Ruqayyah Snyder
The British government shipped convicts to Australia as punishment for 80 years, from 1788 to 1868. During this period, more than 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia from Great Britain, with nearly 10,000 convicts transported to Western Australia. The majority of convicts were male, and most were convicted of non-violent crimes, particularly theft. Good behaviour could earn convicts different types of rewards or privileges, such as extra food, more free time, or a job with more responsibility. Convicts could also obtain a
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of convicts transported to Western Australia | 9,668 |
| Time period of convict transportation | 1850 to 1868 |
| Number of convict ships | 43 |
| Number of convicts on the last convict ship, Hougoumont | 229 |
| Number of convicts remaining under government control in Western Australia when Hougoumont arrived | 3,158 |
| Number of convicts who were women | 25,000 |
| Percentage of women convicts | 20% |
| Number of convicts who were men | >150,000 |
| Number of convicts who were juvenile offenders | 234 |
| Number of convicts who were political prisoners | 3,600 |
| Types of rewards for good behaviour | Extra food, more free time, a job with more responsibility, a ticket of leave, a certificate of freedom, a conditional pardon, an absolute pardon, a royal pardon |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Convicts with good behaviour could obtain a Ticket of Leave, allowing them to work for wages and live independently
- They could also be rewarded with extra food or free time
- A Certificate of Freedom was given to convicts who had served their sentence
- Conditional pardons were given to well-behaved convicts who were transported for life
- Absolute pardons gave very well-behaved convicts complete freedom
Convicts with good behaviour could obtain a Ticket of Leave, allowing them to work for wages and live independently
Convicts who demonstrated good behaviour could obtain a Ticket of Leave, which allowed them to work for wages and live independently. This was one of the official ways in which convicts in Western Australia could be rewarded for good behaviour. The Ticket of Leave system was implemented in the mid-19th century, during the convict era of Western Australia, when the region was a penal colony of the British Empire.
The Ticket of Leave allowed convicts to work for themselves in a specific place, but they were still required to follow rules and report to the authorities. This was a step towards freedom for convicts, who could also obtain a Certificate of Freedom upon completing their sentence. The Certificate of Freedom meant that they were no longer considered convicts.
Convicts with certain skills, such as blacksmithing, brickmaking, carpentry, cattle handling, or farming, were often assigned to work for free settlers or "masters" in Western Australia, where they could utilise their expertise in building the colony. These convicts had more freedom compared to those who worked for the government or were locked up in prison.
Additionally, convicts with good behaviour could be rewarded with extra food, more free time, or jobs with more responsibility. For example, they could be assigned as constables, supervising the behaviour of other convicts.
Airbags: Australia's Compulsory Safety Feature Since..
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They could also be rewarded with extra food or free time
Convicts in Western Australia were rewarded for good behaviour in several ways. While some convicts were rewarded with a royal pardon, authorised by the monarch, others were given extra food or more free time.
Rewarding convicts with extra food was a way to incentivise good behaviour. This was especially important in areas where there were clashes over food resources, such as in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) where runaways often clashed with indigenous Australians. Rewarding convicts with extra food helped to prevent such conflicts and maintain a level of peace between the two groups.
Free time was another reward for well-behaved convicts. This allowed them to rest and recuperate, which could improve their overall well-being and productivity. It also provided an opportunity for convicts to develop skills or engage in activities that could benefit the colony. For example, they could use their free time to fish or gather food, thereby contributing to the colony's food supply. Additionally, free time could be used to socialise and build community bonds, which could enhance cooperation and reduce tensions within the colony.
In addition to extra food and free time, convicts with specific skills, such as blacksmithing, brick-making, carpentry, cattle handling, or farming, were often given jobs that utilised those skills. This not only rewarded the convicts for their good behaviour but also contributed to the development and growth of the colony.
The Ticket-of-Leave system was another form of reward for convicts exhibiting good behaviour. This system allowed convicts to work for wages and live independently, providing an incentive for good behaviour and a path towards rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Headspace App: Free in Australia?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
A Certificate of Freedom was given to convicts who had served their sentence
Convicts who demonstrated good behaviour in Western Australia could be rewarded in various ways. Some official rewards included a Ticket of Leave, a Certificate of Freedom, a Conditional Pardon, and an Absolute Pardon.
A Certificate of Freedom was a government-issued document given to convicts who had served their sentence, typically seven or fourteen years. This certificate indicated that the ex-convict had their rights and privileges restored and was now a free person. It was first introduced in 1810 and was typically granted upon application to the Governor after serving the full sentence. The certificate holder could seek employment and move freely within the colony. They even had the option to return to the United Kingdom if they could afford the journey.
The Certificate of Freedom was composed of two parts: the certificate itself, which the individual had to carry at all times, and the "butt," the official copy retained by the government as a record. More than 40,000 Certificates of Freedom were awarded. This certificate was not available to convicts serving a life sentence, who could instead receive a pardon.
In Western Australia, convicts contributed significantly to the colony's development, particularly in creating public infrastructure. While Western Australia initially resisted accepting convicts, the demand for labour led to the transportation of convicts beginning in 1850. During this period, 9,668 convicts were transported on 43 convict ships to Western Australia, where they worked on various projects, including road construction and the Convict Establishment, the colony's convict prison.
Australia's Indigenous: A History of Oppression and Resilience
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Conditional pardons were given to well-behaved convicts who were transported for life
Convicts who were transported to Western Australia were mostly men, although about one in seven convicts was female. The majority of these convicts were sentenced for non-violent crimes, particularly theft.
Convicts who behaved well could be rewarded in different ways. One such reward was a Ticket of Leave, which allowed convicts to work for themselves in a specific place, but they were still required to follow rules and report to the authorities. Convicts with a Ticket of Leave were hired to work by free settlers.
Another form of reward was a Conditional Pardon, which was given to well-behaved convicts who were transported for life. This allowed them freedom, but they were not allowed to leave the colony or return to Britain. Conditional pardons could later be upgraded to Absolute Pardons, which granted complete freedom to travel anywhere, including back to Britain.
In Western Australia, convicts were used to build public infrastructure, including roads and the Convict Establishment prison in Fremantle. The last convict ship to Western Australia, the Hougoumont, arrived on 10 January 1868, carrying 229 convicts.
How to Find Out if Someone Died in Your Home
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Absolute pardons gave very well-behaved convicts complete freedom
Convicts who demonstrated good behaviour could earn different types of rewards or privileges. These could include extra food, more free time, or a job with more responsibility. One such reward was a Ticket-of-Leave, which allowed convicts to work for themselves in a specific place, but they still had to follow rules and report to the authorities.
Another reward for good behaviour was a Certificate of Freedom, which was given to convicts who had served their sentence of seven or 14 years and were no longer considered convicts. They had to be carried at all times and shown to authorities on demand. However, convicts sentenced to transportation for life were not eligible for this certificate.
A third type of reward was a pardon. A Conditional Pardon was given to well-behaved convicts who had been transported for life, granting them freedom within the colony but prohibiting them from returning to Britain. The highest level of pardon was the Absolute Pardon, which gave very well-behaved convicts complete freedom. They could choose to remain in the colony or return home.
The transportation of convicts to Western Australia occurred between 1850 and 1868, with the last convict ship, the Hougoumont, arriving on 10 January 1868. During this period, 9,668 convicts were transported on 43 convict ships, though another source states the number of convicts was 9,721.
The Swan River Colony, later known as Western Australia, was initially intended solely for free settlers. However, due to the failing settlement's request for an injection of convict labourers, it commenced receiving convicts in 1850, becoming a penal colony.
Datura: Where to Find This Plant in Australia
You may want to see also
