A CD of the above Cemetery Headstone Photographs is available. Information can be obtained from: ANZ-GEN-MAT or by contacting the writer offline at tomluke@optusnet.com.au Regards...Tom. ,-._|\ Tom & Libby Luke / Oz \ Telephone: 61 3 9801 1270 \_,--.x/ E-Mail: tomluke@optusnet.com.au v Proud of our Cornish Heritage *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* White Hills Bendigo Historic Cemetery Headstone Photographs CD Available For Sale Email: tomluke@optusnet.com.au Secure Credit Card Sales and Information at: http://www.familyhistorybookshop.org.au/prod4534.htm *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

After typing up my cousins story (she wrote it in 1980 and died 1982) I have become inspired to write about my own childhood and life. I wish I could ask Ivy more about some of the things she wrote about. Ivy was born 1892. Maybe in 50 years time my descendants will be reading about me. I want to write things down now why I still remember! If anyone feels inspired along with me, may I suggest you start writing down about where you were born, the schools you went to, about the holidays you took etc. Add a few photos to your story. I guess I will now "hit the typewriter" Cheers Kathryn

The following 59th wedding announcement appeared in the Melbourne Age on Jan 2nd 1936. Couldn't resist copying it to the list. Wish they were my rellies. STAIT-DOWN We announce with pleasure the 59th year if our narruage at St. Pauls Cathedral, Dunedin NZ on 2nd January 1877 by Rev. Archdeacon Edwards second son of the late John Stait of Grafton, Warwickshire Eng. and the late Sarah Stait (nee Lee) BirminghamWarwickshire Eng. of Sait and Baitman, Contractors and builders, Dunedin NZ to Mary Ann youngest daughter of late Thomas James Down, staff sergeant of HM 90th Light Infantry and Mary Down (nee Mullen), who married St. Pauls Cathedral, Bath, Eng. on Christmas Day 1850, granddaughter of late Charles Down of Royal Navy HMS Niobe, 1804 to 1813 and Sarah Down (nee Smith) of Dawlish Devonshire and "St. Martins" and great granddaughter of late Dr. Smith Parish doctor of Leicester Eng. Niece of Mr & Mrs Richard Down (nee Gardiner)of Strand London Eng., June Livingstone (nee Down) Canada, Eliza O'Keefe (nee Down). Present address: "Dawlish" 7 Allen Street, Moreland. Jenny ...Kyneton..Vic

Without checking and only refering to a simple measurement programe I wote for my TI 83 plus; rod, perch and pole are equal to 16.5 feet and would therfore equal 5.5 yards Many quarter acre (10890 sq ft) blocks were commonly 66 feet-100 links-1 chain wide. As there are 4 perches in this I asssume it would have been easy for one man to operate. 32sq perch would equal 968sq yd. As root 32=5.66 x 5.5(yds)=31.11squared=968. And would also exactly equal one fifth of an acre (8712 sq ft) This block you refer to may typically have been 66ft x132 ft ----- Original Message ----- From: "Damien" <djjh@alphalink.com.au> To: "Morris E Clark" <meclark@netcon.net.au> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 10:01 AM Subject: Fw: Perch > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "TODD-EGGLESTONE" <pte@ihug.com.au> > To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 8:18 PM > Subject: Re: Perch > > >>I agree with Richard, 32 Perches as an area would be 968 sq yards or >>809.37 >> sq metres. (or if you were an ancient Roman 0.323748513792 Jugera) >> >> The free program "Calendar Magic" - google for it, will do all the >> conversions you ever need and some you don't. Also great for calendars of >> all types, distances and a million (well, at least a lot) of other >> things. >> >> Paul in Sydney >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "RichardB" <rblomra28@netspace.net.au> >> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 6:08 PM >> Subject: Perch >> >> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Hi Julia! >>> >>> >>> >>> Re He had other land too, the description of which seems odd. "Crown >>> allotment >>> >>> 3 of Section 1 of the parish of Clunes, containing 32 perches or >>> thereabouts." Perches?? What would that be - feet, or yards ?? >> Hopefully >>> it wasn't the number of bird houses.<vbg> >>> >>> >>> >>> You could do Google search under “area perch measurement length ” etc. >>> >>> I think you will find the “perch” ( or rod or pole) is >>> >>> actually an old Imperial length measurement equal to 5.5 yards or 16.5 >> feet. >>> >>> >>> So land measures would likely to be a contraction of square perch being >>> equal to an area of 1 perch x 1 perch or 30.25 sq yards. >>> >>> (Any civil engineers or surveyors out there?) >>> >>> >>> >>> Have a look at this site too…. >>> >>> >>> >>> HYPERLINK >>> >> "http://www.pobonline.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/Article/1,9169,88115,00.htm >>> >> l"http://www.pobonline.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/Article/1,9169,88115,00.ht >>> ml >>> >>> >>> >>> Regards… >>> >>> Richard >>> >>> >>> -- >>> No virus found in this outgoing message. >>> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >>> Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.5/67 - Release Date: 9/08/2005 >>> >>> >>> >>> ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >>> Do NOT send virus warnings <- considered off-topic. >>> >> >> >> ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >> To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in >> the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com >> >> > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.8/71 - Release Date: 12/08/2005 > >

