History around Lydney in 1862 (General)
Can anyone tell me what was happening around Lydney area in 1862. A family left the area and came to New Zealand they were agricultural workers and I was wondering what the conditions were like in the area at this time, what would have made them take up the offer to come 12000 miles to settle.
History around Lydney in 1862
by m p griffiths 
, Sunday, August 22, 2010, 07:51 (5213 days ago) @ patsym
Useful background on Lydney around that time on
Genuki Full Contents Gloucestershire
http://www.genuki.org.uk/contents/GLScontents.shtml
Click on the box: Gloucesteshire (GLS) Parish List
Click on L for Lydney
Click on Lydney
Includes : Extract from Kelly's Directory of Gloucestershire 1861 - Lydney
Another reason for families dispersing around the Country and Worldwide (as in many cases in my family tree ) was the GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (God's Wonderful Railway)
http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r010.html
Lydney Junction opened in 1851
History around 1862
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, August 22, 2010, 08:58 (5213 days ago) @ patsym
I was wondering what the conditions were like in the area at this time, what would have made them take up the offer to come 12000 miles to settle.
It wasn't just Lydney many folk left the area in the mid to late 1800's - some within the UK some to the far corners of the world.
Various drivers but mainly a better life - spiritually, fiscally and/or environment.
--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>
History around 1862
Thanks, yes I understand that but what I wanted to know was what it was like in the area at the time for those who were working the land, in the mills (if there were any)what sort of life these people were leading etc thanks very much for your input though
History around 1862
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, August 22, 2010, 09:31 (5213 days ago) @ patsym
yes I understand that but what I wanted to know was what it was like in the area at the time for those who were working the land,
As I said various drivers but mainly a better life - spiritually, fiscally and/or environment. So turn this on its head and I would say that life in the area at that time was in general very hard. I'm not pretending that life in a young country like New Zealand was going to be a bed of roses, but to our ancestors it must have appeared to be a land of opportunity , despite the perilous journey to get there.
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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>
FOD Convicts - Richard KEAR/James JAMES/George CHARLES
by m p griffiths , Sunday, August 22, 2010, 09:48 (5213 days ago) @ patsym
There are books written about this era
for example
Bermuda Dick- written by Averil KEAR
A True Story of Forest of Dean Convicts - which includes information of the life of Forest of Dean people (inc. religion) at that time
Hidden Heritage
http://www.hidden-heritage.co.uk/books/book-reviews/
Richard KEAR, James JAMES, George CHARLES, sentenced for Life at Gloucester 9 August 1851 -
More information of these Miners on
Gloucestershire Local History
FOD Convicts - Richard KEAR/James JAMES/George CHARLES
by Roger Griffiths , Sunday, August 22, 2010, 16:26 (5212 days ago) @ m p griffiths
I don't know about Lydney in particular but I do know about the UK in general. First was an agricultural revolution pre 1800 which started to reduce the need for agricultural labourers. Agriculultural labour dropped to half the working population by 1850. This is against a massive increase in population. Average children per family in 18th Century 6, 19th Century 12. Both these figures were way beyond what could be absorbed by employment opportunities. The industrial revolution was a godsend as to employment but the conditions in the new industrial towns and cities with no prior experience were frightful and people died like flies. Emigration to the colonies started just before 1700! My greatgrandparents had 12 children in FoD, 3 died young but the rest managed to find life long work. My grandmother born in Uffington 1878(then Berks) was one of 12 too. At least 4 of her brothers and sisters emigrated to Canada and Australia.
Roger
New Zealand never had convicts sent to it.
by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Sunday, August 22, 2010, 22:59 (5212 days ago) @ m p griffiths
I know the message above is making a different point but it needs clarifying that unlike Australia, the USA (when under British rule) and some other colonies, New Zealand never had people sent there as convicts they all went as free citizens.
New Zealand never had convicts sent to it.
by Roger Griffiths , Friday, August 27, 2010, 14:39 (5207 days ago) @ rookancestrybest
Yes, I was talking of emigration, not transportation. I think transportation of criminals to American colonies started about 1712. That option was closed after 1776. Hence Australia 1788 to 1840.
Roger
New Zealand never had convicts sent to it.
by ritpetite , New Zealand, Friday, August 27, 2010, 22:15 (5207 days ago) @ Roger Griffiths
Maybe not but we had our fair share of baddies who were probably worse than the convicts who were convicted for stealing etc in an effort to feed their families.
CONVICTS TO NEW ZEALAND
by Anthony G. Flude ©2003
Despite assurances from the British Government that NO convicts were ever to be sent to the new fledgeling Colony of New Zealand, the unexpected arrival of two ships carrying young convict boys as immigrants from Parkhurst Prison in England in 1842 and 1843, caused quite a stir.
This article outlines the story of their arrival at Auckland, the problems they encountered and the public outcry that stopped them coming for ever.
Pākehā–Māori
The first women settlers, who landed in 1806, were the notorious mutineer and ex-convict Charlotte Badger and her fellow rebel Catharine Hagerty. Some seamen or ex-convicts lived with or close to Māori, learning their language, often fathering children with Māori women, and acting as go-betweens for traders, and interpreters. They were known as Pākehā–Māori.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WC18820304.2.17
This website may be of interest to anyone who had family living in NZ way back when.
Rita James
Proud of my ancestor Warren James sent to Tasmania for leading the riots in the Forest.
New Zealand never had convicts sent to it.
by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Thursday, September 02, 2010, 22:16 (5201 days ago) @ ritpetite
I have a friend whose ancestor also ended up in Tasmania after having first been transported to Norfolk Island. Her relative was convicted for something similar to yours, he was one of the people in the Rebecca Riots which happened in South Wales in protest against toll charges on turnpikes (roads).