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Convict Conditions in Colonial Australia


The following newspaper reports and official Government Regulations are from colonial newspapers and give an account of penal administration and the conditions endured by convicts. It is recommended that information is authenticated by official sources.The information will be continually updated, so feel free to bookmark the webpage, to return at your leisure.
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Tickets-of-Leave

Javelin Men

Convict Labour & Assignment

Conditional Pardons.

1846.Tasmania....Extensions of Conditional Pardons. Journalist report. "Persons holding emancipation, and desirous of removing to the Australian colonies, are sometimes at a loss to know in what manner they ought to proceed in signifying their wishes to the local government. We believe that under such circumstances,nothing more is requisite than an application at the police office,it being thereupon the duty of one or another of the clerks to draw up and forward the necessary memorial." {LA July 20 1846}

Musters

1830 - Tasmania [Launceston] news report "On last Saturday a general muster of the ticket-of-leave men took place at the Police Office, and taking into consideration the number of them [about 150], their neat, clean and orderly appearance,and the very comfortable, we may fairly say respectable clothing in which they were [with very few exceptions] dressed, speaks most decidedly in favour of their industrious habits, and would be a most encouraging sight to display before any gentleman going to England, who might be able to represent to the emigration committee the certain and permanent employment, and confortable subsistence, so very easily obtainable by industrious working men in this fertile, but highly neglected country. {LA060930}

Indulgences

Remission of Sentences. 1833 (March) Government Notice "It is hereby notified, that the public officers and all other persons desirous of recommending any Convict for a remission of sentence, are requested to transmit the case through the Principal Superintendent, whose duty it is to forward to the Department periodical returns of all memorials and petitions for indulgence to be laid before the Lt.Govr." (LI March 1833)

Convict Deaths

Tasmania. 1833 Government Regulation May 1833."The Lieutenant Governor requests that all persons to whom Convicts are assisigned: will transmit the names of such of them as may die in their service, to the nearest Police Magistrate, who is hereby directed to report the same to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts for registration. (LI May 25th 1833)

Convict Absconders

N.S.W 1832.Govt.Regulations for Rewards N.S.W. 1828-1832 Index to Convict Absconders Tas. pre 1836 Convict Absconders Index Tasmania - Administration of Disciple/Reporting Offences Government Notice. June. 1833 "The Lieutenant Governor requests that the Magistrates who may have complaints to make against their assigned servents, will take them before the nearest Justice of the Peace to be tried: as the Principal Superintendent is not authorised to receive any convict from his master's service, until he shall be sentenced."

Convict's Families - Regulations

1847...Convict's families to be brought out to Sydney newspaper report "Families of Convicts: A notice appears in the Sydney Government Gazette, intimating all expiree prisoners of the Crown, or such as may have obtained Tickets of Leave or higher indulgences, that in consequence of the Government being prepared to furnish their wives and families with free passages to this colony, all sch as may wish to reap the advantage of such a privelage, are to make an early application to such an effect to the Superintendent of Convicts, Sydney. Convicts at present under sentence will have an opportunity of acting similarly, as soon as they shall obtain their tickets of leave" (src: LE. Sept 4 1847.)

A Convicts Life

1831..NSW - Newspaper Report A letter has been lately received by Mr Wonther, the Keeper of Newgate, from an individual beyond the common ranks who was transported thither about two years ago since-from this letter we take the following- " Hunger is our sauce; we grind in a hand mill, we bake in the ashes, and live in miserable huts,which admit both wind and rain. A sheet of bark and a bundle of straw is our bed,and a blanket our covering: but fatigue is ours, and we sleep as if on beds of down. The slightest offence provokes flogging; insolence is the grand bugbear in this colony. A man calls himself a settler, first imposes upon his slaves,goads them on to speak and then drags them before a magistrate to be lashed and tortured for insolence.It is useless to murmer, for complaint is crime in this dreadful country. A Master,up the country, is a petty King, and the spirit with which he exercises his power is truly diabolical.If his slave speaks, the wretch's stomach is tormented. We all feel a twofold degradation here; we feel that we are slaves to paltry tyrants, who seem as if they where born to add to the stings and tortures of a wretched criminal."

