Griffith's Party

1820 Settlers

Main Reference - The Settler Handbook by MD Nash

See also eGGSA - The 1820 Settler Correspondence and Return of Settlers Griffith's Party eGGSA

Further information at 1820 Settlers.com

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Party Details

• Leader Lieut. Valentine Griffith and Charles Griffith
• Number in the Party 41 - 42 according to Return of Settlers Griffith's Party - marked with √
• Area Party originated from Cardiganshire, Wales
• Area Allocated to the Party Western Cape - on the left bank of the Zonder End River in the Caledon District. The party was shortly transferred to Albany, Lieutenant Griffith remaining at Zonder End River for some time.
• 1820 Settler Ship

Stentor

• Dates

• Departure Liverpool, 13 January 1820
  
• Arrival Table Bay, Cape Town - 19 April 1820
  

(Other parties on this voyage - Neave, Richardson, George Smith, White.)

M.D. Nash 1987 - Settler Handbook

"No. 28 on the Colonial Department list, led by Valentine and Charles Griffith of Newtown, Mongomeryshire, North Wales. This was a proprietary party consisting of the three Griffith brothers, two of them Lieutenants of Royal Marines on half-pay and the third a surgeon, and 19 indentured servants, mostly young unmarried men. The Griffith brothers were accompanied by their unmarried sisters. Deposits were paid for 22 men.

The Griffiths' application to emigrate was forward to the Colonial Department by G A Evans, a Justice of the Peace for Montgomeryshire, who recommended them as members of a large and respectable family whose father, also an officer of Marines, had died a year earlier leaving them unprovided for.

The party was initially recruited in Wales but frequent changes were made to the list of names. Five men withdrew and were replaced after arrival at Liverpool, the port of embarkation, early in December 1819. Valentine Griffith ascribed this to the delay before the party was able to board the Stentor where she lay in Liverpool docks, 'in consequence of the regulations of the Port not permitting Fire or Lights, and the ship's Deck being damp for them to sleep upon.'

The Stentor finally sailed on 13 January 1820, arriving in Table bay on 19 April, where her charter expired and all her passengers were disembarked. The colonial authorities intended to settle the Griffiths' party, together with those of Joseph Neave and Thomas White from the Stentor and Duncan Campbell's party from the Weymouth, on the Zonder End River about 70 miles from Cape Town. However, the heads of of parties were unwilling to accept the land that was offered them and the settlers were returned to Cape Town. The Griffiths also refused the offer of a location in Albany, and instead arranged to remain in the western Cape, renting the Oude Post Farm in the Groen Kloof district.

Valentine Griffith left the colony for Tasmania in 1823.

Members of Griffith's party

[Bold links are to Geni profiles; other links are to other biographical notes]

√ Davis Brown 22. Labourer

√ Richard Diggery 28. Blacksmith

√ Richard Doe 28. Carpenter.

Wife √ Mary 24
Child

• √ Ann Doe 3
  

√ Ellice Forrest 22. Mason

√ John Gardner 22. Carpenter

√ Charles Griffith 31 (Lieut, Royal Marines (half-pay).)

Return of Settlers Griffith's Party
√ Cornelia Griffith 22 (Sister of Leader Valentine Griffith)

√ Eliza Griffith 19 (sister of Leader Valentine Griffith)

√ John Griffith 24, Surgeon. (brother of Leader Valentine Griffith)

√ Mary Griffith 25 (sister of Leader Valentine Griffith)

√ Valentine Griffith 29. (Lieut, Royal Marines (half-pay).)

√ Richard Hairbottle 32, Gardener.

Wife √ Jane Loid 28.
Children

√ Richard Hairbottle 8
√ William Hairbottle 4
√ Ann Hairbottle 1

√ Jenkin Jones 26. Tailor

√ John Jones 19. Labourer
√ John Jones 20. Labourer
√ John Lloyd 18. Labourer
√ William Morris 30. Labourer.

Wife Catherine 31
√ Children

√ Ann Morris 3
√ William Morris

√ William Morton 24. Blacksmith.

Wife √ Mary 19.
Child

√ Henry Morton 2m

√ Mark Noble 23. Bricklayer
√ Benjamin Powell 15. Bailiff.

Wife √ Elizabeth 26
Children

√ Elizabeth Powell 5
√ John Powell 3

√ William Powell 22. Labourer
√ David Thompson 26. Baker
√ John Williams 32. Wheelwright.

Child

√ John Williams 5

√ John Williams 33. Labourer.

Wife √ Sarah 26.
Child

√ Thomas Williams 14

√ Daniel Wright 28. Labourer

Main source for party list

Return of settlers under Valentine and Charles Griffith (Cape Archives CO 6138/1,83). This was compiled before the party left England and it is not known whether it includes the final alterations made shortly before sailing. No Agent of Tansports' Return, showing the state of the party as it reached the cape, has been traced for the Stentor.

