FEMALE CONVICTS.. Trove Tuesday 30th Mar 2021

 

           FEMALE CONVICTS

It's not always easy to find a lot of information re female convicts. They certainly were outnumbered by the men. However, there are  more records and stories in the later years of transportation. Of course, it became obvious that there was a shortage of women in the new colony. Not that would have made any difference to the courts as to sending women to the colonies... surely.

The following isn't just a list of names, places, length of sentence, ships of arrival etc. as important as that is, but also I've included some of the guidelines, the rules and regulations that governed their daily lives. So many of these women went on to become much valued citizens, either as wives and mothers or as enterprising citizens. Of course, there were some who spent the rest of their days in and out of prison.  They all have their own stories to tell.

What stories do you have of your female ancestors?

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Wednesday 25 November 1840  National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230139299

Please click to enlarge

True Colonist Van Diemen's Land Political Despatch, and Agricultural and Commercial... Hobart Town, Tas. National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202419231

Parra Girls

17 Feb 1846

6 Mar 1846

13 Mar 1846

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Friday 10 April 1846 (No.29). National Library of Australia   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230141327

3 Jul 1846

1 May 1846

8 May 1846

10 Jul 1846

18 Sep 1846

16 Oct 1846

20 Nov 1846

8 Dec 1846

1 Jan 1847

15 Jan 1847

23 Feb 1847

16 Mar 1847

13 Apr 1847

Launceston Examiner 1 Aug 1849

Artist-impression-of-Rebecca-Boulton-and-child-Phillip-Lock

Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901), Wednesday 30 November 1859 National Library of Australia   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66009879

Parra Girls

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Thursday 27 December 1894  National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171944498

CONVICT PARDONS Trove Tuesday 23rd Mar 2021

 

 CONVICT PARDONS

Government Gazettes are the Treasure Chest of information for anyone with a colonial background or just a passion for history. One of my most interesting finds was the discovery of a pardon published re a man I'd been searching for as a favour to someone else. He was adamant that his ancestor had worked for the government, therefore a public servant. 

I'd searched so many lists to no avail, till one day I found him.. he had indeed worked for the government.. on a road gang along with a whole lot of other 'public servants' .. thought so highly of that they were all chained together. That find was years ago, in a government gazette... he decided not to tell his grandmother anything different, rather let her believe the family story. I have often wondered if she knew all along and had tried to shelter her family. These days, most are delighted to have some Australian Royalty in their ancestry. 

Do let me know if you find one of yours among these names...happy searching.

Colonist (Sydney, NSW : 1835 - 1840), Saturday 30 June 1838   National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31721268

Please click to enlarge

clipart-library.com

Sydney Herald 12 Oct 1841

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Tuesday 16 February 1847 (No.14) National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230674534

Ticket of Leave 1 Thomas Beaton 1840

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Tuesday 23 February 1847 (No.17)    National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230674650

Absolute Pardon 2 John Onion 1830

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Tuesday 22 February 1848 (No.21)   National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230129714

Certificate of Freedom 3  Thomas Harvey 1843

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Friday 8 September 1848 (No.97) National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230149661

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Friday 23 March 1849 (No.41) National Library of Australia     http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230365155

It might surprise you to learn that nothing came for nothing, even in those earlier times..

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Tuesday 11 February 1851 (No.17)  National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230691659

With thanks to 

Sydney Living Museums

for the images above.

Ticket of Leave 1 Thomas Beaton 1840

Absolute Pardon 2 John Onion 1830

Certificate of Freedom 3  Thomas Harvey 1843

More details.. 

National Library Australia

https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/convicts/tickets-of-leave

State Library NSW

Becoming free - Convicts: Life in the colony - Research ...guides.sl.nsw.gov.au › c.php