As good as a photograph

George Faulkner received his ticket of leave on 31 March 1834. On 28 July 1835 it was "surrendered mutilated and cancelled", and a replacement issued.

Tickets of leave contained all the information needed to identify someone: the ship they came on and its master, year and place of birth, trade or calling, the date and place of trial and physical description (height, hair, eye colour and general remarks).

George Faulkner was a blacksmith, in his early thirties, five feet three and a half inches, with dark brown curly hair and grey eyes. He had two cuts on his chin and one on his forehead. He would have had a Manchester accent.

His ticket of leave was as good as a photograph. He had to carry it with him at all times, present it to a constable on demand and report to ticket of leave musters.

After twelve years and three months in New South Wales, he was free to work for himself. The only condition was that he remain in the district of Inverary.

Ticket of Leave 34/1001
Ticket of Leave 35/581