Are you looking for BDMs?
For copies of birth, death and marriage certificates registered in NSW and NSW historical BDM indexes you need to visit the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website. It provides access to online historical indexes: NSW Births that are over 100 years old, NSW Deaths that are over 30 years old, and NSW Marriages that are over 50 years old. More complete Family History Certificates can be purchased from the Registry.
Microfiche copies of the following NSW Registry of BDM indexes are available in our reading room, the Society of Australian Genealogists, the Mitchell Library and in many libraries throughout Australia:
- Pioneer series of Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1788-1888
- Federation series of Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1889-1918
- NSW Between the war series of Indexes to Deaths and Marriages, 1919-1945 (NOTE: there are no births listed on this index)
Historical overview
The practice of recording baptisms, burials and marriages in church registers was established in England during the sixteenth century. This practice was continued in New South Wales when the following Acts, aimed at validating and regularising practices, were passed:
- 1825 Church of England
- 1834 Roman Catholic (then Church of Rome)
- 1834 Presbyterian Church (then Church of Scotland)
- 1839 Wesleyan Methodist Society
- 1840 Congregational or Independent and Baptist denominations
Nonetheless, records were kept prior to the years and, in fact, the first Church of England records are of baptisms and burials during the assembly and movement of the First Fleet before its arrival in Sydney in 1788. However, some ceremonies that took place prior the years shown above, were not retained by church authorities, or the event was not recorded. If you are researching this early period some searches may end with no surviving records of the event you are looking for.
Between 1826 and 1855 copies of Church of England records were required to be sent firstly to the Registrar of the Archdeacon's Court and later to the Registrar of the Bishops of Australia. These records did not pass into the possession of the Registrar General until 1882 following the Clergy Returns Transfer Act of 1878. They were subsequently numbered as Volumes 1-44 (Volume 44 also includes some records after 1856).
As Deputy Registrar in the office of the Registrar of the Bishop of Australia during the years 1836 to 1856, Henry Kerrison James compiled (from sources available to him) chronological registers of baptisms, burials and marriages from 1787 to 1831. No other record of some of these events came into the possession of the Registrar General. The chronological registers which are numbered 1 (baptisms), 2 (burials), and 3 (marriages), often contain less detail than any other available record of the same event.
As from the date of recognition of each of the other denominations the ministers were required to send copies of their records annually to the Registrar of the Supreme Court. These records were transferred to the Registrar General in 1856.
Prior to 1856 some children born in New South Wales may not have been baptised and some persons who died may not have had a church burial. Even after 1856 some events were not registered due to time limits (since removed) and factors such as distances from townships and failure to appreciate future needs. Divorce was not possible under New South Wales law until 1875 and undoubtedly this meant that some persons who wished to marry were unable to do so.
Are you starting your family tree?
For historical information and other sources on baptisms, deaths and marriages, this guide may be of interest. After checking the NSW Registry of BDMs above the following indexes may assist in mapping out your family tree.
1. The Mutch Index
Another useful source, especially for the early years of the Colony, is the Thomas Davies Mutch Card index to births, deaths and marriages, 1787-1957 (known as the Mutch Index). We have a microfilm copy (Reels 2125-2129) of the original index which is held by the Mitchell Library.
The Index is believed to cover all relevant extant records relating to New South Wales from 1788-1828, except for the Newcastle Register and the Methodist Church records, and selected records to 1957. Later entries are from tombstone inscriptions and the most recent from news-cuttings and relate only to comparatively few families. A list of the records included is at the beginning of the index, and further information is available from the Mitchell Library.
