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Monday, May 21, 2001
Recommend Police Gazettes for research Have you thought about Police Gazettes for research. I have just spent a few days at Kingswood Archives (NSW) and found that apart from the first 2 reels, all the subsequent reels are indexed by year. Not only "wanted people" are listed, but also victims of crime. I found it very very interesting reading, not only for little tid bits about the people I was researching, but also the "distractions" of other interesting reading. Also there is a section Missing Persons, similar I guess to what is sometimes listed in the newspapers. Some of the interesting things I found: a. addresses of family, these people were not in the directories of the time so thats a bonus! b. nicknames and aliases, one was called "The Boxer", and this sort of information just adds a bit of colour to the dry dates dont you think! Aliases can be helpful if your fellow goes missing in the records. c. if a victim of a theft, the items stolen can give you a hint of occupation or interest or standard of living, one fellow had lots carpenters tools stolen, another many many different types of birds, another quite a few items obviously family jewellery fully detailed! Really worthwhile few days, and I was surprised at the amount of information I was able to find. I got from 1870 to 1900, so the next holidays I have will continue. Might just help someone who is stuck. Posted by: Maureen Taylor Source: Australia Genealogy Forum
Excerpt from May edition of CIGO NEWS: GRO CONSULTATION BEGINS On the 1st May at Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, the Minister for the Department of Health & Children, Mr Miche�l Martin TD, and the Minister for Social, Community & Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern TD, both launched a consultation document entitled Bringing Civil Registration into the 21st Century - A Consultation Document on the Modernisation of the Civil Registration Service. CIGO was one of the interested parties invited to the press conference. Unfortunately, as important as this subject is, not only to those involved in Irish genealogy, but to all Irish citizens, the launch delivered little or no coverage for the story in the national press. A small article, written by Christine Newman, appeared in the edition of the 2nd May of the Irish Times, tucked away on page nine. Newman's story said little more than IR�7,300,000 was about to be spent by the Irish Government in computerising Ireland's registration service. On the 8th May an article appeared in the Evening Herald written by Grainne Cunningham which said substantially more than that which had appeared in the Irish Times on week earlier. In essence this is what is about to happen. A bill will be formally presented the oireachtas (Houses of Parliament) in the very near future to enable the creation of a whole new 'on-line' civil registration service for the Republic of Ireland. The General Register Office (GRO) has announced that paper records will be a thing of the past by early next year, if all goes to plan. The informant to births and deaths will sign the record with an electronic pen - thus placing their signature directly onto the computer record. However, quite how this will effect the registration of marriages is to clear and was certainly not addressed at the press conference. The consultation period lasts only until the 31st May 2001. All individuals and organisations who have any interest in Irish genealogy or in the subject of Irish civil registration should make their voices heard. Try to make all submissions as brief and concise as possible and in type written form. The GRO Modernisation Project team welcome submissions by both e-mail and post (see contact details below), however, CIGO would suggest that the best media would be to submit your contribution in writing through the post. Those writing from overseas would be well advised to post well before the closing date. Appendix six of the document contains about forty-five questions that the reader is asked to give an opinion upon. Of these, the seven questions under the heading 'Public Access to Registration Records' is likely the most important. While both Ministers tried at the press conference to allay fears that some decisions about public access to registration records had already been made, neither denied that closing records or no longer viewing civil registration records as Public Records was a topic up for consideration. Question Two asks: How should historic records be defined, 50, 75 or 100 years ? CIGO suggests that respondents answer 75 years as the likely threshold to be set will be 100 years. Under the heading 'Registering Lifes Events - New Approach' CIGO suggests that to question eight (Other observations and/or comments) respondents should draw the GRO's attention to the fact that Irish death records do not record a deceased person's date and place of birth or the former names of married/divorced women. As a representative organisation CIGO is well aware that those involved in Irish genealogy have long suffered from the lack of a good quality and well staffed service at the Research Room of the General Register Office, Dublin. Over the years despite much complaining, lobbying and letter writing we have all watched as the GRO has become busier and busier; as the valuable index volumes have crumbled; as the level of staff has not kept abreast of the sheer numbers attending the office; as disillusioned younger staff members have left or obtained transfers to other sections; and as the offices opening hours have been reduced from seven to five. However, while nothing that has happened in the past is likely to give hope that the GRO's public service ethos is about to change over night, it is still, nonetheless, very important that everyone who can make their voice heard in this period of consulation. e-mail: [email protected]
Irish Views of the Famine - 1846 - 1849 For those who are interested in finding out what made their forbears leave, and what living conditions were like in Ireland in the 1846 - 151 era I have found some fascinating (and depressing) stories and archived articles at; http://www.people.virginia.edu/~eas5e/Irish/Irish.html Please understand that these are researchable archives and may take some trawling and reading, however for an understanding of life at the time they are excellent sources. Best Wishes Don. (The Url above includes information on the following topics, from excellent resources, also my apologies for cross-listing) Personal Diaries Robert Whyte's Famine Ship Diary, 1847 Gerald Keegan's Famine Diary, 1847 Irish Newspapers The Southern Reporter. Deaths from Starvation in Cork. February 8, 1846 The Cork Reporter. "Letters to the Editor Protesting Delay in Relief." February 8, 1846 The Cork Reporter. "The Evils of Delay." March 17, 1846 The Cork Constitution. "Letter to the Editor on Crop Estimates." March 17, 1846 The Limerick Reporter. March 23, 1846 The Wexford Independent. "Fearful Facts" and "Hunger, Cold, Disease and Deaths." December 16, The Cork Reporter. Findings of Inquests Conducted Today on Six Famine Victims, Including Two-Year-Old Catherine Sheehan. January 5, 1847 The Carlow Sentinel. Editorial Castigating Landlords Who Refuse to Aid Their Tenants. January 9, The Cork Examiner. Letter to the Editor by Jeremiash O'Callaghan. January 10, 1847 The Cork Examiner. Scenes of Misery. January 11, 1847 The Limerick Chronicle. Starving Dogs Being Killed in Limerick. February 5, 1847 The Derry Journal. Crops Planted Earlier This Years. February 6, 1847 The Belfast Chronicle. Price of Breadstuffs. February 6, 1847 The Mayo Constitution. Man Named Mulloy Found Dead of Want. February 19, 1847 Starving Irish Doubt Government's Willingness to Provide Relief; Priests Report Dead Going Unburied for Want of Coffins, in The Galway Mercury, March 1, 1847 The Cork Reporter. Overwhelmed Coroners Stop Holding Inquests for Bodies Found in the Street. April 29, 1847 The Dublin University Magazine. "The Famine in the Land: What Has Been Done, And What Is To Be Done." April 1847 The Dublin University Magazine. "Measures for Ireland." May 1847 The Dublin University Magazine."The Song of the Famine." July 1847. The Cork Examiner. "The Economic Case of Ireland Stated. March 1848 The Cork Examiner. Cork Leaders Again Call for Help. May 23, 1849 The Dublin University Magazine."The Poor Laws, Potato Disease, and Free Trade." March 1849. The Dublin University Magazine. "Historic Notes on the Irish Census." November 1851 Environmental Petroleum Systems "Dangerous Goods Listserver" Subscribe at: The information contained herein was obtained from sources which I believe Posted to Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.australia+nz by Don Johnston 20/05/01  |
