Many of the Convicts were sent to Australia for odd crimes. For example, Irish Catholics were transported for looking suspicious, political outsiders were transported to trying to form unions or cults, suggesting politicians get paid and agreeing with the French for ideals of liberty, equality and companionship.
Examples of deportment:
- Canadian Rebels: In 1837, a group of Canadian rebels staged an uprising to achieve reform. 29 were executed and 149 were transported to Australia.
- 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 so had to take up the life of crime to survive.
- Servants: In a house of nobles, if an item went missing or was misplaced, the servant was usually blamed. Servants were blamed even with lack of evidence. Other servants formed relationships with their masters and were accused of theft when the master wanted the relationship to end.
- Women: The Convict women were usually have been
low-class women, verbal abusers and with loose morals, however, this was not
always. Often women would commit crimes to be able to
join their husbands in the colony. Punishments for women included an iron
collar put round the neck or having her head shaved as a mark of disgrace.
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