Female Prisoners

1825.Parramatta Female Factory-Class System Editors opinion "The female prisoners in the Factory at Parramatta, are,by the present regulations, divided into three classes. The second and third of these are penal, and into one of which, as the case may be, are sent all those assigned servants who conduct themselves in any wise improperly in their respective employments: the first class nevertheless being attainable by those whose conduct evidences a dispostion towards amendment. The arrangements are as follows: First Class: Spinning and Carding, a proportion of the profits arising from which is paid to the women, and from this class only can they be assigned, after working their way through the third and second classes. Second Class: The second class is employed at the same work, but cannot be assigned. Third Class: The third class is kept to hard labour, such as moving earth, breaking stones, &c, and is also deprived of tea and sugar. By these regulations,while punishment is awarded to aberrations from propriety, the door is still left open to those who manifest a tendency to improvement.- But we must entirely dissent from the propriety of withholding tea and sugar, those least but most essential comforts. Women are still women, and however destitute of moral principle they may be, yet their vileness of conduct might be punished some other way, equally effective with that of giving them mere bread and water.! This is a system parallel with corporal punishment, and the sooner abandoned the better. Keep them to hard labour - use them every way rigidly, but give the unfortunate women their tea and sugar." (SG 81225) 1828. Female Factory .Parramatta Government Notice. Colonial Secretary's Office April 29. 1828. FEMALE SERVANTS His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to direct, that all Lettes, addressed to the Matron of the Female Factory, at Parramatta, respecting Female Servants, or other Matters relating to that Establishment, be Post paid: AND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that no Letters, so addressed, will be received, unless they be Post-paid accordingly. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN, that it has been found expedient to order that no Female Servant, from the Factory, is to be allowed to leave Parramatta by a Stage Coach, or other Public Conveyance in the Afternoon, unless a careful Person be particularly sent to take Charge of her. By his Excellency's Command Alexander Macleay." 1832-June.Sydney Female Prisoners: The subjoined remarks by the Committee of management of the Female Factory in New South Wales, are extractd from the Sydney Gazette, and are well worthy of attention, and in some degree, of adoption,by the authorities here.(tas) We approve of the factory being managed by a Committee,and generally approve of the remarks,which follow:- The Committee of Management of the Female Factory have observed, with great regret, how speedily a portion of the female convicts assigned from the ship,on their arrival from Europe, are returned to Government, and sent to the factory at Parramatta. It has fallen within their observation, that,in many cases, those persons have been returned for awkwardness or misbehaviour, which, in free servants, would be noticed by a gentle reproof. The facility with which an assigned servant may be returned to Governmen, has doubtless,favored the injurious practice of which the committee explain. To remedy it, in some measure, the committee are authorised by His Excellency, the Governer, to require, in future, that all persons receiving female servants, on assignment, shall enter into an engagement,under a penalty of forty shillings,to keep them for one month in their service, unless removed therefrom by due course of law; and if, at the expiration of that period, they shall desire to return their servants, they will be bound (if residing in any part of the Co of Cumberland) to leave a written notice at the office of the Principal Superintendent of Convicts in Sydney,and to retain the servant for fourteen days from the service of that notice. Persons,residing without the county of Cumberland will be required to give one month's notice to the clerk of the Bench of Magistrates nearest their residence. This time is required to enable the Principal Superintendent of Convicts and Committee to make arrangments for the transfer of the female to another service without being sent to the factory. In assigning the females recently arrived in the Burrell, the Governer has been pleased to direct, that the distance of the applicants from Sydney, shall be considered as giving a priority of claim,it being,in His Excellency's opinion, an object of great importance to remove and retain these criminal women as far as possible from Sydney. The committee take this opportunity of asserting their readiness, at all times, to assign any female in the factory, not under a colonial sentence of imprisonment, to persons of good moral character,and if the supply of those women,whose conduct offers a fair chance of their becoming useful servants, should at any time be unequal to the demand,the committee would willingly assign those, of whose conduct it would,at the same time, be their duty to make an unfavourable report. It might happen that virtous example and regular habits in a private family, would operate more powerfully, in reclaiming an individual from vice, than the most judicious regulations when applied to numbers in a public establishment. FOr reasons somewhat similar,and from having observed the change which new modes of life, and the accession of new duties, sometimes operate in the character and disposition, the Committee are at all times disposed to favour the marriage of these women, to persons in circumstances to keep them honestly. LA 260632 1833.Tasmania.Travel Permission Government Notice. June 1833 "Much irregularity having frequently arisen from the masters of female convicts granting passes to their servents to proceed to and from the interior, upon frivolous pretences, it is hereby notified that no such privileges can in future be allowed without the especial sanction of the Principal Superintendant on the Magistrates of the District, except in cases where female convicts are in actual attendance upon their mistress. By His Excellency's Command J.Burnett."

