Hello Listers I am interested in checking some NSW Probate records to get dates of death, so that I can then check the newspapers for death and/or funeral notices - often a great source of family info. I googled for NSW Probates and eventually came upon a site with this link: ** Inquests/Probate See State Records Office of NSW Indexes at www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/indexes_online_3357.asp for indexes to: Deceased Estate Files, 1880-1923 Intestate Estate Case Papers Probate - early records However, when I clicked on the link given, the message came up that 'this page is not available'. I understand that the online index is only to 1923, but that would help with a couple of queries. Is there another site that would be more productiive? Can anyone tell me the closing date for NSW Probate Indexes on fiche please? I am planning a visit to the State Library of Qld which holds these fiche (I think!). Many thanks. Pam Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia

Hi Pam, NSW State Archives overhauled their site a few months back and addresses changed, so if you have links stored in your Favourites they are probably out of date. This is the homepage for NSW State Archives - http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/ You can then click onto the Indexes Online to get all the new links. Probate records come under the category of Deceased Estates and Probate. There you will find Deceased Estate Files 1880-1823; also the Early Probate Packets 1817-1873, 1873-1876 and 1928-32. This is the link to the Deceased Estates Files if you want the shortcut, but if you check the homepage you may find other indexes of interest to you - http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexes/searchform.aspx?id=15 Cheers Trish Nowra NSW > ** Inquests/Probate > See State Records Office of NSW Indexes at > www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/indexes_online_3357.asp for indexes to: > Deceased Estate Files, 1880-1923 > Intestate Estate Case Papers > Probate - early records > However, when I clicked on the link given, the message came up > that 'this page is not available'. I understand that the online index is > only to 1923, but that would help with a couple of queries. Is there > another > site that would be more productiive?

Listers , My wife's ancestor, Mary Ann OXLEY had a son Albert who was born at Richmond on May 4, 1850. Mary married Alfred BAKER in 1853 and that first born was raised as Albert BAKER. The birth certificate for Albert gave the father's name as William CORNWELL and despite knowing of this since our earliest research in about 1980 we have never been sure as to who William CORNWELL was. A researcher this week has told us that William was the son of Abraham CORNWELL and Susannah EATON and that William (1827 - 1906) married Mary HOUGH (1820 - 1904) at St Peters Richmond in August 1850. A first child of this marriage was born in September 1850. It must have been very premature. I have spent the last few days trying to get my head around the various families listed in the header and trying to work out who fits where when the intermarriage seems so common. There are several trees on Ancestry each of which covers part of the family. Can any lister point us to some source which tells a more complete story of one or more of the families involved. I would love to read some notes or book that will help me see how the families intertwine. It is all too much trying to learn in an afternoon at the computer. I was told tonight that Windsor library has some excellent resources for these people. We hope to check those when we stay in Sydney early in 2010. Any other suggestions are welcomed. William and Mary appear to have died in the Bathurst area. Does anyone know more about this particular branch. I'd love to have known this two weeks back when we were in Bathurst. David Central Coast NSW

Hi Dave, A little for your records. William CORNWELL, died 29.10.1906, aged 79, Mary died 1.2.1904, aged 83, both buried Kelso Cemetery at Bathurst. Cheers, Jules. Warren, NSW. (But, still a Queensland girl) julie.dern@bigpond.com http://derngenealogy.tribalpages.com