NRS-14495 | Assignation books

The Registrar of the Vice Admiralty Court was required "to attend all sittings of the Court, and also before the Judge or Surrogate in Chambers, ... to make minutes of every Act of Court or decree, and to enter the same in an Assignation Book...to form a record of the proceedings of the Court". In addition the Registrar took "custody of all pleas, depositions, and papers brought into Court, recording the receipt thereof in the Assignation Book, briefly stating the papers received, and the date of their receipt". Assignation books serve a twofold function: firstly, as registers of process papers deposited with the Registrar; and secondly, as a record of judgments and orders made by the Court. Brief minutes of proceedings and notices of new officers appointed (eg. surrogates, registrars, etc.) are also included. Volume 9/2735 also contains copies of documents such as final decrees or sentences of the Court, Imperial Instructions and Orders, and Instructions from Governor Macquarie in his capacity as Vice Admiral of New South Wales. This volume forms part of the records of the Colonial Secretary and was filmed as part of the Colonial Secretary's Papers project. *ARK 25 Jun 1810-9 Feb 1820 (9/2735; microfilm copy SR Reel 6040), 26 Jun 1841-3 Apr 1866 ( 4/480, 4/6673). 3 vols. Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.