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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.

TOMLINSON, James et al

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 117

[Received 20 Sep 1819]

J. TOMLINSON
Wife and 4 children
Thos. HYDE
Wife and 3 children
John NUTTALL
Wife and 2 children
Robert CLOUGH
Wife and 3 children
  

The humble petition of James TOMLINSON late a private in his Majesty's 2nd Dragoon Guards but now an Outpensioner of Chelseas Hospital at 6d per day resident at Lanebridge within the Township of Habergham Caves in the County of Lancaster; Thomas HYDE late a private in his Majesty's 84th Regt of Foot but now an Outpensioner of the same hospital at 9d per day resident at Lanebridge aforesaid; John NUTTALL late a private in his Majesty's 79th Regt of Foot but now an Outpensioner of the same hospital at 9d per day resident at Lanebridge aforesaid and Robert CLOUGH late a private in his Majesty's 10th Regt of Dragoons but now an Outpensioner of the same hospital at 9d per day resident at Lanebridge aforesaid

Sheweth

That your petitioners are desirous of emigrating with their families (a list of which is in the margin) to the intended Colony at the Cape of Good Hope but being destitute of the money necessary for the purpose your petitioners on the 6th instant caused a petition to be presented to the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital soliciting that they might be allowed to commute their pensions in order to enable your petitioners to emigrate as aforesaid, not knowing at the time that such Commutation was against the existing Law; to which petition an answer was returned on the 14th inst stating that such a commutation would be illegal, but that if petitioners could obtain your permission to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope as settlers your petitioners might receive the pensions there with the other Outpensioners now residing in the Colony upon transmitting to the Royal Hospital of Chelsea the particulars of the time of your petitioners embarkation and naming the place of future residence.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your Lordship would be pleased to grant such permission and if possible allow your petitioners to proceed to the said intended Colony passage free without making the Deposit required by the existing regulations, it being impossible for your petitioners to procure the sums necessary for such Deposit; but your petitioners are willing in case your Lordship please to grant permission without making a Deposit as aforesaid [that] their pensions shall be retained by Government till the Deposit be paid. And your petitioners will ever pray.

The petitioners respectfully entreat that as early an answer as possible may be returned to their petition, directed to James TOMLINSON at Lanebridge, near Burnley, Lancashire

James TOMLINSON

Thomas HYDE

John NUTTEL

Robt CLOUGH

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