EMIGRATION

In the 1840s the Cornish tin and copper mining industry began to decline and within a few decades would crash. At the same time the British government began to usher in immigration schemes to develop the economies of pioneering states like Australia and New Zealand by offering free passage by ship. Such schemes would be funded by selling off Crown land in these colonies to cover the cost of the free passage program. Agents were deployed in Cornwall to promote the scheme through public meetings, newspaper advertisements, and posters. However, not just anyone could apply for free passage.

WHO WAS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

In Jim Faull’s fabulous book, The Cornish in Australia (p.23) he outlines the criteria for acceptance or rejection as follows:

Eligible candidates had to be in the habit of working for wages, were to be sober, industrious, of good moral character, in good health, free from mental and bodily defects and vaccinated or had small pox.

Categories of ineligible candidates were:

• persons who had not arranged with their creditors
• persons in business or intending to set-up business for themselves
• to buy land or to resort to the goldfields
• persons in the habitual receipt of parish relief
• families with more than two children under seven or more than three children under ten
• widowers and widows  with young children
• parents without all their children under eighteen
• children under eighteen without parents
• husbands without wives or wives without husbands
• single women over 35
• single women who had given birth to illegitmate children
• single men over 40

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Of course, the emigration scheme required prospective emigrants to complete an application form. The application forms, in which the emigrants declared their eligibility, had to be accompanied by four signatures. Two from “respectable” neighbours, one from a medical doctor and one from a Christian minister. A copy of the application is given below. Although dated 1854 it corresponds with the description given in Jim Faull’s book.  Source for the form: New South Wales Government Gazette Friday 22 September 1854, Issue no. 121, p. 2055 Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229760867

If the application was accepted they would receive an approval circular. This would be followed some months later by an embarkation notice that would inform the successful applicant of the time they were to report into the port emigration depot and the name of the ship they were to sail in.

THE PLYMOUTH EMIGRATION DEPOT

In Britain, three depots were established to provide accommodation and meals free of charge. These were located at Birkenhead (Liverpool), Southhampton and Plymouth. The focus here will be on Plymouth as it is through this port that most Cornish folk were processed.

Source: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser Sat 17 January 1885,  page 111 TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163273579/16632466

During its life, the emigration depot underwent two significant upgrades. The first in 1870 and the other in 1884. The 1870 development is covered in two articles from the English newspaper of The Western Daily Mercury.

Western Daily Mercury 30th March 1870 (excerpt with bold emphasis being added)
Article titled: Plymouth Government Emigration Depot Source: http://www.historic-shipping.co.uk/Emigration/firstship.html

Western Daily Mercury 25th April 1870 (excerpts with bold emphasis added)
Source: http://www.historic-shipping.co.uk/Emigration/corona.html

Government Assisted Emigration from Plymouth in the Nineteenth Century by Mark Brayshay 1980
Devon Association for the Advancement of Science Vol. 112, p. 185-213
https://devonassoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Brayshay-Government-Assisted-Emigration-TDA-1980.pdf
(excerpts with bold emphasis added)

Map 3:
Plymouth Emigration Depot Composite Map
This map displays the layout of the depot site based on information supplied by Map 2, the drawings of 1884 and the articles of 1870.

Source:

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland CC-BY Map has been altered to include text boxes and coloured shading. Plymouth, Devon port, &c. Sheet 94 Revised 1855 Published 1855 Section: Coastal/Admiralty charts
Source:  https://maps.nls.uk/index.html
Section: Coastal/Admiralty charts

The Last Port by Peter Tavy
The Western Daily Mercury– 13th December 1875
http://www.historic-shipping.co.uk/Emigration/port.html

Painting titled: Plymouth, Emigration by Gordon Frickers
Below is a copy of a magnificent painting depicting the Plymouth Depot activities set to the year 1881. The artist Gordon Frickers is a well-known painter of marine scenes and here he captures the depot at a time when the emigrants are being transferred from the depot to their awaiting vessel in the Cattewater. This painting is currently for sale and would make a wonderful heirloom, particularly so for Australian families whose ancestors migrated from this depot so long ago. For more information about Gordon and his paintings go to his site at https://www.frickers.co.uk/art/marine-and-maritime-paintings/ports/emigration-plymouth-cattewater/
Image of painting used with permission – Gordon Frickers © 12.01.2024

Illustrated Sydney News Saturday 10 May 1884 Text pages 3 & 10 with illustrations on page 8. TROVE  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64035403
A complied list of the articles on the Depot in Trove is found here: https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/175416

The Colonial Government Emigration Depot, Plymouth.

