Dr Nathaniel MORGAN aged 27 (Assistant surgeon) and his wife Mary SADLER aged 22 arrived at the Cape as leader of the 15th Settler group "The Morgan Party" which departed from Gravesend, England on December 13 1819 aboard the ship 'Ocean'. They arrrived at the Cape Colony in 1820. They formed part of the British government-assisted emigration scheme to the Cape Colony, South Africa.

From THE SETTLER HANDBOOK by MD Nash - see Morgan's Party

History of Medicine

The Doctors Who Came to the Cape with the 1820 Settlers

A. H. TONKIN

(exerpt)

Those who were heads of parties and who apparently did not apply for licences to practise, were Thomas Calton who travelled on the Aurora and who died soon after landing at Algoa Bay; W. Clark, who was on board the Northampton; David Thomas Nightingale on board the Amphitrite and Nathaniel Morgan who took passage with his party on the Ocean. It is this Dr Morgan who became an Assistant Surgeon in the Army, and during the Sixth Kaffir War he was attached to the Burgher Forces and was publicly thanked for his services. He died in Salem in 1842.

Letters from Nathaniel Morgan

Transcribed by Alan Keightley from CO48/44 at the

National Archives at Kew, London

606

No. 19 Shoemaker Row

Blackfriars

19 August 1819

My Lord

I have the honor to present to your Lordship, notice

for the approbation of His Majesty's Government, the

undermentioned names, addresses, occupations, etc of

certain individuals who wish to avail themselves of

the offer now made, to become settlers at the Cape of

Good Hope.

Respectfully waiting your Lordship's directions.

I have the honour to be

My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Nathaniel MORGAN

List of persons offering themselves for approbation of

his Majesty's Government to become settlers at the

Cape of Good Hope

No, Names, Age, Family, Occupation, Place of

residence, Remarks

1, Nathaniel MORGAN, 27, , Asst Surgeon, 19 Shoemaker Row Blackfriars, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been graciously pleased to sanction my application for leave of absence to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope as notified to me by a letter from the Army Medical Board dated 18 August 1819

2, Thomas Henry HALSE, 27, Wife and 2 children under 2 years of age, Warehouseman, 6 Clifton Street Finsbury,

3, George PHILLIPS, 29, Wife and 2 children under 4

years of age, Narrow weaver, 10 Church Row

Whitechapel,

4, James THOMAS, 26, Wife and 2 children under 2 years of age, Carpenter, Builder, 4 Rose Court Castor Street Poplar,

5, William THOMAS, 29, Wife and 3 children under 6

years of age, Carpenter, Joiner, 9 Johns Court Hanway

Street,

6, Robert GADSDEN, 24, Wife and 1 child under 1 year

of age, Corn & flour dealer, 2 City Road Finsbury,

7, David GADSDEN, 20, , Grocer, 3 Prospect Place St

George's East,

8, Richard [TWAINE], 34, Wife , Agriculturalist,

Chertsey,

9, William BLISHEN, 36, , Do., ,

10, James POULTNEY, 28, Wife and 2 children under 10

years of age, Taylor [sic], 14 Princes Street

Bishopsgate,

11, Charles KESTELL, 32, Wife and 4 children under 10

years of age, Carpenter, Builder, Park Street

Limehouse,

12, Robert ALLEN, 30, Wife , Botanist, Druggist, 50

Goswell Street,

616

19 Shoemaker Row

Blackfriars

23rd August 1819

My Lord

I beg leave to make known to your Lordship my desire,

that should I fortunately succeed in my application

for leave to become a settler at the Cape of Good

Hope, which application is now under your Lordship's

consideration, I may be entrusted with a Medicine

Chest by his Majesty's Government for the use of the

settlers during their passage to the Cape of Good

Hope, and which I will deliver up at my arrival to

such authority as shall be by your Lordship's

instructions appointed to receive it.

I had the honor to make the above proposal to the Army

Medical Board when I applied for leave of absence for

the purpose of emigration and it was not thought by

them to be impertinent and they advised the

proposition to be submitted to your Lordship's notice.

I know the necessity of so many families having

medical assistance at hand during so long a voyage

will occupy a share of your Lordship's kind

consideration, therefore I trust my present

application will meet with your Lordship's approbation

if not inconsistent with the measures His Majesty's

Government intend to adopt.

I have the honour to be My Lord

With the greatest respect

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Nathaniel MORGAN

Asst Surgn H.P. 81st Regt Foot

682

19 Shoemaker Row

Blackfriars

Sept 14th 1819

Sir

In the list which I had the honor to submit to the

notice of His Majesty's Government of persons desirous

of settling at the Cape of Good Hope (dated Augt

19th) I entered myself as a single man but in

consequence of subsequent arrangements with my family

it has become necessary for me to take out my wife. I

beg leave therefore to state the above circumstance,

that I may be permitted to take out this additional

person.

I also had the honor to address the Right Honourable

the Earl BATHURST in a letter dated August 23rd

soliciting of His Majesty's Government the use of a

medicine chest for the assistance of such as may

become sick during the passage to the place of

settlement. Not having yet received any answer to the

above application, I take the liberty of thus calling

to your recollection the above circumstance.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obedient humble servt

Nathaniel MORGAN

733

7th October 1819

Sir

I beg leave to state that three of the persons

mentioned in the list I had the honor to submit to

your notice for leave to settle at the Cape of Good

Hope having in consequence of family arrangements

declined joining the above party. I have therefore

taken the liberty to fill up the consequent vacancy

with the names of others whom I can with equal

propriety offer to your notice as fit and proper

persons for the proposed settlement.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servt

Nathaniel MORGAN