Rowles, John

_ His Excellency
Ld C H Somerset _ Governor
The humble memorial of John Rowles, a Settler
of the Party of Mr John Bailie _
Sheweth
That your Memorialist is labouring under very
depressd circumstances which have continued to increase
since considerable losses and privations he had experienced
in the month of October last, from the violence of the
Storms during that period, from which he fears he
cannot recover unless the liberality of yr Excellency
be exerted in his behalf
Yr Memorialist desires to explain the cause of not making
his situation known sooner to yr. Excellency is from not knowing
untill lately of the assistance profferd by yr Excelllency
and the distance of the Location near 40 Miles from the
authorities representing yr Excellency in Grahams Town
the whole of yr. Memorialists time having been absorbed
in the rebuilding of his House &c, which he now made _

tenable altho: Single_handed, having not had means to
obtain help without distressing his Family in their Subsistence
during the time
Yr Memorialist in the leading particulars of his Loss
and inconvenience sustaind states the entire destruction
of his dwelling &c owing to the earth and foundation being
entirely carried away in the Torrent from which
your Memorialist had scarcely removed his Family before it
fell, and in the night must have remaind exposed to
the Elements but for the Shelter of a neighbours House
to which he removd. and has untill now remaind at
the same time his Loss was increasd. by the destruction of
vegetables and a small crop of Corn
more than your Memorialist has thus retaled he is
prepard to prove to the Satisfaction of the Authorities
of yr. Excellency or their Subordinates, should any
doubt exist of the truth of his Statement
Yr. Memorialist understanding that yr. Excellency _

_ has been pleased to appropriate a considerable
Sum of Money by way of Loan to those in necessity
yr. memorialist prays. that on the liberality of your
Excellency he may be placed a Claimant proper
to receive a Share, and he offers full assurance to
yr. Excellency that he altho: much reduced, yr. Memist:
has no Debt or incumberance whatever, on his circumstances
The object to which he would apply it is expressly
for the purchase of Cattle having great advantage in
the general Location of Mr Bailie for Feeding and
breeding _ Yr. Memorialist considers that such a Sum
is Three or Four Hundred Rix dollars advanced to him
for that purpose would with care contribute to his Family
much good in the use, as well by their Stock and increase
Secure its future repayment _ and the continued
respect and gratitude of yr. Memorialist and
his Family _
John Rowles
Bailies Location 25th March 1824