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.

ERITH, James Thomas, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 3

28 Wellington St

Newington Causeway

Jan 30th 1819

Sir,

Excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you but understanding that instructions have been issued from your office respecting settlers for the Cape of Good Hope & by which I am informed that Government franks those that go over free of expense and that after their arrival each settler at the Cape is to receive 50 acres of land as compensation for leaving this country and as many acres as they may wish by lease at a certain sum per Annum each acre.

Trusting to your goodness to answer my petition

I remain Sir

Your Obedient Humble Servant

J. T. ERITH

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 7

28 Wellington St

Newington Causeway

Surrey

My Lord,

As I have been favoured with one of your instructions concerning the Colony about to be formed at the Cape of Good Hope and as I am with several of my friends desirous of settling there [hole in paper] your Lordship will favour me with [every] particular and what part of the Cape the establishment will be at.

Your early reply will much oblige

My Lord, Your Lordships Most obedient Humble Servant

Jas. Thos. ERITH

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 8

12 William St

Harper St

Kent Rd

May 18th 1819

Sir,

I have had the honour to secure your letter of the 15th instant acquainting me that His Majesty's Government no longer gives encouragement to persons proceeding as Settlers to North America and I beg leave humbly to represent to you that my letter of the 15th instant written on behalf of myself and nine Others expressed our readiness to settle not in the British possessions in North America but at the Cape of Good Hope that we were ready to pay the usual deposit and to conform to any other conditions required by Government if His Majesty's secretary of State for the Colonies was pleased to encourage our views

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most Obedient Humble Servant

J.T. ERITH

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 5

12 William St

Harper St

Kent Rd

May 29th 1819

Sir,

I beg leave to state that I am ready to take out and locate upon land at the Cape of Good Hope ten settlers at the least and that we are ready to Pay down the deposit required by His Majestys Government if the Hon Secretary of State for the Colonies should approve of this proposal and if any reference is further required I take the liberty of referring to Mr G THOMAS Iron Monger Strood near Rochester or Mr Robert FOWLER farmer Rochester who have known me long as a Free holder of the country of Kent. I am also known to Mr E. KNATCHBULL for whom I voted at the last election if this application not be precisely in the form required I will be happy to amend it on being made acquainted with the wishes of the Government.

I have the Honour to be Sir

your Ob Humble Servant

Ja Tho ERITH

[written across bottom: Lord B has not thought it advisable to accept this proposal]

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 50

No 2 Bardon Place

Peckham

20th August 1819

Sir

I have the honour of receiving your letter of the 10th Inst requesting the ages of the several individuals that are to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope. I beg leave to state that I should have answered it immediately but the Persons living at the Minster in the Isle of Sheppey Kent has caused this delay being so far off.

James Thomas ERITH aged thirty years

Jane ERITH wife aged thirty years

Jane ERITH dau aged three years

Eleanor ERITH dau aged eighteen months

Mary ERITH sister aged twenty nine years

William ERITH her son aged ten years

Mary Ann ERITH her dau aged nine years

Robert ROBERSON aged twenty seven years

Martha ROBERSON wife aged twenty six years

Robert ROBERSON son aged four years

John ROBERSON son aged two years

Philip ROBERSON son aged five months

Louisa ROBERSON dau aged five years

Mical HAROM Single aged thirty five years

William CLOVER Single aged thirty five years

James ALLEN Single aged thirty seven years

Robert KEMSLEY Single aged twenty one years

John PANKHURST Single aged twenty four years

James STRUTT Single aged twenty one years

Richard READER Single aged twenty four years

James ROBERSON Single aged twenty one years

Charlotte ROBERSON his wife aged twenty six years

Ephraim ROBERSON son aged six years

Stanley ROBERSON son aged ten months

I have the honour to be Sir

Your Most Ob.Humble Serv

Jas. Thos. ERITH

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 51

August 1819

The humble partition of James Thomas ERITH of No 2 Bardon Place, Peckham Baker –

Humbly shewth,

That your petitioner being desirous of proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope with his wife and family for the purpose of cultivating such parts of the soil as may be allotted to him by His Majesties Government accompanied by the persons named on the other side hereof is willing to deposit the usual sums required of persons under similar circumstances and therefore most humbly pray, that your Lordship will be pleased to authorise your petition and the several persons above referred to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope and to allow them such portion of land subject to the usual conditions as may be judged proper – engaging for him self and the persons in question to render due obedience to His Majesties Government and to conform to all and every regulation required of the persons emigrating to the aforesaid Colony.

James Thomas ERITH, wife and two children.

Mary ERITH, sister, two children No 2 Coalman St Woolwich Kent

Robert ROBERSON, wife and four children Minster Isle of Sheppey.

James ROBERSON, wife and two children Minster Isle of Sheppey.

William ALLEN single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

Michal HAROM single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

William CLOVER single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

Robert KEMSLEY single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

Richard READER single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

James STRUTT single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

John PANKHURST single man Minster Isle of Sheppey

[Transcriber's Note: Robert ROBERSON appears in The Settler Handbook with ERITH's Party as ROBINSON. James ROBERSON appears in Hockly's ‘Story of the British Settlers of 1820']

 

  • Hits: 7464