Convict Arrivals in New South Wales (NSW) 1788 - 1842
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Transcription and conventions used
An index built from government convict Indent records that record convict arrivals. There are 97,797 entries. Fields are:
- County
- Surname
- Given name(s)
- Date of arrival in NSW
- Name of transport ship
- Quality
Coverage
Convict arrivals in NSW 1788 - 1842, which includes some convicts who were sent elsewhere in Australia after arrival in NSW. Until 1803 all convicts were sent to NSW, and from then until about 1818 most of the convicts sent to Tasmania (then called Van Diemens Land) were small irregular shipments from NSW. From 1818 those convicts shipped to Tasmania were transported direct.
The Convict Indents were tantamount to a 'goods lists' that was used by the Captain (later the Surgeon-Superintendent) of a convict transport ship on arrival at Sydney NSW to transfer responsibility to the Government of NSW. Usually a small ceremony was held soon after the transport arrived, the list in the Indent checked against the convicts, and the convicts handed over to the NSW authorities.
Afterwards the Indents were used by NSW authorities whenever, for example, a convict escaped and the police or military had to find and arrest him/her.
The handwritten Indents were later printed and several copies made for distribution throughout NSW. Annotations were often made on the original or printed version.
Names and aliases are not separately identified as it is often unclear which is which. A small handful of Indents did not survive. Where possible an alternative source was used to fill the gaps in these cases.
Checking
This dataset has been checked at least three times.
Abbreviations and Codes
None
Contact details
The Genealogical Society of Victoria, Level B1 257 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Email: gsvfhol@gsv.org.au Website: www.gsv.org.au
How to buy
CD available from The Genealogical Society of Victoria on-line bookshop at www.gsv.org.au.
Copyright and disclaimer
© The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc.
