RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: pocketrocket on Saturday 02 April 11 09:10 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I have just launched a website which will grow from week to week. My main project it that I am compiling an index of Aboriginal people from the New England NSW. Areas included are Inverell, Tingha, Armidale, Uralla, Hillgrove, Walcha, Glen Innes, Guyra, Bundarra etc.
I have completed the first part of the vollunteer project which is an index of the parish registers for the area of all the references to Aboriginal people. This is where there is a reference to Aboriginality. These have been complied from Microfilm at the NE Regional Archives in Armidale. Unfortunately the Catholic Records are not on film available to the public.
The project will continue and I will be expanding the index to include newspaper artices, gaol records and photos, census records, Old Station records, and much more.
Feel free to keep checking back and use the info I find.
www.armidalehistory.com
Caroline Chapman
Armidale
I have listed the index which is free to access
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Hello Caroline.
I'll be very very interested in having ongoing looks at your index, as I have a brick wall in the Inverell area, and we suspect there could be an aboriginal connection.
However, your link to the index is not working at present. The page that comes up is all kinds of computer"speak"
Dee :)
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There are two links, the general one I have posted a coming soon message with the sources listed. Is that the one? They are working fine for me.
I found quite a few references to Inverell. There were a lot of relationships out that way as there were not many white women around in the early days. There were also a couple of Stations who housed Aboriginal people. Bassendene which is listed in the index was one which was north of bundarra and half way between Tingha and Inverell. There are a few baptisms in the index from there.
Thanks,
Caroline
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Caroline,
This is the link I clicked on.....
Research Project Index of Aboriginal People New England 1830 - 1956
The page comes up with stuff like this......
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The Rates link works OK.....
Dee :)
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Ok, that is odd. I will look into that. Thanks for the feedback. Caroline
Edit. I think it is because I used a php file and something needs to be installed to support them... I have attempted to install it, it may work now otherwise I will fix it when I get home. Regards, Caroline
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Should be working ok now. I changed some pages to another format. Enjoy the site and keep an eye out for any further additions which should come in the next few days. Hopefully the general index will be uploaded in a couple of days. The Parish Records index is on there now and should be working ok.
Regards,
Caroline Chapman
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Yes, it's working well now thanks, Caroline. I've looked at the Anglican Parish Records page but no luck there. However, I'll keep checking regularly.
Dee :)
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Not to worry, they didn't always write the word in, and the catholic records are yet to be indexed. Unfortunatly that means that i need permission to look over the original for the two weeks that the Anglican ones too. I will be applying for permission soon.
I am also going to Canberra next week so may dig up some more at the National Library or AIATIS.
This is the area (the frontier) were there were may relationships between male workers and Aboriginal women.
Regards,
Caroline
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I'll keep my fingers crossed...... :)
The birth that's missing is that of my children's paternal great grandfather, and his father as named on his marriage certificate cannot be found mentioned in any other records that I've had access to either. So I grab at any opportunity, and welcomed the news of your indexes.
Good luck!
Dee :)
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I have updated the general index with some census records, gaol records and death transcriptons. Also three new intries on the Anglican Records.
Hope it helps solve some mysteries for some people.
Regards,
Caroline
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Have just updated the index which has grown quite a bit since the site lauched. Just under 100 entries and will grow as I trawl through the station records of the New England. Some local death certificate transcriptions have been added.
Hope this helps someone, it is free to access and this wont change.
Regards,
Caroline
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After three days solid research, have updated the Index which now has 163 entries. More to come. I hope people are finding it useful.
Regards,
Caroline
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I check it out every time you update it, Caroline. ;) :D
Dee :)
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Up to 184 now. I was at the Regional archives today for a short time and after looking at the index of inquests in the State Records kit, have decided to index the New England entries with a separate index for Aboriginal mentions. From what I saw today they do specify Aboriginal Chinese and I even saw one American.
