Thomas William. Stevens. SV/PROG

In 1823, John Ingram brought out 146 Irish contract labourers from Cork on the ship 'Barossa'. Thomas was most probably part of this group of settlers, but no record could be found in any ship's log of his arrival in South Africa.

In 1823 the Barossa sailed from Cork in Ireland to the Cape with 352 people on board. This was the idea of John Ingram, who received a Cape government bounty of £14 for each immigrant landed. The scheme was dogged with problems and the indentured servants Ingram brought into Table Bay complained bitterly of their treatment and wrote home to Ireland that the Cape was “in a state of starvation”.

This second settler ship was subject to much controversy, as he failed to bring out the number of people (contracted to bring out 400) that originally he had been paid for, and an enquiry subsequently took place into the affair, in Cape Town.

"State of the Engagement entered into by Mr. Ingram with the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury in the year 1823, for conveying a certain number of Persons from Ireland to the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Ingram agreed to carry out 200 men, 50 women, 100 children on the public account, and 50 persons on his own account. The total number of persons that arrived at the Cape was 352. Of these Mr. Ingram's family amounted to 11 persons, number of men embarked at Cork 176, number of women embarked at Cork 50 on the public account and 9 on Mr. Ingram's account, number of children embarked at Cork 100 on the public account and one on Mr. Ingram's account. Number of children born at sea 4, one native of Madeira embarked from that Island, Mr. Ingram is not allowed credit for these in consequence of their not having been embarked from Ireland. Total 352 persons landed at the Cape. Mr. Ingram therefore still has to bring out 24 men on the public account and 29 persons on his own account. The amount received by Mr. Ingram from the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury in consideration of his bringing out 350 persons at 14 pounds per head was 4900 pounds. Having brought out only 326 persons on the public account, Mr. Ingram should not have received more that 4564 pounds. Mr. Ingram is therefore indebted to His Majesty's Treasury 336 pounds for 24 men deficient at 14 pounds per head. Cape Town, 10th May 1825. (Signed) John Gregory"