1820 British Settler

William Scanlan 40, Shoemaker, together with his wife Hannah Ross 34, and their 5 children, were members of Parker's Party of Settlers on the East Indian.

Party originated from Cork, Ireland.

Departure Cork, Ireland 12 February 1820. Arrival Simon's Bay, Cape Town - 1 May 1820. Final Port Saldhana Bay.

Children :

• William Scanlan 16
  
• John Scanlan 13
  
• Charles Scanlan 11
  
• Thomas Scanlan 8
  
• Hannah Scanlan 6
  

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The book by Graham Brian Dickason entitled "Irish Settlers to the Cape — A History of the Clanwilliam 1820 Settlers from Cork Harbour" tells the story of a group of settlers, including thirty-one souls mostly from Longford Town, who emigrated to South África in 1820.

They were to avail of the first assisted British emigration scheme which was passed by the British Cabinet in 1819, eighteen years after the Act of Union which united Ireland with Britain, and was aimed at populating the eastern frontier of the Cape of Good Hope in South África. In all 90,000 people applied for this scheme and 4,000 eventually sailed in 32 ships, 27 of which sailed from Cork between 27th December, 1819 and August, 1820.

The party from Longford, under William Scanlan, travelled from Longford Town to Cork, a journey of 150 miles and quite a distance in itself in terms of 1820 transport. They set sail in the 'East Indian' from Cobh, Co. Cork on 12th February 1820 and arrived at Simon's Bay, South África, on 1st May after a journey of more than 6,000 miles. On 16th May the 'East Indian' carrying 222 passengers, and another ship the 'Fanny' carrying 127 passengers, sailed up the west coast to Saldanha Bay where the passengers disembarked and journeyed the final 80 miles inland to Clanwilliam.

Their stay at Clanwilliam was not a happy one and due to the harsh conditions the majority of the settlers voted to travel on to Albany which had been their original destination. On 21st September they boarded the 'Sir George Osborne' at Saldanha Bay and arrived at Algoa Bay on 30th September, 1820 and were allocated their land at Albany. By April 1823 of the original 7 families and 3 men from Scanlan's group only 3 families remained at Albany due to a series of crop failures.

Despite this, however, the settlement eventually began to prosper and Thomas Charles Scanlan, son of Charles and grandson of William, became Prime Minister of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope from 1881 — 1884.

1820 Settler letters: National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 971 Longford 30th September 1819 My Lord Enclosed your Lordship has the names and descriptions of the several families that I propose contracting for, in case of my being allowed to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope. Should your Lordship require me to forward a certificate of their being in good health, I shall be able to forward such, signed by the Clergyman of the Parish. Should your Lordship look on them as proper persons to proceed there, I should feel particularly obliged by your letting me know what further proceedings I am to take respecting the money to be deposited, as soon as possible, as some of them will be under the necessity of disposing of their effects in this country as soon as they hear your Lordship's final answer concerning them. In conclusion I beg leave to state that I am perfectly willing to conform to such conditions as his Majesty's Government may think proper to dictate, respecting the granting of lands in the aforesaid Colony. I remain your Lordship's most obedt very humble servt William SCANLAN Serjeant, Longford Yeomanry Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers: William SCANLAN aged forty, a shoemaker Serjeant in the Longford Yeomanry in good health; Hannah his wife aged 34, Mantua maker** and seamstress; Five sons, 1st William aged 16, John aged 13, Charles aged 11, Thomas aged 8, George 2 One daughter Hannah aged 6 all in good health.

And whereas the said Board of Commissioners for Lands have recommended the following parties as the persons entitled to receive grants of the subdivisions undermentioned, respectively, viz:

In SCANLAN’s Party

Percival FREYNE, Lot No.1 – 810 morgen surveyed for him, being his own share and that of James JOHNSTONE, whose widow he married in community of property.

The estate of the late Alexander FORBES, Lot No.2 – 422 morgen, allotted to and surveyed for him

And whereas the said Board of Commissioners for Lands have reported that it is necessary to cancel the undermentioned Title Deed by reason of portions thereof being included in the aforesaid subdivisions in SCANLAN’s party, viz: The grant on quitrent to Mr. William SCANLAN, dated 20th November 1823, of 960 morgen of land in the District of Albany, being the extent allotted for the location of Mr. William SCANLAN and his party of Settlers