C
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Up to 184 now. I was at the Regional archives today for a short time and after looking at the index of inquests in the State Records kit, have decided to index the New England entries with a separate index for Aboriginal mentions. From what I saw today they do specify Aboriginal Chinese and I even saw one American.
C
Ooh that is interesting, Caroline.......doctor asked me if my daughter was adopted from an Asian country........she wasn't......but Aboriginal Chinese connection could make sense.......
Dee :)
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Congratulations on all the work already done Caroline, there is most likely many more files to be transcribed and uploaded. I do not envy you the undertaking ...
Cheers, JM
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oops, should have been a comma between, but yes, Aboriginal Chinese relationships did occur. Cathy Freeman has one in her tree from a chinese cook at FNQ and an Aboriginal lady. Because there were a lot of Chinese on both the gold fields and brought out as labour for stations, these relationships were bound to happen. I must say that I haven't seen Aboriginal - Chinese as a label. They did use the term 'half-caste' for Chinese as well as Aboriginals however in the census.
Caroline
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Congratulations on all the work already done Caroline, there is most likely many more files to be transcribed and uploaded. I do not envy you the undertaking ...
Cheers, JM
The great thing is that there is a wealth of records out there, just need to be compiled. Maybe one day the falicy that 'there aren't good records of Aboriginal people' will be disproved. In some ways there are more records. It was because of the rules of the BDM registry that wouldn't allow registering births after a child was 6 months that discriminated towards the poorer, less literate and remote Australians no matter what colour.
191 entries in the index as of tonight. Good night. :-)
Cheers
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Have updated the index tonight. Up to 207 names now. Have been trawling though inquests (up to 1867) looking for any local townships and people listed as Aboriginal. Once I finish with inquests I will get onto the original station records at the Regional Archives.
Hope it helps someone.
Caroline
www.armidalehistory.com
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I have been trawling though inquests and other records. Am up to 1870 in the NSW inquests. Have found 19 references in that source alone. The index is now up to 212 individuals with a record of Aboriginality.
Regards, Caroline
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Hi there,
You may well find some who volunteered for either the Boer and/or WWI .... service records are at the National Archives of Australia and digitised online there too. (Of course indexes of names on Nominal Rolls, CWGC, AWM)
But
Have you noticed this thread for a Qld lad who enlisted in NSW, KiA WWI, http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,534762.0.html
A huge task Caroline, and like you I do so hope it helps someone.
Cheers, JM
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Many thanks for that. I have found the complexion colour section useful in the past. Aboriginality wasn't always stated. I am just doing New England NSW at this stage. 58% of the Aboriginal people in NSW in 1971 lived in the region so it covers a reasonable amount and I am only a 2 minute drive from the Regional Archives here. Makes things very easy. I have had some positive feedback already and people have found people in their tree on the index so that is excellent considering I have only had the website up 2 months.
Many thanks,
Caroline
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I have been trawling away and the index is up to 255 records with Aboriginally mentioned. They are mainly in the 1800s. Have started the station records at the regional archives which cover Northern NSW. There are many old ledgers available and they often mention their Aboriginal workers in the wages books.
www.armidalehistory.com
Hope this helps some of you.
Regards,
Caroline
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Not sure if you are still interested in various early records, and of course the following is not from the New England District but
NSW Electoral Roll for CAMDEN 1870 has the following entries with the word “(aboriginal)” or “(ab.)” in brackets under the heading Christian and Surname for the following
George CHIPPENDALE, residence at Burragorang
Paddy MORROWIN, residence at Burragorang
George REILLY, residence at Burragorang
William RUSSELL, residence at Burragorang
Tommy SAMMY residence at Burragorang
Charles SKERITT residence at Burragorang
Soloman TOLMAN, residence at Burragorang
Thomas WRIGHT, residence at Burragorang
The returning officer for that Electoral District was J M ANTILL, and he certified the roll on 4 July 1870 at Jarvisfield, Picton.
