Families of convicts
Like other members of the population, convicts got married, had children and died. Work through the following sources systematically to find out about aspects of your convict's family life.
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
Registers of convicts' applications to marry, 1825–1851Convicts still serving their sentence had to apply for the permission of the authorities if they wished to get married. Applications usually included the names and ages of both parties, the date of permission or refusal, status (free or convict), ship of arrival and sentence. Available at the State Library or State Records NSW Community Access Points | microform |
Convict marriage banns, 1826–1841Banns and applications to marry made by convicts still serving their sentence usually recorded the names and ages of both parties, the date of permission or refusal, status (free or convict), ship of arrival and sentence. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
NSW probate (wills) index, 1800–1984Wills left by convicts may help you trace the family and friends of a convict, as they may be named as beneficiaries in the will. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Musters and census records, 1788–1837Musters are useful for finding information about a convict's family as they often group family members together. You may also find information about the status of other family members (free or convict) and information about their place of work or abode. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | |
Immigration: wives and families of convicts on bounty ships, 1849–1855These are passenger lists of families connected with convicts who arrived in Australia on bounty ships between 1849 and 1855. Available at the State Library or State Records NSW Community Access Points | website/ microform |
Convict applications to bring out families Index, 1827–1873This index mainly covers Van Diemen's Land but includes a few entries for other States. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | |
Free passengers and crew on convict ships into Sydney, 1830–1840Information about free passengers and crew on convict ships, including passenger's name, status (passenger, crew, master), trade/calling, remarks (such as age or travelling companions), ship name, master of ship, date of arrival and port of origin. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Musters and other papers relating to convict ships, 1790-1849A list of the population on board a convict ship arriving in New South Wales between 1790 and 1849. Usually consists of lists of convicts' names and sentences, but may also include reports on behaviour, lists of free settlers and memoranda regarding convicts' families. Available at the State Library or State Records NSW Community Access Points | microform |
Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788–1825Find out about specific events in your convict's life, including information about their wives and families, through letters to and from the Colonial Secretary as well as official records kept by the Colonial Secretary at the time. These may include records such as petitions by convicts to have their families sent out to the colony or petitions made by a convict's wife to have the convict assigned to her. Available at the State Library or State Records NSW Community Access Points | website/ microform |
Colonial Secretary's correspondence, 1826-1877Letters from the Colonial Secretary which may relate to a convict's family. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Colonial Office correspondence, 1823–1840Information about your convict's family through letters sent to the UK Colonial Office. May also include letters from spouses of convicts requesting passages to join their partners or from relatives enquiring about a convict. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Index to tickets of exemption, 1827-1832Convicts granted tickets of exemption could be assigned as labour to their wife, husband or other relative so they could live together as a family. Remarks may have been made on the ticket providing details of the family member. | website |
Female factory Parramatta index, 1826–1848Records of female convicts and their children in the Female Factory at Parramatta which acted as a workhouse, gaol and holding area for newly arrived convicts. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
NSW orphan school records, 1817–1833Applications for orphans into and out of orphan schools, as well as, admission books for male and female orphan schools. Available at the State Library or State Records NSW Community Access Points | website/ microform |
Wages paid to orphans index, 1849–1851An index to records of wages paid to Irish orphan girls. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Our cataloguesUse these catalogues to find a large variety of original materials, covering convicts and convict life in Australia. | database/ print |
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