Osler, Jane

Pendennis near Bathurst April 6.th 1822
To his Excellency the right Honble: Lord Charles Somerset
May it please your Excellency to attend to the
Humble Petition of the Widow of Benjamin Osler
who lately arrivd in this Colony with the hope of improving
the condition of a large Family of young Children by undertaking
a portion of the Land proposd by liberality of the
British Government to be Cultivated by a new Settlement
the sad & recent loss by Death of her late Husband has
now deprivd them of the hope of success in that way
the family being reducd to a Widow, five Daughters
from four to 14 years of age and a Youth of 15 _ & consequently
they are incapable to provide for themselves in an Agricultural
pursuit, the Widow humbly begs that your
Excellency will allow them to return to the Cape, where
by the practice of Millinary
& Mantall Making &c they hope they will be able there
to gain a livelihood _ if this should fail _ they woud endeavour
to return to England, where they have Friends who woud
help them ) your most humble Petitioners would also
most humbly beg that your Excellency will also allow
John Colman to return to the Cape _ who has been accustomd

to a Seafaring life and consequently cannot get a livelihood
by Agriculture _ he has some Friends at the Cape who would
assist him in getting a Situation _ as Master or Mate of a
Vessel _ and if not sucessful in this _ his good education & abilities
woud enable him to get on in some way of obtaining a living
for him & his Wife who is a Daughter of your Petitioner
and is a Ladies Dress Maker & Mantall Maker _ and
woud most probably be of much assistance to her Mother
& Family _ your Excellencys humble Petitioners _
most humbly beseech your Excellency to comply with
and grant their request _ as it is a case of much expedience
for a Family which it has pleasd the Almighty to deprive
of their dearest Friend & Father _ and if your Excellency
will be also pleasd to send them a speedy answer
they will ever be in duty bound to pray for your Exellency
Jane Osler