Hi David? Francis may have remarried in Australia - many convicts did as once a spouse was missing for 7 years you could marry and/or he may have gone to the mainland (probably Victoria) once he got his Certificate of Freedom so he could be in the records there. Most states have online indexes. http://www.coraweb.com.au/bdmaut.htm He might also have worked his passage back to England as crew. Just some thoughts Regards Lyn In Oz. snip >   > > > After his release in 1853 he seems to have dissappeared off > the face of the earth no further records in Oz ,nothing here > . Though with his poor record in Tasmania for drunkeness and > gambling somehow doubt he had the money to buy his passage back . > > There are still a few niggles with me with regard to claiming > it's "our" Francis Hand . > >