Emigrations to new counties were seen as a way for families who were very large and there was not enough work in villages. Just before the First World War in High Ham, Somerset a Mr Tapscott who was the youngest of four boys and all three of them emigrated, one to
and two to Canada.
In 1912, seven lads from High Ham were booked to sail to
on the “Titanic” but their passages were postponed because the guests for a big
Astor wedding in America
had priority passage. The Astor family paid all expenses which this delay
entailed, and probably saved the lives of all seven from being drowned on the
liner’s disastrous maiden voyage.