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.