Skip to content

Tag Archives: Prisons and Jails

Transported Convicts in the New World: Moll Flanders and Moll King

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Note: This post is part of a series on Convict Transportation to the American colonies. While the American press criticized the practice of British convict transportation, Daniel Defoe enthusiastically supported it in his novel The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders. Moll Flanders is the most well-known character in literature to have been […]

Filed in 5. In the New World | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Convict Voyages: James Dalton and the Escape to Vigo

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Note: This post is part of a series on Convict Transportation to the American colonies. James Dalton vividly experienced the strong arm of the law at a young age when he sat between the knees of his father, who was riding in a cart that was taking him to the gallows to be hanged for […]

Filed in 4. Convict Voyages | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Convict Voyages: Jenny Diver, Henry Justice, and the Influence of Money

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Note: This post is part of a series on Convict Transportation to the American colonies. When dealing with bureaucratic institutions in the eighteenth century, money artfully placed in the right hands could often buy special privileges, and convict transportation was no exception. The sale of convicts once they arrived in America helped convict merchants and […]

Filed in 4. Convict Voyages | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Convict Voyages: From Prison to Convict Ship

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Note: This post is part of a series on Convict Transportation to the American colonies. Once the convict merchant was ready to make the trip to America, the convicts were released from prison and loaded onto the ship, along with dry goods and perhaps a few indentured servants. Convict voyages were generally timed to leave […]

Filed in 4. Convict Voyages | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Convict Voyages: Convict Attitudes toward Transportation

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Note: This post is part of a series on Convict Transportation to the American colonies. Convict transportation was conceived as a relatively easy means of emptying British prisons and punishing repeat petty criminals without having to resort to a death sentence. Most convicted criminals facing potential execution were probably relieved to receive a reprieve from […]

Filed in 4. Convict Voyages | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (2)