Skip to main content
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.

ANONYMOUS re MOUNCEY's Party, 1820 Settlers

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 155

Sheffield, Nov 9th 1819

Sir, Mr.GOULBURN

I am a man that has been allowed to read the newspaper and it expresses that they shall be able boddied individuals that goes to the Cape of Good Hope. Sir, I have to inform you that Charles MOUNTCEY is the unfitest man that ever I saw, I think he is as bad of an Asmecomplain as ever I saw one. More over than this it breaks the sircaler and all articals. Sir there is a wors thing than all beside them that has got 3 children he placed them with others to cheat the deposit money. I believe He imself has eather 5 or 6 children and he only pays for 2 of them and the poor man that is going along with im he makes them pay thare own deposits and the poor creatours has been to solicit thair friends and sould thair firniture and some has raised all the money and some 5 or 6 pounds and he promises them thire land when thay land on the colleny and thay have nothing to show for thaire money. Sir I ham shure sum of them nevr can reach the ship because they have no money to help them. Sir the reason why the mony did not com to you sooner the poor man was distres in themselvs for to raise it and I believe he donot caire. If all men faile he thinks he shall get all thire money imself and he imself is holed up til the letter come to fech them by reason of rits been out against im for Det. This I was tould by sum of the party. I hear is sum of the men wich carractures is [obscured] and very creddible. Sir if you for firther inform you may right eather to Sam'l SHILLITO or to Thos. CARR or Geo CARLILE or Geo FIELS or any other you think proper. Sir, those lines has com from a friend and welwisher of is King and Cuntry, near Sheffield.

[note on back of letter: anonymous, respecting Mr. Chas. MOUNCEY, the head of a party of settlers]

  • Hits: 6530