Chain Gangs.

1827.NSW Government Notice. Colonial Secretary's Office 29th November 1827. His Excellency the Governor is pleased to order that all Prisoners, sentenced to work in Irons, in the Department of Roads and Bridges, shall, on the Expiration of their respective Sentences, be transferred, by the Surveyor of Roads, to other Parties not working in Irons, until recommended for Assignment in the regular Course. Those Convicts whom the Magistrates may deem it desirable to return to their former Services, on the Expiration of their Terms in irons, are not to be included in the above arrangement. By His Excellency's Command Alexander McLeay. 1828.NSW Government Order no 28 Colonial Secretary's Office September 18, 1828 It having come to the Knowledge of His Excellency the Governor, that Prisoners serving under Sentence to Work in Irons on the Roads, have had their Irons removed, and been otherwise employed; His Excellency feels it neessary to point out, that such Proceeding is calcuated to counteract the Ends of Justice; and further, that any Person, charged with the Superintendence of Road Parties, who permits it, assumes a Power which he is not warranted in exercising, and His Excellency, therefore, desires that such Practice be immediately discontinued. No Man, sentenced to Work on the Roads, in Irons, is to be employed as a Hut-keeper, Bullock Driver, or in any Manner that can interfere with the due Fulfilment of his Sentence. When Persons are required for any of the above Purposes, the Surveyor of Roads will apply to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts in order that Individuals may be selected who have some Claim to Indulgence By His Excellency's Command Alexander McLeay. 1832 - Tasmania Newspaper Report "Some little bustle was excited on Monday morning in consequence of the chain gangs,with one accord, refusing to go to work, on the plea that the bread issued to them was not of proper quality. This being represented to the commissariat, directions were given for the issue of biscuit,until a survey could be held on the bread, but before the arrangements could be made, the men thought better of the matter, and took the bread that was offered them. Some of the most discordant were placed in custody, and taken before the magistrate, who decided that the bread was wholesome and proper (which it was) and ordered the men to return to their work, after severely reprimanding them for their contumacious conduct. We trust that this lenience will not be thrown away upon the men, who must be aware, that by the course they pursued they rendered themselves liable to very severe punishment." [LA 25/3/32]

Convict Ships

1846.Idealistic account of Conditions on Convict Transports taken from The Times.England.August 23rd. "Convict Ships. In the report of the Inspectors of Millbank Prison, issued within the last few days,a statement is given of the improvements effected in convict ships. Until a somewhat recent period, four or sometimes five prisoners slept together during the long voyage to Australia in one sleeping berth. The prison deck being entirely dark, neither employment nor instruction could be carried on. According to the approved method of fitting up seats for the convicts on prison deck in masses of eight, and at night each convict has a seperate sleeping berth.Illuminators are introduced on each side of the deck extending the whole length of the ship, and the convicts are thus enabled to read, write and work. A religious instructor accompanies every party of male convicts.A useful collection of books and arithmetic has been provided in order that school instruction may be carried on during the voyage." (LE Jan 2nd 1847)

