Police gazettes provided information and instructions to members of the
police force. You can expect the Tasmanian Police Gazettes (in the earliest
years called Reports of Crime) to include the following information that
will usually list names and sometimes personal details, descriptions with
photograph, addresses and/or occupations may be an added bonus for the
researcher:
- apprehensions
- convict returns
- disciplining of police
- escapees and absconders from custody
- housebreakers and burglars
- licensed carriers, hawkers, oyster fishers, and tanners
- deserting wives, families, etc
- deserting from military service
- deserting from merchant vessels
- inquests
- missing friends
- murderers and their victims
- police resignations
- prisoners discharged from gaols and released on tickets of leave
- property and stock recovered
- rewards - names of persons offering a reward
- victims of arson
- victims of horse and cattle stealing or straying
- victims of lost or stolen property
- victims of sheep stealing or straying
A unique, useful and extremely fascinating resource for local, family and social historians and researchers in other fields throughout Australia, Police Gazettes really are an underused source. Containing the names, dates and events of 1000s of happeneings throughout the year, your ancestors may well have been mentioned.
Example entries taken from the 11 February 1916 issue:
Appointments, Resignations, Transfers &c.
Transfer
Constable R.H.L.S. Smith, No. 637, from Hobart to Launceston, from the 9th instant.
Arson
Swansea - William Appleyard reports that during the morning of the 1st instant a four-roomed weatherboard cottage and contents, owned and occupied by him, and valued at £325, were destoyed by fire at Swansea; supposed to be the act of an incendiary.
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.
