The Petworth Project: Emigration to Upper Canada inthe1830s

As the Napoleonic Wars drew to a close in 1815, British soldiers began returning home. Themale population was severely reduced, and those who returned assumed that life would bebetter. They expected better living conditions and higher wages due to the sacrifices they hadmade; however, they quickly became disillusioned by conditions at home.

English: Major-General Sir John Colborne, GCB, GCMG (Baron Seaton) – British field marshal,Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, founder of UpperCanada College, Commander-in-Chief of the British armed forces during the Rebellions of 1837in the Canadas, Acting Governor of British North America, Commander-in-Chief of Ireland(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Farmers who had been raking in tremendous profits on corn throughout the war saw animmediate and steady decline. To add insult to injury, the farmers were then forced to contributean ever increasing amount of corn to the poor via the “Poor Laws.” This not only hurt thefarmers, but it trickled down to the farm workers as well, who saw their wages reduceddramatically.

Conditions deteriorated over the next 15 years. Farm workers were laid off as farmersintroduced heavy machinery. Poverty was widespread and workers were angry. It wasn’t longbefore the “Swing Riots” began.

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Throughout 1830-31, landowners began receiving threatening letters from the mythical “CaptainSwing”. The name was meant to conjure the image of swinging from the gallows, and the intentwas to pressure the wealthy land barons into complying with the demands of the laborers.Protests soon followed as workers turned to strikes, arson, mass demonstrations and machinebreaking.

Anxious to alleviate the suffering of the angry masses, a few people in power conceived theidea of shipping the poor off to Canada. George Wyndham, Earl of Egremont, ReverendThomas Sockett, and Sir John Colborne believed that the social unrest could be diminished byproviding the unemployed with a fresh start in Canada. Thus, the Petworth Project was born.

George Wyndham owned much of the land around Petworth (where there was much civilunrest) and provided the financial backing for the project. Thomas Sockett was the principalorganizer and founder of the Petworth Emigration Committee. Sockett truly deserves the lion’sshare of the credit for the success of the project as he not only chartered the ships, recruitedemigrants and oversaw the process, but he carefully monitored the adjustment of the emigrantsas they settled into their new life in Canada.

From 1832 to 1837, the Petworth Project provided for 1,800 men, women and children toundertake the voyage from Portsmouth, England to Upper Canada. The Emigration Committeeinstructed the emigrants regarding what they could expect upon reaching Canada, as well aswhat provisions they would need to bring with them. The Committee provided a list of tools andsupplies needed, as well as recommendations for clothing, including warm coats and multiplepairs of stockings in preparation for the biting Canadian winters.

Though the intentions of the Emigration Committee weren’t entirely humanitarian, they did,nonetheless provide amply for those making the trek. Conditions on the ships were significantlybetter than those on other emigrant ships of the day. Upon arriving in Canada, Sir JohnColborne ensured the safety of the emigrants as they travelled across the country to their finaldestinations. Though the trip was by no means easy, it was free and well-paid work wasguaranteed at the end of the journey.

Very soon, the idea caught on in other regions as well. In fact, in 1834, 31,000 emigrants hadmade their way to Canada. They came not only from Petworth, but they flooded in fromHampshire and Norfolk, as well as from Munster and Leinster in Ireland.

The emigration continued until 1837, when Sir John Colbourne was replaced by Sir FrancisBond Head, who was instead interested in supporting the questionable principles of the “PoorLaw” in England.

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