Course Enrollment: AU-104 Australian: Convict Records

Optional Print Course Material: Australian: Convict Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

A study of convict records includes some discussion of the British legal system and the conditions that led to convicts being transported to the colonies of Australia. Governments kept copious records at all stages of their control of the convicts and these provide more information about the convicts in Australia than for free settlers of the same period.

The passage of convicts through the legal system may be traced from their trials and imprisonment, transportation, the convict administration in the colonies, as well as their various assignments until the eventual end of their imprisonment (by death or freedom).

 In addition, the course includes some records of the changing attitudes toconvict heritage and the impact that has on the records that are available.

Course Length: 7 weeks