John Perhaps a second question that should be asked - did any other miniers from Kilmarnock join them in Chile? I think that most of us would ASSUME that if someone "disappeared" from Ayrshire they may have gone to Lanarkshire, or down to the British Midlands and then perhaps look in either USA or Canada, but few would think of looking in Chile. Mike Boyd Brisbane ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ferguson" <farguesonn@hotmail.com> To: <ayrshire-l@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 6:49 AM Subject: [AYR] EMIGRANT AYRSHIRE COAL MINERS - 1853 > > On August 4 1853 the British sailing ship Colinda left London headed for > Fort Victoria, Vancouver Island. The Hudson's Bay Company sought to > develop coal deposits on the island. Native people seemed lacking in the > skills and attitudes required to mine coal so experienced miners from > Ayrshire became the solution. > > The 43 miners, contracted in Kilmarnock, never arrived to Fort Victoria, > as they abandoned ship in Valparaiso, Chile. Following four months at > sea, a hard passage through the Straits of Magellan, deaths of children, > and hunger, the passengers mutinied. The miners disembarked after their > wives refused to sail any further, and promised to stay in Chile, with or > without their husbands. These miners went on to contribute to the local > Chilean coal industry. > > I am interested in finding out if any list member had heard of this > voyage, and perhaps can add some more family detail to this unfortunate > journey during which ten babies died. > > John > > Australia >

More about moving to Chile: I have some MCGAW's that made the move from Kirkmaiden WIG to Chile; two of the sons of William McGaw and Agnes McCosh, both born Kirkmaiden. William John McGaw 1866-1946 and died at Melipilla Chile, his brother Alexander 1870-1928, and Alexander's son Alexander 1909-1961 born Chile and died in London Eng. I found the Chile information on the family's MI but have not looked any further. Agnes McCosh b.1825 Straiton AYR. Regards, Judy in BC Can -----Original Message----- From: ayrshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ayrshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Mike Boyd Sent: May-21-10 5:07 PM To: John Ferguson; ayrshire-l@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [AYR] EMIGRANT AYRSHIRE COAL MINERS - 1853 John Perhaps a second question that should be asked - did any other miniers from Kilmarnock join them in Chile? I think that most of us would ASSUME that if someone "disappeared" from Ayrshire they may have gone to Lanarkshire, or down to the British Midlands and then perhaps look in either USA or Canada, but few would think of looking in Chile. Mike Boyd Brisbane ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ferguson" <farguesonn@hotmail.com> To: <ayrshire-l@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 6:49 AM Subject: [AYR] EMIGRANT AYRSHIRE COAL MINERS - 1853 > > On August 4 1853 the British sailing ship Colinda left London headed for > Fort Victoria, Vancouver Island. The Hudson's Bay Company sought to > develop coal deposits on the island. Native people seemed lacking in the > skills and attitudes required to mine coal so experienced miners from > Ayrshire became the solution. > > The 43 miners, contracted in Kilmarnock, never arrived to Fort Victoria, > as they abandoned ship in Valparaiso, Chile. Following four months at > sea, a hard passage through the Straits of Magellan, deaths of children, > and hunger, the passengers mutinied. The miners disembarked after their > wives refused to sail any further, and promised to stay in Chile, with or > without their husbands. These miners went on to contribute to the local > Chilean coal industry. > > I am interested in finding out if any list member had heard of this > voyage, and perhaps can add some more family detail to this unfortunate > journey during which ten babies died. > > John > > Australia > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2887 - Release Date: 05/20/10 23:26:00