The Avon Valley Collection - Western Australia

The Jan James Avon Valley Collection is a life time's work. The transcripts of Birth, Baptism, Marriage and Death begin circa 1841. These records are supported by Shire burial registers, Funeral Director's records, headstone inscriptions and many other items. Included is Jan's Index of Mug Shots and charges from Police Gazettes concerning those from the Avon Valley who were sentenced of a crime and served time in Fremantle Prison prior to 1952.

The Avon Valley

The Avon Valley is in Western Australia and was named in 1834. It encompasses the four major towns of Northam, Toodyay, York & Beverley and also includes the surrounding districts of the area known as 'the Avon Valley'.

The Index to the Collection (updated 1st Aug 2011 with over 2,500 new entries)

Jan created an index to the Avon Valley Collection. You will be able to use this index on this site to find the surname you want to research. Then contact Jan James for further information.

The index is an ongoing project; records are still being processed. If you have queries about an Avon Valley family that is not yet listed in the index, Jan may be able to look up the relevant information for you. Please provide as many details as you can when you email Jan with your query.

*** TWO (2) NEW ADDITIONS 1st Aug 2011 ***

(1) Convict Burials added 1st Aug 2011
This is an ongoing project. Jan is collating information about (former) convicts who died in the Avon Valley. Some were also buried there.

(2) Accidental Deaths of Children added 1st Aug 2011
Again, this is an ongoing project. Jan is collating information about the very sad information about accidental deaths of children in the Avon Valley area.

Gypsy Surname Index of Great Britain

The Gypsy Surname Index of Great Britain came about when Jan was researching the Avon information for the first volumes of “The Dictionaries of Western Australians” and represents all of the surnames which form a large database on Gypsy families in the United Kingdom. Contact Jan if you have an interest in any of the surnames.

Convicts in Western Australia (added 14th Nov 2009)

The “Black Convict Book” - compiled by Rica Erickson is part of the original Dictionary of Western Australians' series.  Brian Purdue, (author of 'Indictable Offences' and many other historical works) handed this “Black Book” (complete with annotations and lists of names) to Jan James recently. It is an amazing work in itself and she would like to share this research with anyone who is looking for any additional information on the subject of Convicts. This is a valuable research resource about our Western Australian convicts with information gleaned from Police Gazettes and outward and inwards shipping lists. Brian collected information about convicts anywhere he found mention of them - hundreds and hundreds of  notes; lists showing if these men left the Colony and the ship they left on and the date; other crimes they committed and those they took part in. Contact Jan for more information - janjames1@westnet.com.au stating the names of the convicts you're researching.

“The Cyclodedia of Western Australia Vol 2 Published 1913"

This is full of interesting articles and photos of the settlers from across Western Australia. Jan is happy to do look ups for those who request them. Search the index - see Search page - then contact Jan for more information about these individuals.

Site last updated: 1st Aug 2011