The interest evinced throughout all the colonies regarding emigration from England to the colonies has given rise to a number of debates in all our Legislatures, resulting in many changes beneficial to all concerned. In order to make our readers conversant with the present arrangements for giving effect to the annual vote for immigration purposes, the proprietors of this journal have been at the expense of commissioning a London artist to visit Plymouth, and by pen and pencil to supply the requisite information.

The depot system had its origin in the want which made itself strongly felt many years ago of a home in which to assemble emigrants who were collected from all parts of England, Ireland, and Scotland, whether sent out free, or assisted only, for embarkation in vessels specially chartered by the Government for their conveyance since it was found that agricultural labourers and others coming from a distance, as strangers, were frequently allured into low lodging houses by crimps, always on the look out for them, and plundered of what few means they possessed, besides being liable to incur infection in badly-drained and ill-ventilated courts, where they were brought into contact with disease before being put on board ship. It was felt that a stay of three or four days in a clean well-ordered home, with good food, and under the gentle discipline of well considered depot rules, would enable the people to embark in health and comfort, medical examination having meanwhile eliminated any doubtful or suspicious cases which would otherwise have been a source of danger to the whole community on the vessel. Plymouth has always been the leading port for Government emigration, its position being unrivalled as a point of departure. The vessels which are specially chartered for emigrants as a rule take their cargo on board in London, and the berths are there fitted, the finishing arrangements being made during the passage down the channel, so that, on the embarkation at Plymouth no delay occurs in getting clear away to sea, an advantage which is well understood by captains of vessels, while the emigrants are spared all the delay and risk of collision in the often tedious passage from the Thames to the Lizard. The Emigrant Depot at Plymouth is the only establishment of its kind on any considerable scale in the kingdom, and is admirably adapted for its purposes. It consists of a huge pile of buildings and exercise grounds, occupying the site of the old Royal Naval Victualling Yard, in use before the new and well-known buildings were erected at Devonport by the British Government. The premises being no longer required for Government usewere sold in the time of George IV. and subsequently passed into the hands of the present owners, by whom they have been fitted up and gradually extended for emigration purposes until they have reached their present condition. The buildings forming the Emigrant Depot are situated at the end of Commercial Road, immediately under the Citadel, and close to the Point known as Fisher’s Nose. They have a fine sea frontage of 450 feet, looking out on Sutton Harbour the Catwater, and a portion of the Sound with convenient steps for loading luggage into barges and embarking emigrants by steam tender. The recent addition made to the Depot Buildings now raise the number of fixed berths in the dormitories to single men, 372 statute adults ; single women, 402 statute adults ; married couples and children, 344 statute adults ; total 1,118 ; and by occupying other rooms usually kept in reserve, and not fitted with permanent berths, a considerable number in addition can be provided for, by the use of iron folding beds, a supply of which is always kept in readiness, with bedding, &c, &c, in case of special need arising. Large and well-warmedand ventilated mess-rooms are appropriated for the use of emigrants in the day time, the single women having their own special day-rooms (entirely apart from the married people and single men), and also dormitories specially approached from their own rooms only, and provided with lavatories and constant water supply. Separate lavatories are provided for men, and lavatories and wash-houses for women and children, with a supply of hot water and washing trays to enable them to wash necessary articles during their stay. The following are the dimensions of some of the principal day rooms for the use of the emigrants :-Single women mess room, 58 feet by 43 feet ; married people’s and men’s room, 50 feet by 41 feet; lavatory for men, 2 feet by 31 feet ; women’s wash-house, 26 feet by 1 feet ; kitchen, 38 feet by 34 feet. Emigrants are admitted to the Depot at any hour of the day or night on production of their Embarkation Orders, issued by the Agents-General ; and on the days upon which emgrants are due to arrive servants from the Depot meet all trains at the several stations, and the various steam boats from Scotland and Ireland, in order to direct the people to the Depot, and to instruct them as to their luggage, for the conveyance of which, free of cost, service of vans has been organised under arrangement with the Agents-General. On arrival at the Depot the people hand in to the Depot Master their Embarkation Orders as his warrant for receiving them. The Depot Master satisfies himself that the emigrants correspond, as to number and ages, with orders presented, enter their names in his arrival book, and if they appear to be in good health, passes them on to the mess room where the messman gives them their tables and makes them at once at home. The single women are shown to their own special mess-rooms, into which no men are admitted, and where they are in charge of the matron. The luggage is taken into the large luggage stores for protection, and before being placed on the luggage barge for shipment each box and package is opened by the emigrants, and the contents shown to experienced servants, specially detailed for this duty, in order to guard against the taking on shipboard of prohibited articles which might be a source of danger, such as feather beds or pillows, fire arms, offensive weapons, gunpowder, percussion caps, matches, beer, spirits, or articles of food of a perishable nature. The usual day for assembly at Plymouth is Monday, and in that case emigrants embark on the Wednesday or Thursday of the same week, the interval being devoted to verification of the people by the Government dispatching officer, to medical examination by the ship’s doctor, to the arranging of messes, and issue of various requisites for use on board, to examination of clothing and luggage, and to final muster and passing by the Board of Trade at the time of departure. Printed rules, which have been sanctioned by the Agents-General for the Colonies, and to which their signatures are appended, are exhibited for regulating the conduct of emigrants during their stay in the depot, in order to ensure cleanliness and order. Conspicuous notices are also exhibited desiring any emigrant who may have cause of complaint of the working of any depot rules, or of the conduct of any depot servant, to lay his case at once before