Snippet 16 - The Cotton Famine
DRIVEN OUT BY “THE COTTON FAMINE” Lancashire in the mid-19th Century was the World Centre of Manufacturing Cotton Products. You would think that the Wealth thereby created would be enough. But as Paul Keating said – “ In the Race of Life, always back Self-Interest – at least you know it’s trying. ” So, the Factory Owners formed a Cartel of Supply and severely restricted the availability of Cotton and the Products from 1861-1866. The era was called “The Cotton Famine”2, as the factory workers became unemployed – the families were forced to food-queue (there was no safety net). Many died of starvation and depression. Some found ways to leave by boarding ships to Australia, Canada, or the USA. Part of our family, the Houghtons, were caught in that trap of Famine. Richard & Mary Houghton3, with 4 children under 10 and 1 on the way, caught the ship “ Sultana ”, bound for Queensland. It cost virtually all of their savings (£8) to get aboard. But their luck got worse. The ship’s Doctor,