Hello Listers, At Hobart in 1830 a female convict in whom I'm interested was charged with 'being on her own hands'. As punishment, she was 'to be placed under the special surveillance of the police until the pleasure of the Lieutenant-Governor be known'. Can someone explain to this naive enquirer what the phrase 'being on her own hands' implies, please? The woman had married in Hobart two years earlier and had three children - one born before the marriage. Does 'being on her own hands' imply that she had left her husband? Does it have the same meaning as being 'on the town'? There is nothing in the woman's record, before or afterwards, to suggest 'on the town' experience. Don Bradmore, Central Victoria.