First Families to USA

 There were obviously earlier folk sent to America as well as the other Penal Colonies

but I am going to concentrate on the folk who went of their own accord in the mid 1850's.

However!!! I would welcome any body who can add earlier information and history !!Also

anyone who can add or correct any info that I have accumalated as always ,what one

 finds in Census or Newspaper's or indeed in various Gypsy Journals can as I have

found be inacurate,and family lore or handed down information within the family can

often tell a different story.

There are earlier reference's in the 1700s of Gypsies who were sent as slaves .

In 1715. Ten Gypsies in Scotland are recorded deported to Virginia in the Americas.

 but as I said I am going to concentrate on the more well known or documented

families such as:-

 Cooper/Boswell/Buckland/Bryer/Harrison/Hicks/Lee/Lovell/Smith/StanleyWells/Wharton/.

The passage across the "Bori panni" was oftn very harsh as this article by Sandy Buckland

 recounts:-

DESCRIPTION OF JOURNEY BT SEA TO USA FOR STEERAGE PASSENGERS 1898

This First-Hand account records a journey on a typical transatlantic steamship in

 1898 as a passenger in steerage.

Harsh by modern standards, this was typical of many ships that brought immigrants to the United States in the latter half of the nineteenth century.The immigrants were allowed reduced- fare tickets.

This is one man's story of his journey :

Two weeks before I had decided to travel to America I had written to a steamship line in Liverpool to secure a steerage

passage for New York; and I was not more than ordinarily happy at the prospect.

In reply to my application, there came a request for a deposit of one pound, and a blank form reading as follows:

• Number.

• Name in full.

• Age.

• Sex.

• Married or single.

• Calling or occupation.

• Able to read and write.

• Nationality.

• Last residence.

• Seaport for landing in United States.

• Final destination in United States.

• Whether having ticket to such destination. By whom was passage paid?

• Whether in possession of money. If so, whether more than $30, and how much, if less than $30.

• Whether ever before in the United States, and if so, when and where.

• Whether going to join a relative, and if so, what relative—their name and address.

• Ever in prison, or almshouse, or supported by charity? If yes, state which.

• Whether a polygamist.

• Whether under contract, express or implied, to labour in the United States.

• Condition of health— mental and physical. Deformed or crippled—nature and

 cause.

After passing this preliminary examination to the steamship company's satisfaction. I received a ticket, with an order on the Great Western Railway, together with i nformation when it was necessary for me to be aboard.

Taking the Train Across England to Liverpool I must admit that from this time until I found myself on the six-o'clock express from  Oxford to Liverpool I was not free from a certain « all-gone feeling » in the pit of my stomach; for the steerage, at a distance anyhow, has few charms. I was now, however, fairly under way, and the gray old university town was rapidly vanishing.

The Steerage Office in Liverpool :

The following morning (Saturday) broke with a cloudless sky and a stiffish breeze from the westward. With regrets for the head wind, yet with lively anticipations of what the day might bring forth, I made my way down to the steamship office. I found the steerage offices in the basement of a large stone building near the dock; and having descended a flight of steps and passed through a dark-some tunnel, I emerged into a dimly lighted room, round two sides of which were seated some forty of my fellow-passengers to be. Though it was nine o'clock, the agent had not yet arrived; and already a few of the women were working themselves into excitement. On the appearance of the agent, perhaps half an hour after-ward, came the rush to make final payment. All those going to the Eastern States had their tickets so stamped; for in such cases the steamship rate includes rail-road fare to destination.

At the Landing Stage in Liverpool.

At this point I lost my identity, and became No. 1616, group C. With this stamped upon my passage-ticket and

inspection-card, I was taken in charge by an officer of the company, and led down, with the rest, to the landing-stage, where the tender awaited us. Here we found a large number of other emigrants, principally Scandinavians, who had come through other channels than the Liverpool office. After a tiresome wait of more than an hour, during which time our company was constantly increased by further batches of foreigners, we got away, and puffed up-river, where our steamer lay at anchor.

There were now more than three hundred of us. No attempt at acquaintanceship was made as yet. All sat stiff and distant, hugging their numerous bundles in a most uncomfortable fashion, and staring coldly into one another's faces. Opposite me sat a dark, thick-set Welshman, with his wife, a thin, chinless woman, and five small children, the eldest eight years old. Pretty, dark-eyed little tots they were, but oh, how dirty! Even at that stage of the journey a highwater mark was plainly visible. Within half an hour the paddle-wheels of the tender stopped, and we scrambled on deck, to find ourselves nearing the vessel that was to be our home for the following week. A sheer twenty feet of black bulwark, as long as a village street, and studded with rows of port-holes, rose before us. Above it ran a double tier of white deck-houses, carrying a still higher bridge, and capped by two monster funnels. We caught a glimpse of white boats hanging in the davits, red-mouthed ventilators, the brightest of brass-work, the blue-peter fluttering at the fore, and suddenly we were alongside. Then the bugle sounded, a small army of stewards lined up to receive us, the gang-plank was lowered, and we filed aboard.

