Surplus People: The Fitzwilliam Clearances, 1847™1856

"The Irish Famine was a catastrophe of immense proportions. Death from starvation, eviction and emigration was common. The population of County Wicklow declined by over 27,000 people. Landlords, eager to dispose of 'surplus' tenantry, engaged in 'assisted passages', whereby tenants were given incentives to emigrate." "The most important was Lord Fitzwilliam, whose 80,000-acre estate, Coolattin, was the largest in Wicklow. From 1847 to 1856, he removed 6,000 men, women and children and arranged passage to Canada. Most were destitute on arrival in Quebec and New Brunswick. Lord Fitzwilliam needed to shed tenants and a railway company in New Brunswick needed workers. Unfortunately there was a terrible misunderstanding." "This book examines the clearances and sees how some families fared in Canada. It also focuses on the infamous fared in Canada. It also focuses on the infamous Grosse Ile near Quebec, and relates in detail the fate of some families in St. Andrews, New Brunswick."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved… (more)