The volume was donated to the Warrnambool & District Historical Society by the executors of the late Margeret Jansen.The Pioneers' Register Volumes 1 & 2 contain details of many Warrnambool and district early families as contributed by descendants and verified by members of the Warrnambool Branch of the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (AIGS). This volume was bound by local bookbinder, Murray Simper, and presented to Margaret Jansen, the co-ordinator of the project.Hardbound book in maroon with red leather spine binding. Title and publisher is in gold on black bands with gold stripes top and bottom. Inside a copy of the softcover of volume 1 has been included.pioneers register warrnambool, warrnambool history, 1839-1900 pioneers register, margaret jansen, murray simper

This Miner’s Right, one of a pair of two in our collection, was issued post the rush of the 1850s-60s but is testament to the ongoing interest in gold although the great rush had dwindled. Local papers continued to report on findings and hopes of success, including syndicates and explorations across the south-west district of Victoria and Otways. The Warrnambool correspondent of the “Hamilton Spectator”, 31/1/1878, p4 attest to the price of a good season of potatoes comparing “favourably with the unsteady returns of any precarious gold-bearing quartz reefs in the colony.” A James Collins (1842-1918) is listed in the Pioneers’ Register, Warrnambool, Township and Shire 1839-1900, Volume One, A.I.G.S Warrnambool Branch, 2004, p137. As are numerous other Collins pioneer families of the district. This item is significant in that it illustrates that people associated with the region were interested in taking their chances in prospecting for gold similar to many others. A lure that is still present for some today. Although the southwest region found it's source of wealth in other industries from whaling and fishing, wool and other agricultural pursuits. Miner's Rights permit, one of two, This is a top to bottom upright image of a Miner’s Right. It is a buff coloured document printed in black ink. It was issued in “BALLARAT” and rubber stamped twice in red ink. The issue to “James Collins”, is dated “23rd August 1889” to “22nd August 1890”. The signature of the authority could be Bennet. All handwriting is script style in black ink. Looking from the front the lefthand side has a serrated edge. The back is printed in black ink and there are no “particulars of registration”. The Miner’s Right is from “Series J, Book No. 3, ticket “No. 15”. A “Colony of Victoria” coat of arms is displayed at the top of the document. An insignia runs along the lefthand side of the license featuring coat of arms with a kangaroo and emu, then a miner’s pick and shovel, two crossed Union Jack flags sit behind a monogram “VR” with a hanging set of scales supported by a sword. "By Authority Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer.""Series J. Book No. 3 Five Shillings. No. 15. Colony of Victoria. Miner's Right"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, james collins, australian goldfields, miner's rights, the history of ballarat, gold rush

Bob Rust was born in Poplar, London in 1823. He became a merchant seaman and all of his "Certificates of Discharge" (except the first one) show him working out of the London docks. The certificates document his career as an "Able Seaman" between the years 1845 to 1852. He worked on the following ships - Jan 25th - March 22nd, 1845 - schooner "Sisters" out of Hull. 14th July - 30th Nov 1845 - "Caleb Angus" - Port of London to West India Dock, London. 12th Dec 1845 - 14th June 1846 - "Caleb Angus" - Port of London to West India Dock, London. April - 16th Oct 1847 - barque "James Turcan" - discharged at Antwerp. It was noted by Mr Mills (Master) "his conduct was to my entire satisfaction. He is a sober, steady man" 25th Oct - 18th Dec 1847 - Brig "Eclipse" - Port of London. Dec 1847 - Nov 1848 - "Cecrops" - London to Cardiff to Cuba and discharged at West India Dock, London. 2nd Dec 1848 - 9th Feb 1850 (15 months) - "Enterprise" - discharged London. Nb - this was not the "Enterprise" used by John Pascoe Fawkner to enter the Yarra in 1835 or the "Enterprise" that sank in Lady Bay, Warrnambool in 1850 and it was not the "Enterprise" belonging to the British Navy which was used to search for Sir John Franklin's lost expedition and later made two Arctic voyages. It is not noted where Bob Rust sailed to on this voyage, but his Master noted on his certificate that "the bearer is an excellent seaman and a good sail maker". 3rd April - 20th Oct 1850 - brig "Thames" - London to London via Trieste. 30th Oct 1850 - 10th May 1851 - "Elizabeth". 