New South Wales Police Gazette 1877

Cat No.:   AU2103-1877:

No of pages in original: 465pp

Year published: (1877)

If you had family living in New South Wales in 1877, have you thought of looking in police gazettes for information? These are a truly unique, valuable  and fascinating resource for local, family and social historians.

Compiled to be distributed amongst the police force only, police 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 rewards, housebreak-ins, robberies, arson, murders, lost horses and cattle, deserters, escaped prisoners, missing friends, and reports on those released. Notices from interstate police gazettes are sometimes included.

A unique feature of this 1877 volume are the lists of publicans' (and other) licences. They list the licencee's name, address and name of the hotel.

Example entry taken from 9 May 1877 issue:

Apprehensions [only one extracted here, but there is 3/4 of a whole page listed in original]

Patrick Costello, telegraph messenger, charged with stealing a letter (recovered), the property of the Postmaster General, has been arrested by Senior-constable O'Brien, Araluen Police. Committed for trial at Braidwood Sessions. Bail allowed - self in £20, and two sureties in £10 each.

Example entry taken from 6 June 1877 issue:

Escaped Prisoner

Edward Marks, Imperial convict, Reg. No. 7774. Description:- Middling stout, 43 years, 5 feet 7 3/4 inches, dark-brown hair, light hazel eyes, oval visage, florid complexion. Marks:- Cross and necklace, sailor, woman, heart, and laurel, crucifix, shamrock, rose, and thistle, anchor and rope, bracelet, and G.M.E.R. and C. on right arm; schooner, cross flags, palm-tree, gun and carriage, tree, flag, compass, and bracelet, T.M. W.M. S.M. J.M. E.M. and S.C. left arm; is a sailor. Absconded from Freemantle on the 4th instant, in the barque "Assyrian" from Melbourne, bound for the Lacepede Islands for guano. The Offender received a life sentence for robbery and wounding on the 24th November, 1862. He has now assumed the name of John Marshall, and expiree. - O.3305. 29th May, 1877. 

A fascinating read for learning about the social history of the time, even if you don't have family there - this CD contains all 52 issues that were produced for the year.

No. of CDs is:  1 ;   Format is:  PDF ;   Searchable?:  YES;

FastFind:  YES;  ISBN No.:   9781921416095;