Convict Probation Pass for Hired Service, 1840

A Convict Department Probation Pass circa 1840 A printed, but otherwise blank 2-sided Probation Pass-holder document which would give a convict official permission to proceed to the house of his or her employer, 'there to remain in the hired Service...' of the free settler. 'On the day the Bearer arrives at his Master's residence, his Master will cause this Pass to be delivered to the Chief Constable of the District.' The reverse of the form provides spaces for the identification of the convict, including details of the date and ship of arrival in the Colony, physical description and other details. The Probation System was introduced in Van Diemen's Land for female convicts in 1843-1844, a few years after it was introduced for men. The main differences of this system over the Assignment System were: convicts spent 6 months on probation upon arrival in the colony-for female convicts this was on the Anson Probation Station, and after its disbandment, New Town Farm. After serving their 6 months probation, convicts were classified as probation passholders and hired out, for an annual wage, to employers. We have not previously offered another example of these forms - used or unused.