9th June - 10th Nov 1851 - "Lady Rowena" - to Alexandria. 23rd Nov 1851 - 17th May 1852 - "Thames" - Mediterranean voyage to Trieste. Bob Rust was an early settler in Warrnambool. He came to Warrnambool, Australia sometime between May 1852 and 1856 where he was recorded in the Electoral Roll, as a labourer, living in Henna Street. According to family history, he "jumped ship" at Port Fairy (then Belfast) as there are no records of him officially arriving in Australia. His picture and details are recorded in "The Pioneers' Register, Warrnambool Township and Shire 1839-1900 Volume Two". He married Sarah Ann Twaits in 1865 and they had seven children. His wife died in 1876 following the birth of their last child. He doesn't appear to have ever worked as a seafarer once he arrived in Warrnambool but is only recorded as working as a labourer and chimney sweep and (in the 1880's) operating as a "General Storekeeper" and "Produce Merchant" (frequently advertising in the Warrnambool Standard for items such as potatoes, oats and dairy produce from his Henna Street premises). He continued to live in Henna Street until his death on 15th January 1906 aged 82 years. English maritime discharge certificates evolved from simple proof of release in the 1700's to become official service records in the mid 1800's. They were issued at the end of a voyage to confirm a sailor had been released from duty and paid. The Merchant Shipping Act of 1835 introduced the formal registration of British seamen, to allow the Government (Board of Trade) to identify individual seamen for the Royal Naval Reserve. Seafarers who registered were issued with tickets which contained some personal details including name, date and place of birth. As the registration system evolved over time, each merchant seafarer was allocated a unique number which would be retained during their time of service at sea. Bob Rust's number was 27914. It also documented the name of the ship (for each voyage), its tonnage, master and date and place of discharge. Early certificates had separate notes re the seaman's conduct or character but after the early 1850's, these became part of the discharge certificate. This collection of "Certificates of Discharge" include those from the late 1840's (which were smaller in size), several handwritten character references as well as some examples of the newer forms of the early 1850's.Theses certificates are significant examples of the legal paperwork generated by the British government in the day-to-day regulation of working seamen in the late 19th century. They are also significant as they document the career of a working seaman at that time.This is a set of twelve "Certificates of Discharge", two handwritten character descriptions and two "Certificates of Character" issued to Able Seaman Bob Rust primarily between the years 1845 and 1852. They have been issued by the Masters of the ships Bob Rust had sailed on, at the completion of each voyage. They differ slightly in size and layout but most follow a similar format in documenting the name of the seaman (Bob Rust), his ticket number (24696), the name of the ship and its tonnage, the port of departure and discharge (e.g. West India Docks London) and the date of the voyage. Some later certificates also describe the destination of the voyage (e.g. Mediterranean). Two of the documents are handwritten notes by the master of the ship certifying as to the conduct of the seaman and two later documents (from 1851 and 1852) are "Certificates of Character" - completed and signed by the Master on the termination of the voyage. Example of Certificate from 1845 - 1850 - "Certificate of Discharge. Schedule E, 7 & 8 Victoria, c.112. This is to certify, that Robert Rust/ whose Register Ticket is numbered 24696 served as Able Seaman/ on Board the Caleb Angus of the Port of London / of the Burden of 303 Tons, from the 14th day of July to the 30th / day of Nov 1845 and that he was discharged from the said ship on 30th /Nov 1845 at West India Docks London Dated this 3 day of December 1845" Mr Whittle MASTER. Example of handwritten character note - "This is to certify that the/ bearer Robert Rust sailor in the barque/ James Turcan, under my command as able / seaman six months during which time / his conduct was to my entire satisfaction / he is a sober steady man. W B. Mills Antwerp 20th October 1847"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, certificate of discharge, certificate of character, robert rust, bob rust, seaman's certificate of discharge, sisters, caleb angus, james turcan, eclipse, cecrops, enterprise, brig thames, elizabeth, lady rowena, warrnambool pioneer, sarah ann twaits