Boarding the Steamship for the Trip Across the Atlantic

« Second cabin, sir? » said the master-at-arms by the gangway.

« No; steerage,» I replied.

His polite tone changed, and he invited me to « Step for'ard lively! » in a manner that left no doubt in my mind as to what part of the ship I belonged. But already the narrow passage between the deck-house and the bulwark was blocked. Those in the lead were unable to get below quickly enough; and in spite of being driven, pushed, and sworn at, we stuck there in a compact mass until two deck-hands were sent charging through the crowd to show the way round to the other side of the deck.

« Is ut cyattle we are, that we 're tr'ated this way? » indignantly asked a middle-aged Irishman who was trying to keep his wife and children from being crushed. No; if we was cattle we 'd be all right,» answered a man beside him. a There 's a fine if a beast is landed with a broken leg; but if our legs or necks is broke, it 's our own lookout. I 'm a cattle-man, and I know.»By degrees my bag and I were edged forward and directed down a steep flight of stairs. A steward at the foot allotted me a bunk, into which I threw my things with a sigh of weariness and relief.

My First Observations of the Steerage

Steerage No. 1 is virtually in the eyes of the vessel, and runs clear across from one side to the other, without a

partition. It is lighted entirely by port-holes, under which, fixed to the stringers, are narrow tables with benches

before them. The remaining space is filled with iron bunks, row after row, tier upon tier, all running fore and aft in double banks. A thin iron rod is all that separates one sleeper from another. In each bunk are placed « a donkey's breakfast (a straw mattress), a blanket of the horse variety, a battered tin plate and panni-kin, a knife, a fork, and a spoon. This completes the emigrant's « kit,» which in former days had to be found by himself.

This steerage, with a capacity of 118, was kept solely for English-speaking males. Directly below it was steerage No. 2, of similar size, intended for foreign males. A little farther aft was steerage No. 3, with accommodations for 172 sleepers. Abaft on the port side, two flights take one down to the « married quarters.» The single females are stowed in « pockets on both sides of the ship. These, in distinction from the men's quarters, are divided into rooms holding from four to sixteen persons, and have a common room for meals. To the credit of the ship, it must be said that everything was clean. Sweet it was not. Spotless, sanded decks, scrubbed paint-work, and iron bunks could not hide the sour, shippy, reminiscent odour that hung about the steerages, one and all.

Nearing the Vessel In the half-light of the great 'tween-decks my companions were busy establishing themselves. As many of them evidently carried all they possessed in their hands, the bunks were soon piled with a strange assortment. Carpet-bags, brown-paper parcels, cooked victuals, underclothing, fruit, bird-cages, and sundry loud-smelling, suspicious-looking bottles, were frequently seen. Strange to say, nearly every one seemed to be provided with a specific for seasickness.

One man had apples, another a patent medicine, a third carried a pocketful of lime-drops, and yet another had

pinned his faith upon raw onions. It may perhaps be interesting to intending voyagers to know that not one of these preventives had the slightest effect. I was an unwilling witness of their non-efficacy after-ward.

Inspection by the Surgeon Before long a squad of stewards cleared the steerages, and mustered us all for the doctor's inspection. Evidently the doctor was in no hurry; for we stood crowded together, in the heat of that summer day, two mortal hours, waiting his pleasure. Poor mothers! Poor babies! Tired, hot, and hungry (for no dinner had been served), the little ones cried incessantly, while the women complained in a high key, and twelve nationalities of men swore. This first inspection, indeed, seemed as though it were planned to introduce us all, and I came out of it on nodding acquaintance with a score. At length I slipped through the « drive » and stood before the doctor. He lifted the peak of my cap, looked me straight in the eyes, and passed me on; my tickets were then halved, quartered, and stamped at farther points, a detective scanned me sharply, and the ordeal was over.

The Ship is Finally Underway :-

The next thing of interest to us was the fact that the ship was moving. Attended by two puffing tug-boats, the great vessel was carefully threading her way down-stream to the landing-stage, where the saloon passengers were to be taken aboard. Slowly the leviathan swung to the tide, and tenderly laid her shapely side against the float. The gangway once more connected us with the shore; but we were roped well back from it, for fear some foolish one might at the last moment change his mind. As soon as the stream of well-dressed men and women were aboard, then came the warning bell; the last link soon was withdrawn, and we edged crab wise from the pier. The next instant the surging sea of faces that had been held in check till now rushed to the stage chains, and, amid a waving of hats, handkerchiefs, and umbrellas, raised a mightycheer.Although the steerage answered it with heart and soul, yet in its tone I marked a difference from the happy, ringing cheer that carries a ship from an American port. Ours was a cheer in name only—in truth, it was but a mouthful of noise, made to choke back the cry that was forcing itself up in many a throat. For from America people go chiefly on

pleasure; but with every ship that sails from England, how many there are who leave their friends forever!

Calling at Queenstown (Cobh).

Queen Rhoda Wells