What did female convicts do in Australia?

Convict women were employed in domestic service, washing and on government farms, and were expected to find their own food and lodging. Punishment for those who transgressed was humiliating and public. Exile itself was considered a catalyst for reform.

What happened to female convicts when they arrived in Australia?

AFTER A HARROWING six month voyage across the sea to the newly established British colony dubbed New Holland, convict women were either sold off for as little as the price of a bottle of rum or, if sent to Tasmania, then known as Van Diemen's land, they were marched to the Cascades Female Factory — a damp distillery- ...

What did female convicts have to do?

They would be employed in 'factories' (equivalent of the English workhouse) but often had to find their own accommodation, and would be under great pressure to pay for it with sexual services. In this way, all the women convicts tended to be regarded as prostitutes.

What challenges did female convicts face?

The most common punishments were solitary confinement on bread and water, or separate treatment, and hard labour at the wash tubs. Many punishments were a combination of 2 or more.

What did female convicts do in factories?

It was called a 'factory' as the women were employed weaving woollen cloth, sewing convict shirts, trousers and linen shifts, or washing laundry. Women at the Female Factory received only half the meat and bread ration of male convicts, but got an allowance of tea.

Mystery 1 - What was the life of a female convict really like?

What clothing did female convicts wear?

Clothing in the Female Factories

Documents from the time tell us that these convicts were given: petticoats, jackets, aprons, shifts (smocks), caps, handkerchiefs, stockings, shoes and straw bonnets. They'd be made from cheap, coarse material.

Why did female convicts work and live at the female factory?

Governor King stated that the place could be for industry as well as a confinement. Well-behaved women were chosen by settlers to undertake the work as servants and housekeepers. While those considered to be “incorrigible” of the convict women were sent to work at the Factory.

What did the convicts do for fun?

Convicts played cards or games like chess or draughts that required different sorts of tokens, many of which were handmade. These might have been carved from animal bones (perhaps saved from dinner) or pieces of ceramic and wood they found, or cast in lead.

What was life like on the Lady Penrhyn?

Lady Penrhyn had difficulty in her sailing abilities, often lagging behind the other ships. The woman convicts caused numerous problems on the voyage and were punished for thieving, fighting and abusive language. There was an exchange of three seamen between HMS Sirius and Lady Penrhyn.

What was the worst punishment for convicts?

Throughout the convict era, 'flogging' (whipping) convicts with a cat-o'-nine-tails was a common punishment for convicts who broke the rules.

Who was the youngest female convict on the First Fleet?

Beth - The Story of a Child Convict, is an incredibly moving tale inspired by the experiences of Elizabeth Hayward, the youngest female convict on the First Fleet and the journals of naval officer William Bradley and Arthur Bowes Smyth, the surgeon and artist also onboard.

What were female factories in Australia?

Female Factories. Female Factories were established in Van Diemen's Land primarily as places of punishment for women charged with further offences after their initial sentences of transportation.

How old was the youngest convict sent to Australia?

John Hudson, described as 'sometimes a chimney sweeper', was the youngest known convict to sail with the First Fleet. Voyaging on board the Friendship to NSW, the boy thief was 13 years old on arrival at Sydney Cove. He was only nine when first sentenced.

What did child convicts do in Australia?

Convicts sent to Australia were expected to work as a part of their punishment, and child convicts were no exception. Girls worked as servants in free settlers' houses or farms; some worked in the female factories of Parramatta and Hobart.

How many females were on the First Fleet?

The ships departed with an estimated 775 convicts (582 men and 193 women), as well as officers, marines, their wives and children, and provisions and agricultural implements.

What did the Lady Penrhyn carry?

She carried 101 female convicts, and three officers and 41 other ranks of the New South Wales Marine Corps, as well as her crew. She was part of a convoy of eleven ships, the First Fleet, which brought over 1000 convicts, marines, and seamen to establish European settlement in Australia.

How many kids were on the Lady Penrhyn?

The Lady Penrhyn has 109 female Convicts on board and 8 children and I shall give a List of their Names, Crimes, Ages, Trades, & the term of years they are transported for.

Who died on the Lady Penrhyn?

The voyage

During the second leg, convict Elizabeth Beckford, 70, died of dropsy and 'her corpse was committed to the deep'.

What life was like for convicts in Australia?

Most convicts enjoyed living in Sydney more than living on settler farms in the bush. In town they could visit friends or family for a cup of tea or lunch, enjoy a dance in fancy clothes or visit a theatre. When they were not working, they gambled with their money, played games and relaxed.

Who was the most famous convict?

Where did the convicts sleep?

Convicts slept in hammocks that were folded away each morning. Each ward had a large wooden tub that served as a communal toilet. The convicts had to carefully carry these tubs outside daily to be emptied and cleaned. Each of the wards held up to 60 men.

Who were the first convicts married in Australia?

The first marriage documented in Australia was the union between convicts William Parr and Mary MacCormick on 10 February 1788 in St. Phillips's Church of England in Sydney. The ceremony was conducted by Reverend Richard Johnson with permission by Governor Arthur Phillip.

What jobs did convicts have?

Convicts were a source of labour to build roads, bridges, courthouses, hospitals and other public buildings, or to work on government farms, while educated convicts may have been given jobs such as record-keeping for the government administration. Female convicts, on the other hand, were generally employed as domestic ...

Why did convicts have arrows on their clothing?

Political prisoners, mostly Irish, wore all-yellow suits, as did all prisoners at Port Arthur. The broad arrow marking, or pheon, was a symbol dating back to the 17th century, marking all government property to prevent theft. Convicts were considered government property with few rights and humanity.

How do convicts dress?