WAINWRIGHT, Jonathan, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 441

Little Woodhouse near Leeds

September 11th 1819

My Lord

Being desirous of proceeding, under the protection, and with the assistance of his Majesty's Government, to the settlement about to be established in the Cape of Good Hope in pursuance of the instructions contained in your circular dated August 20th, I have annexed a statement of the names and ages of each individual, with whom I wish to go as the head. They are acquainted with, and willing to submit to all the regulations laid down by his Majesty's Government, as stated in the Public Newspapers. Being loyal and well affected, as well as of sober and industrious habits, it is hoped that they will meet with your approbation. Having been engaged for the last Twenty Years in an extensive line of business, and having during that period met with an almost unprecedented series of losses and disappointments, I hope, my Lord, (should I meet your approbation) that you will endeavour to make the conditions on which you take us as easy as possible. Subjoined is also given a testimonial for character &c signed by 3 of the Magistrates of Leeds and sanctioned by the Earl of HAREWOOD and Lord LASCELLES. Requesting an answer with every necessary information as early as possible.

I have the honour to be my Lord

Your Lordship's humble & obt servt

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

[Margin note] The greatest part of the persons herein mentioned, are, and have been, for a considerable time, out of employment. J. W.

I should suppose that a grant of 100 acres will be allowed for each individual numbered in the margin.

J. W.

To the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department.

We the undersigned, believe Jonathan WAINWRIGHT (applicant to go out to the Cape of Good Hope, at the head of Ten or more) to be a proper person for your selection, being respectable, loyal, intelligent and industrious, and disposed to meet the wishes of his Majesty's Government, in every particular within his powers.

[Signed] George BANKS, Mayor

Henry HALL, Magistrate

John HILL, Magistrate

The Right Honourable the Earl of HAREWOOD, and Lord LASCELLES, have kindly permitted their names to be mentioned, as interested in the subject, and wishful for its success.

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 514

Little Woodhouse, Leeds

Octr 5th 1819

Sir

I duly received your favour of the 30th ult, stating Earl BATHURSTs approbation of our proposals, and inclosing returns for lists of the individuals who have placed themselves under my direction. I accordingly herewith hand you three separate lists containing a correct statement of the names, ages, and occupations in life of each individual. You will find upon examination that I have substituted two individuals in the place of two others mentioned in my first letter of the 11th ult, as I think them still more likely (from their respectability and experience) to be useful in a new colony, than the two formally proposed. This however I should suppose will form no objection, as I presume the present returns are those by which you will be guided in your future arrangements, and from which you may depend upon no deviation being made by us. They are all anxious to proceed to the Cape under the regulations of his Majesty's Government, which have been carefully explained to them. I hope Sir you will favour us with a reply as early as possible, containing the account of the sum to be deposited, the Port at which we must embark, and every other necessary particular.

Meantime I am Sir

Yours most respectfully

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 570

Little Woodhouse, Leeds

Novr 4th 1819

Sir

We received your favour of the 21st ult, stating that the deposit money for the party going out to the Cape under my directions amounted to one hundred & fifty seven pounds 10/- & requiring it to be immediately remitted to William HILL Esq. Unfortunately four of our number have retracted which has caused us a great deal of anxiety and unsureness, and not knowing any other way of procedure, have troubled you with another return of persons going out under me as the head, and for whom the deposit money required (as you will see on examination of the inclosed returns) will I believe amount to one hundred and thirty seven pounds 10/- which sum I have according to direction transmitted to William HILL Esq, Treasury, London.

I am aware that alterations like the present must cause a great deal of vexation, but as it has been altogether unavoidable, and has been exceedingly trying to me, I hope you will have the goodness to overlook it, and that it will not operate to my disadvantage - particularly as the party is now a most select one & the money is deposited in full amount with William HILL Esq.

I beg leave also to refer you to my letter of the 11th Sept in which I am strongly recommended to the notice of Earl BATHURST by the Magistrates of Leeds as well as by Lord LASCELLES & the Earl of HAREWOOD. Having arranged every thing for our departure, and disengaged myself from business &c the loss & disappointment would be extreme, hoping that you will excuse the unavoidable trouble which I have occasioned.

