SYNNOT, Walter
781
Ballywalter
Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
July 28 1819
My Lord
I had the honour of receiving a letter from the Secretary of State's office dated 28 May 1818 giving me information respecting the settlement of British Colonists at the Cape of Good Hope. I am still desirous of establishing my family there, and have it in my power to comply with the regulations adopted by Government. However, I hope that I should not be altogether a useless person, and that Government will ever find me a zealous servant to her interests; and that if I go to that Colony it is with a desire of promoting civilisation among the surrounding savage tribes and providing for my children a permanent subsistence.
I beg to be informed at what season of the year Colonists are to embark and from what port, and if it is possible to ascertain the expense attending the removal of ten familys from the Cape and locating them in the situation assigned. I am particularly desirous of obtaining correct information, which may either prevent my embarking in an undertaking that might prove ruinous to my dependants and myself or encourage me to proceed with firmness. I cannot presume to trouble your Lordship with further enquiry. I hope you will favour me with an answer when I shall have it in my power to proceed to London.
I am with the most profoundly [respect]
Your Lordships most Obedient and very Humble Servant
Walter SYNNOT
838
Ballywalter
Post Town Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
11th August 1819
Sir
I had the Honour of receiving your letter on the regulations respecting settlers at the Cape of Good Hope dated on the 2nd Inst. I beg leave to make the following proposals.
Viz; That I will take out the young men with their families not exceeding one woman and two children each, all of the Protestant persuasion.
That I will accompany them with my own family consisting of a wife and three boys under fourteen years of age.
That I am ready to make the deposit as specified in your communication into whatever hands and at what period Government may point out.
I have to request you will have the goodness to communicate to me from what port Irish colonists are to embark, and when Tonage will be granted to me for farming implements, seed etc or can they be easily obtained at the Colony. I must further add that I am a Captain enjoying half pay which I hope I shall be entitled to receive in the Colony.
I have the honour to be Sir,
Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
Walter SYNNOT
888
Ballywalter
Post Town Newtown Hamilton
County Armagh near Newry
Ireland
26 August 1819
Sir,
Conformable to your instruction I enclose a return of the men women and children who propose accompanying me to become colonists at the Cape of Good Hope. I have had many other applications so that if any of the underneath should change their intentions I can give timely notice thereof. They are all Protestants or of the Church of Scotland.
Men&Age
30 Joseph DOBBIN Surgeon, wife and 2 infants
32 Luke CALISTON Carpenter
24 James INGRAM Blacksmith
18 John QUIN Blacksmith
21 Joseph QUIN Labourer, Wife
18 John HAWTHORN Labourer.
25 William BLACK Labourer
28 William CALISTON Carpenter
21 Robert COWSER Labourer
30 William SPIRES [sic] Labourer, Wife 6 children under 14 years
My family consists of a wife, 3 children under 14 years and three servants.
Should government favour this proposal I would be glad how soon I may be informed of it having property to dispose of that I may not loose the first opportunity for want of time.
I have the honor to be Sir
Your most obed’t servant
Walter SYNNOT
Half Pat Capt 89th Regt
934
Ballywalter
Post Town Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
9th September 1819
Sir,
I had the honour of receiving your letter of the [obscured] ultimo enclosing a form to be adopted in my return with [an] instruction which I lose no time in complying with.
I Walter SYNNOT do hereby declare that I am ready to comply with the terms specified in the circular letter respecting colonists at the Cape of Good Hope and accede to the conditions upon which His Majestys Government have offered to grant lands in that colony.
The terms proposed in the circular letter are not encouraging considering the uncertainty of obtaining a grant of land should any of my people desert me or die, but I consider Government would not suffer me to expend my property on the support of such an undertaking if an unavoidable occurrence might deprive me of that grant I am solicitous of. It is not unreasonable that I should desire to see the grant made an establishment for my children, and think from the uncertainty of human life any term beyond three years would render it too precarious.
I consider the men whose names I have returned are industrious, honest and loyal. They humbly join me in requesting that a transport may be appointed to convey them from the nearest port to our residence, viz. Newry, in consideration of the tender years of our children and the number of farming implements and utensils that are also indispensable.
I have the honor to be Sir with the greatest respect
Your most obed’t servant
Walter SYNNOT
A Return of the Names Age and Sex of the persons whom Walter SYNNOT proposes to settle at the Cape of Good Hope conformable to conditions prescribed by his Majestys Government
Name and description of the person taking over the settlers:
Walter SYNNOT
Half Pay Captain
89th Regt
|
Names of the settlers |
Profession or trade |
Age |
Names of the women |
Age |
Male Children |
Age |
Female Children |
Age |
|
Walter SYNNOT |
|
40 |
Elizabeth SYNNOT |
21 |
Walter |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George |
½ |
|
|
|
Joseph DOBBIN |
Surgeon |
32 |
Elizabeth DOBBIN |
19 |
William |
4 |
|
|
|
William SPIERS |
Farmer |
30 |
Sarah SPIERS |
20 |
George |
10 |
Mary |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
James |
8 |
Margaret |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sarah |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth |
½ |
|
Robert COWSER |
Labourer |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph QUIN |
Labourer |
21 |
Mary QUIN |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
John HAWTHORN |
Labourer |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin GRAY |
Labourer |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James INGRAM |
Blacksmith |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William CALISTON |
Carpenter |
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael KENEDY |
Ploughman |
30 |
|
|
Thomas |
2 |
Mary |
2 |
|
Thomas CAMPBEL |
Labourer |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anne CLERK |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Servant |
I have found it necessary to change some of the persons proposed in my first return
Walter SYNNOT
1017
Ballywalter
Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
10 October 1819
Sir
I shall be extremely indebted to you if you could place Miss Frances HOUSTON 15 years of age as a member of my family in the place of George HOUSTON whom I mentioned on the face of the return of the persons who are to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope. I am also very anxious to know from what port my party are to embark and at what period you are desirous the ships should sail. I have a variety of business to settle and it is of the utmost importance that I should be informed on these heads; but in case these points are not finally arranged your conjecture respecting the time and place etc will lay me under every obligation I have the honour to be Sir,
Your Most Obedient Servant
Walter SYNNOT
PS a gentleman of my acquaintance who has a situation in the Revenue of about £200 would be willing to resign it, to settle at Cape of Good Hope, provided you think his proposal to take out the men would be accepted; his inducement is to join part of his family who are going there. I beg you will favour me with an answer and pardon this imposition on your time.