Hulks

A List of Hulks Port Jackson Hulk. 1826.(Feb)Newspaper Report "All prisoners under sentence of transportation to the penal settlement in the elder colony (Sydney) are now drafted from the gaols on board a hulk lying in Port Jackson, previous to their removal to their place of destination." (src: CT Feb 3 1826) Hulk Conditions. 1828.England "Treatment of the Convicts in the Hulks TO THE EXAMINER Sir - this Morning by the Post, I received a letter from an unfortunate Convict who was Sentenced to 7 Years Transportation at the Old Bailey Sessions for Light Offence. He writes: we have Six Hundred Prisoners on Board. We Rise at 5 in the Morning,Breackfast at Six. All our Boats is Manned and all away by Seven. Our gang Convicts Twenty men are Guard by 7 Soldiers, we go to fortmountain Oppiset the Ise of White.We are Emploid in Drawing Large Stones and Unloading Vessels. Our Food is very Bad. We neer have any Fire. Our Shirts is very Damp so is our Rugan and Blankets. we wash Our Neck Hahchife and mend our Stockings and Cloth. they will not Allow us to ware any flannel but they will Lett us ware Glanasey flocks.we are Allowed only 1d of soap Per week to wash our Stocking Hanchife and Skin. they allow no Coffee no Tea no Sugar no Butter no Greens no Potates. We get but Little Water and that we Pay one Penny Per Week. Six in my mess washed our SElves this morning only one Qt water. that is all Alowed us. I have Six Pound of Iron on my Leg God Help the Poor Unfortunate Convict. 1828" Yours An Old Correspondent. (SG 22nd Oct 1828) 1830, Abolition of Hulks (newspaper report) "The hulks are to be entirely done away with in England, after the present year, and every convicted man is to be transported according to his sentence immediately. This will throw in an increase to our population of perhaps 5000 prisoners! This great improvement for NSW is owing to His Excellency General Darling's representation of the cheapness of Beef & c in this colony, so that the expense of sending out convicts will be amply repaid by their easy maintenance after their arrival. Besides,it is the wish of the Duke of Wellington to employ the poor at different dockyards and arsenals in preference to convict." {CT080130} 1830..Non Abolition of use of Hulks. "The hulks are in future to be only receiving ships for seven years offenders, and all those sentenced for life or fourteen years, are to be sent immediately to these Colonies." {CT29011830} Mutiny on Irish Hulk 1830 Oct "On Monday last, some of the convicts on board the Essex hulk, stationed at Kingston, near Dublin, set fire to that vessel in three places, close to the water. The flames were fortunately suppressed, and all on board,being upwards of three hundred prisoners, were transmitted to the Hercules convict ship which had only arrived in the harbour the preceeding Saturday to take to their destination." {LA151130} 1847.Inquiry in to Hulks Conditions. The Woolwich Convicts The inquiry which has recently been carried on at Woolwich, on board the Justitia and Warrior, convict hulks,into the condition and treatment of prisoners, before Justice J.Williams the Commissioner appointed by Government, Dr.C.M.Banington as medical referee and T.S.Dunscombe Esq. has closed the commission. They sat for 30 days, during which more than 100 witnesses were examined, and the inquiry would have lasted for some two months longer had all the witnesses been examined whom Mr Dunscombe intended to call. Captain Williams, however, expressed his opinion that it was useless to carry the investigation any further as the evidence already produced had shown the whole system of management to be rotten at its' foundation, and that a complete and radical change must take place before the establishment could be placed in a state of efficiency and order. (src: LE Oct 2nd 1847)
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