In 1854 Jean, her brother David and her sister Mary obtained assisted migration to South Australia. They sailed from Liverpool to Port Adelaide on the Joseph Rowan, arriving on the 18th June 1854, after a three months voyage. They all gave their occupations as farm servants, a term generally used for workers on big estates. Each brought with them a large wooden box with their name stamped on it on a metal plate, which contained virtually all their worldly goods. On arriving n SA, Jane had first worked for her brother James on the Mt Rufus station. When this failed she went to work for Mr J Caine at North Rhine. Soon after their marriage, James and Jean BIGWOOD managed to buy a small farm near Coghills Creek. They started life together in a hut with one cup, pne saucer, and oneplate each, plus a box table, two bullocks and a single furrow plough. Jean showed an aptitude for business and built up a thriving side-line industry in butter, chees, bacon and poultry which her husband took to Burra in a bullock dray. She would regularly walk the six miles to Riverton, carrying her produce on her back. [Four Milnes of Forfar : Jack Cross]