understand him to be a man of good character and integrity and in possession of about £1000. It is right however to observe [it is] some time since he applied for permission to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope which was [obscured], and it is supposed in consequence of [obscured] representation made by a person of the name of BEALE that the latter was unable to proceed to the Cape with certain other [persons] in consequence of Mr. ERITH having refused to abide by an engagement to accompany [him] but it appears that after the negotiation BEALE was entered into, the latter was [discovered].to be a Prisoner in the King's Bench f[or debt] & as he was anxious to obtain from ERITH [the] deposits required from him and the persons who were to accompany him, he considered that he was in danger of losing his money [and] therefore declined any further communication with him. Under these circumstances I hope that the prayer of the Petitioner will be complied with.

I have the honor to be Sir your most obedient and humble servant

J.W.DEER

[Transcriber's note: the name is given as DEER in The Settler Handbook, but the signature looks more like DYER]

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