The Ryders and Emigration

Background

There is much literature on the problems for agricultural labourers in the 1830s and after, especially in Norfolk which was considered to be one of the most “pauperised” counties in the country. A number of factors contributed to their poverty, including

the return of large numbers of soldiers after the Napoleonic wars;
harsh winters;
the enclosures acts;
the introduction of mechanisation;
suppressed wages.

Various remedies were sought. The Poor Laws provided for financial support and workhouse accomodation to be supplied by the parishes (or later by the Hundreds). At the same time, there were movements to support the movement of labour. Many from Norfolk relocated to the industrial towns of the north or to London. Others sought, with assistance from their parishes, to relocate overseas. Some went to America by manipulating legislation that limited movement to the colonies only – which did not include America. In some cases, landowners would use migration as a means of unburdening themselves of troublesome residents, which gave rise to the slogan “shovelling out the poor”. On the other hand, there was concern that only the able bodied and well motivated members of a community would seek relocation leaving the parishes with an even greater problem “the efficient labourer goes, leaving the profligate behind”¹. A more positive view of emigration considered that the removal of some labourers would open up opportunities for others.

Note: The spellings Ryder and Rider are used interchangeably in the source documents. I have used Ryder.

First request for support to emigrate – February 21^st 1836

Honourable Gentlemen
The undermentioned are those of and belonging to the parish of Deopham in the county of Norfolk desirous to go to America who after many applications are refused compliance by those who they had hoped would have endeavoured to better their condition.
Samuel Rider & Wife and 10 Children the Oldest 19 years;
Robert Hacking (Thacking?) & Wife and seven Children the Oldest 15 y^rs;
Jermany Flint & Wife – two Children the Oldest 3 ½ y^rs;
John Flint & Wife – four Children Oldest abt 7 years;
Francis Flint & Wife – one Child – 1 ½ years Old;
Benjamin Garner & Wife and Self only;
Some more persons it is expected of the same parish will also write in sentiment with the above provided means could be obtained in furtherance of their being which they hope to be favoured by advice of the Commissioners they have most humbly solicit. Whose answer as soon as convenient directed to Samuel Rider Deopham near Attleboro will meet due attention.
21st February 1836

Poor Commission refs: Case 1642a 460/11

Follow up – April 6^th 1837

It seems that Mr Ryder did not receive a response to this letter, and was enraged to hear indirectly that his request had been turned down:

Deopham Norfolk April 6 1837
Honourable Gentlemen,
I did not receive your answer about Emigrating to Amaraca. I hear our Parish oficers did – of which they say they have no intention to send us – & Intend to send you Word they have no Men to spare of wich I Beg leeve to contradict being to the number of 8 Labourers at our Last Committee for the want of Work – one of Which had no work for this Last Fortnight first week received 2^s. Relief second D^o 3^s. I myself have Wife & 8 Children have one boy earn 2 p^r Week of Wich 1^s.9^d. is spent for fuel. I Received 9^s p^r Week seeing this is not suficiant to Maintain my famyly. I tharefore humbly beg you Would Do all you can to Interest them to send us to Amaraca. I hope Gentlemen you wil Excuse my sending to trouble you I am very anxious to hear being In such Pecular Circumstances of Dificulty should you send Me a letter you Would much oblige your Humble & obediant Servant
Samuell Rider
Deopham Near Attleburgh Norfolk

Poor Commission refs: Case Refs 3141a and 460/11

Another appeal – May 6^th 1837

A further appeal was made on May 6th 1837:

