What is a "remittance man"? (Peoples separated by a common language etc.)
Usually the black sheep of a family (with money) who was sent to the colonies and paid to stay away.
According to Mark Twain: Passengers explained the term to me. They said that dissipated ne'er-do-wells belonging to important families in England and Canada were not cast off by their people while there was any hope of reforming them, but when that last hope perished at last, the ne'er-do-well was sent abroad to get him out of the way. He was shipped off with just enough money in his pocket—no, in the purser's pocket—for the needs of the voyage—and when he reached his destined port he would find a remittance awaiting him there. Not a large one, but just enough to keep him a month. A similar remittance would come monthly thereafter. It was the remittance-man's custom to pay his month's board and lodging straightway—a duty which his landlord did not allow him to forget—then spree away the rest of his money in a single night, then brood and mope and grieve in idleness till the next remittance came. It is a pathetic life.
Last edited by Bruce Scott; 25th April 20 at 06:08 PM.
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As Bruce so well posted, a Remittance man was a young reprobate sent away to a far flung outpost of Empire and sent a regular remittance of money with the charge that he should stay away. The wealthy did that. Reprobate sons of poor people were a different matter.
We still use the term in jest here in Australia (amongst older types such as myself ;) ) and it means more just a reprobate expelled by the law or fleeing family etc.
Mr DW Stewart was no youth when he left Scotland, probably in his 40's. Going guarantor for a hosiery business that went out of business and his wife leaving him must have 'drove him to drink'. Quite a judgemental statement, undoubtedly bad feeling all round at the time. I suspect Mr Stewart decided to give the Western Australian gold rush a go, having nothing to hold him in the old country.
My ancestors left Scotland in the 1890's (similar time) because their lucrative shipping business went bust due to a Scotland wide depression at that time.
So... I take this 'took to the bottle' and 'remittance man' talk with a grain of salt.
It certainly looks like he came to Australia so here's hoping I can find him in the Old (Aussie) West!
Originally Posted by OC Richard
Thanks for doing all that legwork!
What is a "remittance man"? (Peoples separated by a common language etc.)
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Originally Posted by OC Richard
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