Good evening Ada, thank you very much for these explanations. They have unravelled many of my questions re land selection. Best wishes, Marg Watson ----- Original Message ----- From: Ada Ackerly <aackers@alphalink.com.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 12:15 PM Subject: RE: Land records & definitions - land law Hello Listers >What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover?

I'd just like to thank everyone who responded to my question. Your responses have been so enlightening - you've made the search much easier, and expanded my understanding. It's really appreciated! Cheers, Julia Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad

Hi Jeannie, If possible, could I please have a look-up to see if any of the VAGUE family are listed. Thanks, Allie _________________________________________________________________ SEEK: Over 80,000 jobs across all industries at Australia's #1 job site. http://ninemsn.seek.com.au?hotmail

Hello Jackie, There is my "Victorian Mining Accident Index" at www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/miners.htm It has some 5500 names and other details. I have also done a CD that has 7557 names sorted alphabetically as well as by place & give the source in full not abbreviated as on the website & on my computer I now have over 9400 entries. Dave in Ballarat At 10:15 AM 13/08/2005, The Gilchrists wrote: >Hi Dave > >I seem to recall seeing this searchable index before (or something very like >it).....do you have a link to it > >Fingers crossed >Jackie in Brisbane >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dave Evans" <devans@ncable.net.au> >To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 2:51 PM >Subject: RE: Creswick Miners Union - JOHNS ? > > >| Hello Peter, >| The following "Johns" were in mining accidents in or near Creswick, >| >| Johns, J. 1868/01/27. Injured. Ballarat District. 1869 index of accidents, >| no other details yet. at Hard Hills, Grand Trunk Mine. Details in the >| Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. >| >| Johns, John. 1908/06/19. Injured. Ballarat District. Hit by a piece of >| quartz. Creswick, Portuguese Sluicing Company, Details in the Clunes & >| Creswick Advertiser. >| >| Johns, John**. 1885/12/07. Killed. 45 Y. O. Married. Ballarat District. >| Fall of earth, £10 Funeral expenses + £70 compensation paid. Clunes, Bute >& >| Downes Amalgamated Company. Annual Report Secretary Mines, accident >| No.97 -- Inquest No. 1885/1471** -- Clunes Museum -- Family 6 >| >| Johns, Thomas. 1886/01/25. Injured. 49 Y. O. Ballarat District. Crushed >| thumb. Creswick. Details in the Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. >| >| Johns, Zacharias. 1856/00/00. Killed. Ballarat District. Fall into shaft. >| Inquest No. 1856/673 >| >| Hope these are a help. >| >| Dave in Ballarat >| At 12:19 PM 12/08/2005, Peter Thomas wrote: >| >| >I'd be interested to know if there are any references to the JOHNS >| >family, who mined in Creswick from 1859 to 1921. >| > >| > >| >Peter THOMAS >| >Darwin, AUSTRALIA >| ><pmthomas@bigpond.com> >| > >| > >| > >| >-----Original Message----- >| >From: Ron and Jeannie Lister [mailto:RonJeannieLister@paradise.net.nz] >| >Sent: Friday, 12 August 2005 5:47 AM >| >To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com >| >Subject: Re: Creswick Miners Union >| > >| > >| >Dear Samantha, >| > My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been >| >heavily involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected >| >in Creswick >| >to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some >| >of >| >his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in >| >the mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association >| >and later unions. ... I will type these notes up and send if you would >| >like. There are several pages so I won't put them to the general list >| >unless listers requests them. Cheers, Jeannie. >| > >| >----- Original Message ----- >| >From: "samm menzies" <sammtoocann@yahoo.com.au> >| >To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> >| >Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 1:45 PM >| >Subject: Creswick Miners Union >| > >| >I am looking for information about the Creswick Miners Association (1870 >| >-c 1883) which later, following a number of amalgamations became the >| >Australasian Coal and Shale Employees Federation. A relative John >| >SAMPSON along with a Mr W G Spence were the leaders of the Union in it's >| >original form. ... >| > > Regards >| > > Samantha Menzies >| > > >| > >| > >| > >| >==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >| >To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in >| >the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com >| >| >| >| ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >| Support RootsWeb and help it support genealogy >| http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html >| > > >==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >Support RootsWeb and help it support genealogy >http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html

