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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: The Son of An Ancestor on Friday 16 March 18 00:33 GMT (UK)
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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!
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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 ???
Sandra
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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.
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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."
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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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FindMyPast do have several records of early emmigrants/immigrants to America ;
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/world-records/full-list-of-united-kingdom-records/travel-and-migration/early-emigration-from-britain-1636-1815
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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
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This also may be of interest;
https://archive.org/stream/originallistsofp00hottuoft#page/n0/mode/2up