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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.

ANDERSON, George, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 120/121

23 Everett Street

Russell Square

Monday 27th Sept 1819

My Lord

I hope your lordship will pardon this liberty I take in thus addressing you at this moment. I having with all my Family joined a party of individuals under the immediate direction of John BAILIE Esq. of Manchester Buildings Westminster and he having made application to your Lordship for a Grant of Land in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope and having till this time Received no Answer. I have presumed upon your Lordship's known goodness to beg we may have an answer as soon as

possible. It being to me of great consequence as I have a large family all grown up of Four Sons and one Daughter all anxious to Emigrate to that Colony, not being able to get any employment thro the Distress of the times and being now spending what little property we are possessed off which if not an immediate answer would make us comfortable in that colony with our own active exertions which are now paralyzed in this Country thro the extreme deadness of trade once having so fallen off that we have not been able to get any work for more than two years past and as we are all strong and my Sons young active and willing to work, it makes it the more unfortunate and always having been

Respectable and in one House for near twenty Years the mere prospect of absolute Poverty is more Dreaded. And as the time His Majesties Government proposed to send Persons out to that Colony is very near approaching makes me this presumtuous in Humbly Begging of your Lordship for an answer. As we must sacrifice what little property we have left to Dispose off at a very great Disadvantage in not having some time before that allowed to Dispose off it to make the most off it.

Hoping your Lordship will pardon this My Importunity in my Extreme Anxiety for the Welfare of my family.

And believe my Lord

Your Lordships Most Devoted

Servant

Geo ANDERSON Senr

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