Hi It has been some time since I have been able to get to Sydney to research my convict. John Lawrence was a Farm servant sentenced to 15 years transportation to Port Jackson, Sydney for Picking pockets at Gloucester City 22/10/1838 at age 22. Sailed 31/7/1839 on ship Barossa Arrived 8/12/1839. Two weeks later, the Australasian Chronicle reported that the convicts who arrived by the Barossa were removed on Monday 16th December to the Cook's River station where a new Stockade was being built to house workers to build a dam over the river. My next record is Ticket of Leave 9/8/1946. Allowed to remain in the district of Port Macquarie on recommendation of Port Macquarie bench. (Kempsey was part of Port Macquarie district at that time) Cancelled in absence from district 6/11/1850 vide government minutes on list registration No. 50/3957. Ticket reissued absence explained, Governor minute on letter dated 16 April 1851 registered 51/885. His wife's obituary states he worked as a Stock-Keeper at Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) and afterwards at Moparrabah (near Kempsey). A Major Innes owned Lake Innes property. My question is how did he get to Port Macquarie. Was he assigned to someone. Many years ago when I visited the NSW library in Sydney I was informed I would need to go out to the suburbs to another records place to research where John was assigned. I ran out of time. Can anyone tell me where this place is to research convict assignments. thanks Derek

Dear Derek, The place in the suburbs is obviously State Records of NSW, 143 O'Connell Street, Kingswood. You can search their online indexes at www.records.nsw.gov.au. Many of their records, however, are not indexed. You can find information about records relating to convicts at http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/research-topics/convicts For information about when convicts were sent to Port Macquarie, you might find something in the outward letter books of the Colonial Secretary's Office, especially the letters to the Sheriff, which often contains lists of convicts ordered to be sent to various destinations. These letter books have been microfilmed, but the microfilms are available only at State Records. Lawrence was not listed on returns of convicts at Port Macquarie in September and October 1846, because he had a ticket of leave. Regards Clive Clive Smith On 22 May 2013 05:26, Derek & Jean Burr <djburr@westnet.com.au> wrote: > Hi It has been some time since I have been able to get to Sydney to > research > my convict. > > John Lawrence was a Farm servant sentenced to 15 years transportation to > Port Jackson, Sydney for Picking pockets at Gloucester City 22/10/1838 at > age 22. Sailed 31/7/1839 on ship Barossa Arrived 8/12/1839. > Two weeks later, the Australasian Chronicle reported that the convicts who > arrived by the Barossa were removed on Monday 16th December to the Cook's > River station where a new Stockade was being built to house workers to > build > a dam over the river. > > My next record is Ticket of Leave 9/8/1946. Allowed to remain in the > district of Port Macquarie on recommendation of Port Macquarie bench. > (Kempsey was part of Port Macquarie district at that time) > Cancelled in absence from district 6/11/1850 vide government minutes on > list > registration No. 50/3957. Ticket reissued absence explained, Governor > minute > on letter dated 16 April 1851 registered 51/885. His wife's obituary states > he worked as a Stock-Keeper at Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) and afterwards > at > Moparrabah (near Kempsey). A Major Innes owned Lake Innes property. > > My question is how did he get to Port Macquarie. Was he assigned to > someone. > > Many years ago when I visited the NSW library in Sydney I was informed I > would need to go out to the suburbs to another records place to research > where John was assigned. I ran out of time. > Can anyone tell me where this place is to research convict assignments. > > thanks > Derek > > > > ---------------------- > To send a message to the Port Jackson Convicts List, send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Derek This is probably the place in the suburbs that you are looking for. It is the State Records Repository (State Archives) 143 O'Connell Street, Kingswood Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 10am-4pm (Closed Sun & Public Holidays) The staff there are very helpful. Good luck with your research. Patricia

Hi Derek, I remember your question from last year and that I told you that he waa to assist with the building of another barracks as the one at Hyde Park was full and the building of a dam across the Cook's River. It was a fairly short answer at the time (perhaps I was busy) but will post the full details from the HRA below. By 1846 John Lawrence would have been able to apply for a TOL because he had served 6 years of his 15 year sentence. Being in receipt of a TOL meant that he would not have been assigned to anyone. Also being in receipt of a TOL meant he was still a Prisoner of the Crown but just one with an indulgence. I don't know how he ended up in Port Macquarie but it could have been after he had served his 6 years at the Cook's River. You could check the post 1825 Colonial Sec. Index to see if he is mentioned. This Index by Joan Reese should be available at many libraries on microfiche. From memory one used to be able to apply via the State Records