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Archives / Collection & Research / Research A-Z / Online Indexes / Convicts Index

Convicts Index

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Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788-1825
Convict Assignments
Convict Exiles Index

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Certificate of Freedom for Patrick Hayden, 1831 4_4308_31_1043

This webinar explains how to start convict research in NSW using the NSW State archives. 

Webinar: Tracing NSW Convicts

Behind the Scenes

In this episode Emily shows us a Ticket of Leave Butts volume from the 1830s. It's a great peek into a convict era archive.

Archives Behind the Scenes - Ticket of Leave butts

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A searchable database containing certificates of freedom; bank accounts; deaths; exemptions from Government Labor; pardons; tickets of leave; and, tickets of leave passports.

  • Total entries in the index: 140,000+ 

Record series in the index

Certificates of Freedom, 1823-1869

c.40,000 entries

When mentioned in the body of the Certificate, cross-references are given to previous and subsequent Certificate of Freedom, Conditional Pardon and Ticket of Leave numbers, aliases, and the names of spouses and occasionally other family members.

Convict Bank Accounts, 1837-1870

c.1300 entries

Tickets of Exemption from Government Labor, 1827-32

c.800 entries

Tickets of Leave, Certificates of Emancipation and Pardons, 1810-19

3,600+ entries

Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 

47,300+ entries

This index was compiled by Dr Perry McIntyre. The index is published on our website with the permission of Perry McIntyre, who also retains the copyright. We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Perry McIntyre in compiling this index.

Tickets of Leave Passports, 1835-1869

11,300+ entries

A Volunteer Project.

Convict Death Register, 1828-1879

6,649 entries

  • NRS 12213 (Reels 690). Each entry in the register is a one-line entry only.

P-Z of the index was compiled by Mrs Kaye Vernon and Mrs Billie Jacobson. We wish to acknowledge their contribution to this joint initiative.

Recommendations for Absolute and Conditional Pardons, 1826-1856

121,000+ entries

Convict Pardons, 1791-1873 

A Volunteer Project.

Abbreviations

  • CP - Conditional Pardon
  • AP - Absolute Pardon
  • AP (E) - Exceptive Absolute Pardon
  • Col - Colonial Pardon;
  • Col P - Colonial Pardon
  • Col CP - Colonial Conditional Pardon
  • Col FP - Colonial Free Pardon
  • RW - Royal Pardon Warrant
  • FP - Free Pardon
  • CP (1C) - First Class Conditional Pardon
  • CP (2C) - Second Class Conditional Pardon
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Cost per entry: 
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  • Convict Pardons: Conditional and Absolute

    Convicts with a life sentence could receive a pardon but not a Certificate of Freedom. The two main types of pardons were:

    • Conditional pardon - the convict was free as long as they remained in the colony. The vast majority of convicts granted pardons were granted a conditional pardon
    • Absolute pardon - the convict's sentence was entirely remitted. That is, they were free both within and outside of the colony and could return to Britain.
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  • Convict assignment records

    On arrival, a convict was either retained by the Government or assigned to an individual. Assigned male convicts were generally employed as field labourers, or tradesmen; women became domestic servants. Government convicts were most often engaged on public works projects. The majority of women convicts were engaged in the manufacture of wool and linen at the Parramatta Female Factory. A smaller number were employed as hospital nurses and midwives, as servants to officers, and in caring for orphans. Please be aware that very few records of assignment have survived.

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  • Moreton Bay Penal Settlement

    The Moreton Bay penal colony, on traditional Turrbal and Yuggera land, operated from 1824 to 1842 as a place of secondary punishment for convicts who committed serious offences. In 1842 it was declared open for free settlement. It became the city of Brisbane.

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  • Convict transportation to NSW

    A history of convict transportation to New South Wales and a list of related records such as trial records and records of the voyage and arrival.

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  • Convict Certificates of Freedom

    A certificate of freedom was a document stating that a convict's sentence had been served.

     

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  • Hyde Park Barracks

    Hyde Park Barracks, deisgned by Francis Greenway, opened in 1819 as housing for convicts. This page include a brief overview and a list of the convict-related record series.

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  • Convict Tickets of Leave

    Convict discipline depended not only on punishment but also on incentives and rewards. Governor King introduced the ticket of leave system in 1801. It helped reduce costs by allowing those who could support themselves honestly to do so and was also a reward for good behaviour. A ticket of leave allowed convicts to work for themselves on condition that they remained in a specified area, reported regularly to local authorities and if at all possible, attend divine worship every Sunday.

     

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  • Female Factory, Parramatta

    The majority of women convicts were engaged in the manufacture of wool and linen at the Female Factory. A smaller number were employed as hospital nurses and midwives, as servants to officers, and in caring for orphans. This guide provides a brief historical overview of the Female Factory and a list of the main record series. 

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  • Convicts in Van Diemen's Land

    A list of convict records in our Collection relating to Van Diemen's Land.

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  • Convicts: Clothing, rations & stores
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  • Convicts and Convict Administration Guide

    This guide provides an entry into a unique collection of records, created by both the British Government and the Colonial administration, covering the period 1788-1842 (plus the 'convict exiles' from the later 1840s and 1850s) that documents the 'convict careers' of these men and women.

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  • Convict penal settlements

    Penal settlements were places of incarceration and punishment for convicts who committed serious offences after reaching New South Wales.

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  • Convicts: Gaol records

    A secure gaol was required for those who committed criminal offences within the colony and who were sentenced to imprisonment. Gaols were also used to house prisoners awaiting trial or transportation to another penal settlement.

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  • Bushrangers in NSW

    For over 100 years bushrangers roamed throughout the state of NSW. Their exploits entranced the public and names such as Ben Hall, Captain Thunderbolt and Ned Kelly became both heroes and villains for many. 

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  • Families of convicts

    Families of convicts sometimes accompanied their convict relations or came out later. Marriages in the Colony were encouraged, the authorities believing family life served moral ends and brought stability to society. Various inducements such as tickets of leave, pardons and assistance with establishing households were offered.

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Convict case study - John Knatchbull

This case study has been developed to show what types of records can be found in our collection. References to John Knatchbull, alias John Fitch, turn up in a number of convict records, such as the convict indents, Tickets of Leave and Ticket of Leave Passports. What makes Knatchbull more intriguing is that he continued to get into trouble for the rest of his life, thereby leaving a steady stream of records about him.

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Convict life on Norfolk Island

Convict life on Norfolk Island was severe and often brutal. This page is a snapshot of one convict, John Walsh, who spent ten years on Norfolk Island from 1834 to 1844. 

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Margaret Greenwood: A Life of Crime

The photographing of prisoners was introduced into New South Wales gaols in 1871. This 1875 record contains a rare and revealing photograph of a former Imperial convict, a prisoner again in her old age.

Darlinghurst Gaol, 1875 Photo of Margaret Greenwood (formerly an imperial convict) 1 of 2. Digital ID 2138_a006_a00603_604000061ar

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Tin box found in Deposition Papers

This item was found by one of our volunteers in a Supreme Court Deposition paper. The exhibit related to the trial of Christopher Nowlan, who was charged with cattle stealing at the Maitland Circuit Court in 1845. Nowlan was a a convict who had arrived on the Phoenix in 1826. So what did the tin contain?

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