GURNEY, Charles
368
No. 6 Brewers Street
Deal
August 15th 1819
My Lord
It appearing from what I collect from the public papers that it is the intention of Government to allow a Person who can take out ten Individuals as settlers to the Cape, 100 Acres of land, I beg to ask your Lordship whether each of the ten persons so going out are also to be entitled to the same quantity.
The description of people who seem desirous of going out with me are all young men of from twenty to twenty four years of age and all single, principally boatmen of this Town, consequently such a party would be desirous of being located near the Sea Coast.
I conclude from the Circular that provisions are allowded [sic] during the passage and until their arrival at the Settlement free of expence.
As it appears necessary that fire arms should be in the possession of the Settlers for the purpose of destroying any ferocious animals, and for their own protection, is it the intention of Government to allow them to each person, or in any certain proportion, or are the parties at liberty to provide them selves with them, the same question also applies to powder and shot.
As soon as I receive your Lordships ans’r I will confer with the persons who are desirous of going. And as each individual will deposit his Ten pounds agreeable to the proposed plan whenever your Lordship shall direct it to be paid, as it is the intention of this party to make a joint concern.
The name and age of each Individual shall be forwarded to your Lordship as soon after I receive your Lordships answer as possible. And early Answer will particularly oblidge your Lordships very humble servant
Charles GURNEY
381
Brewers Street
Deal
24th August 1819
My Lord
Herewith I forward your Lordship the names, ages etc of the persons who are desirous of proceeding with me to the Cape, having laid your Lordships circular before them, they appear very anxious to get out, and as they are nearly all young men and all capable of work, I am in hope they will be accepted. I beg to state to your Lordship that they express some anxiety to get this determined on, as they will have many Arrangements to make previous to their leaving this Country. May I therefore request the favour of your Lordships reply as to the probability of their being accepted and in case they are, whether they cannot be allowed to embark from the Downs which can be done in a few hours. Your Lordship will perceive by the list many of his party are boatmen consequently would wish to be located as near the sea coast as may be convenient to his Majesties Government. I have the honour to be
Your Lordships very hble serv’t
Charles GURNEY
NB I have now added to the list which was forwarded on the 24th Ult’ John CRONK & family. He appears a very intelligent man and has been brought up in husbandry. He seems very anxious to go out with this party etc.
September 13th 1819
List of persons etc
Charles GURNEY, druggist, 42 years, one son about 7 years of age
James AGGAR, boatman, 36, wife 30, 4 children all under 10
Joseph HUBBARD, boatman, 22
William PARKER, boatman, 22
Stephen GOSBY, boatman, 20
John WOODLAND, boatman, 20
Samuel HILLS, boat builder, 22
William GOSBY, tailor, 24
Richard CLARINGBOLD, butcher, 22
Richard ATKINS, baker, 23
James BASDEN, labourer, 20
Edward CHITTENDEN, Draper, 20
John CRONK, farmer, 37, wife 34 years, 3 children - 1 girl 14 years - 1 girl 12 years and one boy 8 years of age
James AGGAR’S children are 1 boy 9 - 1 boy 4 and 1 boy 1/2 a year old and one girl 7 years of age
419
No. 6 Brewers Street
Deal
Sep’t 10th 1819
My Lord
On the 24th ult. I inclosed a letter for your Lordship under cover to Mr LUSHINGTON with the names of the parties who are desirous of going with me to the Cape of Good Hope, since which time I have had several applications and amongst them a person who has been brought up as a farmer, having a wife and three children, but being without any reply to the letter I allude to, and consequently not knowing whether we shall be accepted, I am at a loss what reply to make to the applicants. And as the parties are all in a state of suspence, I shall be much oblidged if your Lordship can favor me with any information on the subject.
I am your Lordships most obedient servant
Charles GURNEY
421
No. 6 Brewers Street
Deal
13th Sep’t 1819
My Lord
I have herewith inclosed the copy of a letter which was forwarded to Mr LUSHINGTON and which I fully expected had been transmitted to your Lordship.
As this party was strongly recommended to Mr LUSHINGTON by Captain Thos. BARKER, R.N., I am truly sorry to give your Lordship additional trouble in this business, nor can I account for it in any other way than supposing some error had occur’d on the part of Mr LUSHINGTON. I beg to return my most sincere thanks for your Lordships kindness in attending to, and answering my letters.
And am my Lord
Your very obliged Humble servant
Charles GURNEY
441
Brewers Street
Deal
5th Oct’r 1819
My Lord
I inclose you the three lists filled up as directed by your Lordships Order, but I am sorry to observe that I have been obliged to put in other names in lieu of some who first wished to go, but have since in consequence of the delay and apparent uncertainty declined.
I have put the money deposited by this party into the banking house of Messrs MAY & Co. of this Town, & will have it transmitted from them agreeably to your Lordship's direction.
If it can be arranged that this party and their luggage can be taken on board the ship appointed for them in the Downs, it will be a considerable saving of expence to them, as well as very great convenience which I trust your Lordship will take into consideration & notice in your next.
There being three very expert boatmen & some of the others used to boats, they will be desirous of occasionally fishing, in which case if they are located near the Coast, can they be permitted to take with them a boat from this Town, which are superior to most in the method of building.
In respect of fire arms, powder & shot, are any allowed by Government, or are the party to provide any for themselves.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships most obed serv’t
Charles GURNEY
[the following letter is not filed with this correspondence but is reproduced in Nash’s ‘Settler Handbook’ on page 78]
HMS Weymouth
26 Apr 1820
My Lord
I beg leave to state to your Lordship that many of the party who are arrived at this Settlement with me, are expert Boatmen from Deal, and that the Government allowed us to bring a boat from that place. I shall therefore be obliged by your Lordship's endeavouring to fix us, as near to the Sea & great Rivers as may be convenient, that we may have an opportunity of using our boat for fishing etc etc.
Requesting the favour of your Lordship's reply
I have the honor to be
Y’r Lordships most obed hble sert
Charles GURNEY
BACKHOUSE, Rev. J.R. re Charles GURNEY (Filed under B in CO48/41)
530
The Rectory, Deal
Sept 24th 1819
My Lord,
I take the liberty of troubling you with this letter at the particular request of Mr. Charles GURNEY, who, I understand your Lordship has been informed, wishes to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope. The party he has formed to proceed with him to that Colony is chiefly composed of young men resident here. They all bear respectable characters, are each of them, I believe, possessed of some small capital, & from every information I can procure are inclined to be industrious. The distress which is so unhappily prevalent in this place & the consequent difficulty of procuring a subsistence, has prompted them to embrace the opportunity which now offers of endeavouring to better their condition, & will, I humbly hope, be an inducement with your Lordship to forward their plan, as far as the same may be deemed consistent with the views of His Majesty’s Government.
I have the honour to be My Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedt hum sevt
Rev. J.R. BACKHOUSE, Rector of Deal