Hi Dave I seem to recall seeing this searchable index before (or something very like it).....do you have a link to it Fingers crossed Jackie in Brisbane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Evans" <devans@ncable.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 2:51 PM Subject: RE: Creswick Miners Union - JOHNS ? | Hello Peter, | The following "Johns" were in mining accidents in or near Creswick, | | Johns, J. 1868/01/27. Injured. Ballarat District. 1869 index of accidents, | no other details yet. at Hard Hills, Grand Trunk Mine. Details in the | Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. | | Johns, John. 1908/06/19. Injured. Ballarat District. Hit by a piece of | quartz. Creswick, Portuguese Sluicing Company, Details in the Clunes & | Creswick Advertiser. | | Johns, John**. 1885/12/07. Killed. 45 Y. O. Married. Ballarat District. | Fall of earth, £10 Funeral expenses + £70 compensation paid. Clunes, Bute & | Downes Amalgamated Company. Annual Report Secretary Mines, accident | No.97 -- Inquest No. 1885/1471** -- Clunes Museum -- Family 6 | | Johns, Thomas. 1886/01/25. Injured. 49 Y. O. Ballarat District. Crushed | thumb. Creswick. Details in the Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. | | Johns, Zacharias. 1856/00/00. Killed. Ballarat District. Fall into shaft. | Inquest No. 1856/673 | | Hope these are a help. | | Dave in Ballarat | At 12:19 PM 12/08/2005, Peter Thomas wrote: | | >I'd be interested to know if there are any references to the JOHNS | >family, who mined in Creswick from 1859 to 1921. | > | > | >Peter THOMAS | >Darwin, AUSTRALIA | ><pmthomas@bigpond.com> | > | > | > | >-----Original Message----- | >From: Ron and Jeannie Lister [mailto:RonJeannieLister@paradise.net.nz] | >Sent: Friday, 12 August 2005 5:47 AM | >To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com | >Subject: Re: Creswick Miners Union | > | > | >Dear Samantha, | > My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been | >heavily involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected | >in Creswick | >to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some | >of | >his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in | >the mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association | >and later unions. ... I will type these notes up and send if you would | >like. There are several pages so I won't put them to the general list | >unless listers requests them. Cheers, Jeannie. | > | >----- Original Message ----- | >From: "samm menzies" <sammtoocann@yahoo.com.au> | >To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> | >Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 1:45 PM | >Subject: Creswick Miners Union | > | >I am looking for information about the Creswick Miners Association (1870 | >-c 1883) which later, following a number of amalgamations became the | >Australasian Coal and Shale Employees Federation. A relative John | >SAMPSON along with a Mr W G Spence were the leaders of the Union in it's | >original form. ... | > > Regards | > > Samantha Menzies | > > | > | > | > | >==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== | >To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in | >the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com | | | | ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== | Support RootsWeb and help it support genealogy | http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html |

I would love to read the notes Jeannie. Jenny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron and Jeannie Lister" <RonJeannieLister@paradise.net.nz> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, 12 August 2005 6:16 Subject: Re: Creswick Miners Union > Dear Samantha, > My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been heavily > involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected in Creswick > to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some of > his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in the > mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association and later > unions. He does mention John Sampson as well as W. G. Spence. I will type > these notes up and send if you would like. There are several pages so I > won't put them to the general list unless listers requests them. Cheers, > Jeannie.

