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.

ELLIS, H. re D.P. FRANCIS, 1824

Custom House

Nov 10 1824

Dear HORTON,

I have lately seen a Mr. FRANCIS a settler late returned from the Cape and his account of the reduced population of the Zuurveld in consequence of the mechanics having found employment in other parts of the Colony has suggested to me the following plan.

That as few of those originally located have established claims for titles to their lands, a new distribution more adapted to the colonial agriculture should be made, and about 3000 acres should at once be granted to such individuals as shall prove they have ten individuals English colonists in their employment. By this means a population will be kept in that very important frontier and the original plan of Gov. will in a [neat?] degree be carried into effect, notwithstanding all the visitations of the farms &c I feel assured that a [obscured] good has been done in the colony by the measure of 1820.

[? Yrs?]

H. ELLIS

  • Hits: 5956