17th February: HENRY ADAMS CUPPER - A SUFFOLK PIONEER – Geoffrey Robinson

During the second half of the 19th century, a steady stream of emigrants left East Anglia to settle in the United States, Canada and Australasia.  The collapse of the agricultural economy, brought about mainly by cheap imports, was one of the causes for this increasing flood of hopeful humanity.  In the early 1870s, the rise of trade unionism affected agriculture, causing some farmers to question their future prospects.

Henry Adams Cupper, whose ancestors had farmed in Worlingworth and Framlingham, Suffolk, was one such farmer - youthful, and possessing a pioneering spirit. He took his young family on a dangerous journey of adventure in 1877, crossing the Atlantic and travelling to the furthermost reaches of the U.S.A. to carve out a new life in the virgin territory of Oregon. This is his story.

The talk takes place in person at the Fromus Centre, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham, IP17 1AL (behind the Library) and, for members only, on Zoom. Geoff will be speaking to us in person and the talk starts at 2.30pm. No need to book – just turn up — at £1.00 for members, £3.00 for visitors, including tea/coffee/biscuits. Good, free car-parking. Only members can take part in our meetings on Zoom, but it only costs £8 for a year’s membership – see https://avsfhg.org.uk/membership/ and Zooming is free.