Convict Guide - published 2006 - Manual / Resource - Page 56
Guide to New South Wales State archives relating to convicts and convict administration
Chapter 4: Sentence Served
(Certificates of freedom)
4.1
Background to the records
Certificates of
freedom
A certificate of freedom was a document stating that a convict's
sentence had been served. The certificate of freedom was introduced
into New South Wales because of the need for former convicts to prove
that they were in fact free. (Hirst, Convict Society, p.123). By the
Bushranger Act 1830 anyone could be detained on suspicion of being a
runaway convict unless proof of free status could be produced. On
completion of their sentences convicts would make a declaration to the
local magistrate who would send to Sydney to check the indents. If all
was in order a certificate was issued after a fee had been paid. (Hirst,
Convict Society, p.123).
Who received a
certificate of
freedom?
A certificate of freedom was only available to a convict with a finite
sentence of 7, 10 or 14 years. Convicts with a life sentence could
receive a pardon but not a certificate of freedom.
4.2
4.3
Indexes to the records
Index to tickets of leave certificates of emancipation and pardons,
1810–1819 available on State Records' website
Index to certificates of freedom, 1823–69 available on State
Records' website
Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788–1825 *ARK and is
available on State Records' website
Colonial Secretary's Correspondence: Index to convicts and others,
1826–77 and ongoing. Compiled by Joan Reese
Colonial Secretary's Correspondence: Index to letters sent re
convicts, 1826–May 1855. Compiled by Joan Reese
Contemporary Colonial Secretary's Indexes and Registers, 1826–
1900, NRS 922 available in State Records' reading rooms
Records of certificates of freedom
Principal
Superintendent of
Convicts' records
Registers of certificates of freedom, 4 Feb
1810–26 Aug 1814; 1 Dec 1823–Apr 1827;
Jun 1828–Dec 1833
NRS 12208
The amount of information in the volumes varies
but they contain at least date, name, ship and
year of arrival, when tried and sentence.
The Index to certificates of freedom, 1823–1869
is available on State Records' website.
Dates
Item
Photocopy
Reel
4 Feb 1810–26 Aug 1814
[4/4427]
COD 18
601
1 Dec 1823–Jul 1825
[4/4423]
601
Jul 1825–Apr 1827
[4/4424]
602
Jun 1828–Dec 1831
[4/4425]
602
Jan 1832–Dec 1833
[4/4426]
602
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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