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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