If you had family living in New South Wales in 1886, have you thought of
looking in Police Gazettes for information? These are a unique, useful and
extremely fascinating resource for local, family and social historians.
Compiled to be distributed amongst the Police Force only, these Gazettes
contain details and information that can not be found anywhere else. Apart from
any changes within the police force which are all listed (promotions, demotions,
dismissals, deaths etc), information is also given on housebreak-ins, robberies,
arson, murders, lost horses and cattle, deserters, escaped prisoners, inquest
verdicts, missing friends, and reports on those released. Notices from
interstate police gazettes are sometimes included.
Example entry taken from the 10 March 1886 issue:
Infanticide
Albury - Ellen Jordan charged with the wilful murder of her illegitimate
female child at Albury, has been arrested by Sergeant Brown, Albury Police.
Committed for trial at Albury Circuit Court.
Example entry taken from the 21 April 1886 issue:
Deserters from the New South Wales Artillery
On the 6th April, 1886.
No. 1,519, Gunner William Lynn, born at Portsmouth, England, 29 years of age,
5 feet, 10 3/8 inches high, dark brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion,
bullet hole in calf of leg; a surveyor; dressed in regimentals. Under one
years' service.
Example entry taken from the 22 December 1886 issue:
Notice - Electoral Rolls
The Police appointed Collectors of the Electoral Lists are enjoined to
exercise the greatest care in the preparation of the same, to ensure accuracy
and prevent any repetition of complaints hitherto made by persons entitles to
the franchise being omitted from the Roll.
Issued weekly, this CD contains all 52 issues that were produced for the year
1886, and this truly is a fascinating read for learning about the social history
of the time, even if you don't have family there.
High quality scanned images of the whole years worth of issues, this CD has been
bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged
and printed out if required.