the Agent-General himself, or before his dispatching officer, who is all day long at the depot, in order that investigation may be made at the time; but such complaints are extremely rare, and every effort is made to render the people cheerful and happy during their short stay before embarkation. A small free library of books is available for those who desire to read. The mess-room walls are hung with illustrations of colonial life and scenery, most of which have been kindly presented by the Agents General for the several colonies, and cheerfulness and content are the rule among the people. Among almost every ship’s complement of emigrants are to be found those who play upon the violin or some other instrument, and around whom are found groups of emigrants who greatly appreciate the music thus afforded them, and not unfrequently indulge in an accompanying reel or other dance. The depot establishment is under the charge of a resident depot master and matron, who, with a sufficient staff of servants, manage and carry out the work of the establishment. The cubic space allowed in fitting up may be judged of by the following dimensions of the principal dormitories ; and the day-rooms are in fully equal proportions :-Dormitory for married people, fitted for 104 S.A., 49 feet 3 inches by 30 feet 5 inches ; 14 feet 9 inches high ; Dormitory for single men, fitted for 64 S. A., 35 feet 9 inches, by 24 feet 5 inches ; 12 feet 4 inches high ; Dormitory for single women, fitted for 248 S. A., 74 feet 10 inches, by 43 feet 3 inches ; 15 feet high. The berths for single men and single women are ranged in rows, giving a width of 21 to 24 inches for each person, and a separate bed and blankets for each. The beds are of cocoa fibre, which, properly dressed and made up, forms an excellent stuffing, and possesses the great advantage that no vermin will ever harbour in it. Each bed has an extra loose linen cover to admit of frequent washing, and the blankets are changed frequently, and always kept in a state to invite careful inspection. The married people’s berths are constructed in the form of enclosed bunks, 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet in width, and 9 feet long, the ends projecting about a yard, and provided with curtains to be drawn by the occupants when in use, to ensure perfect privacy. Baths for women or for men are available at a moment’s notice for hot or cold water. A hot air chamber for cleansing, fumigating, and disinfecting purposes is provided, which can be heated to any degree required in a few minutes by a peculiar application of Bunsen’s burners. It is the practice to use lime white for all the walls after every ship, and to well scrub every berth and all the floors with soft soap and disinfectants, in order that the rooms may be perfectly clean for the use of the next arrivals. The mess utensils are also well cleaned and scalded after use on every occasion. The kitchen is a very large stone-paved room, with apparatus arranged for baking and boiling (without any inconvenience) food for 1000 people at once. The meat is cut into joints of 71/2lbs. each for a mess of 10 S.A., and served in large earthenware dishes, divided for meat on one side and potatoes on the other. Soup is made for the children from the boiled meat left, and is much appreciated as an addition to their diet. When the emigrants have taken their places at the mess tables on the sounding of the bell, the captain of each mess proceeds to the kitchen and receives the dinner for his table in exchange for a dinner ticket given to the cook. Thus the distribution is made quickly, and without any confusion, and so also at breakfast and tea time a similar plan is carried out, the captain of each mess and an assistant taking the large teapot and the provisions for the supply of his own table. The dietary scale is liberal, and the food carefully inspected and selected. The recent addition to the depot by the purchase of the adjoining premises, has added largely to the open-air yard space available for exercise and amusement, and has also given several large rooms on the level of the yard, entirely open at one end, in which people can amuse themselves under shelter in wet weather. Among, the arrangements made by the Agents-Geneial for the Colonial Governments during the stay in the depot it may be mentioned that from among the emigrants the matron selects a submatron to assist her on the voyage, and the dispatching officer selects a schoolmaster for the voyage, to teach the children, and constables to act under the doctor in carrying out beneficial regulations and preserve order on board ship. Linen bags are issued to each emigrant, in which to keep his mess utensils, &c, for use on the vessel. Boxes and other property can be insured at the depot for the voyage. Savings Bank receipts are given in exchange for any money the emigrants may desire to deposit for safe custody, payable at sight, without any charge, on arrival in the colony. Specially reduced fares from London and many of the principal towns in all parts of England and Scotland have been arranged with most of the Railway Companies for the conveyance of emigrants to Plymouth, available by all trains, and allowing an extra amount of luggage, thus cheapening and facilitating the journey to the port. When the stay of people in the depot extends over Sunday, emigrants are encouraged to go to whatever place of worship they please, and when a Sunday does not form part of their stay it is always arranged, when practicable, that a chaplain attends one evening and holds a service for those who desire to be present; a Catholic priest also administering (in a separate part of the building) religious advice and service to members of his faith. As far as possible it is arranged that only the emigrants for one ship at a time are summoned but as it will occasionally happen that the arrangements of the several Agents-General do not admit of carrying out this rule, the recent additions have been so planned that, when necessary, two ships’ people are received at once and entirely kept apart, duplicate offices, mess rooms, dormitories, and yard space being available, so that the people for one ship or colony are not brought into contact with those for another, and the work of each dispatching officer goes on simultaneously without clashing.
This arrangement is specially valuable in the case of any unforeseen detention of a vessel through accident or stress of weather. On the embarkation of the people a final muster is made, and the emigrants pass in succession before the officer of the Board of Trade, the medical officer of the port; and the dispatching officer of the Colonial Government, the names being ticked off as the emigrants pass into the steamer alongside the depot wall, which steamer conveys them direct on board the emigrant vessel in the Sound; and the work of “messing” the people having been performed during their stay at the depot, they readily find their way on board to the berths provided for each person and family by the numbers on the berths corresponding with the mess cards taken with them.

