The English
The English had been laying claim to Canada since 1497, when King Henry VII sent John Cabot across the sea. Cabot planted the flag of England, setting the first European colours in the New World. 50 years later John Rut got to St. John's Newfoundland, under the ruling of King Henry VIII and sent the first letter from North America.
Then the crowds moved in. Major migration began in the Eastern colonies with the foundation of Halifax in 1749. At the end of the American War of Independence, a large number of Loyalist’s hurried northward. Most of them settled in what was soon to be New Brunswick, but some settled in Upper Canada. Later still, a small number of Loyalist’s went to the prairies; attracted by offers of free land.
By 1851 the first wave of immigration had died out. Four more waves of English immigration were still to come. After Confederation, British orphans started coming across to settle in Canada, my Great Great Grandmother was one of these orphans (see below for her story). These young women were granted free passage, and thousands of young women settled across Canada. Another group of English settlers arrived between 1890 and 1914, lured by the open prairies. By 1957 the numbers had risen to 75,546; in 1967 the numbers dropped again to 43,000.
The English were widely spread across Canada and considered themselves the founding people of the country. As a result they were less ‘clannish’ then other immigration populations. Wherever the English settled, they quickly bonded with the local community. They didn’t have to learn a new language and there was little racism against them. In the early 1900’s, ‘Englishmen Need Not Apply’ signs were posted through out the country. But during the depression the government dealt with the Englishmen as severely as others.
Then the crowds moved in. Major migration began in the Eastern colonies with the foundation of Halifax in 1749. At the end of the American War of Independence, a large number of Loyalist’s hurried northward. Most of them settled in what was soon to be New Brunswick, but some settled in Upper Canada. Later still, a small number of Loyalist’s went to the prairies; attracted by offers of free land.
By 1851 the first wave of immigration had died out. Four more waves of English immigration were still to come. After Confederation, British orphans started coming across to settle in Canada, my Great Great Grandmother was one of these orphans (see below for her story). These young women were granted free passage, and thousands of young women settled across Canada. Another group of English settlers arrived between 1890 and 1914, lured by the open prairies. By 1957 the numbers had risen to 75,546; in 1967 the numbers dropped again to 43,000.
The English were widely spread across Canada and considered themselves the founding people of the country. As a result they were less ‘clannish’ then other immigration populations. Wherever the English settled, they quickly bonded with the local community. They didn’t have to learn a new language and there was little racism against them. In the early 1900’s, ‘Englishmen Need Not Apply’ signs were posted through out the country. But during the depression the government dealt with the Englishmen as severely as others.