Tasmanian Convict Record Abbreviations
by Maree Ring
© Maree Ring 2017. All rights reserved
CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- Explanation of Convict Records
- Abbreviations used in Convict Records
- Name Abbreviations
- Occupations
- Place Names
- Abbreviations Used In Other Records
- Irish Transportation Records
- Records from the UK
INTRODUCTION
This was first published in 1993 when I intended this guide to help with the transcription of the records of those convicts who served their time in Van Diemen´s Land. It's need was established when I first began tutoring classes entitled "Researching Tasmanian Convicts" with Adult Education.
The records of the convict systems differ from period to period and within each type of record.
Records on convicts and their sentences and offences in the colony were not begun until 1825 when Edward Cook, a law-stationer under a life sentence arrived here. He was put to work to compile a series of "Black Books" [now known as CON 31 for men and CON 40 for women] containing particulars of convicts who had arrived since the Calcutta in 1804. [Guide to the Public Records of Tasmania, Section Three, Convict Department.] http://www.archives.tas.gov.au/guides/Con_guide.pdf
However, by 1825, some of those convicts who arrived on the Calcutta had long since died or left the colony, and their name is not recorded. Similarly there is little, if any information for those who arrived and had served their sentence prior to 1825, those who came in through New South Wales may have records from that state. Now in 2005 this is being rectified by research of early records.
Later records give more information on the appearance and family of individuals. The records of those who arrived during the assignment system and progressed to the probation system have a P/Pn marked on their record in the column on the left of the page under their Police number. The records of those who arrived within the probation period (June, 1840 for men and 1844 for women) note by initials where they had served their probation, and have to whom or the place of assignment noted.
Abbreviations have been unfailingly used on convict records and these varied a little, probably at the whim of the clerk.
I have included abbreviations of names, occupations and place names.
It is probable that I have missed some abbreviations, so you may care to advise me to add to this.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Robyn Eastley, Archives Office of Tasmania for her help in preparation of this and Meryl Yost for her kindness in hosting this dissertation on this site.
EXPLANATION OF CONVICT RECORDS
Note: not all the following records are available for every convict.
CON 14 | = | indents of male convicts, Nov. 1827, Aug. 1831, Aug. 1835, Aug./Sept. 1838, Feb. 1841 - May 1853. |
CON 15 |
=
|
indents of female convicts 11 Sept. 1839, 19 Apr. - 21 Apr. 1853. |
CON 18 |
=
|
description lists of male convicts 1828 - 1853. |
CON 19 |
=
|
description lists of female convicts 1841 - 1853. |
CON 31 |
=
|
male conduct registers 1812 - 1840. |
CON 32 | = | male and female conduct registers, Supplementary Volumes |
CON 33 |
=
|
male conduct registers 1840 - 1853. |
CON 40 |
=
|
female conduct registers 1820 - 1843. |
CON 41 |
=
|
female conduct register 1844 - 1853. |
* | applies to records CON 33 and CON 41 only. |
** | refers to descriptions of persons or family members. |
Top left margin | police number which was given on arrival |
Top left hand corner | name; length of sentence |
´Tried´ | place and date of trial - Assizes, Central Criminal Court; Middlesex Gaol Delivery (CCC; MGD = Old Bailey, London), Court of Justiciary (Scotland), Court Martial, Great Sessions, Oyer and Terminer [Norman French for 'to hear and determine'], Quarter Sessions, Session of Pleas. |
´Embarked´ * | date of sailing from UK |
´Arrived´ * | date of arrival, Hobart |
Religion * | Protestant, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic |
Education * | R & W = read and write; B = both, read and write; N = neither read nor write |
´Transported for |
|
statement of sentence |
|
"Gaol report" from prison in England - | |
|
marital status, M or S = married or single | |
|
"stated this offence" = convict's statement of what he was transported for, includes any previous offences | |
|
"Hulk report" = behaviour on ships used as prisons in England | |
|
"Surgeon´s report" = doctor's report of convicts health and behaviour during the voyage. | |
Description * | = | physical description of convict (police photographs have taken over this role) abbreviations below |
´Marks´ | = | tattoos, scars, moles and other distinguishing marks |
´Station of Gang´ * | = | Probation Station where convict employed |
´Class´ * | = | Probation Pass Holder [P.P.H.] - 3 classes of pass were issued varying in degrees of restriction and wages. |
´Offences and Sentences´ | - | conduct in the colony while still under sentence |
|
date of offence | |
|
place of employment or employer [and town] | |
|
offence/ sentence/ magistrates initials or APM\PM/ 'vide Lieut. Gov's Memo/Decision' (these memos have not survived) | |
´Remarks´ * |
|
refer to health/behaviour whilst under first stage of probation |
|
name of employer and residence and any notable events during convicts' period of transportation, e.g. capture of bushranger, applying for indulges (TL/CP) |
Remarks on bottom of page of CON 31, CON 40 and along margin side of page of CON 33 and CON 41 indicate the areas/towns to which the convict was assigned.
