The Female Factory Parramatta Index, 1826-1848
The Female Factory at Parramatta, originally built in 1804 and replaced with more substantial barracks in 1821, acted as a workhouse, jail and holding area for newly arrived female convicts and their children. Female convicts assigned here were engaged in activities such as spinning and carding, and even hard labour such as breaking rocks.
The index has been compiled from the Colonial Secretary's papers and from other records relating to the Female Factory, held in State Records NSW. It lists female convicts and some of their children who were resident in the Female Factory between 1826 and 1848.
How to find out about a convict's family
You will first need to search an index (available in the Mitchell Library) which will provide you with location details to help you view a copy of the original record at State Records NSW.
- STEP 1
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Search the index
Request Index Female Factory Parramatta 1826 to 1848 (see full catalogue details for this item) which is on two microfiche at the Mitchell Library Information Desk.
- STEP 2
The index is arranged alphabetically by surname over 2 microfiche. Select the microfiche with the alphabet range that corresponds to the surname of your convict's child.
- STEP 3
Load the microfiche into the microfiche reader and move the carrier horizontally and vertically to search through the alphabetical list of names until you find the name of the person you are looking for. Each entry records name, ship and date of arrival (where known), reel number, shelf number and year of record. Write down these details.
- STEP 4
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View the record
Always confirm the information in the index with the original source at State Records. To access the original record relating to each woman at the Female Factory in Parramatta, you will need to visit State Records NSW where the original records are held and quote the details you noted from the index.
TIP
To find more records to do with the Female Factory and its history before 1826, you can use the index to the Colonial Secretary's papers. Search the index to the Colonial Secretary's papers on the State Records Authority of NSW website and use the subject keywords, PARRAMATTA, Female Factory in your search.
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