There is another Forest of Dean in... (General)

by fredb , Sunday, May 24, 2009, 02:20 (5741 days ago) @ rookancestrybest

I think it is most likely that your family emmigrated to the US with relatives, neighbours and friends. In the 1860's - 70's two members of my great grandmothers moved to Ohio, they were miners. These men couldn't go on-line and find a new job in the US, it would be hard enough to do now. There could have been adverts in newspapers, but I would think it was more likely there were people going around the mining and iron manufacturing areas of the UK head hunting workers. Standing outside the gates or finding the men in pubs and asking "Hey how would you like a good job which includes a piece of land to build your own house. Don't worry about money, we'll pay for you to travel to America, you can pay us back once you get settled" I bet it sounded like heaven.

In my case one brother travelled to Ohio with about 6 children, the eldest was actually (I know now) the son of his sister in law who was widowed before marrying his brother, but the 14 year old lad remained as part of thar family, even though his mother and her new husband followed a couple of years later.
The brother who arrived first had about 12 children and going to Ohio was a success, but the second brother to arrive only had one daughter, and his wife found the summers too hot and the winters too cold, so they returned after about 10 years. A strike and riots linked to the use of cheap labour brought in made things hard, I wonder how many returned, or how many wanted too but had no choice but to stay? cheers fred