Good Morning Listers, The State Library of Victoria newletter [ [email protected]] has announced that: [image: Image of map librarian inspecting 1860s Victorian goldfield map] A rare 1860s map of Victoria's goldfields has made its way back to Victoria from Ireland. The 4.5 x 3.3-metre map was produced by the Geological Survey of Victoria and sent to be exhibited in Dublin. It was then placed in storage and was long thought lost. Now worth $250,000, the map has been repatriated and is undergoing preservation by Library staff. -- Pamela NICHOLLS in Victoria, Australia Visit our family connections at: http://oysterfisher.tribalpages.com Contact us: [email protected]

Hi Folks, I am looking for someone who is researching James Bray and Margaret Dowling, married in 1852, and lived in Clunes, Vic. This family ties in with my Sheldon and Price families. Here's hoping. Vivienne

Hi Everyone. Many thanks for the many responses to my query on the missing John Gast. They have certainly given me food for thought and further investigation. Robert, your information on John as a passenger on the Wonga Wonga from Melbourne is the hottest lead so far. What we know of John so far is that he was born in England in about 1816 and transported in 1836. He spent most of his convict years in Morpeth where he operated a bakery business. He was granted his pardon in 1852. He married Catherine Morrison a Scottish assisted immigrant in 1844 and had the following children all born in the Maitland/Morpeth district: Frances 1845 Mary 1847 John 1848 Donald 1852 Flora 1854 Some time after the birth of Flora he moved to the Victorian Goldfields. On the 1864 marriage certificate of Frances (my GG Grandmother) he was employed as a baker. Frances was living at Kangaroo Ground and married a miner. In the publication "The Diamond Valley Story" Frances is featured as Mrs Heddle (her 2nd husband) and there is a reference to her living at the Caledonian Diggings in her early days in Victoria hence my thoughts that she may have lived there with her parents. All of the Gast children married and settled in the Diamond Valley area. One of John Jun's children came to the WA goldfields in the early 1900's and settled permanently in WA. I have searched for John Sen in WA but without success. John Jun died in Victoria in 1885. His father was not recorded as being deceased and was still a baker. His wife Catherine died in 1895. On her DC she was recorded as "married woman" and John as husband, but doesn't mention the word "widow" or "deceased". She was buried in the same grave as her daughter Mary and Mary's husband. The remaining mystery is the birth of George Gast in August 1866 10 months after the John Gast on the Wonga Wonga sailed for Sydney. I have sought without success a death for John senior in NSW. The age of 29 years of the John on the WW doesn't quite fit but there are very few Gasts in Australia at that time so I am betting that he is our man. Though he was recorded as an alias Robinson on his convict records at trial and transportation, he doesn't seem to have ever used it in Australia. We are now coming to the conclusion that perhaps he wasn't a miner but ran his bakery business around the mining settlements. He may have been returning to Sydney temporarily but where he ended up remains a mystery. Again thanks for all your helpful suggestions I will certainly follow them up Regards Pauline -----Original Message----- From: robert.j [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 4:45 PM To: Pauline Stuart Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: Lost man in Caledonian diggings I had another look - checking the information available via ancestry.com it appears that John GAST was: mentioned in the Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 Name: John Gast [John Robinson] Vessel: Strathfieldsaye Convicted Date: 23 Nov 1835 Voyage Date: 11 Feb 1836 Colony: New South Wales Piece: HO 11/10 Place of Conviction: Central Criminal Court PLEASE NOTE: the use of the alias john ROBINSON - so maybe we should look for a Robinson and not a GAST? John GAST was mentioned in the muster -New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 Name: John Gast [John Robinson] Vessel: Strathfieldsay Arrival Year: 1836 Date of conviction: 23 Nov 1835 John GAST was also mention in the New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859 Name: John Gast [Robinson Gast] Vessel: Strathfieldsay Piece: HO 10/54 Province: New South Wales Title: Pardons Year(s): 1846-1849 So it seems that GAST had some sort of "pardon" by 1849. BUT this is quite possibly the most tantalizing piece of information - the arrival in NSW of a John GAST from Melbourne in 1865 - New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Name: John Gast Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Age: 29 Port of Departure: Melbourne Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales Voyage Arrival Date: 17 Oct 1865 Vessel Name: Wonga Wonga Origin Location: British Is it possible that this is the missing person John GAST? or somebody else maybe? Could the record keepers have made a mistake about the age? Maybe GAST himself told people that he was born about 1836 - coinciding with his "rebirth" in Australia??? Definitely worth a little more investigation? Was the child born in 1866 born just a few months into the year? hmmm.. should we look for the death of a John ROBINSON in NSW sometime after 1865? ... hmmm good luck Robert in Melbourne. Pauline Stuart wrote: > Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the > Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was > Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in > either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the > goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to > live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. > Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and > is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. > > Regards > > Pauline > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

