Some queries on transported convicts

[LizzieL]

A relative was convicted of arson in 1843 at the age of 14 and sentenced to be transported for 15 years. His father and two other relatives (both adults) were convicted of the same offence at he same trial and sentenced to transportation for life. The adults were transported the same year, but the boy wasn't transported until a few years later. was this because of his age?

Would the years he spent on prison hulks count in the 15 years so his release date would still be 1858?

He was granted leave to marry a year after reaching Tasmania, when he still had several years of his sentence to complete. Was that normal or would it indicate he might have received a pardon and I should be looking for the relevant document?

Three children were born to him and his wife (there may be more) before 1858 so they must have cohabited, even if not permanently. Would a convict still serving his sentence live with his wife?

[cocksie]

Hi
I am no expert but this is my understanding from research into my New South Wales convict ancestors:
If you were a convict still under sentence you could apply for permission to marry. So there is likely to be documentation on this. I have at least one convict ancestor procreating with a police trooper prior to marriage and while still under sentence. Married this bloke a couple of years later.
For good behaviour a convict could get a Ticket of Leave (ToL) which, for want of description, was a bit like being on parole. You could get paid work within Tasmania but you couldn't leave. If your spouse was "free" (ie not another convict), your spouse could employ you.
Actually, if your spouse was "free" they could apply for your convict services anyway (ie many convicts spent their sentences working for free settlers, free settlers applied to the government for convict labour)
Following obtaining one's ToL, one could obtain one's Certificate of Freedom (CoF), often far earlier than the number of years you were originally sentenced.
Alternatively there was also the possibility of obtaining Other types of pardons far earlier than the number of original sentence years.
So yes, "convicts" did cohabit and procreate and be free far earlier than the original sentence years imply.
Cocksie

[DavidG02]

Hi Lizzie

Are you aware of this site - especially for Tasmanian convicts- that has many details on convicts and various documents?

http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/

These are most of the categories

Convict employment records online
Appropriation Lists 1822-1846 (CON27)
Assignment lists and associated papers, 1810-1859 (CON13)

Conduct records
Assignment system - male convicts (1803-1843) (CON31)
Supplementary conduct registers 1828-1853 (CON32) (“sv” – “supplementary volume”)
Probation system - male convicts 1840-1853 (CON33)
Male convicts arriving under the assignment system on strength 1844 – 1892 (CON34) ("on strength" - still within the (convict) system)

Male convicts arriving under the assignment system on non-convict ships and on strength in November 1844 - Volume 1 (CON35)
Male convicts arriving on non-convict ships or locally convicted 1840-1893 (CON37)
Male convicts whose records were transferred from the probation series and of certain others (CON39)
Assignment system - female convicts 1803-1843 (CON40)
Probation system - female convicts 1844 (CON41)
Female convicts reconvicted in the Colony 1854-1892 (CON42)
Tasman Peninsula, 1868-1876 (CON94)

Descriptive lists
Alphabetical Register of Male Convicts 1804-1840 (CON23),  Compiled by Surgeon Superintendents 1825-1845 (CON69)
Convicts arriving from Norfolk Island 1845-1851 (CON21)
Description lists of convicts arriving on minor ships or convicted locally 1832-1853 (CON20)
Female convicts 1828-1853 (CON19)
Male convicts 1828-1853 (CON18)

Indents
Male convicts 1824-1853 (CON14)
Female convicts 1831-1853 (CON15)
Convicts locally convicted or transported from other colonies 1835-1853 (CON16)
Male convicts arriving from Norfolk Island 1844-1852 (CON17)

Indulgences

Alphabetical register of applications for indulgences 1829-1851 (CON45)
Index to convict applications for permission to marry 1829-1857 (via name indexes, above)

Female factory
Description list of prisoners 1876 – 1879 (CON105)
Register of Offences committed and punishment ordered 1851 – 1854 (CON138)

[LizzieL]

Hi Lizzie

Are you aware of this site - especially for Tasmanian convicts- that has many details on convicts and various documents?

http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/

Thank you, yes, that's where I got all the information on him after his arrival in Tasmania. And FindMyPast and Ancestry and Newspaper archive for information prior to his leaving Britain.

His name is not common, at least combination of forename and surname, and I have tried all the common misspellings I can think of. But no sign of ticket of leave or pardon.

[Dundee]

But no sign of ticket of leave or pardon.

In Tasmania these should be noted on the conduct record which are all digitised, you won't find the actual document.

https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/?

Unfortunately they lost interest in paperwork in the later years of transportation and some conduct records can be scant on information.  You will likely also find that your person was classed as an exile, having already served part of their sentence in England and would have been granted a ticket of leave on arrival.

You may find this information in the newspapers by searching for the ship's arrival.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper?q

Debra