Webb, Charles

Grahams Town Dec\r/ 7\th/ 1824 /
To his Excellency /
The Right Honourable Lord /
Charles Henry Somerset Governor of the /
Cape of Good Hope Commander in Chief of /
his Majestys Forces 7+c 7+c 7+c /
The humble petition of Charles Webb sheweth /
That your Memorialist came out into this /
Colony as a Settler with Major Pigot that your Memo=rialist /
is by trade a Carpenter 7+c Painter but intended /
when the time was expired in which he was contracted /
to Major Pigot to commence farming but not having /
sufficient knowledge of that busines+s 7+ disgusted with /
the degrading terms by which we were to hold the land /
of him (your Memorialist was compelled to come into /
Town for a living) 7+ trade in his way was being dull your /
Memorialist commenced in the sawing and timber /
dealing but not being strong of body was forced to relinquish /
it) your Memorialist then built him a house on a /
spot of Ground which he purchased with his savings /
(and built with the same) your Memorialist has contracted /
several Debts during the /time the\ building was going on and has /
several heavy Debts owing to him which he cannot tell /
when he shall obtain your Memorialist has only /
>
been in town about 18 months your Memorialist has been /
Married 11 Months /is now\ in daily expectation of an increasing /
family _ your Memorialist most earnestly begs that your /
Excellency would grant him the sum of 500 Rix Dollars /
(as a Capital to carry on his busines+s) out of the Government /
Loans your memorialist trusts his character whether /
Civil or Religious will stand unimpeacheable and that /
your Memorialist had not one Angry word from /
Major Pigot /during\ the 3 Years he stop’d with him /
your Memorialist will find the most respectable /
Securities and should your Excellency be pleased to /
Grant the Prayer of your Memorialist he will as /
in duty bound ever Pray /
Charles Webb /
Grahams Town /
7 December 1824 /