Cheers, JM
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Hi again! Thanks for that, yes I am collecting info from NSW when I come across it. One day when I'm done with the index for the New England I will go further afield. I am up to 300 documents now and have had some nice emails from people who have found their indigenous roots through the info. :-)
Regards,
Caroline
www.armidalehistory.com
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Hi Everyone,
My self-funded website has been updated after being offline for 6 months. I have over 400 entries in the index now. Good chance you will find your Aboriginal ancestor in the index if they lived in New England NSW. Australia.
www.armidalehistory.com
Regards,
Caroline
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Hi Caroline,
Some time ago I was doing a bit of family history on Ancestry.com and got back to a William Bentley marrying a Phoebe Chapman in Wellingrove in 1859. Phoebe Chapman would be my great-great- grandmother. Her birth was listed as "circa 1840" and my wife said she was probably aboriginal (as single white women were thin on the ground at the time). Never previously knew anything about aboriginality in the family but I was wondering if you would know if Phoebe Chapman was aboriginal. Phoebe had Alick (buried Alexander), who had Norman, who had Alex who had me, David Alexander Bentley. I have Jack and Sally and I have discussed the possible aboriginal connection but I would like it to be more than a guess.
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Hi
http://records.ancestry.com.au/phoebe_chapman_records.ashx?pid=150855901
The author of this tree has a non-aboriginal heritage for PHOEBE CHAPMAN.
Sue
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Phoebe arrived with her parents and siblings.
Per Parsee. 1853. To Moreton Bay. Reels 2136, 2465
CHAPMAN, Phoebe aged 11.
CHAPMAN Anna Maria, 9 years
CHAPMAN James, 44 years
CHAPMAN James, 18 years.
CHAPMAN John, 12 years.
CHAPMAN Martha, Infant
CHAPMAN, Mary Ann. 40 years.
CHAPMAN Robert, 3 years
Sue
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National Directory 1867 New England and Armidale
J CHAPMAN, Toryburn
R CHAPMAN, Toryburn
R CHAPMAN, Retreat
G CHAPMAN, Waterloo
Do you have a copy of the 1859 marriage for Phobe CHAPMAN and William BENTLEY, (NSW BDM #3109)
If Phoebe was not yet 21, then it should give the name of the person to gave consent to a minor’s marriage, this information was usually recorded in the ‘white space’ section of the document, near to where it shows “according to the” (rites of the denomination).
As it was a rural marriage, it is likely that the NSW BDM received only a summary of the registration, and so it is likely that the NSW BDM copy has not listed the parents for either the bride or the groom, or their Dad’s occupations, or their own places of birth, or their own ages. However, these vital family history clues can usually be found as the clergy were required to record them. These details are usually recorded on the original registers, which (being rural) have not been reconciled to the NSW BDM register.
NSW BDM birth registrations also required the informant to state the places of birth for each of the parents, their then ages, and where and when married. So perhaps there’s some clues re Phoebe’s origins on one or more of the civil registrations for the couple’s children.
Well found Sue :)
Cheers, JM
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NSW Electoral Roll 1870 NEW ENGLAND
James CHAPMAN, Saumares Ponds, residence
Robert CHAPMAN, Toryburn, freehold (at) Toryburn
ADD
John CHAPMAN, Toryburn, residence
John CHAPMAN, Eversleigh, residence
JM notes there's SEVEN chaps with that surname on that roll :)
Cheers, JM
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Hi dvd2,
Welcome to Rootschat, a fantastic place for help with family history.
Cheers, JM
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http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.asp?Page=NRS5316/4_4790/Parsee_11%20Jan%201853/4_479000379.jpg&No=1
The NSW SRO has the passenger list imaged, free to search.
Cheers, JM
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I omitted a child from the list ::)
CHAPMAN, Ann E. 16 years.
Arrival details as above.
Sue
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Hi David,
Looks like Sue has found some answers for you regarding Phoebe. You are right that there were very few women in the New England in the early days, particularly the 1840-60s. The Railway came in 1883 which opened things up more.
