Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.
All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.
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Log in as a Library member (NSW residents only) or visit the Library |
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Visit the Library |
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Freely accessible eresource |
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You can use Colonial Secretary's correspondence index, 1826-1894 when you are in the Library. Can't come to the Library? Contact us. |
STEP 1
Collect the Colonial Secretary's correspondence index, 1826-1894 on microfiche from the Family history shelves on Lower Ground 2 of the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room.
STEP 2
Search the microfiche that covers the relevant date ranges. The index is arranged alphabetically by last name of convict (or other person mentioned in the correspondence).
STEP 3
Note down all the details in the entry and use this information to locate the original records at State Archives & Records NSW.
Example of an entry in the index:
| SURNAME | FIRST | SHIP/ID | LETTER | SHELF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BODKIN | Thomas | Castle Forbes | 27/1090 | 4/1921 |
| If the letters CF appear after a ship's name, this means that the person 'Came Free' and not as a convict. |
Collect from the Family history shelves on Lower Ground 2 of the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room. The index is part of the 'Archives Resources Kit'.
The letters from the Colonial Secretary cover many different aspects of convicts' lives including work assignments, wives and families of convicts, petitions, punishments, references to colonial offences, indents and other official papers relating to the management of convicts.
We recommend you use your convict's date of arrival as a starting point.
Work systematically through all of the following date ranges to see if your convict is mentioned in any of the correspondence.
The microfiche is arranged in date ranges and where dates overlap we recommend you search more than one sequence.
For a brief overview of the history of the office read the State Archives & Records NSW Colonial Secretary Overview or check out their guide to Colonial Secretary's Correspondence for more detailed information.
