Guide to the papers of the Sanford family (as filmed by the AJCP)
M386
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Online Items
Series 1. Letters from William and Henry Sanford to members of their family, 1851 - 1853
The letters were written to their father Edward Sanford, their grandmother Mary Sanford and their cousin Caroline Sanford. The letters from William, written from Perth, refer to his voyage from England, his first impressions of Perth, Henry's appointment in the Convict Department and his later business activities, the climate, the colony's prospects, the usefulness of convicts as servants, and Captain Charles Fitzgerald, the Governor of Western Australia. The letters from Henry were written from Perth, Toodyay and Fremantle. They refer to his appointment in the Convict Department, the employment of convicts on public works, the climate, his life at Toodyay, mutual friends, and news of gold discoveries in Victoria.
Series 2. Letters from Henry Ashford to William Sanford, December 1851 - March 1855
The letters were mostly written from Port Gregory, but include some from Fremantle and Toodyay. They refer to financial matters, Captain Edmund Henderson, the Comptroller General of Convicts, the assignment of convicts, the opposition of old convicts to the arrival of convicts, news from home, ship arrivals and departures at Port Gregory, his business activities, debts, the Geraldine lead mines, stores, the shipment of wool and oil, whaling, a trip to the Abrolhos Islands, and his relations with C. Gregory, William Burges and J. Brockman. Some of the letters are crossed.
Series 3. Letter from Edward Ayshford Sanford, 1851
Edward A. Sanford (Woburn Abbey) to his mother Mary Sanford, 13 September 1851 (File 1)
The departure of his son William Sanford from England, well-equipped with tons of luggage; fears that gold discoveries in New South Wales will be prejudicial to Western Australia; views of Sir Roderick Murchison on likelihood of gold in Western Australia.
Series 4. Letters from members of the Sanford Family to William and Henry Sanford, 1851 - 1854
Letters to William and Henry Sanford from their father Edward A. Sanford (London, Brighton, Nynehead Court), their grandmother Mary Sanford (Lynton Cottage) and their sister Henrietta Sanford (Lynton Cottage, Combe Florey).
Series 6. Letters to William Sanford as Colonial Secretary, 1851 - 1855
Subseries 1. Letters from particular persons, 16 January 1852 - 6 April 1883
Henry Sanford (London) to Sanford, 6 April 1883 (File 2)
Visit to London of Thomas Burges and his wife from Western Australia; meeting with Frederick Barlee.
John W. Sillivant (Bunbury) to Henry Sanford, n.d. (File 4)
Arrival of William Sanford in the colony; seeks a government appointment in the Bunbury district; effects of influx of convicts.
Henry Sanford (Toodyay) to Sanford, 27 January 1852 (File 5)
Forwards letter from J.W. Sillivant requesting a government appointment; asks for cases of ale, sherry and claret; approves of Sanford's purchase of Reeve's house. (2 letters)
John W. Sillivant to Clifton, n.d. (File 6)
Requests that vessel call at Bunbury for Mrs Sillivant so she can avoid a journey to Fremantle.
John W. Sillivant (Albany) to Sanford, 9 May 1853 (File 7)
Seeks advice on his powers as a magistrate.
Charlotte Sillivant (Fremantle) to Sanford (?), August 1853 - September 1853 (File 8)
Complains of accommodation on vessel proceeding to Albany. (2 letters)
John Molloy (Vasse) to Sanford, 1853 - 1855 (File 10)
Introduces Parnell and his wife; need for a bridge over the Ludlow River and a fireplace in the cell for prisoners at the Vasse; requests a gaol and warehouse. (4 letters)
Captain Edmund Henderson (Fremantle) to Sanford, mostly undated (File 14)
Organisation of Convict Department; employment of Engineers officers; appointments and dismissals; reconviction of convicts; remission for good conduct; plans of convicts to escape. (18 letters)
William H. Harvey (Albany, Melbourne) to Sanford, January 1854 - November 1854 (File 15)
Visit to the colony; decision to base his tour at Albany; transmission of botanical specimens; stemmed blackboys; state of roads; sends manuscript; exhibition in Melbourne.
John G. Griffith (Fremantle) to Sanford, 20 June 1853 (File 16)
Seeks appointment as immigration agent.
W. Cowan (York) to Sanford, 1853 - 1855 (File 17)
Difficulties with Australian Aboriginals at York; native institution at Mile Pool; need for special police in district; concealed firearms found among ticket of leave men. (5 letters)
Walter Clifton (Mandurah, Australind) to Sanford, December 1852 - February 1853 (File 18)
Sanford's visit to Mandurah; need for a bridge; recommends a carpenter; supply of books for school at Bunbury. (5 letters)
W. Pearce Clifton (Leschenault Cottage) to Sanford, 15 February 1853 (File 19)
Recommends sending a blacksmith to the district.
W. Pearce Clifton (Leschenault Cottage), 8 January 1855 (File 20)
Agrees to cut a spar for beacon at Bunbury; difficulty in obtaining flour.
Captain Charles Fitzgerald (Perth) to Sanford, n.d. (File 23)
Sanford's unpleasant experience as a cabin passenger; despatch of a vessel to Garden Island; question of appointing officers of the Engineers to command depots; employment of sappers on public works; inexperience of Edmund Du Cane; Peter Warburton. (2 letters)
Subseries 2. Letters on religious and educational matters, 1853 - 1855
Rev. James Brown (Fremantle, York) to Sanford, 1853 - 1855 (File 2)
Recommends a prisoner Andrew McNulty; management of government schools; building of a church at York. (4 letters)
Rev. George P. Pownall (York) to Sanford, March 1853 - December 1853 (File 4)
Building of a house and school; difficulties with J. Smithies, Wesleyan chaplain; Native Institution at York; model farms; York Agricultural Society. (5 letters)
Rev. John R. Wollaston (Albany) to Sanford, 30 January 1855 (File 5)
Public thanksgiving for the harvest; possible creation of a See of Western Australia; recommendation of Archdeacon M.B. Hale as Bishop of Perth.
Subseries 3. Letters on medical matters, 1851 - 1855
Subseries 4. Letters on private matters, 1851 - 1855
Mary Noakes (Sevenoaks) to Sanford, 19 August 1851 (File 1)
Congratulates Sanford on his Western Australian appointment.
Ambrose L. Goddard (Swindon) to Sanford, [1851] (File 2)
Prospective emigrants to Western Australia.
John Harris (Fremantle) to Sanford, 2 January 1852 (File 5)
Goods on Anna Robertson, the property of Sanford.
H.A. Carlhunt (?) to Sanford, n.d. (File 9)
£5000 from settlement trust fund of P.R. Bouverie invested in Sanford's name in a railway debenture.
Series 7. Accounts, 1852 - 1855
Household and personal accounts, 1854 - 1855 (File 2)
Including account for rent, account for fishing tackle, a dog licence, an account for books , subscriptions, accounts for ale and cider, accounts for garden and building materials, accounts for clothes washing, general stores, grocer, milk, butcher, herding...