Petworth Project

[indiapaleale]

Hi Chris,
I know that you are our resident expert on Sussex and wondered if you had any information on the Petworth Immigrants. My husband is a direct descendant of Charles Sageman, who emigrated to Canada in about 1848 to join his relatives who were part of the Petworth Project.
Unfortunatley, Charles drowned in a horrible boating accident on the St. Clair River in 1869.
Are you familiar with Petworth and can you tell me anything about how the emigrants came to leave en masse?
Thanks,
India

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi their India

Thanks for that question - had to dig out my university notes to try and give you an answer.

Between the 1830's and 1880's many thousands left Sussex for the colonies, principally Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Much of this emigration occured in the late 1830's and 1840's and again in the 1870's, fuelled by Poverty and Agricultural Depression.

In the 1830's Lord Egremont used a technique called "Shovelling out Paupers" which basically was he encouraged people to emigrate from his West Sussex estates to Canada and to help with the encouragement of this, he paid £10 per head towards the cost which in some instances would have covered the cost,

This was done for economic reasons as Lord Egremont would have had to foot the bill for the poor relief, and it has been calculated that the impact of this move of paupers to Canada in the 30's and 40's reduced the Petworth Poor Relief from £1400 to £426

During the period 1830 - 1836, 127 people were in fact assisted to move to Canada.

There was a need for labour in Canada which apart from developing industries towards the end of the 19th century was still very much Agrarian based at this time (just developing mid state corn belt)

When the emigrants were questioned why they wanted to move, the common response was that they wanted something better for their children

Hope that answers your question.

Chris in 1066Land

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi again

This is the kind of document that encouraged them to emigrate.

In this case it is to New South Wales, dated Feb 16th 1839 from the Battle Area

Chris in 1066Land

[indiapaleale]

Hi Chris,

Thank you so much for the information. It certainly helps in that it puts some perspective into the family tree.

I had a note from someone (long time ago) that said that the family's passage to Canada was paid by a nobleman in order to allow the Petworth people a better life...Hmmm.  Seems that maybe only half truth as Lord Egremont also saved himself a few bob!

Interestingly, our relatives did not join the labour pool but became fishermen on Lake Erie.

Thanks again,
India in California

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi India

You are welcome - I knew those folders gathering dust on the shelves would come in handy one day.

I had a note from someone (long time ago) that said that the family's passage to Canada was paid by a nobleman in order to allow the Petworth people a better life...Hmmm.

Yes, that is correct - plus it gave the remaining Ag Labs more work to do, so a lot of unemployment was wiped out for quite a period of time - so obviously village folk did benefit. 

Lord Egremont also saved himself a few bob!

Of course he did, he benefited more than anyone for the lower poor rate, but the business people in Petworth also had to pay lower rates.

Interestingly, our relatives did not join the labour pool but became fishermen on Lake Erie.

Well done for them at least they showed that they had more than one string to their bow - incidentally, how many were in the family that moved out - did they leave any behind, if so, did they join them at a later date.

Chris in 1066Land