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.

MERCHANTS' MEMORIAL re G.M. PEDDER, 1833

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/152, 452

 

The Memorial of the Merchants of Cape Town Humbly Sheweth
That Memorialists have heard with deep regret that it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to remove Lieutenant PEDDER from his office of Commandant of Robben Island, in which situation he has gained the esteem of the community in general, and has been the means of doing essential service to the colony. They feel that it is of the utmost importance to the colonists that while the unhappy individuals condemned to penal establishments are suffering the punishments due to their offences, such a course of discipline and instruction should be pursued as would restore them to the Colony better men and more useful members of Society, and Memorialists would remind you, Sir, that Mr. PEDDER has been the means of greatly improving this settlement in these respects, that through his exertions religious and moral instruction have been introduced and cleanliness and good order established among the convicts, besides many great improvements made in the Island itself. Memorialists would humbly submit to your Honorable consideration that in the cases of EVA and FOGDEN no actual cruelty has been proved, and acquainted as they are with Mr. PEDDER's character they feel sure that none was intended, and they submit that a slight irregularity in the mode of punishment is scarcely a sufficient cause for the dismissal of a valuable and long tried servant, especially if you, Sir, will take into consideration the peculiarity of Mr. PEDDER's situation, the peculiarity of the case and the fact that there was no code of laws by which the Commandant could regulate his conduct.
Memorialists trust that when you, Sir, are informed of the trifling nature of the offence and the valuable services which Mr. PEDDER has rendered to this Colony you will not proceed with a measure which must bring ruin upon a useful public servant and his helpless family, and may do a serious injury to the community
Your Memorialists in duty bound will ever pray
Geo. THOMPSON
Wm. DICKSON
Rob't WATERS
H.E. RUTHERFOORD
A.H. TREDGOLD
D.W. HERTZOG
C. PILLANS
Hamilton ROSS
Jno. DEANE
Thos. JOHNSON
J. THORNHILL
J. SMITH
Wm. HAWKINS
Geo. GREIG
Jos'h SIMPSON
Wm. LEISCHING
Wm. BILLINGSLY
Geo. HERBERT
W.A. VENNING
F.G. ROBERTSON
Edw'd EAGAR
G.W. SILBERBAUER
VAN STALLE, SAPPE & MUNTINGH
A. CHIAPPINI
Geo. TWYCROSS
R.W. EATON
Jno. GADNEY
Rich'd DOBEE
T.B. EBDEN
Jno. HAWKINS
Thos. LE BULLEN
W.G. ANDERSON
E. CHRISTIAN
J. MANNUEL
Alex'r CHIAPPINI
F.F. VOS Sen'r
G. VOS
O.M. BEIGH
Thos. ELLIOTT
J.A. BARTMAN
J.P. VALENTIN
Alex'r THOMPSON
A.J. BECKER
Henry BECKER
W.F. HELZINGEN
R. DE COCKE
C.H.B. OZENBERY
W.G. VOS
F.L. LEISCHING Mi.Dr.
J.H. ROSCOE
W. SANDENBERGH
R LEIBBRANDT
[illegible signature]
J.N. VOS
J. MABILLE
C. KORSTEN
M. THALWITZER
A. DE COCK
J. SCHICKERLING
G. MUNICK
P.M. BUNK
J.W. GEE
J.A. OLTHOFF
W. AZEROND
J.G. HOFMEYER
J.H. BECK
V. DICK
Jas. BRINK
H.K. RUSSOUW
W.S. COOKE
J.H. BAM
R. STEYTLER
J.A. BUSLER
H. QUINN
H. WOLLASTON
L. Ep. MERRINGTON
A. THOMPSON
E.J. JERRAM

A True Copy
(signed) G.M. PEDDER
20th July 1833

 

  • Hits: 4970