As noted in my last blog, criminals were transported to colonies in the West Indies and North America between 1615 and 1775 when it ceased due to the outbreak of the American civil war.
Tracing ancestors who were transported to the US is likely to be more difficult that tracing those who were transported in the later years to Australia. If you have found or believe your ancestor was transported to the US from England, the best starting point is the list of men and women included in The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage 1614-1775 by Peter Wilson Coldham which lists 48,000 convicts including details of where each person was tried. This is available online at the Ancestry website.
A detailed overview of all relevant records and published sources held at The National Archives can be found in Bonded Passengers to America, also by Peter Wilson Coldham.
Resources at TNA
Most of the original sources held by the TNA have been published for this period in the history of convict transportation however, the following resources may also be consulted:
Patent Rolls in series C 66*
These include the names and parishes of those transported between 1654-1717.
State Papers Domestic, series SP 35-37 and 44*
These include the names and parishes of those transported between 1661-1782.
*it is from these record that Coldham’s lists of those transported (see the books above) were extracted
Series ASSI 2430 (Assize Court Records)
These include transportation order books dating between 1629 and 1819 for the Western Assize circuit (Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire)
Treasury money books
These are held in series T 53 and include details of contractors employed to transport criminals between 1716 and 1772, detailing the payments made to them by the Treasury, the names of all those to be transported, the ships and their captains.
Transportation Lists
These are similar to the Treasury money books dating between 1747 and 1772 but the records are not complete. These are held in series T 1.
Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies
These include Colonial Office correspondence held in series C 05 dating between 1606 and 1822 which “comprises the original correspondence and entry books of the Board of Trade and the Secretaries of State, together with the acts, sessional papers and miscellaneous records relating to colonies in North America and the West Indies”. They include material covering all aspects of transportation to the American colonies.
Court Records
Once a convict has been found in one or more of the references above, and the Assize court in which they were tried or the Old Bailey has been identified. the court records should be examined for further information on the crime(s) committed and the personal details of the convict. These records are the same as detailed in my previous blog relating to transportation to Australia.
Assize courts
Assize court records, where they exist, are largely held at TNA although some may be found at local archives (for example searching the Surrey History Centre online catalogue there are various papers from the assize courts which appear to have been provided to the archives from personal collections or as part of the Quarter Session records), however many records were destroyed. Records may be found in various series held at TNA, none of which are digitised and can only be viewed at TNA:
- ASSI 1 – 54: Records of the Justices of Assize from 1554 to 1971 arranged by circuits;
- KB 6/1 – 6: Depositions 1836-1886;
- KB 10/1 – 92: Indictments (London and Middlesex) 1675-1845;
- KB 11/1 – 107: Indictment (Rest of England) 1676-1845;
- KB 12/1 – 228: Indictments files for all counties 1846-1926;
- KB 19/1 – 3: Pleadings
It should be noted that the Palatine courts of Chester, Durham and Lancaster (Lancashire) merged into the assizes system in 1876. Prior to this their respective court records will need to be searched at TNA is series CHES, DURH and PL
Old Bailey and Central Criminal Court
The Old Bailey was essentially the Assize court for the City of London until 1834 when the Central Criminal Court was established. The Central Criminal Court had jurisdiction over the City of London, Middlesex, parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, crimes committed at sea and abroad.
The Old Bailey was essentially the Assize court for the City of London until 1834 when the Central Criminal Court was established. The Central Criminal Court had jurisdiction over the City of London, Middlesex, parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, crimes committed at sea and abroad.
Old Bailey trials for the period 1674 to 1935, can also be searched at https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/. They may also be searched online at www.findmypast.co.uk under their series Middlesex, London, Old Bailey Court Records 1674-1913.
Parish registers/records/poor law records
To find out more about the convicts family, what happened to them after the convict was transported and their earlier life, parish registers of baptisms, marriage and burials and parish chest records, should be examined. See my earlier plogs relating to these records.
My next blog will provide some hints and tips for tracing those illusive illegitimate ancestors which can often cause your family history research to hit a brick wall.
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