Book 1, Chapter 3 Searching for the Facts Summary

John Powell, an undersecretary of state for the colonies, suggested that a statistical assessment of emigration be done to see how Britain was affected. Customs officials were to compile information embarking on all overseas voyages. The officials compiled names, ages, occupations, employment, former residences, where they proposed to go, why they were leaving the country, and so on. In the months that followed, customs officials interviewed thousands of emigrants as they boarded ships sailing for North America.

The result of this collection illuminates the essential characteristics of the emigration and of a major segment of the immigrants who peopled North America in the years leading up to the Revolution. Bailyn argues that there is better source of information on immigration data for these years of American history. Yet, the data source is not...