A GUIDE TO THE CONVICT &
PIONEER RECORDS
OF NSW
Introduction by James McClelland, O.A.M.
Every Australian
has the right to write to their State Archives for information, but I must
stress that the State Archives of NSW and the Mitchell Library reserve the sole
right to decide to whom they will supply information and the nature of that
information.
Access to the
actual records is usually restricted to people to whom a reader's ticket has
been issued. A letter should be sent to State Archives and Mitchell Library
asking for an application form for a reader's ticket. This is because our
national records are priceless and irreplaceable and over the past few years
there have been several attempts to steal them and disfigure them, but most of
them have been placed on microfilm and usually the Archives will allow you to
view these. I do know that the people who staff the Archives and Mitchell
Library will bend over backwards to assist and advise you.
It takes a long
time to understand the location codes and it takes many hours to research
volumes or reels. Just think that in some cases you are trying to obtain
information that may have happened 180 years ago and we must be realistic and
realise that to do this could take a little time.
Now, it would be
impossible for any State Government to supply enough staff in their Archives or
State Libraries to completely handle the massive flood of inquiries that they
receive every day, often from people who have none or only the vaguest details
of the person on whom they are seeking information, so you could get a letter
back from Archives stating that they regret that they do not have the resources
to look for the information you are seeking, and that is the plain, honest
truth.
You should than
ask people engaged in research work, tracing ancestry or genealogical or
historical societies for a quote as to how much it would cost to search
for the information for you and supply you with a written report.
When asking for
a quote, clearly state the type of information you require and supply as
many details of the person or family you are interested in as possible.
Now remember the
old proverb that one picture is worth 1,000 word. Gather together every single
piece of information you have - birth certificates, death certificates etc. -
and copy out a sample family tree on a large sheet of drawing paper and start
to fill it in, working from you or your children back down the years.
Don't worry
about any ancestors you cannot yet locate. With the aid of your blueprint family
tree you can always come back later to fill in the gaps. Now start writing
letters for information. You are going to get a few knockbacks, but in the long
run the whole effort is going to be very worth it, and one of the most
rewarding experiences of your lifetime, and you will make many new friends.
I would also
like to encourage people to try a Living Memory Family Tree. That is, go and
visit relatives you have not visited for over twenty years or more; arrange
family reunions of all known descendants from your ancestors you have come
across. Remember we walk this way but once. Go back to your old home town;
visit the places you enjoyed and where you played as a child. Make yourself
known to some of the old folk and share the experience with your children. Give
them a Living Memory of you and your way of life to remember, for as we grow
too old to wander, it's nice to remember faces and places and people from our
past.
The purpose of
this book is to show Australians some of the convict, pioneer and immigrant
records of
Searching for
records of one's ancestors is not easy, but it is not impossible. It is like
putting a big jigsaw puzzle together; it takes time, but one day all the pieces
fit together, and the picture is complete. The personal satisfaction of having
done so is indescribable.
It involves
writing letters for information, possibly writing hundreds of letters, but remember
that when writing a letter it is a common courtesy to enclose a stamped,
self-addressed envelope for a reply. Also, if writing to a church for
information, it is nice to enclose a small donation.
Book 7. A Guide to the
Convict & Pioneer Records of NSW - 196 pages.
$AUD33.00 ($USD25.10) + p&p
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