These papers usually came from England on the transport. The lists of convicts generally show only name, date and place of trial, and sentence. They are sometimes copies of the indentures with the owner of the ship contracting to transport convicts, or a muster taken before embarkation or just before or just after disembarkation. The other papers are miscellaneous - lists of deaths during the voyage, convicts to be employed in the iron'd gangs, warrants to transport military prisoners, lists of free settlers on board, etc. Occasionally there are letters about a convict after arrival.

The lists are concerned with convicts from India, Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Canada, South Australia, Western Australia etc. and occasionally with convicts to Van Diemen's Land, Norfolk Island or Port Phillip, as well as New South Wales.

See Guide to Using the Archives Resources Kit, pages 43-70, for a full listing.

Some of the lists of free persons on convict ships included in this series are indexed in the Index to Miscellaneous Immigrants 1828-43.

See also: Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Convicts and Convict Administration [Convict Guide] (Guide 4, 2006) (Appendix III pp.280-297) available in State Records reading rooms and Community Access Points.

(2/8240-8246, 2/8249-8284 part; X738-739). 44 vols (part).

Note:
This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.