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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.

BARRY, James

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 301

Knockrath 2 Aug 1819

Right Hon Sir

It is rumoured here that His Majesty's Government has granted encouragement top Protestant Subjects in the Cape of Good Hope.

I would willingly retire there with my family and become a settler. My family consists of three young men and five young girls with my wife.

I am a pensioner having one shilling a day therefore would be glad to know whether I would be allowed my pension there. I would also be very desirous to know the encouragement given and the conditions to get over.

I therefore solicit Right Hon you will have the honour to order an answer stating particulars addressed to, Right Hon Sir,

Your very humble servant

James BARRY

Knockrath near Rathdrum, County Wicklow

PS I am of the Established Church

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 443/444

Knockrath 26 Aug 1819

Right Hon Sir,

I am a Pensioner from an Independent Company commanded by Lt.Col. WEST having one shilling a day and a family consisting of a wife, 3 sons and 5 daughters (4 of the children above 18 years of age and the other 4 younger one of them only 7 years old.

I acknowledge rec't of yours of the 9th inst but am sorry to acquaint you that I cannot comply therewith as I will not have one single farthing to deposit as I am so much in debt that after call an auction and sell out what I will receive will be obliged to pay my creditors as I intend discharging debts with honour. However if Your Lordship would grant me a passage out with rations etc and allow me and my family to become settlers in order to provide for their maintenance Which I am encouraged [by] His Majesty's Government till I would have provision in the Company pension then might be [obscured] in order to repay for the superfluity advanced. Should it meet your Lordship's aprobation to grant me and family our request we as in duty bound will ever pray

Rt Hon Sir

I remain your much obliged sev't

James BARRY

PS I solicit an answer by return addressed to

James BARRY Pens'r

Near Rathdrum, County Wicklow

NB Otherwise if His Majesty would allow me 7 years Pension I would be able then to pay out as is stated in yours of the 9th inst.

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