Prelude

While the late 1860s might be taken to mark the start of the child emigration movement, that would be misleading, for there were many earlier examples. The trans-shipment of unwanted pauper children to the plantations of Virginia is reported from the beginning of the seventeenth century and, somewhat later, children were also taken to the West Indies. There is, however, little evidence that these practices continued much into the eighteenth century. This was partly because, by then, the demand for servant and plantation labour was increasingly being met by the spread of black slavery. Even so, prisoners continued to be transported to the colonial plantations, and children were included along with adults. But after the American War of Independence Britain's convicts were no longer welcome and alternatives had to be found. Banishment to West Africa was tried but rejected as impractical. Australia, on the other hand, offered not only the prospect of a fresh colonial settlement but also a destination for the burgeoning population in prison at home. By 1787 the transportation of felons to New South Wales had begun. Thereafter, children arrived in the new colonies together with the adults. For example, 1,500 boy convicts were sent to New South Wales, Western Australia and Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) between 1842 and 1853, when the transportation of children was effectively abolished.

During the first half of the nineteenth century charitable organisations were also arranging the transfer of children to various parts of the Empire. Foremost among them was the Children's Friend Society that was established in 1830 under the name of ‘The Society for the Suppression of Juvenile Vagrancy’. Until its demise in 1841 it sent 70 destitute children to Australia, 440 to the Cape of Good Hope and about 150 to Canada. Later, in 1849, a government grant was made to the Ragged School Union to enable it to send 150 boys and girls to Australia; but it was not renewed, largely because of fears that it would set a precedent that would encourage further calls on public expenditure. Thereafter the Union could send only small parties of children abroad.