Topic ID 2969
25/07/2007 by Kate
Hertford Convicts
Having spotted a story today about a man being convicted in Hertford and transported to Australia in 1829 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6915471.stm), I looked up the website carrying the information and ran on search on 'Hertford' as the place of conviction. Between 1791 and 1868, 934 people convicted in the town were sent to Australia!
I'm sure these were people from both Hertford and the surrounding towns, but still an impressive number.
Reply ID 53738
20/07/2008 by leemarb
i came onto a thread a couple of days ago, regarding transportation to australia, there was a master plane, it seems that at first it was males only that were convicted to the colonies, sometimes on the lightest of whims, starving children and wife at home, catch a rabbit, bang = holiday with hard labour for 15 years, ok there was the murderers, and robbers, but mostly it was the man trying to survive,plus colonies needed colonizing,and building up,at any cost.
after a very few years, the government decided to send boat loads of women convicts, same as before, half a loaf of stale bread was enough to get a woman posted, A to satisfy mens lusts, and B to start the first true born colonials,
the 17th and 18th centries were a very bad time for the average person in england, and you didnt have to do anything very bad, to get sent on an extended hard working holiday.