Delving into your family history can uncover fascinating stories, and for many, this journey leads to the era of convict transportation. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Britain sentenced thousands of individuals to be transported across the seas, initially to America and the West Indies, and later predominantly to Australia. Understanding these Sentences About Transport is key to unlocking the past lives of your ancestors and navigating the wealth of historical records available.
This guide, created for worldtransport.net, serves as your expert companion in uncovering sentences about transport and tracing convicts. We will navigate the historical context, explore crucial record types held by institutions like The National Archives, and point you to invaluable online resources in both the UK and Australia. Whether you are just beginning your genealogical research or are an experienced family historian, this resource will equip you with the knowledge to effectively search for and interpret sentences about transport and related convict records.
Understanding Sentences About Transport: A Historical Overview
The practice of transportation emerged as a penal measure in England during the 17th century. Initially, the destinations were the burgeoning colonies in North America and the West Indies. This system served a dual purpose: to alleviate overcrowded British prisons and to provide a labor force for the colonies. Sentences about transport during this early period meant a forced journey across the Atlantic, often for terms of seven or fourteen years, or sometimes for life.
However, the American Revolution in 1776 brought an end to this transatlantic route. With prisons overflowing and the need to maintain a system of punishment, the British government turned its attention to the vast, newly claimed lands of Australia. The first fleet of convict ships set sail for Botany Bay in 1787, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the history of sentences about transport.
From 1787 until the mid-19th century, Australia, particularly New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), became the primary destination for those sentenced to transportation. Sentences about transport to Australia were handed down for a wide range of crimes, from petty theft to more serious offenses. Importantly, as the 19th century progressed, transportation increasingly became a substituted sentence for the death penalty, offering a form of reprieve while still serving as a harsh punishment.
While Australia was the main destination, sentences about transport could also lead convicts to other locations like Bermuda and Gibraltar, where they were put to work in dockyards. Even Western Australia and South Australia received convicts under specific conditional pardon arrangements.
Transportation as a formal sentence largely ceased by 1857, and completely ended in 1868. Over its eight decades, it is estimated that over 150,000 convicts were transported to Australia, leaving behind a rich, albeit complex, historical legacy. For those researching their family history, understanding sentences about transport is the first step in uncovering this significant part of their ancestry.
Key Resources for Tracing Sentences About Transport
Unearthing details about sentences about transport requires navigating a variety of historical records. Thankfully, many of these resources are now available online, making the research process more accessible than ever. Here’s a breakdown of essential record types and where to find them:
The National Archives (UK) Records
The National Archives in the UK holds a vast collection of documents relating to sentences about transport and convict history. These records are invaluable for researchers and many are indexed and searchable, although some may require browsing digital images.
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Criminals, Convicts and Prisoners Records (Findmypast): Findmypast, a subscription website, hosts a searchable collection of assorted criminal records from The National Archives. While not exclusively focused on transportation, these records (primarily from HO 8, HO 13, HO 17, and HO 18 series) can provide confirmation of a sentence about transport. They include quarterly prisoner returns, correspondence about transportation warrants, and petitions from prisoners seeking sentence reductions or pardons.
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Criminal Registers (Ancestry): Ancestry, another subscription service, provides access to Criminal Registers for England and Wales (HO 26 and HO 27). These registers detail sentences passed, offering direct evidence of sentences about transport handed down by courts.
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Convict Transportation Registers (HO 11 – Ancestry & Discovery): The HO 11 series is crucial. These registers list convicts transported on specific ships, detailing conviction location, crime, and sentence. Ancestry offers name-searchable indexes for registers from 1791-1868 (excluding the “Third Fleet”). Digital images of HO 11 are also downloadable from The National Archives’ Discovery website, although name searching is not available here – browsing by ship name is necessary.
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Lists of Convicts and Settlers (HO 10 – Discovery): The HO 10 series on Discovery contains downloadable lists of male and female convicts, pardon lists, details of employment, and musters of settlers and convicts in New South Wales. While not name-searchable, browsing these lists can yield valuable contextual information and potentially uncover details related to sentences about transport.
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Surgeon’s Journals (ADM 101 & MT 32 – Discovery): For voyages to Australia, Royal Navy surgeons were assigned to convict ships. Their journals (ADM 101 and the later MT 32 series) are held at The National Archives and are searchable on Discovery by ship name. While not complete convict lists, these journals offer insights into voyage conditions and sometimes mention convicts who received medical treatment, potentially providing additional context to sentences about transport.
Australian Resources: Expanding Your Search
Australian archives and online resources are equally vital for tracing sentences about transport and the lives of transported convicts after arrival. These resources often compile data from both UK and Australian records, offering a comprehensive view.
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Index to Tasmanian Convicts (Archives Council of Tasmania): For convicts transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), the Archives Council of Tasmania provides a searchable index. This index links to digitized records like conduct records, indents (convict arrival records), and physical descriptions, offering rich details about individuals who received sentences about transport to Tasmania.
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The Female Convicts Research Centre: This dedicated center focuses on female convicts transported to Van Diemen’s Land. Their website offers a database and resources specifically related to women who received sentences about transport and their lives in Tasmania, addressing a historically underrepresented group.
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Convict Records of Australia: The Convict Records website is a valuable searchable database for sentences about transport to Australia in general. Searching by name can reveal arrival dates, crimes, sentences, and ship names, providing a quick and efficient way to determine if an ancestor was transported.
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TROVE (National Library of Australia): TROVE is a powerful search engine hosted by the National Library of Australia. It allows searching digitized Australian newspapers, gazettes, and journals. These sources can provide contemporary accounts, notices, and further details related to individuals who received sentences about transport and their lives in the colonies.
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The Australian Dictionary of Biography: This biographical dictionary includes entries for significant figures in Australian history, including convicts and administrators of the penal system. It provides concise biographies that can offer valuable context and information about individuals connected to sentences about transport and the broader convict era.
Irish Convict Records
For those with Irish ancestry, the National Archives of Ireland holds records related to transportation from Ireland to Australia. Their searchable database includes transportation registers and petitions, offering a specific avenue for researching sentences about transport originating from Ireland. Their research guide provides further assistance for navigating these records.
Navigating Your Research into Sentences About Transport
Tracing sentences about transport and convict ancestors is a rewarding but complex process. Remember these key points as you embark on your research journey:
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Start with the Basics: Begin with what you know about your family history. Names, approximate birthdates, and locations can be crucial starting points for searches.
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Utilize Online Databases: Websites like Ancestry, Findmypast, Convict Records of Australia, and TROVE are powerful tools. Utilize free trials where available and consider subscriptions for in-depth research.
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Explore Archival Resources: The National Archives (UK and Ireland) and Tasmanian Archives are essential. Familiarize yourself with their online catalogs (Discovery, Archives Council of Tasmania) and understand the record series relevant to sentences about transport.
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Be Flexible with Search Terms: Names may be misspelled in records. Use wildcard searches and variations of names. Try searching by location, crime type, or ship name if initial name searches are unsuccessful.
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Context is Key: Sentences about transport were part of a broader historical system. Understanding the social, legal, and geographical context will enrich your research and interpretation of records.
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Persistence Pays Off: Genealogical research can take time. Be patient, persistent, and explore multiple resources to piece together the story of your ancestors and their sentences about transport.
By utilizing this guide and exploring the wealth of resources available, you can effectively trace sentences about transport and uncover the compelling stories of your convict ancestors, adding a rich and significant chapter to your family history on worldtransport.net.
