Letters re migration to NSW 1838-1857

• Record series in the index: NRS 5247 copied onto Reels 3114-3118. This is a partial index. It does not cover the items [4/4644] - 1854, and [4/4652, 4/4636, 4/4640, 4/4645 part, 4/4651] - 1857-1864.
• Entries in the index: 22,700+
• Copy service available

This index covers the names of individuals found in the letters, including those mentioned in the body of the letter, subject of the letter, official position, place and ship.

The letters are mainly manuscript copies sent by the Immigration Agent, mostly addressed to people in New South Wales. They deal with complaints, transport arrangements, advertisements, and financial arrangements. Replies to complaints show aspects of the immigration schemes running at the time, for example that a proportion of immigrants did not abide by the agreement they signed before embarking.

Letters deal with the following subjects:

• Accounts: payment of suppliers, salaries etc
• Advance: money advanced to a public official to enable efficient payment of accounts.
• Agricultural labourers: also farm labourer and farm servants (usually female)
• Certificates of deposit/deposit certificates: a process undertaken in the Colony. Money for an immigrants passage could be paid by a depositor in NSW to a local government official, for example the local Court of Petty Sessions. This money was transferred to the Colonial Treasurer. The amount paid for a passage would be specified in the Immigration Remittance Regulations, which set a passage amount depending on criteria such as gender, age, marital status, familial connections in the Colony, and occupations.
• Examination of immigrants: When an immigrant ship arrived in NSW the Immigration Board would examine the immigrants and take information about rations, treatment by the crew, ventilation etc. Depending on the nature of the evidence provided, the Board could hold an enquiry into the matter. See
  • NRS 5257 for Reports by Immigration Board on complaints of immigrants about their passage, 1838-1887, and
  • NRS 5255 Reports by the Immigration Agent on condition of immigrants and ships on their arrival, 1837-1895. 
• Gratuities: The Immigration Board decided whether the ship's senior officers would receive their gratuities for the voyage, based on the examination of the immigrants.
• Indentures and agreements: processes for an immigrant's employment on arrival in NSW
• Instructions: to senior crew for the listing and unloading of passengers and their belongings, as well as fraternisation with the (unmarried female) immigrants.
• Marriages: as many immigrants were single female orphans, information about proposals of marriage was sent to the Immigration Board.
• Prohibited employers: typically those running a House of Public Entertainment (eg: an inn or hotel)
• Protected immigrants: males under 14 and females under 18 had to be under the protection of a respectable person on the voyage, or when travelling to a district outside of Sydney
• Returns of wages, prices etc: for the wages and prices applicable in each District. These were used to set a fair wage. Schedules of wages were displayed in Immigration Depots and other public places.
• Surgeons Journals: on arrival in NSW the Surgeon Superintendent's Journal was sent to the Immigration Boad, where it was examined before being returned to the Surgeon. Again this was used as evidence to determine whether senior crew would receive gratuities. 

abt
About (often used in identifying ages)

C/o
Care of, used in addressing letters back to sender, via another person, company, PO, etc

Co, Coy
Company

CPS
Clerk of Petty Sessions

DD
Doctor of Divinity

Dr
Doctor (usually of Medicine)

Cnr
Corner, as in cross-streets

Esq
Esquire, indicating a male of higher status in the Colony (usually owning land or a professional)

JP
Justice of the Peace

MD
Medical Doctor

MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly (Lower House of Parliament)

MLC
Member of the Legislative Council (Upper House of Parliament)

PO
Post Office

PM
Police Magistrate

Re
Regarding

RN
Royal Navy officer. Often the actual rank was not shown in letters

Rev
Reverend

Ret
Retired, generally naval or army officers

SMH
Sydney Morning Herald – a prominent newspaper

St
Saint or Street (depending on context)

VDL
Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania)

This index was compiled by David and Margaret Jones. We thank David and Margaret for their dedication and persistence with this project.