Where do we come from? The Great Diaspora.

 

I am part of a diaspora which is the spread of people from their original homeland. My husband too has an interesting group of matches.

When you look back, there have been very many events in history, which force people voluntarily or involuntarily to move in big numbers. It could be the rise of convict transportation, the discovery of gold or the slave trade.  It may have been the Industrial Revolution, discovery of new lands, famine, war or enticements.

Who stayed and who were scattered around the world in these times? I thought I was half Scottish only. By researching my background shows the Scottish is via Ireland via Scotland Border country and some very old English roots in my English sides.

As a second-generation Aussie my grandparents all traversed the world as Anglo Celtic migrants to Australia from the British Isles (England and Scotland). I have no Australian Royalty (convicts). In the case of my maternal Gadsby grandparents they came pre-World War I in 1912-14. On my paternal Kerr side mostly these movements occurred postwar as immigrants playing their own way; thereby choosing to come of their own accord.  Admittedly their industry had been disrupted by the rise of the motor car as the family had been in the handsome cab (horse drawn taxi) business prior to WWI.

Similarly on my husband’s side his family came from England around the same period. His mother, Winifred Cassidy was an eight-year-old travelling solo with her sister, Patricia to meet up with her newly married father and stepmother.  No £10 POMS in our lot.  As for his grandparents, Ethel and Sidney Ford came to further his Merchant Maritime career.

People who tell the story on my side, describe my relatives as dirt poor. I am not so sure as 4 of them decided to go back and had the money to do so. Why Australia then? They could’ve made other cheaper choices.    Canada was a popular, closer, cheaper, but colder option. Despite that my Gadsby grandparents came all the way over here with eight kids.

The climate definitely played a part in the choice when I first discovered why my great grandmother Gadsby decided to come to Australia. I know it was because of the harsh weather and the loss of her daughter Edith to the cold London conditions. However, later I discovered her brother William Smith had gone to Toronto and her sister-in-law‘s Rowbotham children had all gone to Toronto to make a better life after the death of their parents. Surely you follow relatives who can pave the way. Bringing such a large family is a big expense. (I think the older boys  and Father Thomas Gadsby worked their fares). Why Sydney? I’m sure it has nothing to do with being paid off by a certain member of the royal household to get rid of my great grandmother out of his life. It is only speculative that my great uncle is his son and Marcus Clarke’s half-brother another purported son of said Royal. Google it.

Looking further back….

Sure our DNA shows my husband and I  came from Norway, Western Europe or even Iberian Peninsula in amongst our Irish, Scottish and England ethnic links. With lots of poorly paid, agricultural labourers, farmers and weavers in our family lines it is not often you find a member of the extended who were tempted to travel to North America , i.e. USA or Canada in its early days of its settlement. They were more likely to have travelled there with Army or Navy Corps than be involved in starting up agriculture or manufacturing in developing countries.

In more recent times say five generations back it was difficult to see any movement from town to town let alone from country to country. We have no convicts or slaves in our families.

As I dug further. I found a bit more movement. Everyone seems to have moved of their own accord except around the time of the Great Famine in Ireland. My Irish background then  shows movement from parts of Northern Ireland back to Scotland between the 1851 and 1861 census. Historically the name Kerr was most likely to be part of the Plantations of the English into Northern Ireland from the Scottish Borders making us Ulster Irish. They returned to Scotland approximately 200 years later making us Ulster Scots and 2 to 3 generations after that, we are on the move again in a wider dispersal. This time  to North America (USA and Canada )and Australia and NZ. (Murphy and Kerr families)

 

In some Irish cases such as the Murphys and the McLaughlins they may have moved to Scotland because of the great famine around the 1840s. They crossed the sea in dire straits looking for food and work after the potato blight decimated the local crops. Starving families left the towns in droves and sent money back to rescue other relatives, when finances fit permitted. In Glasgow, they weren’t really welcome. Being Catholic made them stand out against the Protestant workers of Glasgow.  Catholics were persecuted and many changed their religion to fit in. Those who settled in places like Chicago swelled the East Coast communities in Canada, and US Great Lakes district.

Other than for this , my initial research showed families staying put on farms in towns , weaving or labouring. Later because of the Industrial Revolution they tended to shift to cities, such as Birmingham, or Manchester where factory work begins to utilise their skills and utilise their labour. Occasionally, I found a stray relative in the Cassidy and Duckworth families had gone to the USA to be part of the developing cotton milling industry, or as builders newly forming towns. I'm still looking into the Robey family movements. Much is documented about their move from Castle Donnington.

Eventually with the Smith and Gadsby family I found they were part of the great migration to Canada where the Rowbothams and William Smith and family were pioneers in the newly growing towns in the Ontario area. I wrote about it in a previous blog His, Mine and Ours- William Smith 1875 I described how millions left London and the growth of Ontario on the East Coast of Canada again in Found- the Rowbothams of Ontario

Some of the Canadian government policies were attracting immigrants. Initially I had thought that the Rowbotham boys might have attracted the attention of the various London charities sending young men to Canada but upon further investigation it appears they had a very rich Uncle, Thomas Rowbotham of Gilbertstone Grange who paid their fares! The five Rowbotham children decided to settle in Belleville, Ontario. Belleville grew out of the coming of the Grand Trunk Railway. Located in Hastings County, it is known as the “Friendly City” and is located at the mouth of the Moira River in southern Ontario.

