Australia, Victoria, Petty Sessions Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection includes court cases from the Petty Sessions Registers which covers the years from 1851 to 1937.

In collaboration with the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) and FindmyPast, FamilySearch is able to publish this collection of Petty Sessions court records. The Court of Petty Sessions was originally intended to hear minor criminal cases. These cases included, but were not limited to drunkenness, minor assaults, and for matters under twenty pounds; typically, without a jury. Court cases are heard before the magistrate. The original records are housed at the Public Records Office Victoria in North Melbourne, Australia.

Record Content
Petty Sessions Registers may contain the following information:
 * Name of ancestor
 * Address of ancestor
 * Role of ancestor in case (plaintiff or defendant)
 * Complaint
 * Date of complaint
 * Ruling on case

How to Use the Record
When searching: It is helpful to know such information as:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Some identifying information such as residence
 * Other ancestors who may be named in the complaint
 * Possible years he or she may have been involved in a criminal case

Search the Collection
To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Year" category ⇒Select the "Inquest Number" category which takes you to the images

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Using the Information

 * If a residence is listed, locate records that may have been created in that location.
 * Locate other court records that dealt with the same case. Those additional records may include more information about your ancestor.
 * Check newspapers for articles about the court case. Sometimes articles were written about the cases brought to court.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name in the Petty Sessions Register, be sure and check additional court cases for the name.
 * Remember that there may several people named in the court case.
 * Be sure to mindful of nicknames or different names at used at different times by your ancestors.
 * If your ancestor had a common name, research in other records may be required before concluding that the individual in the Petty Sessions Register is your ancestor.
 * Titles listed in the Petty Sessions Register may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.).
 * Not everyone in a given locality will be in these records, only those involved with minor court cases.

Related Websites

 * Victoria. Court of Petty Sessions Records, 1849-1865
 * Public Record Office Victoria
 * A Guide to Courts of Petty Sessions in Victoria
 * The GenGuide – Petty Sessions

Related Wiki Articles

 * Australia Court Records
 * Victoria, Australia
 * Australia Genealogy

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

This citation is included with every article. Collection Citation:

This citation is included only if the collection is browsable by image.

Image Citation: