Thomas Jefferies (c.1791-1826), a painter, was found guilty on 29 July 1819 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, of burglary. Sentenced to life transportation he arrived at Sydney aboard the Prince Regent in January 1820. He was described as being 5 feet 8 ¼ inches tall with a dark sallow complexion, black to grey hair and hazel eyes.
Jefferies was sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the Hawies, arriving in January 1822. On 21 June 1824 for threatening to stab Chief Constable George Lawson he was sentenced to twelve months at Macquarie Harbour but was instead sent to work in the public works at George Town. For absconding from there on 1 February 1825 for an undisclosed period he was sentenced to 50 lashes and hard labour in the jail gang. In April he was appointed flagellator at Launceston gaol. On 3 August 1825 he was fined 10 shillings for being drunk and disorderly and on 25 August he was fined two pounds for falsely imprisoning and assaulting Mrs Elizabeth Jessop. In October he was fined 1 pound for taking a women convict out of the watch house.
Jefferies escaped into the bush with John Perry, James Hopkins, and Edward Russell on 14 December 1825.
'Jefferies, Thomas (c. 1791–1826)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/jefferies-thomas-31475/text38930, accessed 9 November 2024.
Archives Office of Tasmania, PH30/1/4135
c.
1791
Bristol,
Gloucestershire,
England
4 May,
1826
(aged ~ 35)
Hobart,
Tasmania,
Australia
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.