A Ticket of Exemption differed from a Ticket of Leave in that the individual was not allowed to employ him or herself or to acquire property. As stated in a Circular to Magistrates from the Colonial Secretary dated 1st January 1830 the Exemption Ticket allowed:
"simply the privilege of residing until the next 31st December with the person therein named, generally a relation, in some specific district and no other".
The convict still had to attend church service and had to renew the Ticket each year. It appears that the Tickets were used as a form of assignment to relatives.
From the extant records, it appears that a large number of those convicts who received a Ticket of Exemption were assigned or received a Ticket of Leave in August/September 1833. Given this, and the fact that the State Records does not hold any records which date after 1832, it is possible that the issuing of Tickets of Exemption was discontinued at that time.
For most of the records the name of the relation with whom the convict was to reside is given on the Ticket. Other information may include why the ticket of exemption was granted and to the reason why the ticket was cancelled (for example, for having committed a crime or misdemeanour, because the sentence was served and a certificate of freedom issued, because of the granting of a ticket of leave, on account of the convict's death).
About the Index
Two record series were used to compile the Index, which provides name, ship and year of arrival, ticket of exemption number, date of ticket of exemption, State Records item number, fiche number, and remarks.
Please note that index entries for individuals mentioned in the records who were not related to the convicts have not been included. This index covers c.800 entries.
Accessing the records
Microfilm copies of the Tickets of Exemption, 1827-32 can be viewed in our reading rooms.
You can also order copies of the records online via the search facility. Simply 'tick' the relevant search result(s) and follow the instructions.
The copy service fee is $25.00 (includes administration, postage/handling and the first entry). Additional entries are $1.50 each.
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