Farewell to Kent

Farewell to Kent: Assisted Emigration in the 19th Century

Between 1820 and 1850, thousands of poor families left Kent for new lives in America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — many assisted by their parish. This book tells their remarkable story, from the hardships of the long voyage to the struggle to survive in unfamiliar and often harsh conditions.

It also reveals how the Kent Agricultural Labourers Union supported workers and their families in the 1870s, helping them emigrate to New Zealand in search of a better future. Through parish records, personal stories, and meticulous research, Helen Allinson captures both the desperation and determination that drove ordinary people to leave their homes behind.

Review praise:
"Invaluable and thought-provoking… Highly readable and yet meticulously researched, a fascinating narrative emerged. A joy to read and to work with." — Bob Kenward, Kent Song Collective

Book details:

• Paperback | Detailed history of Kent emigration

• Author: Helen Allinson, respected local historian

• Well-researched, accessible, and engaging narrative

Perfect for:

• Family historians & genealogists tracing emigration roots

• Readers of Kent history and parish records

• Anyone researching 19th-century emigration from Britain

• Local historians, libraries, and collectors of migration studies

Keywords: Kent emigration, 19th century emigration, Assisted emigration, Kent Agricultural Labourers Union, Kent parish records, Family history, Genealogy, Migration to New Zealand, Kent history book, Local history, Helen Allinson.

Helen Allinson

• 196 pages
• Illustrations
• Indexed
• Paperback
• Appendices of emigrants, their parishes and the ships