Convicts returning from Oz to England

[thickoeric]

My 4xg-grandfather, Samuel Francis, was sentenced in 1820 to 7 years in Australia for stealing rabbits. I have a copy of a record showing him returning to England in 1828 on the ship 'Elizabeth', together with other ex-convicts. I assume he wouldn't have much, if any, money so how were these journeys funded?

[dotty.]

There was a difference between penal servitude and transportation, but before the 1850s they do seem the same, anyone sent to Australia as a prisoner was allowed to be brought home after the sentence was served.
http://www.fremantlep...au/Pages/default.aspx

[dotty.]

The Elizabeth sailed to and from New South Wales right through the 1820s.
http://www.historyservices.com.au/convicts.htm

[thickoeric]

Many thanks for the info, Dotty. Can't, however, find the bit that tells me who paid for the journey home - give me a clue!!

[Canary42]

No doubt they were ballast for transportation ships returning empty.

[dotty.]

the ships were chartered by the British Government for the purpose of transporting convicts to Australia and on the return journeys those who had served their time were brought back.

[thickoeric]

Got it, Dotty!! Many thanks also to Canary42.

Unfortunately for Samuel, after surviving all that, he ended his days in the workhouse in Bourne, Lincolnshire.