Petworth Emigration Scheme

Encouraged by the Earl, he had graduated at Oxford University so that he could be ordained into the Anglican church and become Rector of Petworth to give him an independent living.

[3] The Earl was willing to pay the £10 per person cost of the voyage for those on his land, and the parish funds gave a further £10 for warm winter clothing, blankets and other supplies and equipment.

Sockett used his network of wealthy contacts to recruit potential emigrants from across the southern counties of England, chartered ships and appointed supervisors to maintain discipline on the voyage and see the immigrants settled in Canada.

There were problems with the early supervisors, and from 1834 to 1837, the task was undertaken by Sockett's brother in law, James Marr Brydone, a naval surgeon who had been at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The crossing by sailing ship took about seven weeks to Quebec, with very cramped living conditions consisting of a 6-foot (1.8 m) square berth for three adults or six children.

At Montreal, the passengers had to transfer to barges, known as Durham boats to ascend the St. Lawrence Rapids, to Prescott before they caught a steamer to Kingston and Toronto.

As they made a good wages during the summer months, they were expected to make ends meet year round and were overlooked by the vestry when it came to off-season assistance.