| Description | Dates | Reel |
|---|---|---|
|
Abbott - Youngston |
1787-1814 |
2125 |
|
Abbott - Curtin |
1815-1957 |
2126 |
|
Curtis - Jurd |
1815-1957 |
2127 |
|
Kable - Roper |
1815-1957 |
2128 |
|
Rose - Zillman |
1815-1957 |
2129 |
2. Registers of BDMs
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
(Reels 5001-5048) |
Microfilm copies of Registers of Baptisms, Burials and Marriages *ARK This series is a set of 48 rolls of microfilm published by NSW State Archives in co-operation with the Genealogical Society of Utah and the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Sydney. Copies also available at the Society of Australian Genealogists; the Mitchell Library and in a number of other libraries. |
1787-1856 |
3. Early BDM records
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
Colonial Secretary: Special Bundles
|
1794-1825 | |
| NRS 905 |
Colonial Secretary: Main series of letters received
The returns are listed in the Mutch Index. |
1826-1982 |
Births and baptisms records
In the earliest years of the colony records of baptisms rather than births were kept. If a child was not baptised there might be no record of its birth.
It being essentially necessary that regular Returns should be transmitted annually to England of the Exact state of the Population of the Colony, and that regular Accounts for this Purpose should be kept in the different districts and Parishes throughout the whole of the territory, of all Births and Deaths. His Excellency the Governor accordingly directs that exact and correct registers shall in future be kept by the several Chaplains … of all Births and Deaths that may occur in their respective Parishes or Districts, transmitting regular Quarterly Returns thereof to the Principal Chaplain at Parramatta, from which he will make up a general one to be laid before the Governor …"
- General Order dated 15 September 1810 (Copy in 4/1725 No. 124 pp. 107-8)
Related records
- NRS 5314: Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships, 1832-1834 (Reels 1286-1349). Each certificate records the name of the ship, native place, calling, age, health, religion and name of the immigrant. Each is endorsed with a character reference and a certificate of baptism
- Naturalization records usually contain information relating to a person's age and native place
Marriage records
The total number of women in the Colony is about one thousand four hundred and thirty, including Officers and free Settlers wives: the number of married among them, is three hundred and ninety five and unmarried one thousand and thirty five — these in general are living in open Prostitution. The total number of legitimate Children is eight hundred and seven, and the number of natural Children, one thousand and twenty five…"
- Revd Samuel Marsden: a few Observations on the Situation of the Female Convicts in New South Wales. c.1806 (M.L.Mss18).
In the early colony, marriages were of two kinds, either by licence or by the publication of banns. As the fees were comparatively high, £4.4.0, only the more affluent members of the community married by licence. The licence was granted by the Governor as there was no Bishop of the Church of England in the colony.
Most marriages followed the publication of the banns in a church on three successive Sundays. Convicts were married by banns having first obtained the Governor's permission.
You appear to be sensible of the Importance of promoting the Increase of Marriages in the Colony; and, undoubtedly, the very great proportion which appears to exist of illegitimate in comparison with Legitimate Children, leads to the conclusion that a proper System for advancing this grand object has not been adopted. From the Circumstances of the Colonists, and the Numbers that go out leaving their Wives or Husbands in England, and the Disproportion between the Sexes, it must be extremely difficult to remedy the evil complained of; but I have understood that sufficient Pains have not been taken with respect to the Disposal of the Female Convicts on their first arrival in the Colony, and that they have been indented to improper Persons in order to ease, as soon as possible, the Expense of supporting them by Government Rations. The Impolicy of this System is so obvious that I trust you will not persevere in it, but in every case endeavour to make the Reformation of the Female Convict and her regular Settlement by marriage a Consideration superior to the saving, for any short period, the expense of maintaining her."
- Castlereagh to Thigh, 31 December 1807 Historical Records of Australia 1.6.202
For the early period of the colony, see the Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825. It is arranged alphabetically by surname and subject. Convicts had to obtain permission to marry from the Colonial Secretary. There are also instances where correspondence relating to the marriage of free people was kept by the Colonial Secretary. Records relating to marriages are listed under the names of the parties.
| Series | Title | Dates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Colonial Secretary: Special Bundles
We have prepared a card index and typescript copies are located at 2/8304A & B and a microfilm copy at Reel 2278. The applications for 1819-25 [2/8305 and 2/8305A] are also indexed in the published Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825.
