Glossary
Birth certificate – In Victoria, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages records all births that occur within the state. A birth certificate is an official certified copy of the information registered when someone is born, including who the parents are, and the date and place of birth. Birth certificates are commonly used as a way of proving an individual's identity. You must apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to obtain a birth certificate.
Death certificate – In Victoria, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages records all deaths that occur within the state. A death certificate is an official certified copy of the information registered when someone dies, including the date, place and cause of death, who the person’s parents were and the name(s) of marriage partner(s). You must apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to obtain a death certificate.
Department of Crown Lands and Survey – This was the government department responsible, among other things, for the administration of survey and mapping, and the sale, occupation and management of crown land throughout the Department's existence between 1857 and 1983.
Deposition – The record of evidence of each witness appearing before a magistrate at the inquest into a person’s death. Depositions are handwritten or typed first person accounts of what a witness remembers. The evidence used to compose a deposition is gained through question and answer.
Government-assisted immigrants – Between 1839 and 1883 a number of schemes provided government assistance to prospective settlers from the United Kingdom travelling to the Australian colonies. The aim of these schemes, funded by the Australian colonies, was to encourage British immigrants to make the long and perilous journey to the new colonies by covering the cost of their passage.
Land Act 1869 –The Land Act 1869 was legislation designed to expand land ownership in Victoria. People could peg out a parcel of unsurveyed land and apply for a survey to be done. If the application was successful, the land could be held by licence for three years. At the end of this period, if conditions regarding improvement to the land had been met, the land could be purchased. As an alternative to immediate purchase, the balance of the cost of the land could be paid over a seven-year lease.
Lease – People who had obtained a licence to hold land under the provisions of the Land Act 1869 could either purchase or lease this land after an initial three-year period. The lease allowed for a seven-year period in which the balance of the purchase price could be paid in installments.
Letters of administration – Following the death of a person who has left no valid will, letters of administration are issued by the Probate Office to authorise an administrator who is given the powers and duties required to administer the estate of the deceased person.
Licence to occupy – Under the Land Act 1869, people could apply to occupy unsurveyed land. Successful applicants could hold the land by licence for a period of three years. If at the end of this period land improvement conditions had been met, it was possible to purchase the land.
Magistrate’s finding – At the time of Lucy’s death, magistrates were authorised to undertake inquiries of any suspicious death that occurred within 50 miles of their place of residence.
Marriage certificate – In Victoria, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages records all marriages that occur within the state. A marriage certificate is an official certified copy of the information registered when two people get married, including date and place they were married, their place of birth and residence, and the names of their parents. You must apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to obtain a marriage certificate.
Minister of Lands – The government minister responsible for the administration of lands in Victoria. At the time of Lucy’s 1874 letter, in which she pleads for special consideration with regard to the improvement conditions of the land allotments, the office was actually known as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey.
Neuchâtel Canton, Switzerland – John Singer arrived in Victoria from Neuchâtel in 1855. The canton is located in the north-west of Switzerland, between the shores of Lake Neuchâtel and the French border. Charles Joseph La Trobe lived and worked in the Canton for several years prior to being appointed Superintendent for the Port Phillip District in 1839. While living at Neuchâtel, La Trobe married Sophie de Montmollin, a member of an aristocratic family. The La Trobes were followed by other families emigrating from Neuchâtel to the new colony. Many of these Swiss immigrants planted vineyards at Geelong and Lilydale.
Office of Lands and Survey (Deeds Division) – The central office of the Department of Crown Lands and Survey in Melbourne included the Deeds Division, which had responsibility for issuing a crown grant or lease.
Parish – Not to be confused with church parishes, in this context parish refers to an area of land created by the government of Victoria for the purposes of administering land ownership.
Probate – The legal process or document that validates a person’s will after their death, and authorises an executor for their estate.
Probate Office – The office, which is part of the Supreme Court, deals with all applications for grants of probate and letters of administration for the estates of deceased persons in Victoria.
Responsible Government – The Westminster system of parliamentary democracy that the Australian colonies inherited from Britain. It is a system where the executive government, Cabinet, is accountable first to the parliament and ultimately to the people. The aim of this system of accountability is to make the government act in ways that are approved by the people.
Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland – The place of birth of Lucy Bell is located at the centre of Clackmannanshire, north of the River Forth in central Scotland.
Will – A written and signed document,
made by a person that states what should be done with their property when
they die.
