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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.

SPRAGG, Joseph

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 712

10 Cook Street

East Borough Road

Southwark

July 1819

Sir,

In consequence of the grant lately voted by Parliament for enabling persons to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope to obtain assistance from His Majesty's Government, I beg leave respectfully to request that assistance in favor of myself, my wife & five children.

We have by the [process?] of unavoidable calamities been reduced to great distress not withstanding the most unremitted & strenuous exertions on our part. My sons are of the ages of eleven, twelve & seventeen, my own profession is that of a schoolmaster in which I have become known to many respectable gentlemen who will bear testimony to my character. Humbly requesting the favor of an answer to this application, I am Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Joseph SPRAGG

 

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[attached]

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 710

Lincolns Inn

17 July 1819

Dear Sir,

I have been requested by Mr. SPRAGG, a schoolmaster, to second an application he is making to you to be sent to the Cape of Good Hope in quest of a maintenance.

I therefore take the liberty of saying that I have known him for four years as a man struggling with all his power against misfortune. He has been very unfortunate & I believe is a very deserving man. I have known him chiefly in consequence of having been employed as the almoner of another person's [obscured] to him. I most sincerely believe that he is a very fit subject for any assistance which the charity of Government may be able to offer.

I am your very faithful servant

Jas. STEPHEN Jun

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