* | applies to records CON 33 and CON 41 only. |
** | refers to descriptions of persons or family members. |
# | the following abbreviations also use the old fashioned long ´f´ then ´s´ indicating ´ss´. |
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN CONVICT RECORDS
abs(d) | absconded |
Absentg | Absenting |
abt | about |
accorg | according |
acct | account |
actg | acting |
add(it)n | addition |
admond | admonished |
agt | against |
APM | Assistant Police Magistrate |
appd | approved |
apprehd | apprehended |
Apts | apartment(s), see Sep Apts |
Ass # | Assize |
assaultg | assaulting |
assd # | assigned |
assignt # | assignment |
b & w | bread and water |
B | both - can both read and write |
B ** | Brother(s) |
Bd | Board - in the context of on that same ship |
Beatg | beating |
Bks | Barracks |
blk ** | black |
bro ** | brown |
Cal | calendar |
Calr | also calendar |
CCC | Central Criminal Court, London, also known as the Old Bailey |
Cert | Certificate (of Freedom) |
Ch Gang | Chain Gang |
Chr | character |
chs | chains |
C.H. | Colonial Hospital |
Col(l) | Colonial |
Co. Justicy | Court of Justiciary (Scotland) |
comd | committed |
Commd | commended |
complt | complaint |
concealg | concealing |
Cond | Conditional (Pardon) |
conf(d) | confined |
conf(t) | confinement |
Connexns | connections (relation(ship)s) |
Constle | Constable |
convt(d) | convict(ed) |
CP | Conditional Pardon |
CPM | Chief Police Magistrate |
Ct Ml | Court Martial |
CS | Colonial Service/Servitude |
D & D | drunk and disorderly |
D. [Ln] | District [of Launceston] |
DC | District Constable |
Decisn | decision |
Dischd | discharged |
dism(iss)d | dismissed |
disobce | disobedience |
disordy | disorderly |
distributg | distributing |
dis(turb)g | disturbing |
do | ditto (a repetition of information) |
D.P. | Deputy Purveyor (in regard to death and subsequent purchase? of coffin) |
E.R. | Ecclesiastically revoked (in regard to obtaining permission to marry - for reasons unexplained the Church revoked permission to marry.) |
Evidce | evidence |
exam(inat)n | examination |
extd | extended |
existg | existing |
expirn | expiration |
F ** | Father |
F in L(aw) ** | Father in law; not the current meaning of the spouse's father, but an old meaning of step-father |
FHC | Female House of Correction |
F(y)/Fac(ty) | Factory |
fm | from |
Gazd | gazetted, notice usually in Hobart Town Gazette |
GD | Gaol Delivery |
Govt | Government |
Gt | Great Sessions |
GS | General Sessions |
H ** | Husband |
H (of) C(orrn) | House of Correction |
hd lab or HL | hard labour |
hh | high |
Hospl | hospital |
Impt/imprit | imprisonment |
ins ** | inside (part of body) |
inst | instant (date of the current month) |
intenn | intention |
intoxn | intoxication |
L ** | large (description) |
L | lashes |
L(ieu)t G(ovn) D(ecn) | Lieutenant Governor's Decision |
Lieut Gov M(emo) | Lieutenant Governor´s Memo both of above usually with the latin ´vide´. Record of these decisions or memos have not survived. |
Lodg | lodging |
lt ** | left (side) |
lt ** | light (colouring) |
Ly | lazy |
M | Married |
M ** | mother |
makg | making |
Middx | Middlesex (see MGD) |
medm | medium description |
messr # | messenger |
MGD | Middlesex Gaol Delivery see CCC |
M.H. ** | medium high |
M.L. ** | medium length |
M.S. ** | medium size |
M.W. ** | medium width |
misc(ond)t | misconduct |
morng | morning |
mos | months |
mths | months |
N | neither (read nor write) |
NP/N.P(lace) | native place |
obtg | obtaining |
origl | original |
O & T | Oyer and Terminer, referring to court sessions, often followed by GD |
P/Pn | Probation (added after changing from Assignment system) |
P(rot) | Protestant |
partn | partition |
P.B./ P Bks | Prisoner Barracks |
perpen | perpendicular |
P E L'ton | Prison Establishment, Launceston |
Ppendic | perpendicular (referring to shape of forehead) |
Petn | petition |
P.O. | Police Office |
Possn # | possession |
PPH | Probation Pass Holder |
Prinl | Principal |
prisr | prisoner |
Pr (os) | Prosecutor |
prob(at)n | probation |
propy | property |
p(r)ty | party |
PS Office | Principal Superintendant (of Convicts) Office |
