Citation

Oxley D. J. Aust. Popul. Assoc. 1987; 4(1): 56-71.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Australian Population Association)

DOI

10.1007/BF03029578

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The convicts exported to Australia have been the subject of enquiry since transportation commenced, and the conclusions reached about the nature of the convict “character” have not always been favourable. One belief that has received particular currency is that the convicts were amongst the worst of the apprehended members of a professional criminal class said to be operating within Great Britain. It is the purpose of this essay to question this belief by investigating the origins and characteristics of a sample of 2,210 female convicts arriving in New South wales from 1825 to 1840 and to establish an alternative picture of who those “damned whores” really were