RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: Peteu4 on Sunday 16 October 05 21:49 BST (UK)
-
Much to my suprise,I found that some of my ancestors in the 1820-60 era,had emigrated to America.
What intrigues me is "why".The ancestors concerned were farmer/graziers and as far as I can see,were not particularly hard up.
The area they came from was the Northants/Leics/ Rutland borders and they migrated to Ohio via new York in 1846.
There are the usual explanations..hard times/potato famine/outflow of country to town etc.But none of these seem to fit in with my folk.
Of the family involved the husband was Methodist and the wife mainstream C of E.
Given the absence of communication..how were they able to just "up sticks and go"?.The more I think about it, the more I suspect that there was more to it than that.
My pet theory at the moment is that,if such an organisation existed,then it may well have been religious(methodist)...thus the emigrees would not have been setting of blind,but would have a specific route and destination pre planned.All this probably to join up with a trail blazed by previous family members.
This theory seems more probable in the rapidity of reaching their Ohio destination from landing in new York.
Does anyone know if such an organisation existed?
Peteu4
-
Hi,
I don't know of any such assisted scheme to the USA in the time period you are in, but that's not to say it didn't exist. However I think you overlook the ease and speed with which immigrants, once landed at a port city (esp one like NY) moved on to their intended location
Here's a quote from an essay on this subject (notice that Cincinnati Ohio was a common destination)
"Immigrants who arrived at the end of the 1840s were no less likely than those who arrived at the start of the 1840s to be found in 1850 in locations far removed from New York, their point of entry. At their arrival in New York, immigrants faced a variety of relatively inexpensive routes to the interior of the U.S., which many had arranged to employ even before their departure from Europe. The total fare from Europe to Buffalo, Cleveland, or Detroit was probably only one fourth greater than the $35 fare to New York city alone, with the total fare to Chicago and interior points such as Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Louisville only a third more than the fare to New York alone." http://www.eh.net/Clio/Conferences/ASSA/Jan_92/Ferrie%20Abstract
There's some info on Ohio at http://shipslists-online.rootschat.net/usa/ohio.html but I don't see anything about assisted immigration/emigration for 1860 at the main page
-
What you will find in those days is that if a family was regarded as being a burden on the parish they would often help with the fare of an emigrant. It is worth examining the records of their originating parish, e.g.the vestry minutes or the local poor house rcords if you can locate them. They are usually deposited with the local record office if they still exist.
David
-
Eillo and David,
thanks both of you for your replies...food for thought there.
I have been researching the family history for about 15 years now and its twists and turns keep suprising me.
There was a lot more organiation going on than I would have thought.
These days such a decision to migrate to the US,would be backed up with a wealth of information as to what the place was like..job prospects..and above all how to get there.
As far as I can perceive,other than by letters from someone already out there or perhaps a returned traveller...how would our ancestors be inspired to risk all on so little information.
Once there it looks from your email as though there was definitely organisation...but whether it was possible to arrange this in advance from a very rural village in England,seems doubtfull to me.
Which led me to consider that the nonconformist church would be a likely intermediary.Such an organisation would have the contacts on both sides of the journey and also inspire some confidence in its feasibility and ultimatley a better life.
As I pointed out earlier my ancestors were not penniless parishoners so,whilst I know that parishes did "offload" their liabilities by assisting the the poor to migrate,I do not think it was relevant to my lot.
I will take a look at the Ohio website ..sounds very interesting.
Thank you both
Pete