Author Topic: A question about English emigration to the United States  (Read 719 times)

Offline The Son of An Ancestor

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A question about English emigration to the United States
« on: Friday 16 March 18 00:33 GMT (UK) »
I've been looking into getting an answer to whether there are any particular regions of England that the majority of the US's English immigrants came from, if at all? I'm talking about between 1600-1800, in the years the US was primarily growing and many English were coming over.

I've not exactly found a solid answer on it, and there may not be one. However, what I have found is:

- It seems a lot came from the West Country and Herefordshire, in south west England. Devon and Somerset are mentioned a lot in what sources I have found.
- A lot of the Scotch-Irish were actually from Westmorland, Cumberland, Northumberland, County Durham originally, and so this covers a substantial amount too.
- Wikipedia vaguely mentions that a lot came from "central England". Unclear beyond this exactly where's meant.

Beyond this, there's not a lot I've been able to find. Interested to hear any answers or theories!

Offline *Sandra*

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #1 on: Friday 16 March 18 00:57 GMT (UK) »
Welcome to RootsChat

Perhaps it began with indentured servants back in the 1600's - the only way for many who were very poor was to sign a contract as an indentured servant because the cost of travel to America was prohibitive and completely out of the reach of most English men and women - they probably arrived from every corner of England  ???

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Offline KGarrad

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #2 on: Friday 16 March 18 07:27 GMT (UK) »
One trend, in Devon & Cornwall at least, was the rise of Bible Christians.
Many members of that religious denomination went overseas to spread the word.
Bible Christians tended to be workers of the land, or fishermen.
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Rattus

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #3 on: Friday 16 March 18 09:43 GMT (UK) »
This is worth a read:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AP7QCteb0o0C&lpg=PA20&ots=WK7hXzisJO&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q&f=false

Extract:

"British immigrants during the colonial period did not leave and settle randomly. Rather, they left specific parts of Britain for specific parts of America in four discernible migrations and settlement patterns. These place-specific migrations were the result of key events in British history, and they shaped America during and after the colonial period."
BARTRAM - Nottingham, Derby, originally Beds (Stagsden)
PERFETT - St Pancras & Marylebone, Rugby, Nottingham
RADFORD - Nottinghamshire, also back & forth to Bury
RUDD - Durham, Margate, Bermondsey, Newcastle, Nottingham


Offline youngtug

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #4 on: Friday 16 March 18 10:02 GMT (UK) »
A lot of the "indentured servants" in the 1600 & 1700's were actually penal transportee's. Many of whom were bought by traders who shipped them to the colonies for a life of slavery in a lot of cases.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_transportation
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 DOWDESWELL;-Wiltshire,Gloucestershire
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Offline youngtug

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.http://www.rootschat.com/links/05q2/   
  WILSON;-Wiltshire.
 SOUL;-Gloucestershire.
 SANSUM;-Berkshire-Wiltshire
 BASSON-BASTON;- Berkshire,- Oxfordshire.
 BRIDGES;- Wiltshire.
 DOWDESWELL;-Wiltshire,Gloucestershire
 JORDAN;- Berkshire.
 COX;- Berkshire.
 GOUDY;- Suffolk.
 CHATFIELD;-Sussex-- London
 MORGAN;-Blaenavon-Abersychan
 FISHER;- Berkshire.
 BLOMFIELD-BLOOMFIELD-BLUMFIELD;-Suffolk.
DOVE. Essex-London
YOUNG-Berkshire
ARDEN.
PINEGAR-COLLIER-HUGHES-JEFFERIES-HUNT-MOSS-FRY

Offline youngtug

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #6 on: Friday 16 March 18 10:21 GMT (UK) »
An example being the "bloody assizes" ;
            http://libguides.law.uga.edu/c.php?g=177206&p=1164802

and a list of prisoners, both executed and transported;
  https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/ecco/004840465.0001.000?rgn=main;view=fulltext

.http://www.rootschat.com/links/05q2/   
  WILSON;-Wiltshire.
 SOUL;-Gloucestershire.
 SANSUM;-Berkshire-Wiltshire
 BASSON-BASTON;- Berkshire,- Oxfordshire.
 BRIDGES;- Wiltshire.
 DOWDESWELL;-Wiltshire,Gloucestershire
 JORDAN;- Berkshire.
 COX;- Berkshire.
 GOUDY;- Suffolk.
 CHATFIELD;-Sussex-- London
 MORGAN;-Blaenavon-Abersychan
 FISHER;- Berkshire.
 BLOMFIELD-BLOOMFIELD-BLUMFIELD;-Suffolk.
DOVE. Essex-London
YOUNG-Berkshire
ARDEN.
PINEGAR-COLLIER-HUGHES-JEFFERIES-HUNT-MOSS-FRY

Offline youngtug

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Re: A question about English emigration to the United States
« Reply #7 on: Friday 16 March 18 13:28 GMT (UK) »
.http://www.rootschat.com/links/05q2/   
  WILSON;-Wiltshire.
 SOUL;-Gloucestershire.
 SANSUM;-Berkshire-Wiltshire
 BASSON-BASTON;- Berkshire,- Oxfordshire.
 BRIDGES;- Wiltshire.
 DOWDESWELL;-Wiltshire,Gloucestershire
 JORDAN;- Berkshire.
 COX;- Berkshire.
 GOUDY;- Suffolk.
 CHATFIELD;-Sussex-- London
 MORGAN;-Blaenavon-Abersychan
 FISHER;- Berkshire.
 BLOMFIELD-BLOOMFIELD-BLUMFIELD;-Suffolk.
DOVE. Essex-London
YOUNG-Berkshire
ARDEN.
PINEGAR-COLLIER-HUGHES-JEFFERIES-HUNT-MOSS-FRY