Skip to main content
GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

Correspondence 1821 to 1837.

Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, whereas ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape.

Unless otherwise stated letters were written to either the Secretary of State for the Colonies or his deputy.The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained. Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily.

DARBY, Edward (brother of John DARBY) 1835

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew, CO48.164, 89

Deal

18 March 1835

My Lord
          I have (unless he has fallen under the weapons of the Caffres) a Brother (John DARBY) settled on a Farm on the Konap River near the Winterberg District of Albany, Cape of Good Hope, respecting whom, owing to the irruption of the Caffres into that district, I am become exceedingly anxious, and as he is an unmarried man and has no relations in the Colony it is probable that without the assistance of Government I may if he is killed obtain no authentic information of the fact. Under these circumstances I venture most respectfully to ask if lists of the slain have yet been received by Your Lordship and whether my Brother's name is amongst them? And if no such lists have reached Your Lordship at present I beseech you when they do arrive that you will be pleased to permit the information to be communicated to me as regards the fate of my Brother. I must throw myself on Your Lordship's generosity to pardon a liberty I take in making this application, assuring Your Lordship of my profound respect, I have the honor to subscribe myself, My Lord
Your Lordship's most obedient & very humble servant
Edward DARBY

  • Hits: 5127