Convicts: Life in the colony

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Guilty or not guilty, 1841-1856

How to use Guilty or not guilty, 1841-1856

Only in the Library You can use Guilty or not guilty, 1841-1856 when in the Library. Can't come to the Library? Contact us.

How to search Guilty or not guilty

STEP 1

Collect the relevant volume of Guilty or not guilty from the shelves in the Family history area of the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room.

  • Volume 1: 1841-1845
  • Volume 2: 1846-1850
  • Volume 3: 1851-1853
  • Volume 4: 1854-1856

STEP 2

Find your convict in the alphabetical list and note down the newspaper and date from the Reference.

Here is an example of an entry in the index:

Name Farrell, James
Offence Kill cattle
Court Circuit
Sentence G
Term 15 yr.
tr +
Tried BM*
Date 21/3/42
Reference SH 29/3/42

+ 15 years transportation

* Berrima

STEP 3

Check Trove to see if the newspaper has been digitised or search our Catalogue to see if we hold the newspaper.

Go to the resource

About Guilty or not Guilty

Guilty or not Guilty is made up of 4 volumes:

  • Volume 1 consists of people who were brought before the Supreme Court, Criminal Quarter Sessions, Assizes and Police Court between 1841 and 1845.
  • Volume 2 consists of people who were brought before the Supreme Court, Criminal Quarter Sessions, Assizes and Police Court between 1846 and 1850.
  • Volume 3 consists of people who were brought before the Supreme Court, Criminal Quarter Sessions, Assizes, Police Court and Water Police Court between 1851 and 1853.
  • Volume 4 consists of people who were brought before the Supreme Court, Criminal Quarter Sessions, Assizes, Central Police Court and Water Police Court between 1854 and 1856.

Which newspaper?

Volume 1 indexes the Sydney Gazette, Sydney Herald, Sydney Morning Herald and the Government Gazette. Volume 2, 3 and 4 indexes the Sydney Morning Herald.

Check Trove to see if the newspaper has been digitised or search our Catalogue to see if we hold the newspaper.