In 1787, 14 year old John Owen was caught stealing table knives and forks..... He received a 7 year sentence and was transported to Botany Bay.

WHAT CRIME MIGHT YOU EXPECT?

Convict Crimes… See handout…

WHO WAS BEING SENT OUT AND WHAT SORT CRIMES DID THEY COMMIT? Pickpockets Often the pickpockets were well organised gangs that targeted social gatherings of the rich and famous. In a crowd, the pickpocket's victim would not feel a hand relieving them of their valuables. As soon as the item was stolen, it would be passed to an assistant (often an elegantly dressed lady) who would hurry to another part of town. Orphans Convicts as young as 10 were transported to Australia. Such children had no parents, no homes and no schools hence took to a life of crime to survive. SHARED READING AND PARAPHRASING

WHO WAS BEING SENT OUT AND WHAT SORT CRIMES DID THEY COMMIT? Women The Convict women were usually reported to have been low-class women, foul mouthed and with loose morals; however, this was not always the case. Often women would commit crimes deliberately to be able to join their husbands in the colony. Punishments for women included an iron collar fastened round the neck or having her head shaved as a mark of disgrace. Often these punishments were for moral misdemeanours, such as being 'found in the yard of an inn in an indecent posture for an immoral purpose'. Women would often intentionally offend the authorities by bearing their back side or name the priest when asked who the father was of their child.

Choose a minimum of three convicts. Complete this grid: Name Age Offense and sentence Example to others in Britain Likely living conditions Elizabeth Beckford 70 Stealing Cheese – 7 years Beckford’s harsh sentence was a clear message to poorer people: No one would be spared a conviction if caught. In this way, desperate elderly people would have became more wary. I was probably common or the elderly to steal, so to make an example may have been seen as necessary. Old and unable to work. Probably was starving when she stole this food. She would not have been able bodied enough to find work in factories. May have died on boat to Australia X THREE !

In summary… What were living conditions like for the poor in eighteenth century Britain? Generally, what sort of crimes could result in transportation to Australia?