RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: millie on Saturday 27 January 07 08:14 GMT (UK)
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Could someone please help me.
I'm trying to find out what happened to my ancestor,Archibald Spencer Anderson. In 1893 he was an inmate at Stewart creek prison. I've tried to pay for info. from Judy Webster, but someone tried to steal my credit card details.
Please help Millie.
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hello there Millie
little bit more info please what state was he in hiow old where born etc
I know there is a STuart prison in Townsville!
regards jenn
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Hi Jenn,
It is Stuart Creek Prison in Townsville that Millie is referring to. The original name was Stewart Creek.
I googled the Prison name and "Anderson" and Millie's Archibald was listed as a "resident" - no other information though :(
Happy hunting
Di
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Jenn, he was born in Kilmaurs in Ayrshire, in 1860, married in St. James Townsville to Elizabeth Smith 1883 had a child Margaret born 1886,and as I said in the prison in 1893,I think his brorther Hugh was in the same prison.
Regards Millie.
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hello there
also had another child
Agnes Gilchrist Spenc born 16/7/1889 refer 1889/005122
regards jenn
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Hi Millie
I assume if you are looking for research from Judy Webster - would you be wanting information from the Queensland archives. I know another rootschatter visits there quite alot & she may be willing to check - if you let her know what information you are looking for. I'll send her a note about your posting.
In terms of paying by credit card - if folks do not have secure online credit facilities NEVER send the details by email. You can send them by snail mail or Telephone the details. (I haven't used Judy's service so I don't know what she has available).
There is a death record for Archibald Spencer Anderson
father William Anderson mother Agnes McGilchrist 25 Nov 1910 ref 1910/002683 - I didn't see any more children after the one Jenn found
Trish
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Hi Jenn,Di,Trish, thank you all so much for the info.
The reason I was using Judy Webster was that she said that as well his prison
details, it is possible that there may even be a picture of him,either in his prison file or in the newspaper of the time. I suppose I'd need the date of his crime to check the newspaper for any photographs.
Regards Millie
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Hi Millie
Please don't think I am at all critical of your researcher - She may well be able to find all that you want. The date of the conviction/prison details would no doubt be useful. This is the Queensland archives
http://www.archives.qld.gov.au
From a search it seems they do have some records from the prison - but only from 1893. I wonder if that was when it opened?
Agency ID 23
Title H M Penal Establishment, Stewart's Creek
Agency Type Correctional facility
Start Date 6/04/1893
End Date 23/03/1939
There is a register of discharges - so can check when he left - but I cannot see a register of when folks entered. :(
Records are open after 65 years, so yours should be available.
If you do a search for - stewart creek prison - you can see what is available
http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Search/BasicSearch.aspx
Trish
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Hi Millie (and Trish),
I went to the Archives today but only had a little time left to ask the archivist about prision records. She said "possibly" and pointed towards the row of PC's (I think they have the State Archives website on them, possibly the link that Trish posted above - but not sure).
Anyhow, I will be going to the archives again probably later in the week so let me know if you like anything looked up.
I did manage to find this information which you may or may not already have:
Archibald Spencer Anderson died 25-11-1910 father William Anderson, mother Agnes McGilchrist.
Agnes Gilchrist Spencer Anderson born 16-7-1889 father Archibald Spencer Anderson, mother Elizabeth Leitch Smith.
Margaret Anderson born 19-3-1886 same parents as Agnes. I couldn't see any other children but there are zillions of Andersons, and, surprisingly, a few other Archibalds.
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Judy uses PayPal - you probably were directed to their web site as part of the payment process. Always make sure that the little padlock is displayed on your screen to show that the payment process is secure.
Christine.
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Hello Ruskie, the records I'm after are the prisoners description register for Stewart's creek penal establishment at Townsville and the Queensland police
gazette. Both are held at the Qld. state archives.
I will also try Judy Webster again as advised by Christine.
Thank you all Millie
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hey there Millie
do you know where he archie is buried
regards jenn
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Hi Millie, I'll check those out for you next time I go to the Archives - possibly Friday.
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Hi Ruskie, that is very kind of you, if you need any look ups in Scotland please let me know.
Jenn, the only info I have is his Scottish connection,and his marriage in Australia and the birth of his first child there.
Regards Millie
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hello there
I check for the actual prison to see if they kept records
but no was told get this "only of notorious criminals from when it was opened" So my answer was I have no idea what sort of crime he was in for but the lady wasn't bothered to check the records! a poor response and they have an archive section!
will check the local cemeteries
However I did note in reading some of the info on the net re the prison it would appear that for a few months The watchhouse prisoner were also housed in Stewart so he may not have necessarily been a criminal but a person who was in for say a petty offence like D andD
look forward to seeing what he did has me intrigued
regards jenn
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Hello Jenn, do the archives keep census records,if so,what would the latest record that can be looked up?
I have a strange feeling that his crime may be a wee bit more serious than D/D.
It seems that he was a jeweller and that his brother was a miner,according to the Ayrshire census.
I dont have any proof that Hugh was in Australia,I'm only going on the fact that
he is mentioned as being in the jail at the same time as Archibald,coincidence or a different Hugh Anderson.
Regards Millie
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No census records in Qld I'm afraid Millie. I still plan to go to the Archives on Friday (unless something unforeseen occurs) - so I hope I will find something for you.
