Cops And Robbers. A Guide To Researching 19th Century Police And Criminal Records In Victoria, Australia By Helen Doxford Harris and Gary Presland
This publication looks in detail at a wide range of 19th century government records created in relation to people either serving in the police force or being charged with a criminal offence, thus either the ‘Cops’ or the ‘Robbers’ of text, printed on superior quality paper, a detailed bibliography, five appendices and a comprehensive name and localities index.Records covered include: police personnel files, police correspondence, Police Gazettes, Occurrence Books, Watchhouse Books, Petty Sessions Registers, County and Supreme Court Records, appeals against convictions, prison registers etc.
As at March 2009 this book is no longer available, all copies having been sold. Copies are available for perusal at many local and family history libraries throughout Australia
Source: https://helendoxfordharris.com.au/
Helen D Harris OAM, is a professional genealogist and historian who has been researching at PROV for more than thirty years. She specialises in police, court and criminal records and is the co-author of Cops and robbers: a guide to researching 19th century police and criminal records in Victoria (Harriland Press, 1990). She has a Master of Arts from Monash University and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1993 for services to community history.
Position Title: Professional Genealogist and Historian
Source: https://prov.vic.gov.au/helen-d-harris-oam Apr2023
Harris, Helen Doxford. & Presland, Gary. 1990, Cops and robbers : a guide to researching 19th century police and criminal records in Victoria, Australia / by Helen Doxford Harris and Gary Presland Harriland Press Nunawading [Vic.]
Helen D Harris OAM, is a professional genealogist and historian who has been researching at PROV for more than thirty years. She specialises in police, court and criminal records and is the co-author of Cops and robbers: a guide to researching 19th century police and criminal records in Victoria (Harriland Press, 1990). She has a Master of Arts from Monash University and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1993 for services to community history.
Position Title: Professional Genealogist and Historian
Source: https://prov.vic.gov.au/helen-d-harris-oam Apr2023
POLICING IN DONCASTER IN THE 19TH CENTURY
Helen Harris, Guest Speaker at the April Meeting was Helen Harris OAM. Helen is the former secretary and an Honorary Life Member of the Victoria Police Historical Society and currently the secretary and archivist of the Box Hill Historical Society. She has had a longstanding interest in 19th century police and criminal records. Helen is the co-author, with Gary Presland, of Cops and Robbers. A guide to researching 19th cen- tury police and criminal records in Victoria and has maintained, for over 20 years, a website listing interesting cases found in police records: https://helendoxfordharris.com.au/
Helen’s talk covered the establishment of policing in Doncaster in the 19th century, and showed how 19th cen- tury police records can assist in exploring social, local and family histories of the area. The Victoria Police force was formed in January 1853 as a result of a Parliamentary Select Committee Report, which had recommended that various small police groups be amalgamated. The first Chief Commissioner was William H.F. Mitchell, and by the 1880s it was Hussey Malone Chomley. Helen explained how Doncaster police station came to be formed in 1882, and the actions needed to actually set up a station and residence; a local, Mr Clay, leased premises to the department, while other locals supplied fodder for the horse. The first constable appointed to the Station was John Hamilton, and Helen detailed some of the correspondence he had with the department over a lack of supplies, and his later unsuccessful attempt to receive a promotion. Examples of the different types of duties that were involved in running the station, and dealing with cases were given, including burial of destitute persons, reports of stolen horses, watches and bicycles, house-breaking and robberies, absconding servants, wife desertions and an attempted bank robbery. e.g. STOLEN from the bedroom of Kate Cotter, Tower Hotel, Doncaster, on the 7th inst., a lady’s gold open- face watch, No. 4512, with a small gold locket and chain attached ; a small drab kid purse, 17s. in silver, and two references in complainant’s name. Value £7. 0.7830. 12th September, 1890. Helen also explained where the various records were kept and how to access them.
Source: 2023-06 DTHS Newsletter
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