In an age when we can travel half way around the world in a matter of hours and immediately inform people of our safe arrival, it is perhaps easy up overlook the detetmination and fortitude displayed by our pioneering ancestors, often of low status, as they migrated around the country and across the globe 150-200 years go. What were the push/pull factors that motivated them? How, and how much, did they know of their intended destination? How did they arrange and fund their travel? At a time of low levels of illiteracy and no universal mailing system, how did a dispersed family maintain contact, if at all? Were they daring or desparate? I realise there are a multitude of aswers but this is what puts the flesh on the bones of family history. Unfortunately here is so rarely any written evidence.
Bounty immigrants were chosen by Australian colonists to come from the British Isles to Australia. Assisted immigrants came to Australia through the financial assistance of the government, organizations, or wealthy individuals. Paying passengers came to Australia through their own means. We all know the story of the convicts but these are other ways in which Australia was colonised in the early years. A better life would have been the main motivator. Usually it worked well for them.
Some of my Yorkshire 'cloth workers' went to the US. In my case ,in the 19th century woollen mills were set up in Fishkill NY and workers were needed, so jobs were advertised here, with assistance with passage and housing, and so off they went. Whether they kept in contact with family left behind I have no idea, I suppose it all depended on their ability to read and write.
Cornish miners (and miners from other parts of the UK) emigrated to all corners of the globe in pursuit of a new life. There's a good summing up of the migration at Code: http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/default/files/10%20-%20Mining%20migration.pdf I like the verse at the beginning of the article - Some say of the Cornish miner His home is the wide, wide world For his pick is always ringing Where the Union Jack's unfurled (Herbert Thomas 1896)
I wish I could say same of my Gt.G'FAther a tin miner & herbalist c 1822 'England'. He is buried in the same grave as another man of same name who some have claimed as his father. For me, I need more proof than that of relationship. No idea when he or any parent arrived in Australia. Well, 'James Smith'? no surprises there. Papers said of him that he was a long time resident.
My tree has lots of early colonists to America. Some came for religious or political reasons, but most came here to have their own piece of land. Likewise with my southern kin who continually moved to newly available areas (often displacing natives). I have a few who arrived in Canada as the result of military pensions that became gentleman farmers! Among all these we have a few surviving letters and documents about those early days and hard times. We are a lot of softies compared to those folks!
Through trying to solve the deeper ancestors on my paternal, paternal side I have found that there seemed to be a lot of folks distantly related who all came here over the course of the 1800's. I'm sure in letters back home by those who could write and of course newspaper reports of people who had emigrated others got the "bug" to go as well. I know I have seen old Irish papers online where they talk about former residents who are now in Canada. ( Just not my family ) One English grandmother came as an assisted housekeeper so her reason was financial and a new life. My other English grandmother came to work and live her as her sister and brother-in-law were already settled. I really think it was the promise of a better life that was the big draw.
So, what do I know!! I do have Smiths and in OH's tree too. But they are all distantly related, so I wont get around to them for some time.
My great grandfather was one of four sons of a Cornish miner who themselves were also miners. They lied buried in Northumberland, India, America and New Zealand.