www.kaelewis.com My webpage above may be of interest. It contains a searchable database of about 6000 goldminers who bought miner's rights in Thames New Zealand in May - Sept 1868. Many of these goldminers came from Victoria when the gold there had run out. For this reason I think it would be worth while searching to see if a known Victorian goldminer was in Thames later on. If anyone should be able to positively identify one of the goldminers on my database, I would be pleased to hear from you. I would like to add a short biography and also a photo to any positively identified miner on the database. The goldminer's database is incomplete so will be extended from time to time, as time permits. The webpage also has the story of my great great grandfather Edward Hooper who was in Melbourne, Otago, South Australia (Burra Burra) and Thames between 1851 and 1871. I have been able to prove he was a goldminer in Otago (1861) and Thames (1868) but so far lack of records from the Victorian fields means that I have been unable to prove whether he looked for gold there or not. However I do know he was in Melbourne for at least some of the time between 1851 to 1861. If anyone can help me identify similar databases of Victorian goldminers I would be very grateful. Regards, Kae Lewis

Thank you Peter for that wounderful lesson on history. It was a good read. Bruce Behan Pascoe Vale ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Thomas" <pmthomas@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 10:49 PM Subject: RE: Land records & definitions - Perch - two meanings - land law > > "Perch" has several meanngs, two of which are easily confused in the > context of the present query. > > 1. Perch = unit of lineal measurement, 5.5 yards - which sounds an odd > figure, but is more easliy understood once you relize that it also > equals one-quarter of a chain (22 yards). Synonyms for this perch are > Rod, or Pole. > > 2. Perch = unit of superficial measurement, = one square-perch (see > meaning one, above), or 30.25 square yards, or one-sixteenth of a > square-chain. > > Rood is another term, used with various meanings at different times. In > Australia, it is used as a unit of superficial measurement, and means 40 > perches = one-quarter of an acre. > > In my experience, Queenslanders used to (and many still do) talk about > perches; whereas Victorians preferred square-yards (nowadays, > square-metres) when talking about land. But, I have seen old plans of > subdivision, where parcels of land were described as "1a.2r.30p", > meaning one acre, two roods, and 30 perches. Very complicated: > reminiscent of pounds, shillings, and pence. > > Other aspects of the original query: > What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover? - land law in > Victoria was codified in the 1860s. You need to consult the text of > whichever Act of Parliament is referred to. Your chances of finding > that on the web are slim. You'll need to enlist the assistance of > someone with access to a major legal library in Victoria - the > Universities would be the most accessible. I sudied land law a long > time ago; haven't needed to keep current with it; and don't recall the > historical details of what I was taught. > > How much land could be held under that act? - don't know, but there > probably was a limit. > > Was it 'free' land, which could be claimed, and if improved upon, became > the claimants after a period of time? - Governments then didn't give > much away. Sale of crown land was a major source of revenue. There > were some concessional aspects of various schemes, to encourage > investment. > > Could people give property away before their death, thus avoiding death > taxes? - when death duties (sometimes called probate duty) were current, > there was generally a parallel scheme of gift taxes, to ensure that > government revenue was not prejudiced. > > > Peter THOMAS > Darwin, AUSTRALIA > <pmthomas@bigpond.com> > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter Robinson [mailto:tworobbos@net-tech.com.au] > Sent: Wednesday, 10 August 2005 8:42 PM > To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Perch > > > When I went to school (a long, long time ago) it was Rod, Pole or Perch > - all interchangeable names for the same unit of measure. > > the older of the tworobbos > > ______________________________ > > > > ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== > Victorian place names database > http://www.rootsweb.com/~auswgw/vic_place_names.htm > > >

