ALLAN, George

Guildhall Coffee House

London, 17 August 1819

George ALLAN – Cabinet maker in Arbroath, Scotland

A man of farm property, and of good character, has requested of me to make enquiries respecting Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, it being his intention to go there if the terms are to his wish.

As I understand Government selects a specific number it will be obliging to inform me if Mr ALLAN will be permitted to emigrate. He has a wife and 6 children. If this permission is granted he should like to know the time and place of embarkation, - the distance of the settlement from Cape Town - if on the sea coast or on the side of a river – if land can be purchased from Government and at what rate – if, when his children arrive at 18 years of age, each gets a grant of land from Government of 100 acres. - What quantity of luggage will be allowed for Mr ALLAN, his wife and six children – if he should procure ten individuals to accompany him and should of course get a grant of 1000 acres, would those individuals have any claim on his land?

As Mr ALLAN is very anxious to know if he will be permitted to go to the Cape, and to be possessed of answers to the above queries before disposing of his property I will esteem it a particular favor if your Lordship will honor me with an answer with your earliest convenience.

Mr ALLAN can obtain ample certificates as to character.

I have the honor to be my Lord your Lordships most obedient Humble Servant

D.A. JONSON

89/90

Arbroath, 7^th September 1819

My Lord,

I have the honour to receive your Lordship’s circular and several enclosures regarding the encouragement proposed to be given to emigration to the Cape of Good Hope.

In obedience to these instructions, I beg leave to enable a Return of the settlers who intend going with me to that colony, together with certificates as to my character and theirs.

It is of the utmost importance that we should be acquainted as soon as possible, whether we are to be allowed to emigrate to this colony, and therefore it would be a particular favor to give us this information, with your earliest convenience.

There are several other people tied to professions, useful to a young colony, who propose to accompany us. I will therefore thank your Lordship to inform me, if they will be permitted to go on a Supplementary Return by me. We are willing to conform ourselves to all the conditions under which His Majesty’s Government have offered to grant lands in the colony.

I have the honor to be my Lord your Lordships most obedient Humble Servant

George ALLAN

Name and description of the person taking out the settlers:

George ALLAN, whose father was an agriculturalist and under whose charge he remained until he was 16 years of age – altho’ by profession a cabinet maker, he had made agriculture his study and now thinks he is well acquainted with the principals and practice of agriculture as adopted in this land of Scotland. He is 29 years of age, of a robust constitution, is married and has 6 children, all healthy.

Name of the Settlers	Profession or Trade	Age	Name of the Women	Age	Male Children	Age	Female Children	Age
			Jean NICOL or Mrs.ALLAN	33	Four – David James Robert Alexander	12 10 6 4	Two – Margaret Elizabeth	8 2
SETTLERS
John McDONALD	Agriculturalist & mason	28	Isobel MILLAR – his wife	39	No children
Andrew GARDNER	Tanner & Currier	26	Elizabeth McGREGOR	26	Two male children	6 4	One female	1
John FETTES	Cart & Plough wright	24	Unmarried
Alexander MILN	Labourer	19	" [ditto]
David WALLACE	Watchmaker, Engraver & Smith	22	" [ditto]
David AITKENHEAD	Hammer maker	20	" [ditto]
George GELLON	Smith	21	" [ditto]
John SMITH	Sawyer	39	Isobel FERGUSON	43	No children
John MARNIE	Labourer & Tailor	24	Unmarried
Thomas WATT	Agriculturalist	27	" [ditto]
	Arbroath, 7^th September 1819 Signed by George ALLAN – Cabinet Maker, Arbroath

[Also included with this letter the following testimonials to the above men]

St.Vigeans, 7^th Setember 1819

That the bearer John McDONALD, stone mason and agriculturalist, and Isabel MILLAR his wife have resided many years in this parish and vicinity and have always been industrious, honest and peaceable, that they are in full communion with the church and that there is nothing known here to hinder their admission into any Christian society into which they may desire admission, is attested by

John MUIR, Minister

John BOWMAN, Elder

Arbroath 6 Sept 1819

This is to certify that Andrew GARDNER has served us five years and during that time we have always found him a good, honest and industrious servant.

Geo. GIBSON & Co

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

These are to certify that John FETTES has served me near a year and that during that time I have always found him to be a very obliging, honest and industrious servant.

Geo ALLAN

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

This is to certify that I have known Alex’r MILL for several years and he is an industrious and well deserving young man.

John STEWART

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

This is to certify that the bearer David WALLACE has served me for the space of four years and upwards, is of good character & behaved himself faithfully and honestly towards me for the above space, which is attested by

George LOW

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

I hereby certify that David AIKINHEAD has served me honestly and faithfully as a servant since in my employ and know of nothing determentle to his cariture.

J.A. BAIRD

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

This is to certify that the bearer George GELLON served an apprenticeship to me for the space of five years and continued with me for a considerable time thereafter. During which space he behaved faithfully and honestly towards me all which is attested by

George LOW

Arbroath 7 Sept 1819

This is to certify that the bearer John SMITH, Sawer and Labourer, has served me for three years and I have always found him an honest, industrious an hard working man – as attested by

Alex’r HUNTER

Arbroath, 7 Sept 1819

These are to certify that John MARNIE has served me for two years and during that time I have always found him a good, honest and industrious servant.

Charles MILLS

Arbroath, 7 Sept 1819

These are to certify that I have known Thos. WATT as a farm servant for several years and have likewise known him to be a very industrious, sober, decent man.

Alexander NICOL

We the Provosts and the Parties of the Burgh of Arbroath do certify that George ALLAN, Cabinet maker in Arbroath, has resided several years in this town, that he is active and industrious and supports the character of a respectable Tradesman and an Honest man. Witness our hand at Arbroath, this seventh day of September in the year one thousand, eight hundred and nineteen.

W. KID Provost

Wm.ANDSON Bailie

John FLEMING, Barker

140/141

Arbroath 16^th October 1819

My Lord,

I had the Honor to transmit to your Lordship some time ago, proposals for emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope, along with several others, under my charge. In answer to which I received your Lord/ letter, that due notice would be given to me of the decision, which may be taken upon my proposals.

I observe a circular in the newspapers from your Lordships department, by which it appears, that the proposal of several individuals has been accepted, but no further notice has been sent to me on the subject.

Your Lordship must be well aware that the [period?] of uncertainty is not only extremely inconvenient, but it could be attended with absolute ruin to us. Our arrangements have been previously made, and while we remain in our present uncomfortable State, our Credit suffers and we are therefore disabled from pursuing our usual avocations [sic] with the same spirit we formerly exerted.

May I therefore entreat of your Lordship to favor me with an answer with your earliest convenience, and I sincerely hope that the names which I transmitted will be included in the lot of those who have secured permission to emigrate to the Cape.

I have the honor to be My Lord,

Your Lordships most Obed’t. Humble Servant

George ALLAN

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