HEADLINES OF OLD: absconded convicts

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

ABSCONDED CONVICTS Trove Tuesday 26th Apr 2022

Details can include names, home, name of ship of arrival, age, physical description, any identifying marks, occupations/trade, sometimes personal relationships.

Note the various dates from when they absconded, some did so years before these notices.

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Wednesday 20 April 1836 (No.218) National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230672154

National Museum Australia

An example of two different types of convict labour. In the foreground are two convicts erecting a post-and-rail fence, whilst behind them an unironed gang brings timber to the Port Arthur settlement (Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, DGA 64/v.1, ‘Gentlemen Convicts – The Centipede’, Thomas Lempriere, ca 1836).

Illustration no 232: ‘The carpenter’s shop’, from ‘Illustrations of useful arts, manufactures, and trades’ by Charles Tomlinson, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, [1858]. Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Sydney Living Museums

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Wednesday 4 May 1836 (No.220) National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230672289

last-convict-ship-Hougoumont-1

Wikimedia

Wikimedia Commons

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Wednesday 11 May 1836 (No.221).National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230672290

Wikimedia Commons

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

ABSCONDED CONVICTS Trove Tuesday 26th May 2020

Convicts escaping was certainly not uncommon, the conditions they faced weren't exactly holiday camps and many had been sent to Australia for what seemed like trivial crimes. Yet escaping from custody in an unknown land often wasn't all they had hoped for.
No doubt some were relieved when they were recaptured, at least they would get some food some time..
The following come from several states over a number of years. The government gazettes have great descriptions. Most of the others give quite a good account of the escapes.
Maybe your lost ancestor is among them...

NSW GOVERMENT GAZETTES

NSW Government Gazette 28 Aug 1833

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Wednesday 19 April 1837 (No.272) National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230669766