CONVICTS, CONDUCT & CHATTER
Governor of NSW 1810-1821
The period in Australia's history which saw thousands of convicts brought to it's shores, was much more complicated than just being a time when Britain's unwanted were banished to a far off land.
The numerous convicts were very much a source of free labor, for
both the government and the free settlers, though there were rules to
be followed. These articles will give you an idea of what was achieved, the rules that had to be followed, the conditions the
convicts faced and also how their behaviour could change their
future.
Court sessions were frequent and changing... the standards of the English system were soon adjusted to suit the needs of this new colony.
Monitor (Sydney, NSW : 1826 - 1828), Friday 14 July 1826
Please click to enlarge. These clippings will then be a lot easier to read.
The details of the charges and methods of crime are illustrated by the following article.. The ages of some convicts were surprisingly low.
It didn't take much to have the extra imposition of being placed in irons added to a sentence.
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Wednesday 30 August 1826
Female Orphan School, Paramatta [sic], N.S. Wales c1825
Contributed By National Library of Australia [nla.pic-an2818336]
Tickets of leave were granted for good behaviour, trouble free while serving sentences, etc. They could be revoked for consequent offences, including bad behaviour, including theft, violence, etc.
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Wednesday 8 November 1826
Interesting to read the Expense of Convicts in NSW 1827
Settlers could apply for servants, farm hands, etc. though they weren't able to request a particular convict. However, this rule does seem to have been ignored in various situations.
Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), Friday 22 February 1828
Commissariat Store Sydney
From the collections of the State Library of New South Wales
(Mitchell Library)
