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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.

NITCH, John, 1820 Settler

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 923

No. 38 Great Marlbro' Street

13th Nov. 1819

My Lord

Under the Circumstances & Conditions specified in the official circular letters of 17 July & 12 August upon which His Majesty's Government have proposed to give encouragement to Emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope, I beg to offer myself as an able and fit Person and with my family to become settlers in the Colony; my family consists of myself, my wife & two sons, the eldest thirteen years & the youngest eleven years of age all in sound health & vigour and ready & willing to conform in every respect with the conditions & terms upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant Lands at the Cape of Good Hope.

Having resided some years at the Island of Madeira in the Commercial line I am well acquainted with the culture of the grape and the manufacture of wine at that Island, my views and attention would be principally directed to those objects, so soon as I should become a Settler in the Colony but as the expense of supporting so large a number as 10 Persons exclusive of my Family at the first outset, would so much consume my means before my returns could be had as probably to put a stop to my further operations, I should wish to be permitted to take out only two able bodied Individuals above 18 years old, besides my family and to receive a grant of Land in proportion for every such family or Person only whom I take out. I [would] engage to take into my service at the end of the first year's residence, four or more unemployed destitute British Subjects; at the end of the second year or sooner four more such Persons, then making the number of ten Persons, and to receive the Grant of Land in proportion to number of Persons above 18 years old, at the time I so take them into my service.

I trust I shall be found upon examination fully eligible to be appointed by your Lordship to receive the assistance granted by His Majesty's Government to settle at the Cape and for my Character or any enquiry that may be required, permit me to refer to John HANSON Esq., Solicitor of the Stamp Office or to John BLACKBURN Esq., Candover Hants. & Merchant Old Broad Street, City.

In the humble hope your Lordship will approve me as a Settler in the Colony at the Cape, and appoint me & my Family a passage with the Emigrant in the ships now preparing to depart to the Cape this season.

I have the honour to be My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient and

Most humble servant

John NITCH

[Transcriber's Note: Not listed in The Settler Handbook. According to Hockly's ‘Story of the British Settlers of 1820' he sailed as a member of DANIELL's Party on the Duke of Marlborough. The family disembarked and remained in Cape Town]

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