Saying farewell to dear old England
SUSSEX in the 1830s was suffering from an economy that had not recovered from the Napoleonic Wars.
Even for those in work, there was the threat of reduced wages because of the agricultural depression.
The introduction of threshing machines was seen as another threat to labourers' livelihoods and a series of bad harvests compounded the problem.
The number of people dependent on poor relief rose and the poor rates became an increasing burden on landowners.
So it was that emigration was seen as the neatest solution.
It was cheaper to pay the expenses of a family to emigrate than to have to support them at home.
Emigration also removed a surplus of landless and unemployed men and women who were a potential source of unrest.
It populated Canada with people of British origin and loyalty and gave the emigrants the distant possibility of a better life.
Seventy local people, sponsored by the Lewes Emigration Committee, joined the British Tar at Portsmouth in April, 1834, making up about half the passengers.
The party, from Iford, Lewes, Kingston, East Hoathly and Hellingly, gathered first at Lewes where their baggage was piled up on the steps of County Hall.
It was recorded that they all appeared in high spirits.
The Hellingly party had a asked for 5s each to cover their expenses to Lewes but were allowed only 3s. They were also each given a Bible.
One man sold his for 1s/6d and was admonished for his effrontery.
The cramped conditions on board were a severe trial to people 'bred in the enjoyment of free space and fresh air'.
And once they reached the mouth of the St Lawrence River, their journey was barely half over.
The story of Mary West, 30 when she left East Hoathly with seven children and another on the way, is known.
Her husband William was not the most trustworthy of people. He had deserted her before and did so again. He set off, drunk, with the intention returning to England but was soon found hiding in bushes and was returned to his family.
The Wests finally settled in Blandford in a log cabin with five acres.
They were not heard of again.
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
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