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I had a pm query from Millie - thought I should answer it here as someone else may have other/better information
Hi Millie
Unfortunately the Qld BDMs are not online. The only way I know to get further information on the death (other than a cemetery record which no-one has found) is to buy the death certificate. Australian certificates are much the same as the Scotland Certificates of 1855 :) so although they are expensive they contain everything. I think in Qld they are $25 - about 10 pounds.
Again, you cannot buy them online so will need to order via snail mail or fax
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/bdm/certificates.html
Death certificate information is dependant on what the informant knew - but given that the parents are listed on the index for your man, it seems he was known well to the informant. You should get details of when and where died, cause of death, occupation, length of illness, doctor, age, where born, parents, length of time in each of the Australian states, when/where married, wife's name, details of living children (sometimes just age, sometimes name & age), number of deceased children.
We do have voter rolls - usually called electoral rolls, mainly indexed via location - electoral district (I think) and also not online that I know about.
Trish
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Hi Trish,
I have been messaging Millie re my lookups for Archibald.
But just to let you know, I found a bit of information for Millie on my visit to the archives last Thursday (including a photo of Archibald!!!! VERY exciting - I have to pick the photocopy up this week as they were very busy).
He and Hugh were both watchmakers according to the prisoner descriptions. I would say that the death certificate would be worthwhile, if Millie feels she needs more information.
In order to find these people on the electoral rolls you really have to know the district they lived in (I've only ever searched in Brisbane and I knew the suburb - Brisbane is divided into many smaller electorates - I guess it is the same in other parts of the state).
I can do electoral roll lookups if the family's location can be narrowed down - just let me know Millie.
PS Even though the prisoner descriptions give arrival date and ship name I still could not find these two on the immigration indexes.
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Hi Ruskie
That was very interesting - good to know you found the records - if I ever get to the archives again you can help me find everything ;D
Given the initial time frame, I think you may have had to be a landowner to get the vote - however after 1901 I think everyone was given the right to vote. Would have to check my oz history :o :o
I have some folks that supposedly came into Maryborough - I have never been able to find the immigration.
Trish
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Oh I didn't realise that! Even after 1901 was it compulsory to vote?
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As far as I know it has been compulsory since 1901 - always assuming you enrol. I have known a few folks who never enrolled :)
Trish
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Hi Trish
Re your comment
#19
...who came into Maryborugh...
There is a searchable list on Ancestry. Au.
Do you have access?
[I haved sort of wiggled into Ancestry.uk by some kind of lucky error.
I think it will end today.
Sue
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Hi Trish
Re your comment
#19
...who came into Maryborugh...
There is a searchable list on Ancestry. Au.
Do you have access?
[I haved sort of wiggled into Ancestry.uk by some kind of lucky error.
I think it will end today.
Sue
Hi Sue
I have indeed searched that list - and looked through all the indexes at the archives. I wrote to the Maryb FHS and even had a reply - my man was quite well known in the district - the reply was simply confirming who he was - but they never did indicate they had found him arriving. His own story was that he was crew on a ship owned by his father & he jumped ship - his father never did own a ship - he was a carpenter - and from my interpretation of events the small amount of family money came from the mother. The father and brother also ended up in Australia (which I initially discovered via a burial/death index (Mum had a very distinctive name) and appeared to end up as paupers (or similar). I have only traced shipping for the brother - the others probably came by canoe :D
All in all, another of my story telling family members!
Trish
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hey there Sue and Trish
interuptting this thread :-X Sue tips did the trick
I found where my greatgrandmother Mary Ann Baker arrived in Maryborough in 1886 on the Eastminister and of my goodness she lied about her age when she was married said she was twenty one and she was only 18 no wonder she looks so young in the photo ;)
now to find some info on the Eastminister
regards Jenn
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Hi Gals,
Well knowing how thorough you both are in your searching, I didn't really think Trish would have overlooked this source, but never having been on Ancestry before, I thought I should mention it.
[Probably won't be ever again either when Ancestry fixes its glich!!]
S
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Hi Gals,
[Probably won't be ever again either when Ancestry fixes its glich!!]
S
It could relate to the 3 days free access through ancestry.ca - I have done some minor US searching related to same. I think the Australian data is free access all the time (indexes certainly are). I have a UK sub - ask any time ;D
Hi Jenn
Glad you found another one ;D Did you check all the oz data on ancestry - an early NSW file as well (but no sign of my folks).
Most of mine were unassisted immigrants & I think there was much less info on them. They were mainly left to their own devices & received very little govt assistance, although a couple did received some land grants in NSW. The Queenslanders had to fend for themselves :(
Trish
PS Apologies Millie - a minor steal of your thread
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MMmm..
That is how I got in Trish. A bit of Canadian guidance. Does this sort of thing happen often?
Must remember what you say about Aussie stuff being free.
I've never been near Ancestry before so didn't even know about Aussie base.
Sue
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Ancestry.ca has a three day free trial - and you can get in via that to search Ancestry uk too. I've been searching madly looking for stray people.
I THINK today is the last day, but last year with the three free days UK trial, somehow they gave an extra day - perhaps something to do with the time difference, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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MMmm..
That is how I got in Trish. A bit of Canadian guidance. Does this sort of thing happen often?
Must remember what you say about Aussie stuff being free.
I've never been near Ancestry before so didn't even know about Aussie base.
Sue
Hi Sue
Try going to www.ancestry.com.au - you will get the aussie data by default
I think you may find with the 3 day - it's not so much an extra day, but rather you get 3 days from when you first access it - but you only have 3 days to start the free days (or something like that). It seems to happen occasionally - perhaps when new data is being added. They also make some data types free at times - UK 1901 census is always free when the UK TV series is on
Trish