Record series
Inward Registered Correspondence I [Immigration Branch]
VPRS 115
1849 - 1851
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Superintendent, Port Phillip District ( VA473 ): 1849 - 1851
Agencies responsible for this record series: Date Range
Series date range: 1849 - 1851
Series in custody:
1849 - 1851
Contents in custody:
1849 - 1851
Function / Content
This series consists of inward correspondence received by the Immigration Branch of the office of the Superintendent of the Port Phillip District.This series includes letters from persons:
Applications for free passage (using Form A Immigration Deposits used when nominating particular individuals for free passage)
Applications for immigration of servants (using Form B Immigration Deposits used when nominating servants to be selected by agents in the United Kingdom). This procedure required payment of money to the Treasury in Melbourne.
Applications for passage (using Form C Immigration Remittances when passage for a particular individual was desired)
The series also contains correspondence from Sydney and Melbourne officials such as the Colonial Secretary; the Colonial Treasurer; the Immigration Agents; Emigration Boards reporting on immigrant ships; the Surgeon Superintendents of immigrant ships reporting on the health of immigrants and discussing special inquiries; and from the Health Board. Correspondence from officials also includes instructions and discussions on the immigration regulations and procedures, reports on various ethnic groups of immigrants (ie. Germans), and passenger lists.
How to use the records
Correspondence is registered in VPRS 2876 Register of Inward Correspondence [Immigration Branch] which records the name and location of sender, date of receipt, and a precis of the letter. The register also notes the registration number of related outward correspondence. It appears that no index to the correspondence was created as part of the registry system. Once a correspondence number and date has been obtained from the register refer to the Records Description List to obtain the required unit. Correspondence is range listed by number and date.Recordkeeping system
Each inward letter was, on receipt and registration given a distinctive number for identification. This consisted of an annual single number, that is a sequential number prefixed by the last two figures of the year, with the numbering sequence recommencing at 1 at the start of each year. Thus the one-hundred and twenty-third item received in 1849 was given the number 49/123. The inward correspondence appears to have been arranged in annual single number order in pigeon-hole cabinets/presses. The correspondence was folded lengthways and a precis (summary) of the letter written in red ink was written on the cover. The registration number was noted in black ink in the top left hand corner.Control Records
The annual single number was allocated from Registers (VPRS 2876), which record the name and location of sender, date of receipt, and a precis of the letter. The registers also note the registration number of related outward correspondence. It appears that no index to the correspondence was created as part of the registry system.
Previous Series
Until March 1849 inward correspondence regarding immigration matters was registered by the Land Branch, therefore pre March 1849 immigration correspondence is located in VPRS 2877 Inward Registered Correspondence I [Land Branch]. During March 1849 a separate Immigration registry system was established and a new annual single number sequence commenced specifically for immigration correspondence. This correspondence is located in this series.
Subsequent Series
After the establishment of the new Colonial Secretary's Office in June 1851 a new sequence of annual single numbers for immigration correspondence was commenced. This correspondence is located in VPRS 116.
In April 1852 immigration correspondence was again registered within the Land Branch registry system.
