MySource:Kerbent/Ticket of Leave Butts 31 March 1827 - 20 Aug 1867 (2)

Tickets of Leave (TOL)

A Ticket of Leave was evidence that a convict was allowed to work outside the "assignment" system. Conditions applied - the convict was confined to a named area, had to report regularly to authorities, and was supposed to attend divine worship each Sunday.

Minor offences could see a TOL revoked by the magistrates and the holder returned to Government service. Penalties for greater offences were heavier than those for free persons. TOL holders were not allowed to own land, and until 1843 were allowed to neither own personal property, nor sue (e.g. for wages).

Such tickets are different from "Tickets of Exemption from Government Labour", which are described under "Assignment" at left.

New South Wales The butts of tickets issued between 1810 and 1875 have survived. Potentially, each ticket butt gives the following information: prisoner's number, name, ship arrived on, master of ship, year of arrival, native place, trade or calling, offence, place of trial, date of trial, sentence, year of birth, complexion, height, colour of hair, colour of eyes, general remarks, the district prisoner was allocated to, the Bench who recommended him, and the date of issue of ticket. However, blank fields are frequent. The butts also often annotated with changes of district, conditional pardons, etc.

No30/661 31 August1839 Last name: William CArbis Ship: Ocean (1) Master: Johnson Year: 1816 Native place: Landsend Trade or calling: Sailor Offence Place of Trial: Cornwall Assis Date of Trail: 27th March 1815 Sentence: Life Year of Birth 1799 Height: 5 feet 2 3/4 inches Complexion: Dark sallow Hair: Brown Eyes: Dark Hazel General Remarks... Aloowed to remain in the District of Hawksbury On recommendation of Hawkesbury Bench, Dated 28th February 1839