14 R. J. Dickson tabulated six surveys of motives for emigration from northern Ireland and northern England in the year 1719. The following causes were mentioned in positive or negative terms.
|
English |
Presbyterian |
Anglican |
Dublin |
|
|
Cause |
Judges |
Ministers |
Bishops |
Essayist |
Landowner |
Emigrants |
Famine |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
yes |
High rents |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Church taxes |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
News from America |
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
yes |
Short leases |
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
yes |
Little coin |
|
|
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
Luxuries of the rich |
|
|
|
|
yes |
yes |
Fall of linen trade |
yes |
|
|
|
|
yes |
Too little tillage |
|
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
Absentees and pensions |
|
|
|
|
yes |
yes |
To escape creditors |
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
Oppression by JPs |
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
Overpopulation |
|
|
|
|
|
yes |
Sacramental tests |
|
yes |
no |
|
|
|
Source: Dickson, Ulster Emigration, 46; rearranged by frequency; for similar findings see Bailyn, Voyagers to the West, 189-93.
15 A total of 518 emigrants in this group mentioned the following motives for migration (some giving more than one): to seek a better livelihood, or find employment, 298; excessive rents, 156; scarcity and dearness of provisions, 67; the engrossing of small farms, 4; other (to visit relatives, see the country, etc.). 19. Dickson, Ulster Emigration, 81.