FOD Convicts - Richard KEAR/James JAMES/George CHARLES (General)

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