1820 Settlers to South Africa

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: South Africa

"The following list of the British Settlers of 1820 has been compiled from the original documents in the archives of the Houses of Parliament, in Cape Town. Owing to the discrepancies in these original documents, this list, though the best which can be made from these sources, is not absolutely perfect. There seems to have been some "shuffling" among the Settlers after the first lists were made in England. Apparently the "Head of a Party," as soon as he had formed his party, sent the names to the Secretary of State, and thus formed what may be called the London list. But as, after all were on board, there was considerable delay before starting-in some cases, weeks - many individuals appear to have thought better-or worse-of emigration to the Cape, and to have taken the first opportunity of escaping back to their homes. Their places must then have been taken by others, without any alteration of the names on the list. When the vessels arrived in Simon's Town the captain sent in to the Colonial Office the names of the Settlers they had brought, and thus formed what may be called the Colonial lists. Unfortunately this was not done in every case, so that the doubtful London list gives the only indication of those who formed the parties. Hence names appear on these London lists which do not appear on the Colonial, and vice versa. But there is another case, namely, that of those who arrived in the Colony as Settlers in 1820, and whose names do not appear on any list. It is difficult to account for these. That such existed is shown by the letters which were received by the Colonial Secretary in 1821 and 1822 from individuals asking permission to return to England, a request, by the way, which was always granted provided it was done at the expense of the individual. There is no mention of the name of Ayliff, for instance, in any Settler list, yet there can be no doubt that Mr. (afterwards the Rev.) John Ayliff was a '20 Settler. It will be seen, therefore, that it is almost impossible to form a perfect and complete list of the British Settlers. It should be noted that the Irish parties, under W. Parker, Captain Synnot, and Captain Butler, landed at Saldhana Bay, and only a few eventually came round to Algoa Bay. Scanlen's party was thus formed. Gush's party was an off-shoot from the large Sephton party. The greatest care has been taken in making and checking the following list. All names have been put in from both London and Colonial lists, as well as those which have been found in other documents.

GEO. E. CORY

Archives Department

House of Parliament

Cape Town, October, 1919

^[1]

Explanatory Notes:-a., age; w., wife; n.o.c., names of children; r., remarks.

Damant's Party

ATHERSTONE, J., a.26

ATHERSTONE, Dr. J., a.29 w. Elizabeth, a.37; n.o.c.Guyhon 5, Catherine 4, Elizabeth 3, Emily 2; r.Dist. Surgeon Albany. Dr. W. G. A. recognised the first diamond from Kimberley; geologist, M.L.A.. 1883.

COOPER, John T., a.27

DAMANT, Edward, a.33, w. Mary, a.27; n.o.c. Ann 13, Louisa 2; r.Head of Damant's party, formerly of the 38th Regt. Fought in the Peninsula war.

DAMANT, John, a.34

DURELL. Hen., a.27

FRANCIS, John, a.24

FROST, Philip, a.32 w.Elizabeth, a.30; n.o.c. Philip 11, James 10, John 4, William 7, Edward 6, Mary (infant) 1½ years.

GIBBON, Edward, a.21

LUKE, John, a.19,

MALES, Thos., a.18

MATTHEW (S?) , John, a.22

NAMES, Joseph, a.20

PRICE, John, a.25, r.Died at sea 14th February, 1820.

PURVIS, Henry, a.32.

SELEY, William, a.20

SMITH, Stephen, a.27, w.Ann, a.27, n.o.c. Henry 5, Harriet 1.

STERLEY, J., a.19

STERLEY. Thomas, a.54, ; w.Ann, a.44; n.o.c. Thomas 17, John 15, William 3, James 1, Mary 12, Lydia. 8, Maria 6.

TEE, Richard, a.34

THOMPSON, Will., a.21

WELLS, John, a.20

Sources

1. ↑ Souvenir of Centenary of 1820 Settlers