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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.

HOLDITCH, Robert, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

(see also correspondence of William PARKER at CO48/45)

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 738

20 Great Hermitage Street

Wapping

22nd Aug 1819

Sir,

Permit me to take the liberty of requesting the favour of being informed of the particulars to be observed by persons emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope.

Allow me to observe I am a member of the College of Surgeons in London and have other necessary qualifications to practice here or abroad as a medical man. I should suppose that the ships destined for the Cape will each have a surgeon and also the emigrants themselves will be allowed medical attendants for the first year or two.

Should I be so fortunate as to be successful in an application for such a situation I can give undeniable references as to my qualifications.

I have a wife and two very young children

I have the honour to remain Sir your oblig'd and obed't serv't

Robert HOLDITCH

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