What an exciting mystery! S ----- I had another look - checking the information available via ancestry.com it appears that John GAST was: mentioned in the Australian Convict Transportation Registers –

I had another look - checking the information available via ancestry.com it appears that John GAST was: mentioned in the Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 Name: John Gast [John Robinson] Vessel: Strathfieldsaye Convicted Date: 23 Nov 1835 Voyage Date: 11 Feb 1836 Colony: New South Wales Piece: HO 11/10 Place of Conviction: Central Criminal Court PLEASE NOTE: the use of the alias john ROBINSON - so maybe we should look for a Robinson and not a GAST? John GAST was mentioned in the muster -New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849 Name: John Gast [John Robinson] Vessel: Strathfieldsay Arrival Year: 1836 Date of conviction: 23 Nov 1835 John GAST was also mention in the New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859 Name: John Gast [Robinson Gast] Vessel: Strathfieldsay Piece: HO 10/54 Province: New South Wales Title: Pardons Year(s): 1846-1849 So it seems that GAST had some sort of "pardon" by 1849. BUT this is quite possibly the most tantalizing piece of information - the arrival in NSW of a John GAST from Melbourne in 1865 - New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Name: John Gast Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Age: 29 Port of Departure: Melbourne Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales Voyage Arrival Date: 17 Oct 1865 Vessel Name: Wonga Wonga Origin Location: British Is it possible that this is the missing person John GAST? or somebody else maybe? Could the record keepers have made a mistake about the age? Maybe GAST himself told people that he was born about 1836 - coinciding with his "rebirth" in Australia??? Definitely worth a little more investigation? Was the child born in 1866 born just a few months into the year? hmmm.. should we look for the death of a John ROBINSON in NSW sometime after 1865? ... hmmm good luck Robert in Melbourne. Pauline Stuart wrote: > Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the > Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was > Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in > either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the > goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to > live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. > Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and > is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. > > Regards > > Pauline > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Pauline et al, We are attempting to locate John on our records. It is possible that he started his mining career in the Warrandyte/Andersons Creek area, which was also part of the Caledonia Diggings, before he came up here to Queenstown. We have been able to track some of our miners after they left our area and headed out to further fields, it is possible that he could have joined the hunt for gold in Diamond Creek which really continued for a further few years. there is a list which contains most of the deaths and injuries in the mines of Caledonia fields which has previously appeared on the goldfields postings, I suggest you check the archives there as well. Helen Kenney St Andrews/Queenstown Historical Society. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pauline Stuart Sent: 01 January 2009 12:47 To: [email protected] Subject: Lost man in Caledonian diggings Importance: High Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. Regards Pauline ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Pauline Is this his son maybe? 1885 GAST John, father John, mother Catherine Morrison, aged 35 died Brunswick. (#4347) If you got that death cert, it might give a clue as to whether his father is deceased or not. And any wife, marriage, or children he has. You may even get really lucky and find his father is the informant! Actually there is a child Walter John born 1876 to John GAST and Harriet nee Candler in diamond Creek. #8704. Actually I fond masses of children, mother Harriet Chandler apart from the one with Candler as her maiden surname. Various places, mind you but the right sort of gaps. 1874 Flora Elizabeth Diamond presumed Diamond Creek 1876 Walter John Diam 1878 Annie Frances Ru Pa presumably Runpanyup; she died aged six in Brunswick 1885 and from reg number, before her father did. 1880 Chas Chandler Waracknabe presumably Warracknabeal 1883 Joseph Chandler Brun presumably Brunswick 1885 Catherine Br Un Brunswick? Not the ones you wanted, mind you, but hope these help a bit when put with other things. Poor Harriet - those children to support solo and one just born that same year. Bet she remarried pronto. But not in the pioneer index period. Maybe she and Catherine supported each other in Diamond Creek? Who was the informant on Catherine's death cert? I also found the marriage of (son) John to Harriet in 1876 (#2725) and it says he was born in Sydney. That marriage cert might state if Dad was deceased or not, too. And a Flora GAST married in 1874 to James Cowin and it says she too was born in Sydney. A daughter of your missing guy? Her marriage cert (#3783) might be informative too. And I found three children born to John snr and Catherine in NSW - there's a Donald somewhere. You searched births for the last name gast in the years 1830 to 1875 1 - 3 of 3 matches found Click on a column heading to sort the column alphabetically. < Previous | Start | 1 | End | Next > Registration <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=regno> Number Last <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=col2> Name Given <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=col3> Name(s) Father's <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=col4> Given Name(s) Mother's <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=col5> Given Name(s) District <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/IndexSearch?form=IndexingSearch&SessionID =14172548&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&event=births&frange=1830&trange=18 75&place=&x=55&y=12&reorder=col8> Purchase Certificate V18452730 30A/1845 GAST FRANCES JOHN CATHERINE Buy <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/add?SessionID=141 72548&Status=H&nregno=V18452730+30A/1845&certtype=birth&nameofsub=FRANCES+GA ST&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&trange=1875&frange=1830&place=&event=birt hs> Now V18521113 45A/1852 GAST DONALD JOHN CATHERINE Buy <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/add?SessionID=141 72548&Status=H&nregno=V18521113+45A/1852&certtype=birth&nameofsub=DONALD+GAS T&sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&trange=1875&frange=1830&place=&event=birth s> Now V18482697 33A/1848 GAST JOHN JOHN CATHERINE Buy <http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/add?SessionID=141 72548&Status=H&nregno=V18482697+33A/1848&certtype=birth&nameofsub=JOHN+GAST& sname=gast&gname=&fname=&mname=&trange=1875&frange=1830&place=&event=births> Now Dawn -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Carmel M Reynen Sent: Thursday, 1 January 2009 9:13 PM To: 'Pauline Stuart'; [email protected] Subject: RE: Lost man in Caledonian diggings Pauline If he died in a mining accident there would be an inquest, but cannot find him in the indexes there either. Do you know who his parents are, it is possible the name has been mispelled or interpreted incorrectly. If you look for him under his mother's name you may find him. Also have you found where is wife is buried to see if he is buried with her.Or did you check the indexes for those who went to WA looking for Gold. Carmel -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pauline Stuart Sent: Thursday, 1 January, 2009 12:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Lost man in Caledonian diggings Importance: High Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. Regards Pauline ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ NOD32 3728 (20090101) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com

