Our people can live an active lifestyle with access to sports and exercise activities 
Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Emigration
Home > Services > Leisure and culture > Heritage and local history
In the 19th century, almost two million men, women and children left Scotland for a new life in a new country. The Scots have been remarkably successful emigrants; their impact has been felt in every corner of the globe.
For poverty, and to get bread
From the 1770s until the 1830s, emigration from Renfrewshire was driven by harsh economic conditions. Fluctuations in the weaving trade and economic crises caused great hardship. In one of the first large-scale emigrations, which included 300 people from Paisley, customs officials at the port of Greenock were asked to find reasons why so many wanted to leave Scotland. Instead of individual answers, the official wrote one answer for all - “for poverty, and to get bread”.
By the 1830s, those emigrating were more likely to be young, enterprising individuals hoping to make their fortune, or political refugees who had fallen foul of the authorities or were disillusioned with the lack of political progress.
Emigration societies helped many groups of people to emigrate.
By the 1830s, those emigrating were more likely to be young, enterprising individuals hoping to make their fortune, or political refugees who had fallen foul of the authorities or were disillusioned with the lack of political progress.
Emigration societies helped many groups of people to emigrate.
Many opted to try their luck in North America, and many would go on to play a positive role in their adopted country. Claud Wilson was an outspoken radical who emigrated to Lowell, Massachusetts and became a carpet manufacturer. He later organised contributions to the Paisley Relief Fund during the “hungry forties”. One of his descendants was President Ronald Reagan!
Find out more about the lives these Renfrewshire emigrants:
Alexander Wilson
Daniel Craig McCallum
James Shand Harvey
John Witherspoon
Find out more about tracing your family history.
Back to top
