Hi, Not entirely to do with Tasmanian convicts per se, but the question pertains to a family where both parents were sentenced to transportation to Hobart. On Tuesday evening 24 Sep 1832 Thomas Cook was arrested on charges of stealing and was sent to Newgate Prison. The following day, with " a man in possession with a distress-warrant for rent" standing at the door, Thomas' wife Mary was also arrested on unrelated charges and also sent to Newgate. On 16 Feb they both faced the Central Criminal Court and were sentenced to transportation: Thomas for life & Mary for 14 years. Mary was assigned to the Hydery which set sail from Plymouth on 11 Apr 1832. The couple had 5 children living at home at the time of the arrests and the 4 youngest, Elizabeth (Eliza) 16, Sarah 9, Thomas 14 & George 6 accompanied her on the voyage. The oldest son John aged 19 was left to fend for himself in England. His parents had made their living by selling coal off the back of a horse drawn cart but these were confiscated by the Parish, presumably after his parent's trials, leaving him with no means of support and I suspect, in view of the distress warrant, with no where to live. On 27th of February he was arrested for stealing tools and faced the Court on 5 April 1832. Found guilty he also received a sentence of transportation to Hobart. My question relates to the four children who accompanied Mary. Would they have been sent to Newgate with their mother prior to transportation? Does anyone know what the official procedure was in such situations? What was the status of children of felons? On arrival here what would have happened to the children? As Mary arrived while the assignment system was still in effect, would she have been able to keep any of her children with her? Would the older two have been put "into service" elsewhere? I think I've asked before about the Queens Orphanage, when I was just harbouring a suspicion the Mary "might" have brought the children with her but now I know for sure. Questions, question, questions. LOL! The more you discover about your convict ancestors, the more you want to know. :) Lyn in NSW