Pauline If he died in a mining accident there would be an inquest, but cannot find him in the indexes there either. Do you know who his parents are, it is possible the name has been mispelled or interpreted incorrectly. If you look for him under his mother's name you may find him. Also have you found where is wife is buried to see if he is buried with her.Or did you check the indexes for those who went to WA looking for Gold. Carmel -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pauline Stuart Sent: Thursday, 1 January, 2009 12:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Lost man in Caledonian diggings Importance: High Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. Regards Pauline ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

It appears the Caledonian diggings may not have existed prior to about 1855? This doesn't mean that John GAST wasn't in the district in 1850 - but the birth of a son Donald GAST in the NSW indexes for 1852 suggests that perhaps John GAST and his young family were still in NSW as late as 1852? Does Catherine GAST nee Morrison's death certifcate mention whether her husband John is still alive? Where was Catherne buried - any chance that John went in earlier or later? The couple lost a son John junior in 1885 - any clues on his death certifcate - was the father John GAST mentioned at all? It really is impossible to tell how many mining accidents went unreported - certainly a lone miner in a secret location could have perished through accident or foul play and not have his death recorded - perhaps he was robbed and killed by desperate assailants - Sometimes people died and were found - but without identification - their demise was often recorded - with the name - Unknown - the Vic pioneer indexes contain over 700 - many were from China and many were infants - but the greater number appear to be adult male caucasians. BUT - it is too early to assume any of these scenarios for John GAST - especially since John had (presumably) a loving wife who would have been sure to alert the authorities that her husband was missing or dead... perhaps John GAST had an alias - there are plenty of examples of convicts adopting new surnames - for many reasons - new beginnings maybe? Is it possible that Gast returned to NSW - perhaps he maintained business intersts in NSW? He returned to NSW - died - and somehow the death was not correctly recorded? If you are able - perhaps a visit to the State Library of Victoria - research the local newspapers - Eltham region?? for obits of the wife - there may be mention of John in these? good luck Robert in Melbourne Pauline Stuart wrote: > Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the > Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was > Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in > either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the > goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to > live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. > Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and > is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. > > Regards > > Pauline > > >