Hello Peter, The following "Johns" were in mining accidents in or near Creswick, Johns, J. 1868/01/27. Injured. Ballarat District. 1869 index of accidents, no other details yet. at Hard Hills, Grand Trunk Mine. Details in the Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. Johns, John. 1908/06/19. Injured. Ballarat District. Hit by a piece of quartz. Creswick, Portuguese Sluicing Company, Details in the Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. Johns, John**. 1885/12/07. Killed. 45 Y. O. Married. Ballarat District. Fall of earth, £10 Funeral expenses + £70 compensation paid. Clunes, Bute & Downes Amalgamated Company. Annual Report Secretary Mines, accident No.97 -- Inquest No. 1885/1471** -- Clunes Museum -- Family 6 Johns, Thomas. 1886/01/25. Injured. 49 Y. O. Ballarat District. Crushed thumb. Creswick. Details in the Clunes & Creswick Advertiser. Johns, Zacharias. 1856/00/00. Killed. Ballarat District. Fall into shaft. Inquest No. 1856/673 Hope these are a help. Dave in Ballarat At 12:19 PM 12/08/2005, Peter Thomas wrote: >I'd be interested to know if there are any references to the JOHNS >family, who mined in Creswick from 1859 to 1921. > > >Peter THOMAS >Darwin, AUSTRALIA ><pmthomas@bigpond.com> > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Ron and Jeannie Lister [mailto:RonJeannieLister@paradise.net.nz] >Sent: Friday, 12 August 2005 5:47 AM >To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: Creswick Miners Union > > >Dear Samantha, > My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been >heavily involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected >in Creswick >to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some >of >his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in >the mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association >and later unions. ... I will type these notes up and send if you would >like. There are several pages so I won't put them to the general list >unless listers requests them. Cheers, Jeannie. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "samm menzies" <sammtoocann@yahoo.com.au> >To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 1:45 PM >Subject: Creswick Miners Union > >I am looking for information about the Creswick Miners Association (1870 >-c 1883) which later, following a number of amalgamations became the >Australasian Coal and Shale Employees Federation. A relative John >SAMPSON along with a Mr W G Spence were the leaders of the Union in it's >original form. ... > > Regards > > Samantha Menzies > > > > > >==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in >the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com

Hello Listers >What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover? The Amending Land Act of 1865 surveyed allotments of 40 to 640 acres and opened them up for selection. Selectors could not obtain an immediate freehold title. The land could be leased for a minimum of three and a maximum of seven years. The lessee had to make improvements to the value of one pound (£1) per acre within two years. After three years the land could be purchased either through public auction, or without competition if the lessee had been residing on the land. Section 42 of the Act allowed people to reside on and cultivate the land in and around the goldfields under annual licences. Section 42 tentatively introduced the notion of selection before survey, which was further developed in section 19 of the 1869 Land Act. Records (and correspondence of individual lessees) of section 42 land grants can be accessed at the North Melbourne Public Record Office. These are known as "Selection Files". Selection Files These cover leases and licences which terminate in the sale of the land to the occupant ("Alienation from the Crown") All paperwork on the lease, licence, improvements, rent arrears, personal explanations, mortgages and documents relating to the Crown Grant are grouped together in a discrete file. The key to this file is: Parish & Township Plans, (maps) available in VPRO search room & State Library of Victoria. Names of grantees (people who purchased Crown land) and file numbers relevant to the particular allotments of sold or reserved land, are marked on these plans. If you do not know the name of the parish, you need to first consult: The "Township and Parish Guide" also at the VPRO (ask at the research desk) : lists township, parish, county, land district, municipality. You will find, on the block you are interested in, a two-level number written as a fraction, e.g. 2084 (serial number or application number) ------ 42 ( Section of the land act) District Office (e.g. Benalla) This information "Benalla 2084/42" is the key to all the correspondence, which is a file which is added to as the correspondence arrives, so the earliest is at the bottom of the file, the latest on the top. You will be able to then consult: Name card index for "section 42", a card file which may be microfiched VPRS 624 Land Selection Files under section 42 (the actual files) I think everything you want is at VPRO North Melbourne. These notes are from a lecture I gave at a "Lands Seminar" in 1992, and I believe are still applicable. regards, Ada Ackerly, Melbourne, Australia formerly Ackerly DocuSearch -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.7/70 - Release Date: 11-08-05

I'd be interested to know if there are any references to the JOHNS family, who mined in Creswick from 1859 to 1921. Peter THOMAS Darwin, AUSTRALIA <pmthomas@bigpond.com> -----Original Message----- From: Ron and Jeannie Lister [mailto:RonJeannieLister@paradise.net.nz] Sent: Friday, 12 August 2005 5:47 AM To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Creswick Miners Union Dear Samantha, My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been heavily involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected in Creswick to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some of his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in the mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association and later unions. ... I will type these notes up and send if you would like. There are several pages so I won't put them to the general list unless listers requests them. Cheers, Jeannie. ----- Original Message ----- From: "samm menzies" <sammtoocann@yahoo.com.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 1:45 PM Subject: Creswick Miners Union I am looking for information about the Creswick Miners Association (1870 -c 1883) which later, following a number of amalgamations became the Australasian Coal and Shale Employees Federation. A relative John SAMPSON along with a Mr W G Spence were the leaders of the Union in it's original form. ... > Regards > Samantha Menzies >

