Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

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Polycarp
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:50 am

Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

Post by Polycarp » Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:02 am

The following interesting newspaper notice appeared in the "Limerick Chronicle" on Wednesday 9 May 1860.

THE TICKET OF LEAVE SYSTEM IN CLARE.

We learn that a large number of convicts, who were transported from the county of Clare during the years of disturbance, have recently returned to that county on the tickets of leave system, and have created no small share of consternation amongst many respectable families.

Amongst the number we may mention Thomas Collins, Mortimer Collins, John Boland and Michael McMahon, who were convicted and transported for life for attacking the residence of H.P. Hickman, Esq., D.L. and J.P., at Fenloe, Newmarket-on-Fergus, in October 1846; also, John Griffin, Thomas McInerny (Jack), and Patrick Gueran (Soger), who were convicted at the special commission at Ennis in January 1848 for the murder of Martin McMahon at Carhumore near Six-Mile-Bridge, upon whom sentence of death was recorded, which was subsequently commuted to transportation for life; two or three others convicted and transported with the above have died at Bermuda.

We doubt very much the prudence of permitting such desperate characters as these return again to this country; already one of them (Thomas Collins) has been re-arrested and transmitted to Mountjoy convict-prison, in charge of Constable Shore, at Six-Mile-Bridge, for leading an irregular life since his return, and it is to be feared that the others will soon follow his example if they are permitted to remain amongst their former associates.

kbarlow
Posts: 160
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:07 am

Re: Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

Post by kbarlow » Thu May 03, 2018 4:03 am

As some people may know, the convict system was run fairly strictly in Australia. A ticket-of-leave in the period in question meant the convict was able to find paid work only in the district where they had been granted TOL, and had to front up to regular musters. When the person had served their time they were usually given a conditional pardon, which meant they were not allowed to return to the country of the offence. Not many convicts got full pardons.

The interesting thing is I cannot find any of the men named in the newspaper article - either in Tasmania (most likely place of transportation in the 1840s) or in NSW - have searched 3 databases.

I do wonder about the sort of "social panic" propaganda that may have been perpetrated by establishment newspapers!!

Kerry

Jimbo
Posts: 591
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:43 am

Re: Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

Post by Jimbo » Thu May 03, 2018 4:56 am

It appears from the article that these Irish convicts were sent to Bermuda and not Australia. Found this interesting website on convict transportation to Bermuda which states that between "1823 and 1863 over 9,000 British and Irish transportees were sent to Bermuda, and employed principally in building the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island. The prisoners were selected on the basis that they were young and fit". And for those convicts who survived the poor conditions..."One distinctive feature of convict transportation to Bermuda, compared to other sites in the British Empire, is that ex-convicts were not allowed to settle on the islands. Though some tried to gain entry to America (and were often turned away), the overwhelming majority returned home, or went on to Western Australia."

http://convictvoyages.org/expert-essays ... in-bermuda

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

Post by Sduddy » Thu May 03, 2018 12:13 pm

Thanks for that very interesting article. I hadn't known any of it.

Sheila

kbarlow
Posts: 160
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:07 am

Re: Convicts, transportation, tickets of leave

Post by kbarlow » Fri May 04, 2018 12:44 am

Thank you Jimbo for link to that information - I'd forgotten about the Bermuda transportation option.

Kerry

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