Can anyone shed any light on the death of John Gast who mined on the Caledonian Diggings from possibly 1850. His last known address was Queenstown in 1866 when his last child was born. I can not find him in either the Victorian or NSW GRO's. He was an ex convict who came to the goldfields from Maitland in NSW. We know that his family continued to live in the area of Diamond Creek. His wife Catherine died in 1895. Could it be possible that he died in a mining accident in the mines and is it possible that some of these deaths were not registered. Regards Pauline

hi all, first off - checking the Vic public Records Offices online indexes- it appears that the Persia arrived in Victoria in September 1852 - under the command of Captain James Stevens and there were no Harrison mentioned in the list. The unassisted indexes indicate that the PERSIAN under Captain James PEAT arrived in December 1852. The unassisted passenger list contains these names: > > Charles Harrison aged 25 years > Esther Harrison aged 3 years > Harriett Harrison aged 3 years > Mary Harrison aged 14 years > Mary Harrison aged 29 years > Mary a Harrison aged 17 years. But the assisted passenger list for the same voyage contains a little more information: > Infant Harrison with > Charles aged 25 > Esther and Harriet both aged 4 > Mary aged 42 > Mary aged 18 > and Mary A C aged 17 So it looks pretty clear that the Harrisons were immigrants arriving in Victoria in December 1852. Looking at the VIC bdm indexes it appears that Charles Harrison and Mary Maria Wilkins had more children once they arrived in Victoria: Elizabeth born in 1860 (deceased 1877) , Mary Maria born in 1862, Robert born (and died) in 1864 young Charles's death index indicates that he was BORN at sea - NOT that he died at sea. Checking the census for 1851 - Charles HARRISON, agricultural labourer, is the head of the household living at Conington, Cambridgeshire Charles's place of birth is given as Conington, Cambridgeshire the household comprises: Charles aged 24 Mary, wife, aged 25 also born Conington Esther and Harriett, daughters both aged approx 1 iear - I imagine they were twins, and Emma Wilkins, niece. Checking the records at www.freebmd.org.uk we learn that Charles HARRISON married Mary WILKINS in the september Quarter of 1848, st.Ives district, volume 14, page 279. Checking the 1841 census shows that a 15 year old Charles HARRISON is living with a 75 year old Sarah HARRISON at Conington - possibly both paupers - maybe Charles was an orphan living with his grandmother? On the same page of the census - looks as though there was one or two families of Wilkin(s) living next door - so maybe Charles fell for a young Wilkin lass - married and did their best to get away from their predicament (of poverty?) in England. OPr maybe in 1841 Charles's parents were away - and by thwe time the family arrived in Australia Charles 42? year old mother was Charles's only surviving parent? Plenty of more work to do - but certainly the Charles Harrison father and son would appear to have had nothing much to do with shipping other than being passengers. Merry Christmas cheers Robert in melbourne Norman Archibald wrote: > Would anyone on the list know who may have been the Captain of the sailing ship, " Persia " into Victoria in 1852 and who may have been the Captain in 1867?? > According to Victorian birth records, Charles HARRISON was born at sea aboard the "Persia " in 1852. > According to his death record he died "at sea" in 1867, aged 15. > Could his father, Charles HARRISON have been Captain of the "Persia " or perhaps young Charles was working on a ship at the time of his death. > Any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully accepted. > Norman A. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > Norman Archibald wrote: > Would anyone on the list know who may have been the Captain of the sailing ship, " Persia " into Victoria in 1852 and who may have been the Captain in 1867?? > According to Victorian birth records, Charles HARRISON was born at sea aboard the "Persia " in 1852. > According to his death record he died "at sea" in 1867, aged 15. > Could his father, Charles HARRISON have been Captain of the "Persia " or perhaps young Charles was working on a ship at the time of his death. > Any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully accepted. > Norman A. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Would anyone on the list know who may have been the Captain of the sailing ship, " Persia " into Victoria in 1852 and who may have been the Captain in 1867?? According to Victorian birth records, Charles HARRISON was born at sea aboard the "Persia " in 1852. According to his death record he died "at sea" in 1867, aged 15. Could his father, Charles HARRISON have been Captain of the "Persia " or perhaps young Charles was working on a ship at the time of his death. Any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully accepted. Norman A.

Good Morning All How would I find the name of a hotel at Woodstock in December 1878? Thank you Lyn Schryver Western Australia

Dear Listers, Is there anyone on the list researching the SILLCOCK family. If so, I would be delighted to hear from you. Norman A.

