Chain migration
A number of fathers, sons and brothers passed through the barracks. Whether any had deliberately committed offences in order to be reunited with family remains unknown. We do know that many convicts wrote letters home giving glowing descriptions of their lives in the colony and encouraging others to ‘earn' a passage to join them. Four Reilly brothers were transported from their native Ireland. First came Luke, a tailor, sentenced for street robbery. Next was Peter, an illiterate stonecutter, sentenced for stealing flannel. Francis, a shoemaker, was transported for pickpocketing. Another brother, Thomas, also arrived.
Managing the barracks
Astonishingly, the Deputy Superintendent of convicts was often the only free person employed to manage the barracks' inmates. He was assisted by convicts appointed as watchmen, wards men, clerks, messengers, overseers and constables. The convicts received either a small salary or `indulgences'.
Superintendent Timothy Lane was in charge from 1836 to 1842. One night he found the convicts gambling and playing `vagabond sports', so he ordered them `to march round the Barracks' as punishment. They refused. Lane called out all those receiving indulgences and those soon to get tickets of leave, and had them line the yard. When he ordered the men to march again, he was `instantly obeyed'.
Superintendent Timothy Lane was in charge from 1836 to 1842. One night he found the convicts gambling and playing `vagabond sports', so he ordered them `to march round the Barracks' as punishment. They refused. Lane called out all those receiving indulgences and those soon to get tickets of leave, and had them line the yard. When he ordered the men to march again, he was `instantly obeyed'.