May 6th
We the inhabitants of Deopham who have troubled your honourable Board before Concerning Emigration have not received any Answer from you nor yet from the Union to which we belong. We once more humbly solicit you to render us some Assistance either by sending us or by Answering our Letters as we are in great Distress and humbly beg of you Gentlemen to interest yourselves in our favour for fear you should have forgot our former Statement we now beg leave again to State our Names
Samuell Rider Wife and 10 Children
John Flint Wife and 4 Children
Jermany Flint Wife and 2 Children
Francis Flint Wife and 1 Child
Benjamin Garner Wife
Robert Shalland [or Thalland] Wife and 7 Children.
We are all Agricultureing Labourers and most of …. of employ when we are employed nor are payed but 1s:6d per day for our Work Gentlemen. We have heard that you have been so kind as to interest yourselves in favour of some parrish and we humbly hope you will apply to our union and be so kind to send A Letter Directed to Samuell Rider Labourer Deopham.
Gentlemen we are sorry to inform you that we cannot get the Common Nessesareys of Life and should be glad to Alter our Condition and humbly hope you will Condescend to Do something in our favour. We should be sorry to leave our Familyes but cannot stop to see them want bread much longer. Gentlemen we humbly beg you will answer this and give us some kind Advice. We hear of person Emigrating to America doing well by their labour. We are all willing to work but cannot maintain our Familyes and hoping you Answer this we remain your humble Servants.
James Samuell Rider and the above Mentioned.

This letter was forwarded to J. Bayfield, clerk to the Forehoe Hundred on May 15th, 1837:

Sir,
The Poor Law Commissioners for England and Wales refer for the consideration of the Bd of Divs Shillings of the Forehoe Hundred the enclosed copy of an application purporting to be from several Labourers of the parish of Deopham who are desirous of emigrating – & request to be informed whether the Board are of opinion that it would be desirable that the request of the applicants should be complied with.

The following table shows the Ryders resident at the time of the 1841 census:-

Census Sheet	Location	Name	Sex	Age	Profession
17	Near Chapel	Samuel RIDER	M	50	Ag Lab
		Mary RIDER	F	45
		George RIDER	M	20
		Robert RIDER	M	18
		Amy RIDER	F	15
		Rebecca RIDER	F	13
		Thomas RIDER	M	11
		Hannah RIDER	F	6
		Martha RIDER	F	4
		Charles RIDER	M	2

Samuel Ryder’s entreaties were clearly unsuccessful since both he and his wife were still residing in Deopham at the time of both the 1851 and 1861 census returns. His death was recorded in Deopham in 1870.
However, the 1851 census includes seven of his children, but not the second oldest, Robert…

Partial Success – March 5^th 1850

On March 5^th 1850 the Forehoe Board of Governors wrote to the Poor Law Board to say that they had approved the sum not exceeding £10 to cover the emigration costs of Robert Ryder. The Poor Law Board responded on March 9^th by asking to what British Colony he was emigrating, forwarding a copy of the regulations and instructing the Forehoe Board that “the money must not be advanced to the emigrant but must be expended by the Guardians themselves”. The Forehoe Guardians responded on March 12^th saying that Robert Ryder was emigrating to Adelaide, Australia, the deposit money had been paid and that the day of embarkation had been arranged for March 19^th.

In 1850, a list of persons “who have been assisted by the Guardians to Emigrate” recorded solely Robert Ryder, aged 26, from the parish of Deopham. This must be Samuel Ryder’s second oldest son, so it appears that the son was successful where the father had failed.

This list of persons states that he travelled on the Sultan, although in fact it is on the Sultana passenger lists that he appears, leaving Plymouth on July 26^th 1850.

In August, it is reported that he was working at the “cut” in Port Adelaide, along with a number of fellow emigrants, for which he was paid 5/- per week with no perks. Elsewhere it is reported that he married Selina Ashby on Feb 18^th 1852.

Footnotes

Quoted in Gary Howells: On Account of their Disreputable Characters’: Parish-Assisted Emigration from Rural England, 1834–1860 ↩︎

Bibliography

Robin Haines: Emigration and the labouring poor : Australian recruitment in Britain and Ireland, 1831-60
Annual Reports of the Poor Laws Commissioners
L. Marion Springall: Labouring Life in Norfolk Villages 1834-1914
Gary Howells: On Account of their Disreputable Characters’: Parish-Assisted Emigration from Rural England, 1834–1860

Date	Change
11/2/24	March 1850 correspondence with Forehoe Guardians
29/3/23	Published

The Ryders and Emigration

Background

First request for support to emigrate – February 21st 1836

Follow up – April 6th 1837

Another appeal – May 6th 1837