website for a copy of these records if you supplied all the details as noted on the Index without actually having to attend the Kingswood office although this may no longer be the case. As regards his Ticket of Leave - I have found the following references to him in the Government Gazettes: Government Gazette 10 April 1846 page 453 The undermentioned Prisoners of the Crown have received Tickets of Leave since the last publication Port Macquarie Lawrence, John – Barossa. ----------------------------------------- Government Gazette 22nd November 1850 page 1802 The Tickets of Leave of the undermentioned Prisoners of the Crown have been cancelled fro being absent from their districts, they are illegally at large. Port Macquarie John Lawrence - Barossa ------------------------------------ Government Gazette 15 May 1851 page 796 Runaways apprehended with date of apprehension John Lawrence – Barossa, from Ticket of Leave, Port Macquarie on 16th April 1851 ---------------------------------- Part of:- Sir George Gipps to Lord Glenelg Government House 8th July 1839 My Lord I have the honor herewith to forward an estimate amounting to £4078 14s. 11 3/4d. for works in the Engineer Department (of Convict services) which I have found myself under the necessity of sanctioning, and with respect to which I beg leave to offer the following explanations:- The first item is for the erection of a New Stockade for 500 men at Cook’s River. The order, contained in your Lordship’s Despatch of the 6th July, 1838, No. 147, for detaining under the control of Government all newly arrived convicts for a certain period before they are allowed to go into private service or assignment, has caused a demand for greater accommodation than our existing establishments could supply; and it being thus absolutely necessary to place the men somewhere, and to lodge them at the expense of the Home Government, I considered the opportunity a good one to commence a work, which promises to be of great use to the Colony, namely, the construction of a Dam across Cook’s River, a little above the spot where it falls into Botany Bay, about five miles from Sydney, It is the first operation of the sort upon a large scale, which has been attempted in this country, and the importance of it may be well understood, when I say that it will preserve an inexhaustible supply of fresh water through a course of nearly twenty miles of country, where there is at present no water at all, or only that which being brought by the tide, is salt; also that it will effectually secure the Town of Sydney against any recurrence of the apprehension of a scarcity of water which was felt during the drought of the early part of this year, in consequence of its being well ascertained that the swamp from which the Town is now supplied, is gradually drying up. The whole expense of the dam, with the exception of the lodging and feeding of the convicts, will be defrayed by the Colony. The distance of the proposed dam from Sydney is a very convenient one, being not too great to allow the men to come under my own frequent inspection, and yet far enough away to keep them from evil intercourse with the Town. Your Lordship is aware that the only place, or at least the principal place in which convicts are lodged in Sydney, is the Prison called “Hyde Park Barracks”, a place which is the common receptacle for men of all classes, and especially for those, who for their offences are withdrawn from private service. To place newly arrived convicts in the immediate contact with these old and hardened offenders would seem (even if there were room for them, which there is not) contrary to the spirit which dictated the order contained in your Lordship’s despatch above alluded to. Regards Lesley Uebel http://www.claimaconvict.net/index.html CLAIM A CONVICT email: ckennedy@bigpond.net.au On 22/05/2013 5:26 AM, Derek & Jean Burr wrote: > Hi It has been some time since I have been able to get to Sydney to research > my convict. > > John Lawrence was a Farm servant sentenced to 15 years transportation to > Port Jackson, Sydney for Picking pockets at Gloucester City 22/10/1838 at > age 22. Sailed 31/7/1839 on ship Barossa Arrived 8/12/1839. > Two weeks later, the Australasian Chronicle reported that the convicts who > arrived by the Barossa were removed on Monday 16th December to the Cook's > River station where a new Stockade was being built to house workers to build > a dam over the river. > > My next record is Ticket of Leave 9/8/1946. Allowed to remain in the > district of Port Macquarie on recommendation of Port Macquarie bench. > (Kempsey was part of Port Macquarie district at that time) > Cancelled in absence from district 6/11/1850 vide government minutes on list > registration No. 50/3957. Ticket reissued absence explained, Governor minute > on letter dated 16 April 1851 registered 51/885. His wife's obituary states > he worked as a Stock-Keeper at Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) and afterwards at > Moparrabah (near Kempsey). A Major Innes owned Lake Innes property. > > My question is how did he get to Port Macquarie. Was he assigned to someone. > > Many years ago when I visited the NSW library in Sydney I was informed I > would need to go out to the suburbs to another records place to research > where John was assigned. I ran out of time. > Can anyone tell me where this place is to research convict assignments. > > thanks > Derek >