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The 1820 Settler Correspondence

GRIFFITH, Valentine, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 373

[To the Rev.G.A.EVANS

Magistrate for the County of Montgomery]

Newtown

August 19th 1819

Sir,

Wishing to avail myself of the encouragement given by Government to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope I beg leave to acquaint you that there are twenty able bodied individuals anxious to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope and that I am willing to deposit ten pounds per man agreeable to the circular of July 1819. I have therefore to request that you will have the goodness to make such necessary application to the Right Honourable Lord BATHURST as may obtain for us the indulgence of being permitted a free passage to such part of the Cape as is intended to be colonized.

I have further to add that I have been engaged in practical agriculture for these last two years and possess for the purpose of emigration the sum of one thousand pounds and that I and twenty individuals are willing to conform to such regulations and conditions as the Government may require.

I am Sir your most obedient humble servant

Valentine GRIFFITH

1st Lieut. R. Marines Half Pay

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 375

[from G.A.EVANS to Lord BATHURST]

Newtown

19 August 1819

My Lord.

I beg leave to forward to your Lordship the application of an individual of character and merit, whose father after forty years service in the Royal Marines died in October last, leaving a large family unprovided for; and I have to solicit your Lordship's compliance with the request contained therein, which should your Lordship be pleased to grant will afford a reasonable prospect of support to a numerous and deserving family.

I have the honour to be my Lord

Your most obed't serv't

G.A.EVANS

One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Montgomery

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 445

Ty'n y Coed Cottage

Near Newtown

Montgomeryshire

Oct 6th 1819

Sir,

I and my brother being subalterns in the Royal Marines and accompanied by one army pensioner and a naval female pensioner included in the twenty able bodied individuals permitted to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, I have to request you will be pleased to transmit to me a fourth list agreeable to the instructions contained in Lord BATHURST's letter accepting our offer, and have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Valentine GRIFFITH

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 465

Newtown

Montgomeryshire

October 13 1819

Sir,

I have enclosed you my lists agreeable to the printed particulars. The names of my family of three orphan sisters are inserted as well as well as that of my youngest brother as a surgeon attached to the Navy. I rely upon your kindnesses given by directing every accommodation that the circumstances will admit for the reception of my family on board the transport when we embark from Liverpool. Permit me further to solicit the honor that you will place before Lord BATHURST for his indulgent consideration that my late father devoted 40 years in His Majesty's Service, that his two eldest sons have served 12 and 16 years each as subaltern officers and bear the highest testimonials as to character and a devoted loyalty to their King and country. They hope to be found individuals to merit the confidence of his Lordship by recommending them to the notice of the Governor of the Colony for their future advantage by any military or civil appointments to be conferred in the new settlements.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

V. GRIFFITH

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 522

Liverpool

December 21st 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit to you the letter and report to General Lord SOMERSET in compliance with your directions received yesterday.

I regret extremely that I am under the necessity of again presenting the lists accompanied with an unavoidable alteration, and I must therefore solicit your indulgence for this additional trouble, as it has originated chiefly from the situation of the ‘Stentor' lying in the Docks until this day and there not being accommodation for the people to be on board, in consequence of the regulations of the fleet not permitting [tie?] or lights and the ship's deck being camp for them to sleep in on board.

The circumstances have [resolved?] five to withdraw, but I have supplied their places by five equally eligible and conformable to the regulation prescribed by the number of the former list.

I request you will be pleased to obtain Lord BATHURST's permission for my brother & self to embark on board the ‘Stentor' a brace of valuable dogs each, having conveyed them to this port at considerable expence, and their water & provisions we will provide for during the voyage.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Valentine GRIFFITH

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 526

31 December 1819

Sir,

I had the honor to receive today the communication of Lord BATHURST's sanction to the corrected lists and the letter to General Lord SOMERSET. I request that you will be pleased to obtain my Lord BATHURST's direction that I may be allowed to embark on board the Stentor fifteen riffles and one hundred pounds of gunpowder from this port for the use of the settlers under my direction. And I hope you will pardon my again trespassing upon your indulgence in drawing your attention to the subject of the embarkation of dogs, as I beg leave to represent there is only one Director besides myself on board the ship who seems desirous to avail himself of a similar indulgence and we will with the greatest pleasure find water & provision for their voyage; at the same time I humbly submit a copy of a letter from the Agent of Transport communicating the Navy Board instruction on that head, being an answer to a letter on that subject.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Valentine GRIFFITH

NB it is not the intention of myself or the settlers to take out livestock of any kind as the Captain provides a ship for the Directors.

[enclosed letter]

Liverpool

December 28th 1819

Gentlemen,

In reply to your letter of the 12th inst I beg leave to copy an abstract of a letter I have this day received from the Navy Board, dated Navy Office 18 Decr. “The settlers are not to be allowed to embark arms or gunpowder without an order from the Secretary of State for which it is requisite that they should apply. No dogs are to be allowed to be embarked unless the parties obtain an order from the Secretary of State for the purpose and in that case they must put on board water for them for 84 days at their own expence.”