Dear Samantha, My grandfather, Arthur Harpley Bradfield, appears to have been heavily involved with organising a monument of some sort to be erected in Creswick to honour W. G. Spence. I have just had a look through copies of some of his notes and letters and he has written a lot about the conditions in the mines that led to the formation of the Creswick Miners Association and later unions. He does mention John Sampson as well as W. G. Spence. I will type these notes up and send if you would like. There are several pages so I won't put them to the general list unless listers requests them. Cheers, Jeannie. ----- Original Message ----- From: "samm menzies" <sammtoocann@yahoo.com.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 1:45 PM Subject: Creswick Miners Union > Hi all > > I am looking for information about the Creswick Miners Association (1870 - c 1883) which later, following a number of amalgamations became the Australasian Coal and Shale Employees Federation. A relative John SAMPSON along with a Mr W G Spence were the leaders of the Union in it's original form. My ggggrandfather was SAMPSON so I am after any pertinent info or photos. There is some biog info on the trades union ass website for WG Spence but none for John Sampson. > Regards > Samantha Menzies > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com > > > > ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in > the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com > > >

Hi Julia, Peter is correct in his reference to a.r.p. (acres, roods, perches) - this is the land measurement which appears on all Parish maps and is also used in Rate & Valuation Books for municipal land records. The Amending Land Act was introduced in 1865. Section 42 of the Act allowed people to reside on and cultivate land in and around the goldfields under annual licences. This section tentatively introduced the notion of selection before survey. [from "The Lands Manual: A Finding Guide to Victorian Lands Records, 1836-1983"] In Ballarat, for example, much of the land selected under Section 42 was not converted to traditional Land Titles until the 1970s! The Crown Allotment containing 32 perches was a typical size for a town allotment - perhaps a little smaller than many which were often 1 rood (40 perches) and would appear on Townland Maps as 0.1.0 which equated to 0 acres, 1 rood, 0 perches. Hope that helps ........ Susie Z ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Thomas" <pmthomas@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 10:49 PM Subject: RE: Land records & definitions - Perch - two meanings - land law > > "Perch" has several meanngs, two of which are easily confused in the > context of the present query. > > 1. Perch = unit of lineal measurement, 5.5 yards - which sounds an odd > figure, but is more easliy understood once you relize that it also > equals one-quarter of a chain (22 yards). Synonyms for this perch are > Rod, or Pole. > > 2. Perch = unit of superficial measurement, = one square-perch (see > meaning one, above), or 30.25 square yards, or one-sixteenth of a > square-chain. > > Rood is another term, used with various meanings at different times. In > Australia, it is used as a unit of superficial measurement, and means 40 > perches = one-quarter of an acre. > > In my experience, Queenslanders used to (and many still do) talk about > perches; whereas Victorians preferred square-yards (nowadays, > square-metres) when talking about land. But, I have seen old plans of > subdivision, where parcels of land were described as "1a.2r.30p", > meaning one acre, two roods, and 30 perches. Very complicated: > reminiscent of pounds, shillings, and pence. > > Other aspects of the original query: > What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover? - land law in > Victoria was codified in the 1860s. You need to consult the text of > whichever Act of Parliament is referred to. Your chances of finding > that on the web are slim. You'll need to enlist the assistance of > someone with access to a major legal library in Victoria - the > Universities would be the most accessible. I sudied land law a long > time ago; haven't needed to keep current with it; and don't recall the > historical details of what I was taught. > > How much land could be held under that act? - don't know, but there > probably was a limit. > > Was it 'free' land, which could be claimed, and if improved upon, became > the claimants after a period of time? - Governments then didn't give > much away. Sale of crown land was a major source of revenue. There > were some concessional aspects of various schemes, to encourage > investment. > > Could people give property away before their death, thus avoiding death > taxes? - when death duties (sometimes called probate duty) were current, > there was generally a parallel scheme of gift taxes, to ensure that > government revenue was not prejudiced. > > > Peter THOMAS > Darwin, AUSTRALIA > <pmthomas@bigpond.com> > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter Robinson [mailto:tworobbos@net-tech.com.au] > Sent: Wednesday, 10 August 2005 8:42 PM > To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Perch > > > When I went to school (a long, long time ago) it was Rod, Pole or Perch > - all interchangeable names for the same unit of measure. > > the older of the tworobbos > > ______________________________ > > > > ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== > Victorian place names database > http://www.rootsweb.com/~auswgw/vic_place_names.htm > >