Why was Canada so favourable? Well it was an English colony and it had a familiar government with English speaking residents. Many British people felt they would have a better life in Canada with a healthier environment and would be more likely to get a job. After experiencing rampant poverty and over populated streets of London, Canada had plenty of land and fresh air on offer. There was the expectation that the young children would get a better education and as an added bonus the place names were similar to those at home. 

The environment was appealing compared to London. The surrounding Lake Ontario helps moderate temperatures during the extremes of winter and summer. Immigration numbers in from the 1900s to the 1920s were huge as people were attracted to the busy manufacturing town and the big firms such as Kelloggs, Procter and Gamble became main employers.

Immigration  to eastern Canada to 1921

The inconvenience of the two-week travel and conditions on the steamship for that couple of weeks was outweighed by the anticipation of a new home and life.  

Boarding their experiences through the Militia……..

A couple of relatives joined the militia fighting in overseas outposts. William Strelley my 2nd Great grandfather, fought in the Crimean war and India. Similarly we know Dr Joseph Harris spent time as a surgeon  in the Napoleonic War.

Third Great Grandfather, John Gadsby 1770 was in the Warwickshire Militia.  

My husband‘s 2nd Great grandfather, Thomas Cassidy found himself sent overseas when he got himself drunk one night. The story goes that Thomas got drunk and was "volunteered" into the King's Army - Took the King's penny! He attested for 30th Regiment of Foot Liverpool 8/5/1837 at age of 20 years served 22 years and 25 days including 7 years 9 months abroad Bermuda, North America and ??Islands. The 30th Foot took part in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, and he was present at the battles of Alma, Sebastopol and Inkerman. Surely plenty of wanderlust and awe built up in that family.

Pivotal pioneers in Australia’s history….

Further, I found my Johnson 4^th Great Aunt Sophia Johnston, married a member of the Army Commissariat, David Allan leaving the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to live in Heligoland off Germany and then pioneer Sydney town Australia from 1813. Their extensive family became early pioneers, squatters in settlers of New South Wales and Victoria. 

David Allan Deputy Commissariat of NSW Colony

Perhaps word went back to the Johnstons in Scotland. My 3^rd Great grandfather, Dr William Strelley  was married to Matilda Johnston, Sophia’s  sister. My Strelley family had always lived in inherited Estates topping up their  funds via rents, agriculture and coalmining. Perhaps the interest in finding new discoveries and expanding agricultural opportunities in Western Australia led brother-in-law Joseph Harris who married Lucy Strelley to move in 1833 with his sons and daughter to Western Australia. Their endeavours in Sheep farming and coal and mineral exploration in the early days of the Western Australian colony around the 1830s and on are well documented.

More of the Johnston’s went over to Western Australia in1840. Matilda and Sophia’s nephew Harley R Johnston trained as a surveyor, joined the West Australian Company, a colonising company formed by a number of prominent people in England to establish a settlement in an area just north of Bunbury which they called Australind.  Other members of the extended Johnston family settled in Tasmania in 1890s.

Off to America….

Now prior to that time the Strelley and Clayton family line descended from the Robys of Castle Donington.  This Robey/Robie/Roby line can be traced to Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England as early as the 1200's. Half the family stayed in Castle Donington in England. Henry Robie b. 1618 in Castle Donington emigrated to New Hampshire in 1639 and was  the first Roby to come to the New World. John Roby b. 1607 in Castle Donington emigrated to Port Tabacco, Charles County, Maryland in 1662. The Robys of the USA are of considerable number- in the thousands.  No wonder I have so many unidentified DNA matches.

Here’s a bit of religious persecution to add to the story….

I’m also descended  from the Greedus family of Spitalfields. The town well known for its silk ribbon weavers which began as an enclave of persecuted French Protestants known as Huguenots  who settled in Spitalfields, London and were London’s first refugees. Still a work in progress.

It is quite possible that my Gadsby line , who were silk ribbon weavers in the Nuneaton Warwickshire  area may have originated from the Huguenot’s discrimination and persecution. A sudden stop in their history going back makes it a work in progress too.

The Kelf line….Together with the Cracknells, Vince, George and Keelers….

So many I haven’t trace them all but I’ve certainly got a good strong dose of their DNA which has come at me with this plethora of disseminated people on my maternal line. I thought the Kelfs etc were old English families living between Essex, Sussex and Norfolk. The Kelf‘s and my extended family back through them to Robert Vince  and Anna Annas seems to have been in the district forever until you dig down. I have a bazillion DNA relatives in all parts of the USA, lots of them have been able to trace back to being common ancestors of Anna and Robert Vince of Essex.

