Expert: Thomas H McIntyre - 4/16/2009

Question
Dear Thomas,

I am descended from Thomas, son of Lewis McIntyre who migrated to NSW, Australia in 1854 on the ship David McIvor from Liverpool.  I am researching the reasons for the departure of my great great grandparents from Cromdale (Near Granton-on-Spey)in Morayshire, Scotland and suspect it had something to do with the highland clearances.  My family have no stories to explain why this emigration so far away occurred and they had never heard of the highland clearances until quite recently.  Any detailed information you are able to provide would be extremely welcome.  My brother, Robert, named his eldest son Thomas.  Many thanks for any assistance you are able to provide.

Kind regards,

Dr Ruth Armstrong (nee McIntyre)

Answer
   Dear Dr. Armstrong,

   My best guess why people leave one county for another is that they are having a really hard time making a living where they are!  Scotland at the time did offer much opportunity for work and many were really starving to death.  Many, I'm sure, heard of Australia as a land of new opportunity.  Realties and friends would send word back to their families and friends in the towns they left in Scotland to give others hope of a better life.  So someone that used to live in Cromdale sent word back. They as well as probably others in the town decided to travel together.  Perhaps even there were special discounts that the shipping companies offered.  This was often done for ballast.
  It is also nice to hear of another Thomas McIntyre.  I must have been a pretty common first name.
  Thanks for the question;
  Thomas McIntyre