By making proper application I have not the least doubt but your wish will be accomplished. I have the honor to be Gentlemen

Your obedient humble servant

Charles CHURCH

Lt RN, Agent for Transport

GRIFFITH, Charles, 1820 Settler

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 300

23 Francis Street

Woolwich

Jul 28th 1819

Sir,

I take the liberty of addressing you to request you will do me the favour to inform me what part of the south east coast of the Cape of Good Hope it is under the contemplation of the Government to form a new settlement by the latest circular to encourage emigration to that colony, and if the half pay officer entitled to a part in Nova Scotia or Canada will be allowed the same acreage of land by turning his views to the Cape settlement. I shall also wish to be informed if any of the transports to carry out settlers will sail from either of the out ports of Liverpool or Bristol.

I have Sir the honor to be your obed't humble serv't

Charles GRIFFITH

Lt. Royal Marines

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 410

Newtown

Sept 4th 1819

My Lord,

In compliance with your Lordship's directions of the 21st ult in answer to my application made through one of the magistrates of this county for permission to go out as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope.

I beg leave to assure your Lordship that with my brother, who wishes to join me in taking out ten labourers each, that we are most ready to conform to all the conditions upon which His Majesty's Government have offered to grant lands in the colony; and agreeable to the printed form desiring a detailed statement of the names and ages of all the persons we beg to transmit the following list of the twenty able bodied individuals with their wives and children who are desirous to accompany us.

We have the honor to be my Lord

Your most obedient humble servants

Valentine GRIFFITH

Charles GRIFFITH

Lieuts. Royal Marines Half Pay

A detailed statement of twenty men, eighteen women and twenty seven children proposed to be taken out to the colony of the Cape of Good Hope by Valentine GRIFFITH and Charles GRIFFITH agreeable to the form directed by letter of the 22nd August in answer to application through one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Montgomery to obtain permission to go out as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope Colony.

Newtown, Sept 4th 1819

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers: Valentine GRIFFITH

Lieut HP Royal Marines Aged 29 Charles GRIFFITH Lieut. Royal Marines Aged 31

Names of Settlers

Eliza GRIFFITH 23

Mary GRIFFITH 26

Richard JONES Bailiff 30 Hannah JONES 29 Richard/Isaac 7/6 Betsy 2

John GRIFFITH Farrier 22

Cornelia GRIFFITH 25

William JONES Sawer 32

Ann JONES 30

Richard MILLS Saddler 28 Eliza MILLS 24

Richard HAIRBOTTLE Gardener 31 Jane HAIRBOTTLE 20 John/William 12/5 Jane/Betsy 8/1

Thomas JONES Labourer 42

James DAVIS Labourer 35 Mary DAVIS 31 John 7
Ann 3

Thomas EVANS Labourer 33 Eliza EVANS 25 James/John 5/3 Eliza 8

James HOWELL Mason 24

John JAMES Joiner 40 Martha JAMES 36 John 6

James JONES Sawer 29

Jane JONES 25 Jane 2

Thomas OWEN Labourer 41

Harriet OWEN 40

Richard HUGHES Carpenter 25 Ann HUGHES 30 Edward 8
Mary/Betsy 9/5

Thomas MORRIN Blacksmith 28 Elizabeth MORRIN 23 Thomas 2
Ann 1

John WILLIAMS Labourer 38 Mary Williams 33 John/Thomas 10/8 Mary 11

Thomas HOWELLS Carpenter 33

Jno. MORGAN Labourer 34 Hannah MORGAN 30 James/Reece 11/9 Jane 3

Jno. JENKINS Labourer 31

Jessy JENKINS 33

Thomas LEWIS Labourer 39 Martha LEWIS 35 John 7
Harriet 5

George GREEN Miller 39

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 429

Hungerford Coffee House

Sept 21st 1819

Sir,

I am induced from a most unexpected circumstance earnestly to request you will favour me with some information respecting the application I had the honor to make to Lord BATHURST on the subject of the Cape of Good Hope settlement, as my immediate acceptance of half pay must depend entirely upon that application meeting a favourable answer.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed't humble sev't

Charles GRIFFITH

~~~~~~

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 518

13 Cornwallis Street

Liverpool

December 14th 1819

Sir,

I beg to be allowed the indulgence of enclosing a new settler list of the party of settlers under the direction of myself & brother and ordered to embark on board the ‘Stentor' transport. It was out of our power before the present moment of going on board to convey a list corrected and to be depended upon, as the people were generally withdrawing from their agreement. You will perceive the alterations are simply that of names and a reduction of four in the number of women and two children. The spirit of the instructions for my guidance I trust will be found I have attended strictly to in the alterations I have been compelled to make. The party will be all embarking tomorrow and as my brother is in possession of Lord SOMERSET's letter on his arrival at this lace I will forward by tomorrow's post that letter for any alteration that may be necessary I have the honor to be Sir

Your obed't humble sev't

Charles GRIFFITH