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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.

WOOD, John (2)

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 282

[To Sir Charles GREVILLE, Downing Street]

16 Union Street

Stockport

Cheshire

July 23rd 1819

Honored Sir,

I with the greatest respect beg leave to address this memorial to you hopeing you will be so benevolent as to consider my situation. Haveing served in His Majesty's 38th Regiment under your command eight years and one day I further beg leave to state that I was in the Peninsula from the 2nd April 1810 until the conclusion of the Campaign when I was discharged at Kinfoil in Ireland. Any period of service being expired but oweing to hardships suffered while on the Peninsula I have lost my sight and am now intirely dark and totally incapable of doing any towards obtaining myself, but hearing there was a medical gentleman comeing here to inspect the blind pensioners of Chelsea who are to be put under the care of Mr. Wm. ADAMS I took the liberty to go before him, when he told me I could be benefited if I could get into Chelsea Hospital and he would speak to you and the Secretary at War in order that I might get some benefit. I hope your Honour will be so benevolent as to comply with my request. I have no friends to support me but an aged [obscured] and you Petitioner will ever be in duty bound

John WOOD

Late soldier in Captain [GREVILLE's} Company

38th Regiment

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