LOWNDES, William et al re John POULTON
436
Chesham
Co. Buckingham
Nov 10th 1819
May it please your Lordship
We the undersigned inhabitants of Chesham aforesaid beg to represent to your Lordship that John POLTON, also of Chesham, an honest industrious man with a family of 9 children, has been prevailed upon by William HOWARD late of Chesham aforesaid, representing himself, as Mr. POLTON alleges, to be the accepted Head of a party of Candidates for Colonization to Southern Africa, with his family to join Mr. HOWARD’s party. We beg further to represent that POLTON aforesaid professes, we believe truly, to have paid £27-10-0 into the hands of Mr. HOWARD; has actually sent his family to Town, made other arrangements in furtherance of his design. The said POLTON also states that HOWARD shewed him a letter from the Colonial Office which stated Mr. HOWARD’s admission by your Lordship as a principal of a colonizing party 15 in [number]. Now some of us have reason to know that Wm. HOWARD’s proposal to take out a party was not accepted by your Lordship altho by representing himself as included in the Company of one WILKINS or some such name he obtained credit & support among us as a colonist accepted in his individual capacity.
In consideration of the promises as well as the simplicity & low circumstances of Mr. POLTON we beg to know whether HOWARD has been accepted by your Lordship as the Head of 15 colonists; or in such a party or in any other, of which WILKINS or any other was the principal? In which case we beg further to know whether John POLTON aforesaid is registered in the said party? And if so whether the s’d sum of £27-10-0 has been pd or acknowledged to have been rec’d by Mr. HOWARD or WILKINS or any other on behalf of John POLTON aforesaid? And we cannot doubt that the same feeling of humanity which suggests these inquiries will move your Lordship not only to excuse the trouble we give but to command the information we most earnestly & respectfully solicit. We are, may it please your Lordship
Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’ts
Thos. HEWETT, Curate of Chesham
Wm. LOWNDES, Magistrate
John BAILEY, Churchwarden
Geo. SUTHERY? Overseer
The bearer hereof may be mistaken as to the name of WILKINS alias WILSON or WILKINSON but it is a decided fact that he has paid his money, supposing he had conformed to the provisions of the act for such colonization
W.H. BIGGS
Thos. HUMPHRIES
Inhabitants