At 08:17 AM 16/12/2008 +1100, Rachel Heaton wrote: >My G-Great grandmother, Catherine Wilsons was born on the "Blue >Mountain Goldfield near Kyneton now Trentham" Hello Rachel, From Flett's "Historyof Gold Discovery in Vic" page 406 says: Blue Mountain Diggings (Trentham) In Sept 1851 gold... found on Clow's station, a run bordering on the Dividing Range on the north side, on the heads of the Coliban River. Later that year... new diggings on the Coliban. The first gold rush.. March 1859...Trentham town site, then known as Clowe's or Ogden's Forest.... Stony Creek valley discovered and worked in 1859, but was deserted for the Inglewood Rush near the end of that year. The lead here was then known as Frenchman's, and the diggers were nearly all Frenchmen. The main rush to this area, which then became known as Blue Mountain diggings, started in October 1862, following the discovery of gold near the Divide at Blue Mountain, or Wuid Keruik, as it was known to the aboriginals. ..... Early in 1863 the rush spread to Blue Creek..... Lots more descriptive of later rushes and developments > Dec 10th 1863. Her >birth was registered on Sept 17th 1864 in Kyneton. Actually, the law from 1853-1864 was that a birth should be registered within 15 days. If the father or mother was deceased, then the registration had to be within sixty days, failure to do so brought a fine of ten pounds. There was one small window of opportunity for late registration after 15 days but within 6 months ONLY if a solemn declaration was made by the father or guardian or a person present at the birth, before the Deputy Registrar or the Chief Registrar (in Melbourne) and signed "in the book" (presumably the birth registration book.) Any attempt to register a child after 60 days had passed without making a declaration, brought a fine of five pounds, as did any attempt to register a child after 12 months. The Law stated:" After 60 days it shall not be lawful for the Deputy Registrar or the Chief Registrar to register a birth." But .... did your certificate of birth indicate that the birth was registered by declaration by the law demanded (sometimes noted in the central gutter )? Or did the Deputy Registrar, understanding the difficulty, in a gold rush area register the child without requiring the fine or the declaration? And risked the wrath of the Chief Registrar who could refuse to register the child as he was instructed by the law. The law was slightly relaxed in June 1865, but that is outside your query timeframe. >I am new to family history research. I was just hoping that someone >would have an idea on how I would get more information on the Blue >Mountain Goldfield. And if anyone knows if it was common to have such >a delay in registering the birth - if that was commonplace? >Thankyou >Rachel Heaton > >Hope that helps, Rachel Regards Ada

Is there anyone on the list researching the descendants of Joseph BARNARD and Mary Maria HARRISON. Norman A.

Dear Rachel, Have sent you via attachment some history on Trentham. If you would like a search on any of your rells let me know. Best wishes Amanda > My G-Great grandmother, Catherine Wilsons was born on the "Blue > Mountain Goldfield near Kyneton now Trentham" Dec 10th 1863. Her > birth was registered on Sept 17th 1864 in Kyneton. > I am new to family history research. I was just hoping that someone > would have an idea on how I would get more information on the Blue > Mountain Goldfield. And if anyone knows if it was common to have such > a delay in registering the birth - if that was commonplace? > Thankyou > Rachel Heaton

Hello Rachel, Try thr Trentham Historical Society, Post Office Box 52 Trentham 3458 or their website http:/home.vicnet.au/~trenhist/ Dave in Ballarat At 08:17 AM 16/12/2008, Rachel Heaton wrote: >My G-Great grandmother, Catherine Wilsons was born on the "Blue >Mountain Goldfield near Kyneton now Trentham" Dec 10th 1863. Her >birth was registered on Sept 17th 1864 in Kyneton. >I am new to family history research. I was just hoping that someone >would have an idea on how I would get more information on the Blue >Mountain Goldfield. And if anyone knows if it was common to have such >a delay in registering the birth - if that was commonplace? >Thankyou >Rachel Heaton > >-- > >MOB: 0420 508 581 >EMAIL: [email protected] > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message :-) Victorian Mining Accident Index, over 12,100 names sorted Alphabetically as well as by Place. on CDROM $20.00 plus Postage. Mining Registrars Reports 1859 to 1887 all Victoria, most reports published, send for a list to Dave Evans 439 Main Rd. Ballarat, 3350 Victoria or email [email protected]

Racheal If we had names I may be able to help with cemetery records for the area as well. Carmel

Hi Rachel, Can't help with much - but thought I'd refer you to the cemetery list for Blue Mountain - perhaps you'll find some rellies in there as well. http://www.ozgenonline.com/aust_cemeteries/vic/hepburn/bluemountain.htm Many of my Price relatives are buried there, and I traipsed through it one day - unfortunately, it's in disgraceful condition. No signage whatsoever, hop over a barbed wire fence, blackberries and overgrown. Having said all of that - very few tombstones. Hope this is of some use. Regards, RAELENE