Directory of the Norfolk Island First Settlement, 1788-1814

Abstract

This dataset identifies individuals associated with the ‘First Settlement’ phase of the colonial occupation of Norfolk Island, from March 1788 to February 1814. Constructed by staff, students and volunteers for the UNE Convict History Research Collective, and based on extensive archival research, 3,610 unique identities have been extracted from over seventy key historical documents, all named here with our preferred spelling, and each given a unique alphanumeric identifier (UID). This is intended to facilitate the development of a relational database for students and community researchers interested in employing big data approaches to the study of this unique and intriguing colonial enterprise. A range of options are currently being explored for public facing outputs to showcase the value of the Directory and the transcriptions which have informed it. A full discussion of the methodology can be found via https://blog.une.edu.au/convicthistory/