Free Settlers

Klein Valley 21 Octr 1820
To His Excellency General Sir R. S. Donkin
Acting Governor and Commander in Chief of the Cape of
Good Hope
The humble Petition of the Free Settlers
at Klein Valley Clan William, most respectfully
Sheweth
That your Petitioners are fully convinced of
your Excellencys kind disposition towards them, notwithstanding
the great trouble that some of them have occasioned you . .
That as they have been disappointed of the honor of
your Excellencys presence here, they hope you will excuse their laying
the following statement before you; for they should think themselves
blameable were they not to make their case known.
That your Petitioners earnestly hope your Excellency will
take into your gracious consideration the great trouble and expence
they have been put to; the length of time since they embarked, the
20 of December; and a long time before they were located here; together
with the advanced season of the year not allowing sufficient time
to clear the ground properly, the consequence of which has been
the almost entire failure of their Crops from the powerful effects
of the Satlpetre with which the ground here is highly
impregnated .. All these things have operated greatly against
your Petitioners, and they find the little money they had for their
support almost exhausted, without a prospect of any return before
them; which compels them to throw themselves on the liberality
or your Excellency hoping you will be graciously pleasd to
grant them some remuneration similar to that which those
have experienced who left this place for the zuureveldt.
To enable your Excellency to have some idea of the
partition of the Valley and how inadequate some of the present
portions of land are for their support, your Petitioners have
annexd a sketch of the same.

Lots of Land
No 1. Mr Shawe Wife, Child, Mother & 2 Men. 25 Acres of Land only fit for
cultivation
2. Mr Holditch wife & 2 children 6 acres
Mr Woodcock holds 1000 acres of Land distributed as follows:
Land fit for
cultivation
not ascertaind
but most of which
is without water
Your petitioners beg to inform your Excellency that on
Mr Parker receiving his Land here, he reservd the wood on the
small Islands near the Oliphant River for the Public use,
as it consists of fire wood and small Rafters only; but since
Mr Woodcock has been located on the adjoining Land, he has
claimd the same as private property. Should he persist
in this, it will be a serious inconvenience to your Petitioners
to collect firewood &c. .. Your Petitioners therefore
hope that your Excellency will be pleased to direct that they
may be allowed the free use of the said Wood as there is
sufficient for all.
Your Petitioners beg leave to assure your Excellency
that they will use their best exertions to further the views of His Majestys
Government for the welfare of the Colony and as in duty bound
will ever pray &c &c
Saml Edwd Shawe John Hare James Stone
James Allison George Baker
James Murray