EMIGRANT PASSENGER PREPARATIONS

Emigration was at its highest between 1830 and 1850 and during the Edwardian period, statistics show there were more Scottish emigrants than those from England and Wales. Over half of those emigrating settled in the United States of America, the rest settling in Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. A small number also settled in India, British Caribbean and some South American countries. In the early twentieth century, the direction of emigration changed from the USA to Canada and Australia.

During the first half of the nineteenth century, British emigrants from rural areas emigrated as whole families; thus they were mainly yeoman farmers, agricultural labourers or skilled rural artisans and craftsmen. However, in the second half of the nineteenth century, many emigrants came from urban areas, perhaps having previously migrated from the rural locations as there is evidence to suggest that many were young, single male labourers and agricultural workers. Some of these emigrants ultimately returned to Britain.

Emigration was primarily driven by the prospect of higher incomes and a better life abroad. However, when deciding whether to emigrate and where to, families had to think about where their families and friends were located and above all the costs of doing so. Although various emigration schemes existed, it is known that most emigrants of the period were self-financing and travelled without assistance. It has been estimated that less than ten per cent of emigration was fund-assisted perhaps with the exception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint emigrants because the church set up a scheme known as the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Notwithstanding this, for those who emigrated to New Zealand and Australia, assisted passages were more important and programmes including free and nominated passage in certain circumstances were popular.

Emigration was often promoted politically as the answer to two major problems in Britian - overpopulation and unemployment. Emigration became the safety valve through which Britain could ease both of these problems.

It was a major undertking for prospective emigrants to leave their home, but once a family had decided to emigrate, various things had to be done. The most important thing was to find a passage on a ship to the destination country. Emigrants were informed about their options in different ways, often by emigration agents visiting the area or by numerous posters or leaflets advertising voyages and selling shipping lines or even specific ships.

Emigration agents provided a number of services besides organising the passage. They gave advice regarding luggage and provisions and even arranged transportation to the departure port. Most also provided an Emigrant Guide containing detailed advice from preparing for the journey to adjusting to an often monotonous or boring voyage on board the ship. The guides covered everything from what supplies and clothing were needed, pastimes and etiquette and routine whilst on the voyage.

Emigrants who funded the cost of their own voyages usually organised their passage independently but other emigrants applied for one of the government assisted emigrant schemes which helped populate an overseas country and almost guaranteed a job on arrival; some even enticed emigrants with the help of land grants.

Once a passage was organised, emigrants would prepare for their impending journey; they would have been given a date of sailing and the port of departure. For poorer emigrants with few possessions and no property, there was little to do, but those who owned property or ran a business had to finalise these before leaving as many needed the cash to take with them.

Perhaps the most traumatic part of the journey was the farewell to family and friends. Emotions including those of anticipation, expectations, anxiety and excitement were often expressed and sometimes described in family diaries or letters.

Once at the port, some of the emigrants would be able to afford private accommodation but many would sleep at the dock, sometimes for a few days before departure. For the assisted emigrants, the Emigration Depot was the gathering point before their voyage and they would lodge there until departure.