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1. Labor Force: Orphans were seen as a potential source of cheap labor in the new colony. Many of them were put to work in various industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, helping to build and develop the colony's economy.
2. Social Reform: The transportation of orphans was also viewed as a means of addressing social issues in Britain. These orphans were often living in poverty and harsh conditions in workhouses or orphanages. By sending them to New South Wales, the government aimed to provide them with a fresh start and an opportunity for a better life.
3. Population Control: During the late 18th century, Britain was experiencing rapid population growth, which led to concerns about overcrowding, unemployment, and poverty. Transportation was seen as a way to manage population growth by removing a portion of the population, including orphans, to distant colonies.
4. Education and Training: The British government also believed that sending orphans to New South Wales would give them access to education, training, and work opportunities that they might not have had in Britain. In the colony, orphans were often apprenticed to skilled workers or farmers, learning valuable trades that would enable them to become productive members of society.
5. Family Reunification: In some cases, orphans were transported to New South Wales in the hope of reuniting them with family members who had already been transported as convicts. This allowed families to be reunited and provided orphans with a sense of social support and connection in the new colony.
It's worth noting that the transportation of orphans to New South Wales was a controversial practice and drew criticism from human rights advocates and social reformers. Eventually, the practice of transporting orphans came to an end in the early 19th century as public opinion shifted toward more humane treatment of children.