In the spring of 1858, Thomas set sail for America with the Orton family and their children when he was about seventeen years of age. On arriving in New York, Thomas secured work and saved enough money for his father to join him. George and Thomas then worked for another two to three years to save enough to bring the other members of the family to America. They arrived early in the spring of 1861 in New York. [See more in his mother Mary’s notes].