Timms, Thomas

To His Excellency Lord Charles Somerset /
Governor 7+c 7+c 7+c /
The Memorial and Petition of Thomas Timms one of /
the Nottingham party humbly sheweth . /
That your petitioner on the night of the 11\th/ /
of December last had 44 head of Cattle taken away by /
the Caffers, of which 15 were Cows either in Milk /
or near Calving, the los+s of which, has brought your /
petitioner into great distres+s, as he and his family /
depended for subsistence almost entirely upon his Cows. /
Another part of the Cattle so taken were his working /
Bullocks, the los+s of which deprived /him\ of the Means of /
Cultivating his land /
That your petitioner is advanced in life, having /
had 12 Children, 5 of whom he brought with him to Africa /
That your petitioner applied to Colonel Scott /
for some relief or redres+s, but could not obtain any /
and to add to his Misfortune, whilst he was gone to Grahams /
Town to try to get his Cattle restored, or other Cattle in lieu of them /
he found on his return, that his dwelling had, by some fatal /
accident been burned to the ground, and all his Goods and /
apparel consumed; thus your petitioner by these two Calami=tous /
events, one following close upon the other, is brought to /
deepest distres+s. Your petitioner throws himself upon /
the justice and Mercy of your Lordship as Governor; justice /
in Causing full restitution to be made in Cattle, not mere=ly /
number for Number, but Value for Value _ and Mercy, in being /
pleased to order present relief in the way for rations, till your /
petitioner can rebuild his house, and get again a few Neces+sary /
things about him _ your petitioner cannot conceal, that he /
has no Means of reestablishing himself, but by the sale of part /
of his property in Cattle, upon the prompt restitution of which, therefore /
every thing depends _ and without such restitution your petitioner is /
involvd in utter ruin_ To have some place of refuge to fly to in Case /
of further Molestation from the Caffers Your petitioner prays for a piece of /
ground at Bathurst _ and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray /
Torrens River near Bathurst Jan\y/ 9\th/ 1823 /