Actually, it stems back to a military appointment of James McCann to guard the King on his trip to  Canada.  They stayed with a couple of handfuls of children and followed that motto “Go West Young man.” So, one of Robert’s granddaughters, Eleanor Collin 1837-1929 married James McCann, a military man was sent to Canada as Guard of Honor to the Prince. As he brought his wife and child  with him, he decided to remain in Quebec. Five children- four daughters and one son, were born to them before they moved to United States in 1868, settling Illinois. They had  three more sons and two daughters. After moving to Missouri they then settled in Kansas in 1877possibly leaving grown children along they way. After another child was born, they moved to Colorado. Here another daughter was born in 1878. Later they returned to Kansas.  With that many children is it any wonder there is Kelf Cracknell side DNA everywhere?

James Joseph McCann

When sea water flows through your blood…..

My husband‘s George Ford of East Meon  shows the influence of living near the sea ports. George from an agriculturally poor family followed the money into a naval career. This great grandfather, George Ford was in the English Coast Guard stations around Ireland for around 17 years after a Naval career. The myriad of children (mostly boys) born of George and his wife Alice also took Maritime appointments and their marriages saw the diaspora to England, USA, Australia, and next generational to further immigration to other parts such as Australia, USA, and New Zealand. 

George Ford

And after the trip over here…

Funnily enough on my mother’s Gadsby side two uncles came to Australia in late 1912 and not long later were on their way back to Europe. My great grandmother, Selina  was fear in the war and wanted the boys out of harm’s way.  That long trip to Australia didn’t deter them Harry and John Gadsby  signed up in 1915 and returned to Europe to fight as soon as they were able.  My mother’s father, Frank Kelf, even more newly arrived, enlisted up as soon as he could, and wartime saw him spending the time with his future brother-in-law before his return to Sydney to meet his future wife, my grandmother, Julia.

War time travel certainly expand peoples’ perspective…

After his experiences in Gallipoli, James Cassidy came to Australia from the town of Bury, so small everyone knew each other. He found employment and eventually romance. He was bringing his skills and knowledge to the flourishing hat trade. I feel that without the experience of leaving his home town during the war he would never have left.

Transportation changes………

My great grandfather James Cross Kerr came to Australia Post war. His father and brothers had worked as cab drivers (horse and cart style). With the development of the motor car the Kerr boys needed new careers. His oldest stepbrother chose to relocate his family to New Zealand for its green pastures and climate suitable to breed horses. For different reasons his sister and step sister had looked to Sydney as a new home. James was followed by wife and three sons, step mother and youngest step brother. Sydney was not to everyone’s liking with his wife, Mary Ann, son Frank, Step mother, Agnes and step brother, Thomas  returning soon after.

Finally……

I do know two cases of bigamy that was a guiding force in quitting Great Britain. Just saying. I’d love to tell you more but it’s Shhh!

The tyranny of distance…….

Something quite interesting is that the paternal Kerr family managed to keep in touch with each across three countries  exchanging photos, newspaper, clippings (a few betting tips) and cards across the ditch, and with the old Blighty.  Correspondence on my mothers, Kelf side was very sparse. Frank Kelf’s mother, Gertrude had visited in the 1920s  but turned up her nose at the at the Aussies and the Gadsby in-laws. I suspect a few photos were exchanged  for a couple of years and that’s all.  A trip across the water to Oz with all its distance and expense- heaven forbid.

Similarly The Fords and the Cassidy’s were good communicators to an extent. We have some of the letters.  

I suspect many have suffered the worry of postage and phone costs over the years too. Of course we Aussies don’t see a trip to the old country is too much of a problem at all. Aussies travel quite widely and it is in our blood and we are used to long distances. My philosophy is research a Family and then go explore Glasgow, Dublin, Northern Island, Nuneaton, Manchester.  How to pick a holiday destination. I should write a blog on that!

Today, in my world of research, I see remnants of pioneer life, post war immigration, Post war fears of populate or perish, the softening of Australia‘s White Australia, policy, necessary industrial employment growth strategies expanding the variety and skills in our country. My world is a mix  of these earlier migrants, displaced people, refugees, Asian and subcontinental immigrants, people lured through  tourism, backpacking and employment.

It’s a shame to say we weren’t all close families – some stories of immigration and the old country have survived, probably coloured by the perspective of the story teller and clouded by the period of time. Some stories have died – perhaps buried before that. Some people died when I was young. I’m doing my best to understand where we come from. 

Curiosity had me wondering about the influences that forced the movements of people in my extended tree- those who had moved with Great Britain, off to North America, Australia, New Zealand. I wondered what drew them to want to leave or explore, what changes enticed them to pack up and go. Was it to get rich quick, build a new life, or transfer knowledge and skills?  What was the overseas news in the newspapers at the time? What was the advertising or the gossip in the pub that had them aspiring to take this big leap?

Was it hardship, overcrowded cities, disease, or opportunity that had them leaving the security of their homes and family? Did improvements to transport or travel during World War I and II make a big difference?  For whatever reasons we thank them for their courage and we thank those countries for their welcome. Isn’t the world a better place for it?