This illustration (most probably the same artist as used for illustration 1) provides another drawing of the depot in a lighter hue. The purposes of the main buildings on Baltic Wharf are identified based on the articles listed above and map 2. In particular, the 1870 articles give vital information. Both illustrations confirm that emigrants were boarding the steamers along the front of that wharf.
Source: Illustrated Sydney News Saturday 10 May 1884. All illustrations on page 8. TROVE  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64035403

Source: Illustrated Sydney News Saturday 10 May 1884
All illustrations on page 8. TROVE  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64035403

Photograph of the Baltic Wharf and Pheonix Wharf areas in Plymouth. The extension of a pier out from the Pheonix Wharf seems to have occurred by 1895. The photograph is not dated.
Source: Plymouth City Council  Twitter Account https://twitter.com/plymouthcc/status/1103647888314417153

 A NEW COMMEMORATIVE MEMORIAL FOR BALTIC WHARF?
In 1986 the Cornish Association of South Australia placed a plaque commemorating the important contribution that Plymouth made in being the place where thousands of Cornish people left Britain for South Australia. This plaque can be found on the stone wall to the left of the Admiral Macbride Hotel along Commercial Road. A copy of which is provided below. The text of this plaque commences with “Near this spot” but from the research given on this page the area can now be more specific than general. The Cornish left Britain to start a new life in the colonies leaving from the northern corner of Baltic Wharf. For the period 1830s to at least 1852 they left by rowboat from the only steps set in the wharf.  This period could be extended as it is with the introduction of the paddle steamers that likely ended the use of the rowboats. By 1870 the paddle steamers were in operation taking emigrants straight off the wharf to their awaiting ship. This memorial is needed to accurately place this historic movement of the British and Irish settlers to far-flung colonies like South Australia. Many Australian visitors to Plymouth seek to find where exactly their ancestors left from and such a memorial would be a fitting way to acknowledge and provide guidance to such visitors.