British Immigration to the United States, 1776–1914

Between 1820 and 1930 four and a quarter million British immigrants chose the United States as their new home. They took with them technological skills which helped make the United States a major industrial nation by the end of the nineteenth century. Cultural similarities and a common language allowed British immigrants to integrate rapidly and gave rise to a unique Anglo-American culture.

This four-volume reset edition collects immigrants’ letters, immigration guides, newspaper articles, county history biographies, and promotional and advisory pamphlets published by immigrants and travellers, land and railroad companies. This literature advised prospective emigrants on what to expect in America and how best to proceed with their migration. The letters written home reveal unique information about the American way of life in the pioneer age. This body of evidence is vital for the study of migration and modernization during the industrial era in America.

New editorial material includes a general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes, footnotes and a consolidated index. It will be essential for those studying Social and Economic History, Transatlantic Migration, Anglo-American History and Culture, Atlantic History and Nineteenth-Century Studies.

• Includes over 230 previously unpublished letters sourced from public and private archives in the UK and the US
• Newspaper articles, immigration guides and county history biographies contextualize the letters
• Sheds new light on the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and America
• Full editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, headnotes, endnotes
• Consolidated index in the final volume

Contents

Volume 1: Building a Nation: 1776–1828

This volume contains over 50 immigrant letters. Supplementary materials include: Rachel Wilson, Visit to America (1768); A Concise Account of the Provinces in North America (1784); ‘Thoughts on Emigration in a Letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia to his Friend in England’, (1794); Emigration and America: Candidly Considered, In a Series of Letters, from a Gentleman, Resident there, To his Friend, in England (1798); Issac Smucker, Welsh Settlements in Licking County, Ohio (1869); J Robert Hartgitt, Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana. History of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland Counties, Indiana (1885); George Sutton, Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana. History of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland Counties, Indiana (1885); William Trabor Turner, Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana (1885); Thomas Benton Cottingham, Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana. History of Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland Counties, Indiana (1885); John Makemon, Biographical and Historical Record of Kosciusko County, Indiana (1887); Andrew S Bell, Portrait and Biographical Record of Fayette, Pickaway, and Madison Counties, Ohio (1892); Samuel Ward, Portrait and Biographical Record of Fayette, Pickaway, and Madison Counties, Ohio (1892); Thomas W Worster, Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (1899); Abijah Moffit, Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (1899); Andrew Jackson Bull, Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren, and Pulaski Counties, Indiana (1899); Isham Sedgwick, Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (1899); Robert F Wilson, Genealogical and Biographical Record of Miami County, Ohio (1900); Rev Robert Armstrong and George F Robinson, History of Greene County, Ohio (1902); Rev Andrew Heron and George F Robinson, History of Greene County, Ohio (1902); Robert Grieve and George F Robinson, History of Greene County, Ohio (1902); John Ewbank Shaw, History of Dearborn County, Indiana: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915)

Volume 2: The Age of Jackson: 1829–1847

This volume contains over 70 immigrant letters. Supplementary materials include: Zephaniah Waller, Seven Letters from an Emigrant to His Friends in England Containing Remarks on the Manners, Customs, Laws, and Religion of the United States (1831); G Poulett Scrope, Extracts of Letters from Poor Persons Who Emigrated Last Year to Canada and the United States (1832); Anon., America and England Contrasted, or, The Emigrant’s Hand-Book and Guide (c. 1842) John Smyles, ‘Emigration to the United States: A Letter addressed to Mr Pitkethly, of Huddersfield, Yorkshire’ (1842); William Broadhead (ed.), History of Chautauqua County, New York (1894); Andrew Davidson, Landmarks of Albany County New York (1897); Charles Blackburn, History of Sonoma County, California, with Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County (1911); Joseph Crosfield, ‘Letters from an American Journey’ (n.d); Biography of John Spencer (n.d); Extracts from the Cambridge Chronicle, The Bible Christian Magazine, The Primitive Methodist Magazine and The Evangelist

Volume 3: The Developing Nation: 1848–59

This volume contains over 80 letters. Supplementary materials include: The Emigrant’s Handbook (1848); Emigration (1849); Charles Bailey, History of Herkimer County, New York, Illustrated with Portraits of Many of Its Citizens (1893); Henry J Childs, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Third Congressional District of New Jersey, Comprising Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset Counties (1896); Ferderick Robinson, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Third Congressional District of New Jersey (1896); George Duffley, Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette (1901); John Shortney, Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette (1901); John Bunt, Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin (1901); Extracts from Cambridge Chronicle, The Evangelist, The Primitive Methodist Magazine and The Times

Volume 4: Civil War and Industry: 1860–1914

This volume contains over 30 immigrant letters. Supplementary materials include: Anon., ‘The Working Men of Manchester and President Lincoln,’ ( 1863); Harriet Beecher Stow, ‘A Reply to the Affectionate and Christian Address…’ (1863); Thomas Rawlings, ‘Emigration, with Special Reference to Minnesota, U.S., and British Columbia’ (1864); Reverend Harry Jones, Letters from America (1870); W Wilson Tickle, British Emigration (1883); Frank McGarvy, LaSalle County, Illinois, Together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Towns, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History, Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Representative (1886); Mrs Mary Brooks, Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois, Containing Full-Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County (1889); George Francis Langrick, A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California (1892); David Walls, History of Sonoma County, California, with Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County (1911); Extracts from The Bee-Hive and British national and regional newspapers

Related titles

• The Development of the National Economy : The United States from the Civil War through the 1890s
• Women Writing Home, 1700–1920 : Female Correspondence across the British Empire

Leaflets

• British Immigration to the United States: colour leaflet
• British Immigration to the United States: printable leaflet

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