We have received the following letter respecting Mr. Pinsent from our friend Mr. W.E. Bale: Maritzburg, Natal, 20th July 1886: Dear Sir, – I see by the obituary notice taken from an English paper that Mr. Savery Pinsent died at Kingsteignton in May last. He came to Natal with me in the ship “John Gibson,” which left London Docks in May 1849, and arrived at Durban in the following October, after a fearful passage, during the greater part of which we had to live upon wretched food, and had to put up with the annoyance of a mutiny between the offers and men, caused by the harsh treatment of the latter. The object of the passengers generally was to farm, but when in answer to my inquiry on landing I was told there was no market for the produce, and seeing from the very small number of inhabitants that there was truth in the remark, I at once, gave up all idea of going on to my 60 acre lot, and gave it to one of my fellow passengers. Of those who occupied their lots, all eventually gave them up, poorer, and I think wiser, men. Some afterwards practised their trades and professions, several soon died, and a number after a short time returned to England. Several, however, after years of hardships succeeded and at the end of 36 years succeeded, and the great majority have gone to their long home, amongst them good old Robert Elliott and his wife, late of Chumleigh, Dr. C. Johnston died at Barnstable a few years since, and now my old friend Mr. Pinsent has likewise gone. I had the pleasure of spending a day with him when I was last in England, and of recalling the trials, disappointments, and scenes of our early emigrant life. I learned then that he was devoting his later days to the good of others: Yours truly, W.E. Bale.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0798 Devonport: Savery Pinsent: 1815 – 1886