Hello Ruth, >Would someone advise me of a site where I might find information >regarding emigration in the 1880's - I've been told that the government >paid for families to emigrate to Canada due to economic conditions in >England. > >Thank you for any info you may provide. > >Ruth Foster There were many many Emigration Societies in Britain, to encourage and/or assist emigration to the "colonies." Some were government and others charitable or religious organizations. There were also "self-help" groups, where individuals or families, paid regularly into a "pot" which sent groups as funds allowed. The Canadian government also paid a monies to some shipping lines (like Allan Line) to subsidize the cost of fare, to allow the shipping lines to be able to offer reduced passage. There is some great infomation here (mostly ca. 1870s) on Marj Kohli's website http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/reports/emigrationsoc.html . . the same (and similar) societies existed in the 1880s. Ships Arriving at Quebec 1870 With Assisted Passengers http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/ships/ships1870.html Extracts From the Immigration Report of 1883 for 1879-1883 http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/reports/report1883.html On my website, you might find this interesting reading, even though it from 1869 http://www.theshipslist.com/Forms/assisted1869.html as it describes the various types of "clubs" and states the rules and even this ! "Reasons Why Persons Should Emigrate" <grin> but, it is a step-by-step handbook for those wishing to emigrate and might answer most of the questions you may have. I hope this helps, Sue -- TheShipsList Website http://www.theshipslist.com/