There are quite a few Chapmans around the area, my surname is Chapman however my husband's family were from the Hunter. I have knowledge of Chapmans in the Inverell and Moonbi areas particularly. The Moonbi school had an exhibition with photos of some and the Inverell Pioneers village also have pics of Chapmans on display. So many relatives around the New England for yourself.
Caroline
PS my index of Aboriginal identities is now up to 470 and I still have some more finds to list. www.armidalehistory.com
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Thanks all for these very quick and generous responses. I am now more intrigued than ever and will have to look into this further.
David
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A lot more entries have been made on the New England Index of Aboriginal People. Link is above. 650 records now and many more to put on. PM me if you have any specific names you want me to check with my collection.
Happy hunting.
Caroline
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Hi Everyone,
I am still working on this project after 9 years! Have been updating the website recently and have nearly 700 historical documents indexed that refer to Aboriginal people in the New England, New South Wales from 1848-1956.
I have met many people who have used the site over the years which makes me happy. :-) Hope everyone has a nice break over the Chirstmas period.
Regards,
Caroline
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Hi :) :) :)
I was away when you posted, sorry.
Just as a gentle reminder to other RChatters who may be interested in Aboriginal family history, the NSW State Library's collection of Electoral Rolls is very handy, and exceeds the current holdings of various commercial online websites.
I have previously posted on other RChat threads re this, and I again share:
From NSW State Library web page
http://guides.sl.nsw.gov.au/content.php?pid=367120&sid=3112777
"DID YOU KNOW?
Aboriginal people of New South Wales have been eligible to vote since 1858. Few Aboriginal people were aware of their right to vote so it's surprising how many actually appear on the earlier rolls. It's only since 1984 that all Aboriginal people have been required to enrol to vote."
1858 - yes, 19th century - yes, this is generally accepted as when Universal MALE suffrage commences in NSW - 21 years and over, and born as British Subjects, or naturalised as British Subjects, ....
JM
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in reply to the following message
George reilly and Solomon toliman were brothers, William russell was their cousin, paddy morrowin was their uncle. Charles skeritt was also a cousin and the surname later changed to sheritt. im assuming tommy Sammy was jelick. I am the 4th great grand daughter of George Riley/Reilly.
ot sure if you are still interested in various early records, and of course the following is not from the New England District but
NSW Electoral Roll for CAMDEN 1870 has the following entries with the word “(aboriginal)” or “(ab.)” in brackets under the heading Christian and Surname for the following
George CHIPPENDALE, residence at Burragorang
Paddy MORROWIN, residence at Burragorang
George REILLY, residence at Burragorang
William RUSSELL, residence at Burragorang
Tommy SAMMY residence at Burragorang
Charles SKERITT residence at Burragorang
Soloman TOLMAN, residence at Burragorang
Thomas WRIGHT, residence at Burragorang
The returning officer for that Electoral District was J M ANTILL, and he certified the roll on 4 July 1870 at Jarvisfield, Picton.
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Welcome,
I typed a great reply, but it has been snaffled up by cyberspace.
It mentioned Paul Irish and his book, Hidden in Plain View. Excellent thorough resources there, fresh original info.
JM on e reader that snaffles posts. :D
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Two great books about the Gundungurra people of burragorang valley are. Gungalook the burragorang aboriginal Riley family and the new one Aboriginal people of burragorang both by Dr Jim Smith. We contributed to both books the second one is basically a big family tree most of the valley Aboriginal families were related either thru blood or marriage.
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Being related to William Russell, George Riley and myangarlie has made our search much easier. Solomon is a bit of a mystery we have his birth registered as a toliman. We later have him listed as Solomon Riley in a newspaper article in 1910 about the flood in 1864 when he and George saved a local settlers son from drowning. Other then that we have very little info on him. George Riley is thought to be the first Aboriginal man to be place on the Electrol roll. I think if they weren't so prominent in the local area our search would be much harder