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From: "Alison Briggs" <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] Convict Allocation
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 09:16:57 +1000
References: <15b.20d7c95f.2c354047@aol.com>


Hi Bob
Below is an extract from an essay I wrote a few years ago about the convict
assignment system under Governor George Arthur in Tasmania. It's not
detailed but it may give you an idea of the procedure for assigning new
labour to the colony. I've listed a couple of books you and others on the
list might find useful to get the context of what might have happened to
your convict. I have been able to piece together quite a lot of information
about mine because, as Irene Shaffer stated, all the information you will
probably be able to obtain is on the convict record, which you can order
from the Tas Archives.
A good source of information about the convict assignment system in general
can be found in: William Forsyth Governor Arthur's convict system: Van
Diemen's Land 1824-1836 (Sydney University Press, Sydney, 1970)

I think the book by Shaw has an account of the levels of confinement from
assignment to chain-gangs (from memory).

A.G.L. Shaw Convicts and the colonies (Melbourne University Press,
Melbourne, 1981)

Regards
Alison
Sydney


Here's the procedure for assignment (i've snipped out a few bits and have
not included all the footnotes. If anyone finds this useful I can send a
bibliography to the list -

'...the majority of convict new arrivals were assigned to settlers, and
half of these to settlers in the areas around Hobart and Launceston.
Applications for labour were made to the Lt-Governor on a prescribed form,
showing the number and description of men required, the name and residence
of the applicant, and certain other details about his lands and residence,
the number of free men and convicts already employed, and the number of
stock he possessed. The form was designed to provide information on the
suitability of the settler to receive cheap labour. After July 1832 a Board
of Assignment recorded applications for servants in their order as they came
into the office, prepared weekly abstract of applications which it presented
to the Lt-Governor, together with information enabling him to make an
immediate decision - no assignment was authorised without his sanction.
Every request for servants were considered by the Board, but 'mechanics' or
skilled tradesmen, were usually allotted to Government service, as were
those who had skills in book-keeping and other administrative tasks.
Assigned convicts were required to remain in the service of the masters to
whom they had been allocated and were fed and clothed by them to a
prescribed scale. Not all the labour was assigned to agriculture; many of
the convicts, especially those who had been domestic servants before
transportation, were assigned indoors, the majority employed in town
districts. Those not directly under their master's supervision had to be
supervised by an approved overseer. They were not allowed to live away
from the property, were not paid wages, and could not travel anywhere
without a pass. Though strictly monitored, they had a degree of freedom not
open to those convicts working in road gangs. The process itself was also
monitored, and annual reports on the conduct of each assigned servant had to
be submitted by the settler to the Principal Superintendent, through the
local police magistrate. Arthur's systematic classification of prisoners
meant that the record of a convict could be readily produced, and all
details of their whereabouts, and any offences or good conduct were listed
from the time of their arrival to their death or emancipation.'

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----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 6:16 PM
Subject: [AUS-Tas] Convict Allocation


> Hi
> When a con vict ship arrived in Hobart does anyone know the method used
(if
> any )
> of tasking the convicts, ie Roads Gangs, Mines, Prisons etc.
> And is there a record of the allocation of convicts anywhere ?
> Was the allocation based on the convicts ship report or some other
> recomendation
> Many Thanks
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
> ==== AUS-Tasmania Mailing List ====
> Tasmanian Sites of Interest
> "Lady Nelson"
> http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/ladynel/history.htm
>
>

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