I have the honour to be your obedient servant
Walter SYNNOT
1050
Ballywalter
Post Town Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
28 Oct 1819
Sir
In consequence of some of the men having changed their intention of accompanying me to the Cape of Good Hope I am under the necessity of requesting you will have the goodness to send me three printed forms of returns that I may make the alterations which are absolutely unavoidable. I am of opinion that it would be of advantage to let them remain in my hands as long as possible to prevent similar disappointments. I am extremely thankful for your having entered Miss HOUSTON in my return.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your most obedient servant.
Walter SYNNOT
[note from GOULBURN]
Acquaint him that he is at liberty to substitute any person whose family does not exceed in no. that of the person for whom he is [replaced?] but that he must be aware that as tonnage is specially ordered for the individuals returned great expense and inconvenience to him will result from his wishing to embark other persons than those entered in this return
1068
Ballywalter
November 7 1819
Sir
Not having received instruction how I am to proceed and having disposed of my property in this country I am in a very disagreeable predicament; my party reside at the distance of 175 miles from Cork. The difficulty of removing heavy baggage has induced me to defer the purchase of stores until my arrival at the place of embarkation which renders it the more desirable that I should secure timely information; I have hopes that Government will assist in furnishing a proportion of Camp equipage and Arms. I have refrained from making troublesome applications relying on the justice (which is ever the characteristic of the British Nation) that I shall be granted the same advantages as others in similar circumstances. I have taken every step in my power to hold myself and party in perfect readiness, and I can make the deposit when required, but I am anxious to receive a set of the printed forms and returns as some unavoidable casualtys have occurred which will alter materially the number of women and children. I have taken steps to promote the welfare of our Colony by obtaining letters of Credit on merchants at the Cape Town and introductory ones to his Excellency the Governor. I mention these circumstances that I may not be considered a mere adventurer but be granted that degree of consideration that I trust my conduct will ever justify.
I have the honour to be Sir,
Your Most Obedient Servant
Walter SYNNOT
1080
Ballywalter
14 November 1819
Sir
I am much obliged by your communication of the 5th Inst. I submit returns conformable to your instruction; except in the instance of Robert YOUNG who has disposed of his property to accompany me, and I will not claim tonnage on his account if it should not be found expedient, or will substitute another should it prove impracticable. I have also to mention that my brother is desirous of placing his son Walter SYNNOT under my protection. He is 12 years of age: if this favour can be granted I shall feel myself much obliged. I beg leave to apprise you that I am extremely thankful for the attention you have paid to my applications and am concerned that I have been obliged to intrude so frequently on your time.
I have the honour to be Sir,
Your Most Obedient and very Humble Servant
Walter SYNNOT
1105
Ballymoyer Lodge
Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
December 14th 1819
Sir,
The length of time that has elapsed since I had any communication from the Colonial Office regarding the time the ships are to receive the settlers who are to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope rendering me very anxious to receive information on that head as also to be apprised from what port we are to sail. Cork would answer my purpose better than any other as every requisite store could be procured there at a shorter notice than elsewhere. You will confer a great obligation by favouring me with an answer to this.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
Walter SYNNOT
[Note from GOULBURN]
Has he not been recently written to?
[Clerk’s reply]
He was written to on the 17 Nov and 9th Dec informing him that nothing can be done until he has paid his deposit money.
1112
Ballywalter Lodge
Newtown Hamilton
Ireland
December 16th 1819
Sir
I am informed that circular letters, instructing persons taking out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope to pay the deposit money on or before a certain day. In consequence of my not having received any instructions on this subject, I am inclined to think some accident may have occurred which prevented my receiving this intimation. I beg leave to say I am in readiness to pay into any hands that Government direct, the sum required for my party.
I have the Honour to be Sir
Your most Obedient Servant.
Walter SYNNOT
[Note from GOULBURN]
Was he not written to, if so, state the date
[Clerk’s reply]
17 Nov and 9 Dec
1118
Greshams Hotel
Sackville St
Dublin
Dec 18 1819
Sir
Conformable to your instruction I have made a remittance of £142:10 by this days post to William HILL Esq. I had not the honour of receiving your communication of the 9th Inst until late last night. I am particularly anxious to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope this year having made arrangements for that purpose. I met Mr PARKER on his return from London who gave me the first intimation that the deposit money should have been paid. I wrote to you immediately in order to prevent further delay. I shall wait your instructions in Dublin I have the honour to be Sir
Your Most Obedient and very humble Servant.
Walter SYNNOT
Captain SYNNOT has reason to suppose that a letter has been lost and begs Mr GOULBURN will have the goodness to inform him of its purport, Capt SYNNOT having received no letters from the Colonial Office since he sent in the last returns until Mr GOULBOURN's of the 9th Inst.
[Note from GOULBURN]
If any letters have not reached him, send him duplicates.