Genealogy Chat

An awful lot of my ancestors emigrated to America over a fifty year period during the 1800’s. The first one to go in the 1830’s was believed to have been a teacher over here (yet to be confirmed) but when he got over there became a grocer, post master and preacher amongst other things. The others that followed were Ag Labs over here and continued farming over there. And it wasn’t just my family. It seems there are members of other families from their villages over here also living in the same towns with them in America. I’m now left with quite a few questions. What tempted these families to leave for a new life in America? As most of them were Ag Labs I assumed they wouldn’t be very well off. So was it cheap or free to emigrate? I even have an ancestor who went out to visit his brothers out there - like a holiday I suppose. And why did nearly all of them end up in the same place? America is a big place with plenty of towns and states to choose from. Can anyone enlighten me? Jeanette x

Jeannette People generally move because they hope for a better life. Perhaps farming over here wasn't paying so well; there may have been incentive schemes to populate America and turn its vast areas into productive arable/animal farming. As to why they ended up in the same place - if you were going into the unknown, you would probably want to be near people you knew. Plus, there may have been established routes from the port they landed to where they ended up. Have you tried finding a history of the village(s) they came from - that might give an indication of whether conditions became particularly bad, and therefore why people emigrated. nell

There are a number of reasons why people left these shores for America, Canada, and other countries. Some went in search of a better life, others followed the call of different goldrushes. Not a few from Ireland and Scotland went because they had been evicted by landlords, and the Famine (of which there was more than one) also had its effect on emigration. The evictions took place in a number of ways; unable to pay the rent, or increases in rent, land being cleared for other purposes, or because there were prospective tenants who could pay more. Also, there were those escaping the long arm of the law (and the hangman's rope). Some went to fight in various conflicts over there such as the Civil War, Indian Wars, etc. Paul

Thanks for the replies ladies. Some good suggestions there Nell. Looks like a few local history lessons for me then! lol. Actually I've just borrowed a book from the library on local history in the East Riding but I haven't looked at it yet. Jeanette x

Sorry Paul. Didn't mean to call you a lady! lol. You must have been posting at the same time as me. Thanks for the info. I know a couple of them did go out to fight in the civil war. I was just wondering why there seemed to be a 'mass exodus' from East Yorkshire during these times. It's not that bad! lol Jeanette x

We have a few letters written a relative of mine, who emigrated in 1800's, the husbands family also went, I believe about 63 members in all. I think there was paid passage by the government to populate these lands, and I daresay they felt the grass was greener on the other side, a land of opportunities etc. My rellies went first of all to Canada, stayed there for a few years and when things weren't going so well there, relocated to USA. In my husbands family a whole village full of relatives disappeared all at the same time, presumably these emigrated too. Val

Interesting Val. Paid passage would certainly explain how poor ag labs were able to get over there. I also have an ancestor (well actually I haven't confirmed the connection yet but I'm 99.9% sure he's mine) that went to Canada first and then on to America. Jeanette x

Just been reading a book about this! Many ag labs emigrated as a result of the poor corn harvest in successive years, potato famine in Ireland etc. Some decent landlords, who had purchased land in US and Canada very cheaply under a government scheme, gave bits of land to their ag labs and paid their fares. The government also sponsored many people, who went steerage, truly appalling conditions on board ship and the land they were granted when they arrived was often of very poor quality. The Mormons too, sponsored people from the 1840s onwards. It was all done in a drive to populate a "new" country. For some it was very successful, the making of them, for others it was a terrible experience, and quite a number returned to England. "Orphan" children were also sent out in ship-loads, literally, not always orphans, but anyone who was an expense to the Parish Purse was fair game. And then there were all those criminals....wonderful idea, kill two birds with one stone, get rid of those seen to be of criminal nature and save the prison service the cost of keeping them.

