Musters and census records, 1788–1837
A muster is similar to a census. Musters of the colony were originally held to keep track of the population and to ensure that the convicts were managed appropriately. They usually include a convict's name, their age and the name of the ship they were transported on. In some cases, you will find information about their assignments, employment, or whether they held a Ticket of Leave.
Be aware: Not all musters cover everyone in the colony. The most complete is the 1828 census.
How to find out about a convict's work assignment
Entries in some of the musters and censes records may give you clues to a convict's work assignment as some supply the name of a convict's employer or place of work (the name and residence of an employer can be a useful clue as you can then search for information about the employer in other resources such as pioneer registers of particular areas).
- STEP 1
Find the muster which corresponds with the dates you are interested in, on the 'Census and Muster' shelves in the Family History Service. Use your convict's date of arrival in NSW as a starting point and search the musters subsequent to this. If you have been unable to find a date of arrival for your convict you will have to search through all the musters listed.
TIP
If you do not yet know your convict's date of arrival, check the convict indents.You can select from the following resources:
Resource Location Musters and lists, New South Wales and Norfolk Island, 1800-1802
by Carol J Baxter (editor), 1988
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.3944/6General musters of New South Wales, Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land 1811
by Carol J Baxter (editor), 1987
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.394/6General muster of New South Wales, 1814
by Carol J Baxter (editor), 1987
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.3944/5General muster and land and stock muster of New South Wales 1822
by Carol J Baxter (editor), 1988
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.394/11AGeneral muster list of New South Wales 1823, 1824, 1825
by Carol J Baxter (editor), 1999
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.394/31Census of New South Wales, November 1828
by Malcolm R Sainty & Keith A Johnson (editor), 1980
- also available on CD-ROM and on microfilm as part of the Archives Resources Kit.
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/NQ312.09944/5 SETGeneral return of convicts in New South Wales, 1837
by NG Butlin, CW Cromwell, KL Suthern (editors), 1987
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/N929.3994/2The paracensus of NSW 1788-1828
by James Hugh Donohoe, 1998
- also available on CD-ROM and microfiche.
See full catalogue details for this itemState Reference Library, Family History Service, LG 2
REF 10/NQ929.394/16- STEP 2
Each printed muster generally has an alphabetical index to people contained in the muster and a page (or number) reference indicating where in the book you will find their entry. Many of the musters use abbreviations and codes - the meanings of which, you will usually find listed towards the front of each volume.
TIP
Some musters are not easy to use. It is very helpful to read the instructions and introduction at the front of each volume. If you have trouble using a muster, please ask the librarian for help.Example entries from the General muster of NSW 1814 are as follows:
No. Res. Name Ship of arrival Status Stores Remarks 2530 P Joseph Connerty Earl Spencer C On Woodman
to gaol2531 P Peter Hilson Duke of Portland C Off TL
Labourer2532 P James Bennet Indian C Off To W
JoyceIn the table above, the entries are all convicts (C) resident in the Parramatta area (P). Two of them are not supplied with government stores (ie food rations etc.). One of them works as a woodman at the jail, one holds a Ticket of Leave (TL) and works as a labourer and one is assigned to W Joyce.
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