ANCESTRY INQUIRY: REPORT
Sources Papers Past + grandad
INTRO
In 1861 Dorothy Haynes my great (X4) Grandmother immigrated from England to New Zealand with her husband Thomas Haynes and her baby Richard Haynes. They left England for the promise of a better life, war was all around them, and as England became more and more developed, jobs ceased. Dorothy and Thomas chose New Zealand because of all the offered opportunities, New Zealand was undeveloped and much safer. These are some of the reasons my ancestor and her family immigrated to New Zealand, in this inquiry I will take you on a journey and conclude why Dorothy Haynes moved to a small country in the south pacific.
BIOGRAPHY
Dorothy Haynes (maiden name Leedham) was born on the 28th of July 1825 at a cute little village called little haywood, a village of Staffordshire England. She married Thomas Sheil Haynes and had two children Richard Henry Haynes; Mary Elizabeth Haynes (later named Mary Elizabeth Rosner). Dorothy started up a Millinery business (hat making), not to long after opening a big store, 1873 a big fire called foleys fire swept through Auckland's queen street burning it down. While this happened her husband Thomas became a well known builder. Finally, in 1880 Dorothy settled down to manage a big hotel, while Thomas managed the northcote tavern. Thomas died on the 25/11/1897 his final resting place is the baptist cemetery in birkenhead Auckland. Dorothy passed on the 13th December 1925.
Push Factor 1: Lack of jobs
The industrial revolution saw pay rise tenfold for big corporations, but scarcely few jobs. That would be absolutely terrifying for a family of three; the jobs they could scrape up would be hard working and low pay, but at the same time one parent has to look after the baby. In the millinery business Dorothy could work at home but after the industrial revolution robots partially took over, so England wasn’t exactly a beehive of work for milliners.
Push Factor 2: Crime
In the 1800s there was a lot of crime as the more populated England became the less income was received, therefore increase in poverty, and, presto, the more crime. Pickpockets are bad enough but obviously the more desperate the people, the more serious the crime. Pickpockets turned into breaks in’s; kidnapping for ransom, murder. This is a huge factor because Richard would have been so precious to Dorothy and Thomas.
Push Factor 3: Disease
As immigrants from far and wide came to England disease rates also rocketed up. One family got it then the next and disease spread as swiftly as covid. While more people came into England, the amount of diseases grew and eventually, (as my mom would say), England had diseases coming right out their ears. For Dorothy, if she had another baby and she got a disease, what would happen to the baby? If Thomas got it, he couldn’t work, If she got it he would have to take care of her. This is a truly frightening factor.
Pull Factor 1: Opportunities
If Dorothy came to New Zealand she could start a Millinery shop, Thomas could finally become a builder and he would get paid well. Richard could get a great education in a less crowded school. If anything didn’t work Thomas could mine gold, and if that didn’t work then he could find a job. As Dorothy and Thomas discovered, there is no end to opportunities in Aotearoa. This could easily be the main factor of Dorothy’s immigration to New Zealand.
Pull Factor 2: Unpopulated Country
In England the population increases the severity of most Factors, but in New Zealand there were much Fewer people, to be precise England had ten times the amount of people. Jobs are way easier to come by, disease is less likely to spread, crime rates are down tenfold, as everyone keeps to themselves. Also it was prime time for land, you could claim a space if you got there first, nz being unpopulated was another big factor.
Pull Factor 3: Richard
In New Zealand, Dorothy could work at home and still get paid, so she could take care of Richard, they wouldn’t have to worry about break ins, Richard could get a better, less crowded education. If Dorothy had another child then all the above also applies. They could raise Richard in a quiet environment. Thomas could see Richard more. This Factor may sound like a repeat but it’s not, its just looking from a different point of view.
Discussion of push and pull factors
In the 1800s England was becoming a less and more less desirable place to live. The population increased which in turn caused diseases to rapidly spread. Also as the population increased pay was decreased so in turn increasing poverty which increases crime, which gets worse as people get more desperate for money. This is the reason that I conclude the main push factor in my ancestors decent to New Zealand was population.
Also in the 1800s New Zealand was becoming a very very much desirable place to live. Minerals to be discovered, untouched land for the taking, many jobs to be claimed. An undemocratic country is a free country. A safe place to live and raise a family. This was such an opportunity that my ancestors couldn’t deny. Furthermore I have decided that the main reason that Dorothy and Thomas because of this pull factor, opportunity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am very glad my Entrepreneurial great great great great grandparents moved to New Zealand and although ever since Dorothy my family has been going back and forth from Fiji my grandad came to New Zealand for a better schooling and soon after had my dad. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I think that Dorothy moved to Aotearoa because of the vast amount of opportunity in our beautiful country. As I said before, I am overjoyed she chose this little country in the south pacific.