Convict Guide - published 2006 - Manual / Resource - Page 106
Guide to New South Wales State archives relating to convicts and convict administration
Butts of special marriage licences, 1828–36
NRS 1037
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.
An index has been prepared by State Records
and typescript copies are located at [2/8304A &
B] and at Reel 2278.
Dates
Principal
Superintendent of
Convicts' records
Item
Reel
24 Jan 1828–30 Jan 1832
Church of England
[4/6030]
2281
9 Jan 1832–18 May 1835
Church of England
[4/6031]
2386
6 Aug 1835–2 Jun 1836
Church of England
[4/6032]
2281
22 Apr 1828–25 Oct 1831
Church of Scotland
[4/6033]
2281
21 Jul 1832–8 Jun 1835
Church of Scotland
[4/6034]
2281
Registers of convicts’ applications to marry,
20 Dec 1825–26 Feb 1851
NRS 12212
In the early years of the Colony, most marriages
followed the publication of banns in a church on
three successive Sundays. Convicts were married
by banns having first sought official permission.
These registers record the names of the parties
applying for permission to marry, their ages, the
date of permission or refusal, ship of arrival,
sentence, whether free or bond, and the name of
clergyman. Arrangement is either by date of
permission or refusal, or alphabetical by the
male applicant's surname.
The first permission to marry recorded in these
registers was granted on 6 January 1826, and
the first refusal on 9 June 1826.
These are two sections – those granted
permission to marry and those refused
permission – which provide varying degrees of
information, such as name, age, date of
permission, ship, sentence, free or bond,
clergyman.
Indexes
These registers are partially indexed. The
indexes have been filmed with the registers and
are located as follows:
Fiche
Description
780
Index to permissions granted, Jan 1826–May 1833
782
Partial index to females, A–C, May 1833–Dec 1837
791
Index to refusals, Jan 1831–Jul 1837
795
Index to permissions granted, Aug 1837–Sep 1842
798
Index to refusals, Aug 1837–Sep 1842
800
Index to permissions granted, Oct 1842–Feb 1851
802
Index to refusals, Sep 1842–Dec 1850
* An index for 1833–37 [4/4509] compiled by Elizabeth Roberts is available in State
Records' reading rooms at COD 401.
State Records Authority of New South Wales
103