I am Sir

Your very humble & obt servt

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

Return of Settlers proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope under the directions of Mr Jonathan WAINWRIGHT of Little Woodhouse, Leeds

The two persons marked thus *, though classed in their respective families, are both single men above the age of 18 years.

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 593

Little Woodhouse, Leeds

Novr 20th 1819

Sir

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 16 inst inclosing a letter to the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and also regulations for the guidance of the Settlers during the voyage. In the enforcement of a strict attention to these regulations, Earl BATHURST may depend upon my most zealous co-operation with respect to the party under my directions; meantime I have taken the liberty of submitting the following queries to your consideration, to which if it be convenient I should be much obliged by an early answer.

I am with the greatest respect, Sir

Your most obt servt

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

[Note from GOULBURN in the margin] Answer his queries according to the memoranda

1. If any settler proceeding to the Cape should wish to take out with him a small quantity of goods of his own manufacture, and for his own private use, will such settler have any export duty to pay upon goods thus taken out?

[Note from GOULBURN] The duty cannot be dispensed with.

1. In case any person or family of the party proceeding under my directions, should from sickness or any other unavoidable cause, be finally prevented from going, would it be allowed to take another eligible person or family, of exactly the same number and age, to the Port from whence we embark, to substitute them in his or their place? NB In this case it should be observed that the alteration would be merely in the names.

[Note from GOULBURN] Yes if the sickness properly notified an order will be given to admit

the person selected in lieu of the original.

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 597

Little Woodhouse, Leeds

Novr 29th 1819

Sir

I am again under the disagreeable necessity of troubling you respecting an alteration in the list of persons proceeding to the Cape under my direction. As you had the goodness to say in reply to my letter of the 20th inst, "that I might be permitted to replace any persons in the list who should be unable to proceed with me to the Cape of good Hope, provided I gave you early notice of the names &c of the substitutes, and provided the latter did not exceed the former in number and age", I have accordingly to inform you that three persons or families out of my former list being unable to accompany me, I wish in the place of John BRAITHWAITE*, his wife, and 4 children under 14 years of age, to substitute Francis Parratt BENTLEY, his wife and four children also under 14, and in the place of William DUFFIELD and James NAYLOR (both single men) I wish to substitute William BRAITHWAITE* & George WHITEHEAD, in which case my present list will be according to the inclosed returns which I have taken the liberty of sending you. I should feel much obliged by as early information as possible respecting the Port from which we must embark, as it is of great importance to us to be acquainted with this particular, on account of the conveyance and dispatch of our luggage. If it is required (in consequence of the alteration) to return the letter addressed to Lord Somerset which you transmitted to us, we will send it up on the receipt of your order to that effect, as I suppose in that case another would be placed in our hands. Meantime with sincere regret for the trouble we occasioned you

I am Sir

Yours most respectfully

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

PS Our number is (38) and there is no alteration but in the names.

Return of Persons proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope under the direction of Jonathan WAINWRIGHT

Number of men 11

Number of women 4

Number of children above 14 years of age 2

Number of children under 14 years of age 7

Total 24

*[Transcriber's Note: From The Settler Handbook by M.D.Nash – “John BRAITHWAITE, a farmer of Knaresborough, was initially a member of HAYHURST's party but withdrew to join WAINWRIGHT. In December 1819 he and his family and several others dropped out of WAINWRIGHT's party, and William BRAITHWAITE's name was among those entered in place of theirs. Colonial records indicate that John BRAITHWAITE did in the event emigrate with WAINWRIGHT, leaving his wife and children in England, but no confirmation of William BRAITHWAITE's presence at the Cape has been traced.”

602

Little Woodhouse, Leeds

Dec 4th 1819

Sir

I duly received your favour of the 2nd inst and according to your request I have inclosed your letter to Lord Somerset in order that the alteration in our lists may be carried into effect. As every thing is arranged for our departure we are anxious to learn the time when we shall have to embark and the Port from which we must sail. Early information on the above particulars will much oblige, Sir

Yours most respectfully

Jonathan WAINWRIGHT