Mine went to America to avoid the census. I have an American birth certificate for my gt grandparents who married in June 1891 so were not around for the English census. My gt grandfather may have been around in the US in 1890 but conveniently for him this was destroyed by fire. All I want to know is where my gt grandmother put for her place of birth. Somehow they avoided being on the 1901 census even though they had returned to England. Ros

Hi Jeanette / All Since fairly recently starting my research into my ancestors, all the info that was passed down to us from and on my G / Grandfather originally was that he went to America, and not told of when he went. Only that he returned in 1933 to his wife / family that he had married in 1879 in England. He died in England in 1938. My graduale research has opened up to a main possible reason of him going to the U.S.A, for his brothers wedding approx. one month after he left England in 1896. He went to America under another name, the same name, his brother had used, when he emigrated in 1878. ...... Until I started my research I and my family never knew of the brother' s existence. We were never informed how long, G / Grandfather, had spent in America. Emigration then I believe cost ten pounds, which today does not seem much but was certainly a lot in those days. My G / Grandmother out lived the old so and so by 12 years. Why G / Grandmother never went with him to America in 1896, we will never ever find out now. Family members which may have had the knowledge have all sadly departed from us. My research to date has started to bring the family hitting really hard times around 1880, and what with his brother's move in 1878, ...Could these be a possible combination of reasons of why he wanted to leave England...... Through my early childhood in the 50's / 60's, he was never really talked about in the family, we, the children, at certain times were always moved out, out of hearing distance, when there was a gathering on my mothers side of the family. I am sure the family possibly hoped his past and record of his past doings would eventually disappear with time, ..... Not for-seeing the present day interest in family history....... He was joined in America in 1897, by, in todays terms you would call his partner, I take it she was automatically accepted in America as his wife. They had a further eight children in America, before she died in 1933 , and I believe this was his main reason of his return to England. I know we will possibly never ever know the truly real reason why and what for, but this is what keeps one going with this family history thing, you find something and you just can't let go. ..... Coming back to the message heading I believe at this time, 1850 +, people were informed of better things across the POND, and were prepared to accept the challenge no matter what the cost.......... With the aid of todays computer & initially ancestry, I have found and contacted a G / Grandaughter on the American side of the family and we possibly hope to meet some time next year. My signing off is that they emigrated then because there were prospects of a better life style, at the time, for whatever the reasons may have been. Regards J.C

Have recently been to Bute in Scotland where there is a Canada Hill where people used to go to wave off their relatives. Loads of agricultural workers left the land to make a new life for themselves often their fare being paid by the landowners. Not sure if its was industrial revolution, failure of crops, clearances or putting sheep on land that motivated their move but they went to Canada, Australia and New Zealand to start new lives.

All your stories were so interesting............. Today, I would imagine people uproot to go to a country where land is plentiful and they can have a much larger house and better standard of life rather than squashed in good old Britain! When over in the States in April, I couldn't believe the palatial houses (outside the cities) that we could buy for the value of our's, south Manchester............ Still not tempted though, even to be nearer to son and wife.

Wow! Some really interesting stories and info there. Marjorie It's a pity we can't do that with our criminals these days! lol. Don't think mine were criminals though. The first one to go over did really well for himself financially and was a respected member of the community. John How wonderful for you to be meeting your cousin. I too have a cousin in America. Our 3x great Grandfathers were twin brothers. Mine stayed here while Scotts ventured out to make a new life for himself in America. Jeanette x

Hi Jeanette / All, No doubt you will get a good few more answers / reasons suggested of why, the ones on top of my list (a)conscription, which happened quite often then ( b ) goverment assisted passage, for those thinking / believeing that there was a place where they could better themselves, ( c ) those running from their own past. Criminal or perhaps just avoiding the would be father-in-law...... The meeting with my American cousin will be a very interesting one, I feel to us on both sides. Theres so many questions both of us would probably like answered, whether we know the answer or not. My cousin has been a Missionary in Alaska, its not that I'm a disbeliever, but as I have said previously the meet will be very interesting, Regards J.C.