Convicts: Bound for Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.

All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.

Key to library resources

Access anywhere with a library card In the Library (or anywhere with a Library card for NSW residents)
Available to access in the library Only in the Library
Publicly available online Publicly available

Prison records held in the miscellaneous series of the AJCP for England and Wales, 1723-1878

How to use Prison records held in the miscellaneous series of the AJCP for England and Wales, 1723-1878

Only in the Library You can use Prison records held in the miscellaneous series of the AJCP for England and Wales, 1723-1878 when in the Library. Can't come to the Library? Contact us.

How to find out about a convict's time in a prison or hulk

You need to know the county and approximate date of your convict's confinement to search these records. Don't know the county and date of your convict's confinement? Try resources listed on Beginning your family history research and Prisons & hulks.

STEP 1

Search the List of Quarter Sessions Court and UK prison records held in the Mitchell Library to see if we have the prison records for the county and dates you require.

We don't have the prison records? Apply for the records at the appropriate UK County Record Office. Visit the ProGenealogists website for a list of England's County Record Offices and Major Repositories.

STEP 2

Use the AJCP Miscellaneous Series Handbook No. 8 along with the entry number from the index to find the record description and the microfilm reel numbers.

Some microfilm reels have detailed contents lists. Ask about these lists at the Special Collections desk in the Mitchell Library.

STEP 3

Complete a stack request slip (including the microfilm reel number) at the Special Collections desk in the Mitchell Library to have staff collect the microfilm reel for you.

STEP 4

Search the reel for the prison record.

The arrangement of records will vary from reel to reel and you may need to go through unrelated records. Use the handbook as a guide as it describes what's included on each reel.

 

References
O'Brien, E 2005 AJ,CP handbook Part 8: Miscellaneous (M Series), 3rd edn, National Library of Australia, Canberra.

Prison records

We have copies of some prison records in the Mitchell Library as part of the Miscellaneous Series of the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP). The orginal records are mostly held at the UK County Record Offices.