Harvey, Richard

To His Excellency the Right Honorable General Lord
Charles Henry Somerset, Governor and Commander in Chief
of His Majestys Castle, Town and Settlement &c &c &c of the Cape
of Good Hope.
The humble Petition of Richard Harvey of Grahams Town.
Sheweth
That your Petitioner came to this Colony as a settler
in the party of the late Mr Wm Clark and paid the deposit
of Twenty pounds for himself and his Family, as required by His
Majestys Government
Your Petitioner was located on the allotment of land
assigned to him, on which he built a house erected a workshop
sawpit, and cultivated some land, but the nature of his
allotment was such, that at the utmost he could not have cultivated
more than two acres out of 100 acres. Your Petitioner
having a large family and the late Mr Clark was disposed
to sell his allotment of 400 Acres, he entered into an agreement
with him for the purchase thereof at the sum of 300 rixdollars and
he paid him a deposit, Mr Clark at this time was about to leave
the Colony for England, but as he could not give your Petitioner
any security for the Digram of the land, your Petitioner declined
paying the purchase Money, but he conceived he had a prior
right over any Other purchaser.
About two Months after your Petitioner made the before
mentioned bargain Mr Wm Clark died, and his Widow sold the
allotment to Mr David Lewis of Grahams Town for which
Mr Lewis either did or was to pay her 600 rixdollars, under all
these circumstances and disappointments and Your Petitioner
having a Wife and six Children to support by the labour of his
own hands, and his own allotment not being sufficient in
equal
equal to the desirable an Object, he took the advantage of his
trade (that of a sawyer and carpenter) and removed his
family into Grahams Town, where he purchased a spot of
ground and built a temporary house thereon (his then Money
not allowing him to do more) but as his business is now
daily increasing, he is much straitened for the want of
small Capital to enable him to build a good and substantial
house for his family use, and to make Other erections on
the spot of ground which he purchased.
Your Petitioner most humbly prays that your
Excellency will be pleased to take his Case into consideration
and to grant him the loan of 1000 Rixdollars and out of the Colonial
Loans, for which he will produce such security as may be
deemed eligible, and your Petitioner most humbly begs
that your Excellency will be pleased to make the necessary
enquiries through the medium of Harry Rivers Esq Landdrost
of Albany as to Your Petitioners Moral and religious
character, and also of his industry and sobriety
attain the object of a good husband and affectionate
viz. that of supporting his family by the labour and work
of his own hands.
And Your Petitioner as he is in duty bound will
pray
Richard Harvey
Grahams Town
November 16 1824