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Title New Zealand Company, Original Correspondence. General, Folio 6501-7000
Date Nov-Dec 1841
Document Type Correspondence
Reference CO 208/22
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name New Zealand Company Original Correspondence, etc.
Description Letters mainly relaying applications made to emigrate to colonies in New Zealand, as well as embarkation orders to the directors of the New Zealand Company. Many make enquiries into the availability of steerage accommodation and timings of vessels due to embark for the New Zealand colonies. Most applications here are made by young families and agricultural labourers, farmers and shepherds. Some letters also shed light on journey conditions on board the migrant vessels, discussing over-loading, the lack of food and common diseases suffered by children in particular. Other letters refer to the financial state and banking affairs of the New Zealand company, including details relative to the surveying, price and sale of Crown lands in New Zealand settlements such as Nelson. Some printed material is also included here, such as a copy of forms to be filled out by farmers seeking free passage to New Zealand and adverts for a ball hosted by the New Zealand Company in Plymouth to both celebrate the first anniversary of the first settlers' departure for New Plymouth, but also increase the fund reserved for free passage and clothing distributed amongst the "Labouring Classes" wishing to emigrate.
Series Description This series contains original correspondence and entry books of the New Zealand Company which were handed over to the Colonial Office after the surrender of the company's charters in 1850. Also included are minutes, accounts, registers of emigrants and land transfer records.
Biographical Note / History The New Zealand Company was a chartered company formed in 1839 and incorporated in 1841 with power to buy, sell, settle and cultivate land in New Zealand. It did not prove a satisfactory agency for colonising New Zealand and was induced to surrender its charters in 1850. It was finally dissolved in 1858. Others relate to embarkation orders for particular individuals and their families.
Theme(s) Politics, Legislation and Governance; Colonisation Companies and Emigration Societies; Ships and Shipping Lines
Country (from) Great Britain; Ireland
Country (to) New Zealand; Australia
Places London, Taunton, Bristol, England; Auckland, Nelson, New Plymouth, New Zealand; Canada; Scotland
Ports Port Nelson, Wellington, New Zealand; Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Liverpool, Plymouth, England
Nationality English; European; Canadian
Ships London; Martha Ridgway; Timandra; Bolton; Clyde; Prince Rupert; Clifford
People Bell, Sir Francis Dillon; Ward, John; Cooper, Frederick Fox; Phipson, Joseph; Milton, Reverend J L; Doratt, Sir John; Ferguson, William; Alston, H F
Keywords New Zealand Company, emigrant, emigration, emigration scheme, colony, colonisation, application, assisted emigration, bounty emigration, social class, shipping, administration, health and sickness, disease, hospital, surveying, passenger, finance, farming, employment, family, women, free passage, skilled emigration, emigrant selection, land sale, land, provisions, clothing, accommodation, ship building, settlement, wages, steerage, banking, surveying, land price, journey conditions, water, freight, luggage, hotel, holidays and celebrations, regulations, unmarried, surgeon, medical staff, law, newspaper, business, agent, allotments, publishing, missionaries, religion, Christianity, manufacturing, East India Company, army, diarrhoea, food, poverty, death, town planning, postal service, tax, labourer, labour, compensation, company shares, carpenter, orphan
Language English
Copyright Crown Copyright documents © are reproduced by permission of The National Archives London, UK