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 > > >