Government Gazettes are a much underused source, partly because of their availability (you would usually only find them in select archives offices or libraries), and partly because people don't know about them. Now that Archive CD Books Australia has started releasing them on CD-ROM, everyone has access to this amazing resource.
The Government Gazettes were weekly newspapers (although there were extra
issues produced as well from time to time), and this CD contains all issues that were released for
the year 1832 in New South Wales, starting with the very first issue on 7 March
1832.
Full of fascinating information, both historical and
genealogical, and averaging about ten pages per issue, you will find information such as land transactions, legal
notices, horse and cattle impoundments, partnerships, licences, government
contracts and an enormous amount of information relating to convicts, such as
Certificates of Freedom, Tickets-of-Leave Granted, Tickets-of-Leave Cancelled,
Absconders from Employment, Lists of Runaways Apprehended ... and so much more. So if you've
got an interest in New South Wales during this period - you're bound to find
something of interest.
Example entry taken from the 18 April 1832 issue:
Tickets of Leave Cancelled
The Tickets of Leave, grants to the following Persons, have been cancelled for
the reasons set against their respective names:-
Almorah (2), Patrick Conlan - Robbery.
Baring (2), Claude Carrios - Absent from district.
Competitor, Thomas Newby - Having property in his possession supposed to be
stolen.
Countess of Harcourt (2), John Gallagher - Assault.
Mangles (1), John Jones - Stealing.
Mangles (4), Daniel Sullivan or Murphy - Stealing wood.
Mantius, Abraham Samuels - Gambling.
Mary (2), Thomas Woodbridge - Drunkenness.
Providence (1), James Leeson - Falsely charging persons with felonious acts.
Southworth, John Dorman - Drunkenness.
Surry (4), William Pearce - Theft.
By Command of His Excellency the Governor,
Alexander M'Leay
Colonial Secretary's Office,
17th April, 1832.
First released on CD in late 2006, this CD has now been updated and reissued with greater searching facilities. High quality scanned images of the whole year's worth of issues, this CD has been
bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged and printed out if required.
