HEADLINES OF OLD: October 2023

Tuesday 31 October 2023

FEMALE CONVICTS Trove Tuesday 31st Oct 2023

Female convicts formed a large part of the workforce in the new colony, as well as many of them becoming married either to their employer, or if both were considered of showing good behaviour, some married a fellow convict. They don't seem to feature as often in the summaries of our history as the males do... then again, there were far more males than females.

Such hard times, yet these people helped to found our country.

Click on the images to enlarge or you can click on the highlighted links and read from the original.

Hobart Town Gazette (Tas. : 1825 - 1833), Saturday 10 October 1829, page 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264613715

Flash Mob

World's News (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 1955), Wednesday 27 June 1934, page 17 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136998464

Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Tuesday 6 April 1841, page 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8751583

Some extra reading...

The little-known story of Australia's convict women - Australian Geographic

ABCLife As a Female Convict: Cascades Female Factory - ABC Education

The Journey - by Sailing Ship | Maritime Museum of Tasmania

Women are central to Australia's history. Why have we forgotten them? | History books | The Guardian

Female convicts | National Library of Australia

Tuesday 24 October 2023

PENSIONERS IN CONVICT SHIPS Trove Tuesday. 24th Oct 2023

Gate remnant of the pensioner barracks building

Pensioner Guards

courtesy of wikipedia

The Pensioner Guards were English military personnel who served on convict transportation ships en route to the Swan River Colony between 1850 and 1868, and were given employment and grants of land on arrival.^[2][3] Their initial employment lasted for six months, or the duration of the voyage, whichever was the longer time. After this they became "pensioners" and had to serve 12 days per year as well as whenever called upon.^[4] They paraded annually in Perth at the Pensioner Barracks. Part of their purpose was to fulfil a promise by the British government to send free settlers to the colony to dilute the convicts, and to maintain law and order in the colony.^[5]

Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855), Wednesday 20 March 1850, page 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65740046

Tuesday 17 October 2023

UNCLAIMED LETTERS Trove Tuesday 17th Oct 2023

Unclaimed letters can be intriguing. You can't help but scour the lists in the hope that you will see a familiar name.

Before we explore them further, let me answer the same questions I am always asked when I post these lists..

" NO, they aren't available for researchers, or anyone else to read."

"Yes, they most likely have been destroyed."

"Sorry, I have no way of knowing if any of these people mentioned have been found."

Of course, that won't stop us wondering.. what if?

Where they can be helpful, is giving us a hint as to where these people once lived ... and by searching, also nearby cemeteries... and other stories or lists referring to the area named. Happy Hunting.

You can click on the image to enlarge or search the original via the highlighted link.

Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), Friday 22 August 1862, page 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197092713

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Thursday 21 August 1890, page 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52336945

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Wednesday 12 July 1871, page 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77044604

North Australian (Darwin, NT : 1883 - 1889), Friday 14 May 1886, page 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47995605

Broad Arrow Standard (WA : 1896 - 1899), Wednesday 15 December 1897, page 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226646192

Tuesday 10 October 2023

NATURALISATION CERTIFICATES Trove Tuesday 10th Oct 2023

Certificates of Naturalisation have changed over the years.. at least in the notices below. In the earlier Gazette, from 1935, we are given surname, christian name, town they lived in and state.

In the second batch, from 1968, we are given surname, christian name, street address, town and the date that citizenship was granted.

The latter can possibly lead us to further information if we look for local newspapers of that year, perhaps marriage, birth, death notices or even any activities in the area mentioned.. look for notices in TROVE.

Just a suggestion, some immigrants 'anglicised' their surname, so you might find some variations.. if so, try to work backwards.

Happy hunting!

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973), Thursday 21 February 1935 (No.10), page 245 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232611514