G'day, my understanding is that during that era, a ToL operated similarly to parole today. I have never researched the Victorian system, but am familiar with VDL & NSW. Once granted, the ToL allowed a prisoner a degree of liberty, conditional upon him residing in a specified district; being of good behaviour; etc. So, it would be granted prior to the date when his sentence would otherwise expire. I am aware that when a ToL was misplaced or damaged, a replacement would be issued. Perhaps the ToL you refer to was a replacement, and tha might explain the discrepancy between the date of release, and the issue of that ToL. Re July to Dec: didn't Old Melbourne Gaol overlap with Pentridge for a long time ? Peter THOMAS Darwin, AUSTRALIA <pmthomas@bigpond.com> -----Original Message----- From: player6 [mailto:player6@bigpond.com] Sent: Tuesday, 28 March 2006 9:23 AM To: AUS-MELBOURNE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Ticket of Leave Hello All, I have a copy of the Ticket of Leave for Thomas Fowler dated 29th Dec 1851. He was convicted on 16th July 1850 and sentenced to three years hard labour. Received at Pentridge Dec 9th 1850. I don't know where he was from July to Dec. He was given two months additional sentence for refusing to work in August 1851. Does anyone know why he would be allowed a ToL in Dec 1851 if his sentence was three years hard labour on the roads of the colony? Also is it possible for his ToL to be dated after his actual release? I know this sometimes happened in NSW with convicts. He was supposed to meet and marry his 'wife' in November 1851. She was fresh off the boat in late October. If he was in jail, how would they meet? Any ideas would be appreciated. Kind regards Maureen ______________________________