Timms, Thomas

To His Excellency Lord Charles Somerset
Governor &c &c &c
The Memorial and Petition of Thomas Timms one of
the Nottingham party humbly sheweth .
That your petitioner on the night of the 11
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 loss of which, has brought your
petitioner into great distress, 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 loss 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 redress, 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 Calamitous
events, one following close upon the other, is brought to
deepest distress. 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 merely
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 Necessary
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 Jany 9 1823