P.W. | Public Works |
Q O School | Queen's Orphan School |
Q.S. | Quarter Sessions |
RC | Roman Catholic |
rd | received |
Rd pty | road party |
recom(m)d | recommended |
redh ** | reddish (colouring) |
removd | removed |
reprimd | reprimanded |
residce | residence |
resistg | resisting |
retd | returned |
RL | reads (a) little |
R/N | Read/None - able to read; not able to write |
rt ** | right (side) |
R&W | Read and Write |
S | single |
S ** | unmarried sister(s) |
S ** | small (description) |
Saty | Saturday |
Secy | Secretary (Col. Sec.) |
Sentce | sentence |
Sep Apts | separate apartment(s) |
serv(e) | service |
Sessn | Session (of Pleas) |
sol/solity | Solitary |
st(eal)g | stealing |
Supt | Superintendent |
Suspd | suspected/suspended |
Td Wl | tread wheel |
threatg | threatening |
TL | Ticket of Leave |
tm | term |
transpd | transported |
transpor(t)n | transportation |
T. Wheel | tread wheel |
Ux | Uxor (uxor Latin = "wife". Where a convict has married and may have been assigned to the husband. The surname noted is the husband's.) |
vide | latin 'see' - see also LGD |
W ** | wife |
witht | without |
writg | writing |
yesty | yesterday |
yrs | years |
NAME ABBREVIATIONS
Bernh(d) | Bernhard |
Cath(e) | Catherine |
Ch(a)s | Charles |
Edwd | Edward |
Eliz(t)h | Elizabeth |
Fredk | Frederick |
Geo | George |
Hy | Henry |
Jas | James |
Jno | John |
Jos | Joseph |
Josh | Joshua |
M.A. | Mary Ann(e) |
Marg(t) | Margaret |
Michl | Michael |
Patk | Patrick |
R(ich)d | Richard |
Robt | Robert |
Sam(l) | Samuel |
Thos | Thomas |
Wm | William |
OCCUPATIONS
Farms | farm servant |
F servant | do |
FWK | frame work knitter |
Gard | gardener |
Ho | house (maid/servant) |
Impt | imperfect (tradesman - unqualified?) |
Lab | Labourer |
Md | maid (see also Ho) |
Pl C(ook) | plain cook |
Plo´ | plough(man) |
Servt | servant |
Wm | woman |
PLACE NAMES
A. Ponds | Antill Ponds |
Bagd | Bagdad |
Beacond | Beaconsfield |
B(t)n | Brighton |
B. M. | Broad Marsh |
Brd Marsh | Broad Marsh |
B(r) R | Brown's River (now Kingston) |
B.W. | Bridgewater |
Casc | Cascades (female factory, Hobart) or on Tasman's Peninsula for males |
C. Head | Circular Head |
C. Mines | Coal Mines |
C(onstn) Hill | Constitution Hill |
C.Town | Campbell Town |
Darln | Darlington (Maria Island) |
Del | Deloraine |
Elizth St. | Elizabeth Street (Hobart) |
F. | Fingal |
Fls Island | Flinders Island |
G. | Gaol (usually followed by a place name) |
G. Ponds | Green Ponds (now Kempton) |
G(eo)T(own) | George Town |
G.S. Port | Greater Swan Port |
G.T. H(ill) | Grass Tree Hill (road party) |
Gleny | Glenorchy |
Ham(n) | Hamilton |
Hob(t) | Hobart |
H.T(own) | Hobart (Town) |
I. Bay | Ida Bay |
Imp Bay | Impression Bay |
Jer(us)m | Jerusalem (now Colebrook) |
Jer/o | Jericho |
L. Point | Long Point |
L(y). B(ks) | Lovely Banks |
Launcn | Launceston |
L(to)n | Launceston |
Longfd | Longford |
L/pool St. | Liverpool Street, Hobart |
Ly Banks | Lovely Banks |
Macq. St. | Macquarie Street, Hobart |
McQuarrie St. | Macquarie Street, Hobart |
M.I. | Maria Island |
N.N. | New Norfolk |
N.Plains | Norfolk Plains, now Longford |
N.R. | Nicholls Rivulet |
Oatld | Oatlands |
Oats | Oatlands |
O. Cove | Oyster Cove |
Ptn | Picton |
P. Puer | Point Puer |
Pont(v)e | Pontville |
P(t.) A | Port Arthur |
Pt. P | Point Puer |
P. Esperance | Port Esperance |
R. | Ross |
R.H. | Rocky Hills |
R. Hills | Rocky Hills |
Richd | Richmond |
S.M.C. | Seven Mile Creek, near Victoria Valley, Hamilton |
S.M. Pass | St Marys Pass |
S. Port | Southport |
S.W.C. | Saltwater Creek, see proper name S.W.R. |
S.W.R. | Saltwater River |
T Bridge | Tunbridge |
Tunb | Tunbridge |
Westby | Westbury |
* | applies to records CON 33 and CON 41 only. |
** | refers to descriptions of persons or family members. |
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN OTHER RECORDS
AJCP | Australian Joint Copying Project, records from PRO, London and CRO's available on microfilm in selected libraries including AOT. |
ADM | = | Admiralty, (naval matters includes surgeon's reports for convict ships), found in handbook part 7 | |
AO | = | Exchequer and Audit Dept., found in handbook part 7 | |
