A person here in Melbourne Australia (Colin) has done a PhD on the topic - and had access to MANY records over his months / years of research that perhaps the normal person cannot get. There was active recruitment for emigration to Oz (Port Phillip District, now Victoria, in particular) agents in Cambridgeshire as well as all the factors that have been mentioned. It seems sometimes almost whole villages migrated. First one or two might go, then a few more - letters home were then published like newspapers and read around as the general populace was unable to read or write.. and so it went. Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith & Pam Cooper Sent: Thursday, 1 February 2007 8:25 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ENG-CAMS] English History lesson >From my research, I would say that people didn't leave their homelands unless conditions were unfavourable. I have identified a number of reasons that people in Cambridgeshire looked to new lands: A great increase in the British population in the early 1800s; The cessation of the Napoleonic wars led to the importation of grain etc from Europe, bringing an economic downturn for British farmers; The introduction of mechanisation on farms brought about further job losses and led to riots; All of the above factors resulted in high unemployment in Britain; In some areas, religious differences between the Primitive Methodists and Established Church (C of E) brought further tension. The Primitive Methodists encouraged ordinary people to gain education and take leading roles within the church. The Established Church, on the other hand, liked to keep the working classes in their place. This brought physical violence in some places such as Weston Colville. Families were often divided, taking one side or the other. Those who wanted the opportunity to improve their situation, often looked to new lands. While this was happening, many states/colonies in Australia were desperate for labour due to the cessation of transportation. Immigration schemes were introduced to attract working class families. I think agents often visited villages and I know that in Buckinghamshire, there was a newspaper published specifically with immigration in mind. In Queensland, the Land Order Scheme made it possible for families to immigrate at little or no cost. Once a few had successfully immigrated, word was sent back and the floodgates opened. I often think it must have been very sad and lonely for the elderly who were generally left behind while their families forged a new life far away. Pam Cooper Qld, Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:52 PM Subject: [ENG-CAMS] English History lesson > Does anyone know the history of England well enough to explain to me why people were leaving England for places like South Australia and New Zealand in the 1840's and 50's? If it was for homestead land like I suspect how could they afford the cost of traveling there and how did folks in little villages get word of such land? > > Sharon > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] 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 Free Edition. > Version: 7.0.410 / Virus Database: 268.17.17/661 - Release Date: 1/30/2007 > > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] 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 Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.18/662 - Release Date: 31/01/2007 3:16 PM