"Perch" has several meanngs, two of which are easily confused in the context of the present query. 1. Perch = unit of lineal measurement, 5.5 yards - which sounds an odd figure, but is more easliy understood once you relize that it also equals one-quarter of a chain (22 yards). Synonyms for this perch are Rod, or Pole. 2. Perch = unit of superficial measurement, = one square-perch (see meaning one, above), or 30.25 square yards, or one-sixteenth of a square-chain. Rood is another term, used with various meanings at different times. In Australia, it is used as a unit of superficial measurement, and means 40 perches = one-quarter of an acre. In my experience, Queenslanders used to (and many still do) talk about perches; whereas Victorians preferred square-yards (nowadays, square-metres) when talking about land. But, I have seen old plans of subdivision, where parcels of land were described as "1a.2r.30p", meaning one acre, two roods, and 30 perches. Very complicated: reminiscent of pounds, shillings, and pence. Other aspects of the original query: What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover? - land law in Victoria was codified in the 1860s. You need to consult the text of whichever Act of Parliament is referred to. Your chances of finding that on the web are slim. You'll need to enlist the assistance of someone with access to a major legal library in Victoria - the Universities would be the most accessible. I sudied land law a long time ago; haven't needed to keep current with it; and don't recall the historical details of what I was taught. How much land could be held under that act? - don't know, but there probably was a limit. Was it 'free' land, which could be claimed, and if improved upon, became the claimants after a period of time? - Governments then didn't give much away. Sale of crown land was a major source of revenue. There were some concessional aspects of various schemes, to encourage investment. Could people give property away before their death, thus avoiding death taxes? - when death duties (sometimes called probate duty) were current, there was generally a parallel scheme of gift taxes, to ensure that government revenue was not prejudiced. Peter THOMAS Darwin, AUSTRALIA <pmthomas@bigpond.com> -----Original Message----- From: Peter Robinson [mailto:tworobbos@net-tech.com.au] Sent: Wednesday, 10 August 2005 8:42 PM To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Perch When I went to school (a long, long time ago) it was Rod, Pole or Perch - all interchangeable names for the same unit of measure. the older of the tworobbos ______________________________

Thanks Jeannie for your advice. I am due for a trip to Melbourne to the PRO. It is in North Melbourne and not as easily accessible as it was in Laverton. I hope Alma records will be as interesting as your Vaughan School. Thank you to you too Tom, I will contact both schools, not sure which one of them my father and his siblings would have attended. Also the Maryborough Genie Group will be worth contacting. Your mention of school poems brings to mind some that we used to sing, unfortunately some of them not too flattering about certain teachers characteristics. Thank you both for being so helpful. Once again I have to say this is a great List. Cheers Joan

Hi Julia, I can help you with the land question - 1 Acre is 160 perches therefore he held less than a quarter of an acre. 32 Perches = 968 Yards^2 , Hectares 8 093713E-2, Hope this helps. Brian M Morley Ipswich Queensland Australia °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° "Genealogy is breaking bread with the dead" -------Original Message------- From: Julia Mosman Date: 08/10/05 16:41:10 To: AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Land records & definitions Hello All - Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I'm trying to decipher a property record for a person who died intestate, and some of the terms are unfamiliar. He had land - with no listed value - "held by deceased under the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act, being allotment 1 section ___ Parish of Conover, County of Kara Kara". - Would this mean he held the entire Allotment 1? The value of the fencing around same land was 150.0.0, which was taxed. - What did the 42nd Section of the Amending Land Act cover? (I did try a Google search - and got very, very wierd results.) - How much land could be held under that act? Was it 'free' land, which could be claimed, and if improved upon, became the claimants after a period of time? He had other land too, the description of which seems odd. "Crown allotment 3 of Section 1 of the parish of Clunes, containing 32 perches or thereabouts." Perches?? What would that be - feet, or yards ?? Hopefully it wasn't the number of bird houses.<vbg> Could people give property away before their death, thus avoiding death taxes? He was sick for 14 days, and a lot could have been done in that time. I'm trying to put together a realistic picture of what he might have had. Thanks for any help you can give me on this. Best regards, Julia Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad _____________________________