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1794-1825 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRS 905 |
Colonial Secretary: Main series of letters received
The returns show name, age, status (widower, widow, bachelor, or spinster), ship and year of arrival, sentence, free or bond, present service, character and result of application. Please note that most returns are grouped together by denomination and then by clergyman/district within each year. A small number of other returns have been located in various other bundles in the main series of Colonial Secretary: Letters received. They have not been listed here, but individual entries may be located by using the microfiche index. Index list A more detailed description of the index is provided in the Introduction at the beginning of the first fiche. Individuals:
Yearly Index:
Item list This Item list is designed to reflect the order of the returns on the films, without going into excessive detail. Researchers may have to search for a particular reference on a film but the return should be there. |
1826-1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRS 937 |
Returns of persons whose marriages had been authorised by the Governor following the publication of banns *ARK (1814-25) These returns are included in the series Colonial Secretary: Copies of letters sent within the Colony. The names of the parties do not appear in the indexes to the volumes. This series is indexed for the years 1814-25 in the Index to the Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825. Item list:
|
1814-1827 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
[4/1710 pp.151-222]; Reel 2281, Fiche 836, COD10 |
Abstract of all licences for marriages granted to free persons *ARK Information given includes: the number and date of the licence; parties' names; and where, when and by whom the marriage was solemnised. In many cases name of parent (father or mother), name of previous spouse (for women only), occupation, and place of residence are also recorded. A PDF index to these abstracts is available (see the sidebar). We have prepared a card index and typescript copies are located at 2/8304A & B and a microfilm copy at Reel 2278. |
17 Mar 1813-26 Dec 1827 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRS 1037 |
Butts of Special Marriage Licences, The butts record licence number; date; the bridegroom's name, residence and designation (bachelor, widower); the bride's name, residence and designation; and the church, parish, county and Minister. We have prepared a card index and typescript copies are located at 2/8304A & B and a microfilm copy at Reel 2278. Item list:
|
1828-1836 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRS 906 |
Colonial Secretary: Special Bundles
|
1826-1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reels 713-715, COD11-15, COD 377-381, Fiche 780-802 |
Principal Superintendent of Convicts: Registers of convicts applications to marry *ARK (Fiche) There are two sections-those granted permission to marry and those refused permission-which provide varying degrees of information, eg. name, age, date of permission, ship, sentence, free or bond, clergyman. Item list
*An index to convicts applications to marry for the period January 1838 to March 1841 has been compiled by Elizabeth Ann Roberts. A copy of this index is located at COD401. |
20 Dec 1825-26 Feb 1851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
[5/7691]; Reel 741 |
Consents of the Governor and Declarations for Presbyterian marriages Original letters from the Colonial Secretary and later the Principal Superintendent of Convicts, to Presbyterian ministers granting, or not, permission for the publication of the banns of marriage 1826-4186. From 1850-1860 the volume consists mostly of declarations that parties are free to marry. There is an index in front of the volume. |
6 Feb 1826 - 21 Jan 1860 |
Divorce records
New South Wales was the last Australian colony to implement divorce legislation with the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1873. Initially only men could petition for divorce on the grounds of adultery. For women requesting divorce adultery was an additional clause to causes such as bigamy, cruelty or desertion. See the Divorce Records Guide »
Death records
See the related 'death' guides including deceased estates, intestates, probates, coroners' inquests, cemeteries, .
