PROLOGUE
I was obviously overly optimistic to think I could undertake one more decade for
this project. The eight thousand odd marriages were barely manageable, the
thirteen thousand odd deaths were something more of a challenge but the
twenty six thousand odd births were simply impossible to record and research
on my own. Getting the project to this point has taken the first five years of my
retirement already. But on the other hand it is rather nice to bring the project
to the end of transportation to the colony.
This is the fifth and first digital volume in my series on births, deaths
and marriages in the early colony of New South Wales. It covers the years 1831
to 1840, the fifth decade of the young colony's existence.
The reason for moving to a digital platform is quite simple, the numbers are
just getting too large for a traditional paper print. The option of dividing
the work into three separate volumes; one each for births, deaths and marriages
was considered but again the costs of three publications made this option
just as unaffordable.
This series of books combines the data in the church registers with data
from the shipping indents, the early colonial musters of 1802, 1806, 1811, 1814,
1822, 1825, 1837 and the "1828 Census of New South Wales" plus "The Pioneer
Register" and "Convict Families Which Made Australia" projects.
During the fifth decade of the colony's existence the number of convicts sent
to New South Wales was 22,243 (males 17,363 and females 4,880) just 94 less
than in the previous decade. On the other hand the number of free arrivals
increased considerably but exact documentation of these numbers is hard to find.
The various and numerous regiments who served in the colony during this
fifth decade are listed in the table below.
Table p.1. Regiments Serving in Colony
17th Leicestershire 1830 - 1836
4th Kings Own 1832 - 1837
50th West Kent 1833 - 1841
21st Royal North British Fusiliers 1833 - 1839
28th North Gloucestershire 1835 - 1842
80th Staffordshire Volunteers 1837 - 1844
51st Yorkshire West Riding 1838 - 1846
In the first 'decade' there were 1,800 births but 1,820 deaths. In the second
decade the corresponding figures were 3,142 births against 1,414 deaths. In
the third decade there were 6,081 births against 2,820 deaths. In the fourth
decade there were 8,502 births against 5,325 deaths. In this fifth decade
there were 26,072 births against 13,170 deaths. Thus by the end of the
fifth decade the population of the colony can be estimated to have grown
by at least 35,000 people(not counting free arrivals).
Table p.2. Demographics
Decade Male Female Births Deaths
--------------------------------------------------
1788-1800 6,023 1,374 1,800 1,820
1801-1810 3,310 1,282 3,142 1,414
1811-1820 15,414 1,867 6,081 2,037
1821-1830 19,480 2,695 8,502 5,325
1831-1840 17,363 4,880 26,072 14,164
------ ------ ------ ------
61,590 12,098 45,607 24,760
The number of births increased from the previous decade's 8,502
to 26,072 (more than tripled). This increase reflects the fact that despite
the end of transportation the colony was now an emigrant destination for
Great Britain of the highest order. Regretfully, given the large percentage
of untranscribed baptisms, for this fifth decade the identification and
analysis of the fathers and mothers would be meaningless.
The number of marriages increased to 8,326 from the previous decade's 3,130
(again almost tripled). For this fifth decade the rate of identification of
the grooms decreased significantly from 91% to 56% and for the brides from
91% to 61%. This dramatic decrease reflects the changing demographics of
the colony with the huge influx of free arrivals for whom the documentation
has proved elusive.
A sign of the continuing improving morality of the colony was reflected in
the fact that during the fifth decade the number of illegitimate births fell
considerably from 15% to 6%.
The number of deaths again almost tripled from the previous decade (from
5,325 to 13,170). For this fifth decade the rate of identification of the
deceased decreased from 83% to 75% reflecting the same problems faced
with identifying bridal couples.
Thus by the end of the fifth decade of the colony's existence it can be estimated,
using the arrival, birth and death figures as explained in this series of
books, that the population should have been over 100,000 people of all
descriptions. For reasons already mentioned the exact figure is hard to
determine because of the poorly documented free arrivals. But in fact the
1841 Census documented the population of New South Wales as 101,749 persons
confirming the estimation.
In conclusion I would like to suggest that one or several of the genealogical
societies throughout the state might like to form a working group to bring
this series up to 1856, the time of compulsory civil registration of births,
deaths and marriages in the colony. The task I am afraid has become just too
onerous for one lone individual.
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