Hi All Am in the process of filing away various bits of paper. Have come across one entitled 'What is a certificate of freedom?' from State Records New South Wales. It says: 'A Certificate of Freedom was a document stating that a convict's sentence had been served and was usually give to convicts with a 7, 10 or 14 year sentence. Convicts with a life sentence could receive a Pardon, but not a Certificate of Freedom. The Certificate of Freedom number was sometimes annotated on the indent or note on a Ticket of Leave Butt. Colonial Certificates of Freedom relate to sentences received for offences committed after arrival in the colony.' Cheers Anne Hanson annehanson@hotkey.net.au