55. With Respect to the Departures and Deaths of Convicts and Settlers, I have to Inform Your Lordship that no regular Account of these Circumstances has been ever deemed necessary to be kept here in a Separate or distinct Form…
56…The Deaths Can only be Collected from the Reports of the Chaplains, and until After My Arrival Many of the Interments took place Without the Attendance of the Chaplains, or even the Decency of Carrying the Bodies to the regular prescribed Burial Grounds Which were at the time of My Arrival, only three in Number, vizt. Sydney, Parramatta and Windsor; the Consequence is that No Registration of these Events Could possibly take place, and even now the Returns made by the Chaplains are not Sufficient to Account for All the Deaths, Neither Can their Reports be looked upon as Correct in the Cases of Convicts, as they Can only Acquire that Information on Hear-Say from some of the persons attending the Funerals".- Macquarie to Liverpool, 17 November 1812 Historical Records of Australia 1.7.615-616
| Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
(Fiche 5016-5182, 5266-269) |
Probate Index Set of 171 microfiche published by the Probate Division of the Supreme Court. The index provides the following information: number, series number, name, residence, date of death and instrument. |
1800-1984 |
|
[2/848]; Reel 690 |
Auditor General: Statements of the proceeds from the sale of the effects of convicts who died during the voyage to the colony or after their arrival | c.1824 |
|
(COD 184) |
Corrective Services: Death register [Darlinghurst Gaol] Original retained by Department of Corrective Services. |
1867-1926 |
|
(Reel 712) |
Establishments (Military): Copies of returns sent by the Commandant Returns of deaths at King George's Sound |
3 Dec 1829-10 Sep 1830 |
|
[4/4552]; Reel 694 |
Police: Annual returns of convicts who died p.157 1867, p.196 1868, p.237 1869, p.250 1870, p.273 1871, p.290 1872, p.310 1873, p.341 1874, p.367 1875, p.386 1876, p.397 1877, p.411 1878, p.420 1879, p.432 1880, p.441 1881, p.451 1882, p.460 1883, p.468 1884, p.477 1885, p.485 1886, p.492 1887, p.500 1888, p.510 1889 (nil), p.518 1890, p.525 1891. |
1867-1869 |
|
[4/4549]; Reel 690, Fiche 749-751 |
Principal Superintendent of Convicts: Convict death register *ARK (Fiche) The volume is arranged chronologically under the letters of the alphabet and shows name, ship of arrival, age, date of burial, parish and occasionally other details. Item list
|
1828-1879 |
| NRS 905 |
Colonial Secretary: Main series of Letters received
The papers relate to convicts who died on the voyage out as well as those who died after arriving.
The return shows name, ship, age, county, date of decease, disease, and remarks as to character and conduct.
The returns show name; if free or convict; if convict, by what ship; age; when deceased and when interred. |
1826-1982 |
|
(Reels 6021, 2928) |
Proceedings of Coroners Inquests *ARK Reports of some of the inquests held in the colony, arranged alphabetically by the names of the deceased. They provide details of the names of the coroner, the deceased, the jury and a record of depositions and the jury's finding. The proceedings of inquests which returned a finding of murder by a named person are not here. From 1826 on they are in the series Clerk of the Peace: Depositions and proceedings in Criminal Cases, 1826-1922. This volume is included in the Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825. |
1809-1822 |
Related records
- Reports of vessels arrived (or Shipping reports), 1826-59, NRS 1291, Reels 1263-85 and 2851. Includes date and cause of death during the voyage.
- Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrants Lists), 1838-96, NRS 5316, Reels 2134-2143. Shows if a person died during the voyage but not necessarily the date of death.
Other Finding Aids
Other Australian States and Territories
The State Library of New South Wales holds microfiche and CD-Rom versions of many state and territory birth, death and marriage records.
ACT - Births, Deaths and Marriages
Northern Territory - Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Queensland - Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
South Australia - Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office
Victoria - Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
Western Australia - Department of the Attorney General
International
England and Wales - General Register Office
Ireland - Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages
New Zealand - Births, Deaths and Marriages
Northern Ireland - General Register Office Northern Ireland
Scotland - General Register Office for Scotland
*ARK signifies that a copy of the record or guide is part of the Archives Resources Kit and is held by the community access points.
SHORT GUIDES
Content in this Guide first appeared in Short Guide 2 - Births, Deaths and Marriages
What's happened with Short Guides »