BT | = | Board of Trade, found in handbook part 6 | |
CO | = | Colonial Office, found in handbook part 2 | |
DO | = | Dominion's Offices, found in handbook part 10 | |
FO | = | Foreign Office, found in handbook part 5 | |
HO | = | Home Office, (convicts) found in handbook part 3 | |
MT | = | Ministry of Transport, found in handbook part 7 | |
PC | = | Privy Council, found in handbook part 7 | |
PCOM | = | Prisons Commissions | |
PMG | = | Paymaster General's Office, found in handbook part 7 | |
T | = | Treasury, found in handbook part 7 | |
WO | = | War Office, (army) found in handbook part 4 |
AONSW | Archives Office of New South Wales, some of these records are held at AOT. |
AOT | Archives Office of Tasmania, hold Tasmanian Government and other records, see booklet by Neil Chick and Lilian Watson (now out of print). |
Some of the documents from various government departments are referred to by the following abbreviations:
CEN | = | census |
CON | = | convict |
AP | absolute pardon | ||
APM | Assistant Police Magistrate | ||
AS | assigned servant | ||
CF | certificate of freedom | ||
CP | conditional pardon | ||
FC | free certificate | ||
FS | free by servitude | ||
TL | ticket of leave | ||
NP | native place, see earlier explanation | ||
PM | Police Magistrate |
CSD | = | Chief Secretary's Department, see CSO |
CSO | = | Colonial Secretary's Office, forerunner of CSD |
CUS | = | Customs Department |
ED | = | Education Department |
GD | = | Gaol Department |
GO | = | Governor's Office |
HSD | = | Health Services Department |
LA | = | Local Authority (forerunner of the municipal council, and can include local cemetery trust and/or road trust records) |
LC | = | Lower Court |
LSD | = | Lands and Survey's Department |
MB | = | Marine Board |
MM | = | microfilm of some Tasmanian related records from ML, NSW. |
NS | = | non state records (includes church records) |
POL | = | Police |
RGD | = | Registrar-General's Department, holder of BDM's |
SC | = | Supreme Court |
SWD | = | Social Welfare Department |
Many of the above government departments have had name and administration changes and the policy of AOT is to no longer use the initials of the department, but to designate new agencies by unrepresentative initials of the alphabet.
(Since 1993 when this book was first published, these agencies may have changed name.)
IRISH TRANSPORTATION RECORDS
These records of convicts from Ireland were a bicentennial (1988) gift from the Government of Ireland to the people of Australia.
The indexes on CD-ROM, and corresponding microfilms for these records are available in the reference section of the State Library of Tasmania. Also see the National Archives of Ireland: Ireland - Australia Transportation Database
The following abbreviations have been used in the records.
CRF | = | Convict Reference Files |
FSP | = | Free Settlers' Papers |
MCR | = | Male Conduct Register |
PPC | = | Prisoners' Petitions and Cases |
RCS | = | Register of Convicts on Ships |
TR | = | Transportation Registers |
RECORDS FROM THE UK
OLD BAILEY
Many convicts came from London and were sentenced at the Old Bailey,
although the court stated may have been the Sessions of Oyer and
Terminer and Gaol Delivery for the City of London and County of
Middlesex, sometimes abbreviated to Middlesex Gaol Delivery. From 1834
the court was then known as Central Criminal Court and the courts
covered besides the Central Criminal Court, were Essex, Kent and Surrey.
The Old Bailey Session Papers date from 4 December 1776 to 20 November 1870 and are now available online Old Bailey Session Papers
OTHER RECORDS:
- West Kent Quarter Sessions 1788 - 1804
- Lancaster Castle
- Transportation of Convicts from Nottingham
- Lincolnshire Archives - Convicts Search
- Jill Chamber's Machine Breaker's Site
- A Summary of the Records of Maidstone Gaol (Kent)
- National Library of Wales - Crime and Punishment
SCOTLAND
Inveraray Jail, Scotland’s living 19th century prison – has prisoners
listed on their site
Inverary Jail
Submitted to this site by Maree Ring
© Maree Ring 2017. All rights reserved
Submitted 10-Jun-2005
Revised 25-Sep-2017