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.

GRIGGS, William (brother of John GRIGGS),1835

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/164, 111

9 Cambridge Road
Mile End
[date obscured] 1835

My Lord,
          His majesty's Government did me the honor of instituting an inquiry in South Africa respecting a Brother of mine, John GRIGGS, who went out as a Free Settler to Algoa Bay with WILSON's Party, and have transmitted to me the result of such inquiry stating that he is alive and where he is resident and for such consideration I am truly grateful, since the receipt of which I have rec'd a letter from my Brother and he is desirous on account of his distressed situation of returning to England. Now My Lord as I am bound by the ties of affection to return an answer to his request I wish to know whether a letter or letters not exceeding four ounces would be conveyed free of expence through the Colonial Office to him sealed or unsealed and as he has been unfortunate in his emigrating and lost his all whether His Majesty's Government would condescend to [convey] him to this Country at their expence.
Grateful for favors rec'd
I beg to subscribe myself My Lord
Your Lordship's very humble servant
William GRIGGS

  • Hits: 4917