CONDUCT RECORDSConduct Records 1840s & 1850s - Probation Period
Top left section: Trial & ship details
Note 1: either a number, usually 7, 10 or 14 or a number plus 'year' or 'Life' Note 2: Protestant, Roman Catholic - which might be shorted to one or two letter) so P or RC
Note 3: Read, Write, "can read and write a little" - often shorted to
one or two letters so R or W
Top right section: Statement of offence & Gaol and surgeons reports
Note 1: Number of previous convictions should be recorded here, the most common entry seems to be "Good" or occasionally "Bad" or even "Very Bad" Note 2: Not always recorded. As with Gaol Report, usually 'Good' or 'Bad' Note 3: This is the prisoner's statement of their offence, which often varies from the 'official' one. For example: they it might say 'Stealing apples' instead of 'Breaking and entering'. Also has marital status again. Occasionally other details "I was arrested with my brother", "I said I was married in the gaol because I was told to but I'm really single". Note 3: As with Gaol Report; This is related to behaviour on transport. Usually "Good" or "Bad", some others occur such as "Indifferent", "Rioted"
Personal information/description Probation period : See other page for an explanation of the Probation System including terms & classes. This was for male convicts, so this part will be blank on women's records or used for other information.
Main section: Offences committed in colony/sentences All sorts of things in here. Usual format: Date offence committed sentence initials Often starts with "Emerged from Gang" Date; referring to end of probation period
Underneath this is where indulgences are listed and the date they were granted.
Deaths & births are sometimes recorded here or in the 'Remarks' section.
|