Got a Blacksheep Ancestor in New South Wales?

The State Archives and Records NSW website has published Gaol Photographs on their site. This is a must-see if you have ancestors living in New South Wales, Australia between 1870 and 1930.

There are 20 New South Wales prisons with a total of 199 volumes containing details of over 46,000 prisoners. Best of all there is a searchable index. 

The website tells us that the records consist of:

"The Gaol Photographic Description Books contain a photograph of each prisoner and the following information: number, prisoners' name, aliases, date when portrait was taken, native place, year of birth, details of arrival in the colony - ship and year of arrival, trade or occupation, religion, standard of education, height, weight (on committal, on discharge), colour of hair, colour of eyes, marks or special features, number of previous portrait, where and when tried, offence, sentence, remarks, and details of previous convictions (where and when, offence and sentence). "

Thanks to the headsup from 46,000 New South Wales Mugshots 1870-1930 Go Online

Canadian and Americans Banished to Australia in 1839

Did you know that after the Rebellion of 1837 (also referred to as The Patriot War) dozens of American and Canadian prisoners were banished to Australia? These men who had fought against the British Crown were put with other prisoners from England.

Taken to Tasmania and New South Wales, they were put to work as forced labour, for which they were paid a minimal wage. Most of the surviving prisoners  were eventually pardoned in 1848

For lists of men on  Ships transporting rebels who were banished, see the following 3 ships lists:

* Canadian Convicts to Australia 
* List of men on Marquis of Hastings 1839 Canada to Van Dieman's Land, Australia 
* The Canton 1839 Canada to Van Dieman's Land, Australia

To read about the Rebellion of 1837 see the historical overview.