Hi Jo Interesting points, I have very similar experiences with "poor" agricultural families from Dorset in particular moving to the Island in the 1870s or so. I also have Island agricultural families who moved to Hampshire (and thankfully back again). One possible reason I have come across is that they often moved to continue in the employ of a large landowner. For instance there is a strong connection between the Leigh family of Shorwell (Northcourt) and Glanvilles Wootton in Dorset, and it is too much of a coincidence that my family moved from GW to Shorwell (similar experiences with the Leigh family in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire). This may not be the explanation in your case but is worth investigating. Another possibility is that a former neighbour is living close by and through word of mouth your family discovered that agricultural conditions on the Island were better than in Devon. There are substantial numbers of immigrants on the Island from Dorset and Devon. Transport links by 1881 were generally reasonably good, embarkation points from the mainland were basically the same as now, Lymington, Southampton & Portsmouth, and it was probably reasonably inexpensive to cross the Solent. The railway network was generally complete (the line through Arreton was opened in 1872). One last point, the name of the farm where your Eveleighs were in 1881 is nowadays "Waightshale", not sure if the 1881 version is a transcription error, but in 1871 it was recorded as "Waitshale". Hope this helps, I'm sure others will be able to offer other advice. Jon Baker -----Original Message----- From: Jo [mailto:jo@stumpypost.co.uk] Sent: 13 June 2004 21:13 To: ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [IoW] Passage by sea to IOW? (EVELEIGH) I'm hoping someone can help: I'm trying to work out the reason and method for a family of EVELEIGH's who'd been tenant farmers in Devon for over 100 yrs suddenly upping sticks and by 1881 had appeared in the Isle of Wight at "Waitsail", Arreton, on the island. They were by no means monied and the 2 senior members of the family had fallen into the Carisbrooke Workhouse by 1891...sadly byu then in their 70's. Does anyone know: 1)Was it well known in the late 1800's that there was work on the island (I just can't imagine what took them there!)? 2) What departure points from the mainland would have been used in those days? Any help really appreciated Jo Gloucestershire http://www.genogold.com ______________________________