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For an insight into the migration of Cornish migrants, I have used as my main
source the chapter, "The Great Migration", in Philip J. Payton's "The Cornish
Miner in Australia---Cousin Jack Down Under". Payton tells us that there was a
concerted campaign in Cornwall in the late 1830's and 1840. Meetings were held
in the largest Cornish towns such as Truro and Bodmin, with lecturers explaining
the benefits of emigration and enthusing over the supposed magnificence of South
Australia. We have available to see, examples of the posters used by one of the
local agents, Isaac Latimer, who was actually a reporter for the Cornish
newspaper, "West Briton".
As an agent, Isaac Latimer was appointed to select suitable migrants and arrange
for the sale of South Australian land to intending Colonists. He held public
meetings throughout his area and published informative posters inviting would-be
migrants to call at his offices to be interviewed. Free passages were awarded to
those applicants who had suitably impressed the agents and were otherwise
qualified to go to South Australia.
This document whilst detailed, will give readers and appreciation of what was
involved:
"APPENDIX No 4 to the First Annual Report of the Colonization
Commissioners of South Australia to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for the Colonies, 1836 Items 37 - 57".
- Regulations for the Selection of Emigrant Labourers.- The Act of
Parliament declares that the whole of the funds arising from the sale of
land and the rent of pasturage shall form an emigration fund, to be
employed in affording a free passage to the colony from Great Britain
and Ireland for poor persons, "provided that they shall, as far as
possible, be adult persons of two sexes, in equal proportions, and not
exceeding the age of thirty years.
- With the view to carrying this provision into effect the
commissioners offer a free passage to the new colony including
provisions and every expense on the voyage, to persons of the following
description.
- They must be honest, sober, industrious, and of general good
character.
- They must be able-bodied, of sane mind, and not less than 15 nor
more than 30 years of age. Superior artisans, excellent agricultural
labourers, or other very desirable emigrants will however occasionally
be accepted, though their age may be somewhat more advanced.
- Emigrants who are married will be preferred, but the unmarried will
not be rejected.
- They must be bona fide labourers going out to work for wages in the
colony; as, for instance, agriculturists, artisans, domestic servants
and sailors or fishermen employed in the fisheries or coastal trade of
the colony; and until the number of labourers required shall have been
correctly ascertained by experience, it is commended that emigrant
labourers should be hired by some capitalist for at least one year from
their arrival in the colony, at such wages as they and their employer
may agree upon. Assistance in obtaining a hiring will be given at the
office to approved emigrants.
- The wives of labourers, if of the proper age, will receive a free
passage.
- Parents going out at their own cost to occupy land or engage in
business may obtain a free passage for their children and other
dependants, provided that such children or other dependants go out as
bone fide labourers, to work for their parents or others, and that they
conform in age and every other particular to the rules here laid down.
- The occupations of persons receiving a free passage must be of the
more common and useful kind. Agricultural labourers of almost every
description will be wanted, as well as bakers, basket-makers, braziers
and tinmen, smiths, shipwrights, boat-builders, butchers, wheelwrights,
sawyers, cabinet-makers, coopers, curriers, farriers, millwrights,
harness-makers, boot and shoemakers, tailors, tanners, brickmakers,
limeburners, all persons employed in the erection of buildings, sailors.
- In the selection of women a preference will be given to those
accustomed to farm and dairy work, to sempstresses, strawplaiters and
domestic servants.
- Persons who are ineligible to be conveyed out by the emigration fund
may, unless disqualified on account of character, accompany the free
emigrants, on payment of the passage money which for a grown- up person
is about 15/-. The charges made by the owners of ships for the passage
of children vary, but the following may be taken as an average:
Under two years of age no charge
Two, and under six 5/-
Six years of age 6/-
Seven years of age 7/-
and so on to fifteen, for which the charge is 15/-, the same as for a
grown up person.
- The commissioners will leave parents to make their own bargains with
the owners for carrying out the children, or they will give the children
a passage on the following terms:
Under two years of age no charge
Two, and under 15 5/-
Those who are 15 may obtain a free passage.
- The 5/- must be paid by the parents or the friends, or by the
parish; the commissioners cannot in any way become responsible for it.
- An applicant for a free passage must fill up the annexed form, and
transmit it, properly attested, to the secretary. Should the
commissioners accede to the application, due notice will be given of the
time and place of embarkation.
- Emigrants will, for the most part, embark at the Port of London, but
if any considerable number should offer themselves in the neighbourhood
of any other port of Great Britain or Ireland, arrangements will, if
possible, be made for their embarking at such port.
- The expense of reaching the vessel must be borne by the emigrant,
but on the appointed day he will be received on board the ship, even
though the departure should be delayed, and will be put to no further
cost.
- On the arrival of the emigrants in the colony they will be received
by an officer, who will supply their immediate wants, assist them in
reaching the place of their destination, be ready to advise them in case
of difficulty, and at all times give them employment, at reduced wages,
on the government works, if from any cause they should be unable to gain
it elsewhere.
- Purchases of land in this country will be allowed the privilege of
selecting servants and labourers for a free passage, at the rate of one
person for every 16/- expended in the land, provided that the selection
is made within a reasonable time, that it is in conformity with the
existing regulations for the selection of emigrant labourers, and there
is at the time a want of labour in the colony.
- After the completion of the sales in this country, the same
privilege to be allowed to anyone who should invest money in the hands
of the commissioners, to be employed in the purchase of land on his
arrival in the colony.
- Any emigrant capitalist or any party who may be desirous of fitting
out a vessel for the colony from any port of Great Britain or Ireland
will be allowed to carry out, at the charge of the commissioners, any
approved emigrants who may offer themselves in the neighbourhood of such
ports, provided that the arrangements for securing the comforts and
safety of the emigrants on their passage are approved of by the
commissioners, and that the charge per head does not exceed that for
emigrants leaving the port of London. The same allowance to be made for
any crew of the vessel who are of the proper description of emigrants,
provided that they go out as colonists to engage in the coasting trade
or fisheries, and that satisfactory security can be given for their
continuing such for at least three years; provided also that their
families, if any, shall be resident in the colony.
- On the arrival of the emigrant labourers in the colony they will be
at perfect liberty to work for anyone willing to employ them, unless
hired in this country, and will make their own bargain for wages. This
arrangement, while it leaves the emigrant free to act as he may think
right, manifestly renders it impossible for the commissioners to give
any exact information as to the amount of wages to be obtained; they can
merely state that in all new colonies, particularly in the neighbouring
settlements of New South Wales and Van Dieman’s Land, wages are much
higher than in England’ and that they shall endeavour so to apportion
the supply of labour to demand as to conduce in the higher degree to the
advantage of both the capitalist and the labourer.
By order of the Board, (signed)
Rowland Hill, Secretary, 6 Adelphi Terrace, 15 Feb. 1836 |
As a result of such activity, between 1836 and 1840 some 941 applications for
free passage were made. Some 500 of these applicants were actually accepted
which represented a much greater number, as whole families were often included
in a single application.
It was in response to one such campaign organised by Latimer that many were
encouraged to apply for passage on the "JAVA".
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