Trial & court records
Find records relating to the crime that had your convict sent to Australia and their trial and sentence in England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland. In order to search these records you will need to know the date and place of your convict's trial - Not sure of the date and place of trial?
Choose to search the resources which match up to you convict's date and place of trial. Remember that your convict may be found in more than one resource.
England & Wales
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674-1913Trial transcriptions published for a public audience for London and Middlesex. Also available on microform in the Library (1776-1870). | website |
Sessions records of the Old Bailey, 1815–1849Official court records for London and Middlesex. From 1834, includes Essex, Kent, Surrey and Admiralty. Usually contain less information than the Proceedings about the accused and their offence. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Quarter Session Court records, 1723–1878Trials dealing with criminal and civil matters. Information covers convicts from English (excluding Middlesex) and Welsh county Quarter Session courts. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Assize Court records, 1777–1853Trials dealing with criminal and civil matters and sometimes more serious crimes transferred from the Quarter Sessions. Information covers convicts tried at Lancashire (1819–1842), Oxfordshire (1775-1853), Shropshire (1786–1845) and Staffordshire (1777–1845). Also find out where and how to find other county assize records. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Criminal registers, England & Wales, 1791-1892Criminal registers for England and Wales on Ancestry Library Edition. Registers contain records of convicts transported to Australia, including their name, age, birthplace (not often listed after 1802), crime, when and where they were tried and their sentence. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | database |
Criminal entry books, 1786–1871 (HO 13)Copies of out-letters, warrants and pardons from the Secretary of State for the Home Office. Also includes letters to Justices of Assize Courts, sheriffs, mayors and private individuals, as well as, details about petitions presented for certain prisoners. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Criminal entry books (public departments), 1850–1871 (HO 25)Copies of out-letters and letters to various government departments, dealing largely with accounts and with matters relating to the convicts. Available at the State Library or try your local public library | microform |
Petitions for mercy, 1784–1830Reports from judges to the Home Office in response to a convict's petition for mercy. May include transcripts of trial evidence, character references and other personal information. | website |
UK newspapers, 1785-1985Local newspapers of the time which may have reported your convict's crime. Articles may include court transcripts, evidence and personal information about your convict. | website/ microform |
Our cataloguesUse these catalogues to find a large variety of original materials, covering convicts and convict life in Australia. | database/ print |
Ireland
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
Irish trials and transportation records, 1788-1868Trial records of Irish convicts (including those from Northern Ireland). Information includes name, age, place and date of trial and crime. In some cases, sentence, ship of transportation and petitions of prisoners are also included. | website |
Scotland
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
National Archives of ScotlandThe National Archives of Scotland holds records relating to crimes and criminals in Scotland, including prison registers and court records. Find out more about what they hold and how to access these records. | website |
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